The Local Churches Typified in the Book of Psalms

Zion as a Symbol of the Universal Church and the Local Church

The Bible reveals two aspects of the church—the universal church, composed of all genuine believers everywhere throughout all of time and the local church, composed of all the genuine believers in a particular city. Just as there is only one universal church expressed as many local churches, there is only one Zion—typifying the universal church, although it is located upon the many mountains of Zion—typifying the local churches (cf. Heb. 12:22; Gal. 4:26). Witness Lee explains:

In Psalm 133 the oneness of God’s people is also likened to the dew of Hermon that descends upon the mountains of Zion. These mountains typify the local churches. Every local church is a mountain of Zion. There is one Zion, but many mountains signifying the many local churches….As a place, the church, on the one hand, is the unique Zion; but, on the other hand, it is the many mountains of the one Zion. Although there is one church in the universe, there are nevertheless many local churches. Each local church is a peak among the many mountains of Zion.

(Witness Lee, Genuine Ground, 91)

Witness Lee makes it clear from the New Testament that Zion signifies the universal church as well as the local church.

Whereas Psalm 85 is on the seeking of the sons of Korah for restoration and Psalm 86 is on the seeking of David for salvation, Psalm 87 is on the desire of God for Zion with Christ. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, Zion always implies God’s house and God’s city. “Zion” is a poetic title of the church in the universal sense and also in the local sense (Heb. 12:22; Gal. 4:26). Therefore, Zion signifies the church universally and locally. The heavenly Zion is the final resting place of the overcomers (Rev. 14:1).

Psalm 87 firstly refers to Zion’s foundation, which is called “His [God’s] foundation” (v. 1). This divine foundation, typifying Christ as God’s unique foundation for the building up of His house, the church (1 Cor. 3:11), is built in the “holy mountains,” which typify the local churches. Jerusalem was built on these holy mountains, and among these mountains the highest peak is the one on which Zion was built, which typifies the church.

(Witness Lee, LS of Psalms, 391)

The Old Testament psalmists sang of Zion with much affection, for Zion, as the highest peak of Jerusalem, fulfills in type God’s dearest desire concerning His dwelling place. While the rest of the world may be in rebellion against God, Zion stands with God and is fully possessed by God. God therefore regards Zion as the perfection of beauty and blesses it. As the above quotes from Witness Lee indicate, Zion typifies the New Testament church and today’s local churches. As today’s mountains of Zion, the local churches are the expression of the universal church as God’s dwelling place. God’s affections are set upon the local churches and His manifold blessings are poured upon the local churches. Ultimately, the local churches are today’s stepping stones to the coming New Jerusalem.

Main

God’s House

Zion

City of God

Bride

Practical Salvation

Built Up

Victory

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