Zion’s Valley of Decision Eschatology
Core Tenets:
Mount Zion as the New Jerusalem:
The “true mountain of the Lord” is Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2; Galatians 4:26, “the Jerusalem above… mother of us all”), comprising the Church—believers filled with the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6; John 16:13).
Christ is enthroned immortally in His heavenly, eternal city, post-resurrection and ascension (1 Corinthians 15:20–25; Matthew 28:18; Daniel 7:13–14). Earthly Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives are typological shadows of this immortal, spiritual reality, not requiring an earthly fulfillment in a mortal or ethnically diverse context.
Valley of Decision:
Zechariah 14:4–5’s splitting of the Mount of Olives reflects the spiritual reality of the crucifixion earthquake (Matthew 27:51), creating a “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4), an extension of heaven and earth in nature providing a new context and space where humanity chooses salvation through faith in Christ, as the only escape from death, hell, and the grave (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 15:55–57).
The valley represents a decision point: where believers ascend in the Spirit and truth, “north” to Christ in the body of His immortality in the New Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 5:8; John 14:2–3), joining Him in the Spirit, while rejectors remain to the “south,” still undecided in their mortal state or worse decent at physical death, to hell, (Luke 19:14, “we will not have this man to rule over us” John 8 "if you don't believe I am He you will die in your sins).
Separation of Sins:
The east-west splitting (Zechariah 14:4) reflects the spiritual truth of Christ’s work at the cross, separating sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). This division, initiated at the crucifixion, establishes the Church (Mount Zion) in blessed hope of a promised, end with Christ forever at the change to immortality, first enjoyed at present by spiritual translation into the Kingdom of Christ ruling and reigning irreversibly immortal from heaven in tangible expression of physicality, and distinct from those remaining undecided or opposed in mortality on earth.
Christ’s Immortal Reign:
Christ reigns immortally from heaven (Acts 3:21, “heaven must receive him until the time for restoring all things” ie redemption of the body), with universal dominion (1 Corinthians 15:25; Matthew 28:18). His reign is spiritual (through the Holy Spirit, Zechariah 14:8; John 7:38–39) eternal, and physically expressed in His immortality of body, not requiring an earthly throne of expression in a mortal environment for subjection to human or ethnic validation.
The Spiritual truth of his reign, as it exists now, culminates in the universal transition and transformation to immortality, not merely a further earthly extension of mortality as it presently exists according to His patience, to satisfy a human-originated distinction of expression. His promised salvation of redemption in the body to immortality is one promise to all people, from the beginning in Adam, to the end at His appearing. (1 Cor 15:22, 26)
Second Coming and Transformation:
At Christ’s return, all living believers are transformed into immortality without dying in the body (1 Corinthians 15:51-54, “changed in the twinkling of an eye”; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The unrighteous, unable to survive "as in the days of Noah", when the heavens and earth flee away and are folded up like a garment, passing away with a great noise and melting with a fervent heat (Revelation 6:15-17), face a secondary resurrection for judgment (Revelation 20:11-15; John 5:28-29). Everything that God has said will happen has happened as He intended it to happen from the beginning to the end, a new creation world without end, built for the body immortal in His own likeness, bodily and image eternal, remain forever, and ever, Amen. (Revelation 21:5)
No earthly valley or earthquake is needed, as transformation to immortality fulfills a need for physical escape, rendering an earth-bound millennium with extended reproduction in the body of mortality unnecessary and biblically impossible.
New Heaven and Earth:
Christ’s return fulfills God’s eternal purpose (Acts 3:21), defeating death (1 Corinthians 15:26) and handing the Kingdom to the Father (15:24). The new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1–3) manifest in transitiion from the New Jerusalem in heaven, where Christ and the redeemed dwell now Himself alone immortal, likened to a wedding party, before the consummation, and eternal placement in the new heaven and new earth where there is only righteousness, peace with God, and communion with Christ in the likeness of immortality bodily forever. (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:2).
God becomes our “all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28), with no further need for dominion, as sin and mortality are fully swallowed up by immortality in the eternal state of final consummation.
Escape from Death:
The righteous “flee” death’s captivity (Zechariah 14:5) through faith, joining Christ in the Spirit at death (2 Corinthians 5:8) and Immortal at his return (1 Corinthians 15:51–54). Old Testament saints were freed at the crucifixion/resurrection (Ephesians 4:8; Matthew 27:52,53), ascending “north” to the New Jerusalem.
Key Texts:
Zechariah 14:4–5: Splitting reflects the spiritual reality of crucifixion; the valley is a decision space on the ground.
Psalm 23:4: Valley of the shadow of death as a decision point.
Psalm 103:12: Sins separated east from west.
1 Corinthians 15:20–28, 51–54: Christ’s reign and transformation to immortality.
Acts 3:21: Christ in heaven until restoration, according to God's original intention.
Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2; Galatians 4:26: New Jerusalem as Mount Zion.
John 14:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:8: Believers join Christ first in the Spirit and then in the body of immortality.
Distinctive Emphasis:
Mortality cannot persist after Christ’s return, as his immortal reign (Acts 3:21) and transformation of believers into a universal expression of immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-54) eliminate it; all mortality is consumed by immortality. An earthly millennium with mortal humans in reproduction contradicts the spiritual truth of Christ’s eternal glory in Spirit, and in truth of His bodily reign immortal from heaven for voluntary solicitation to salvation, which culminates in the consummation of immortality over the rest, for dwelling together forever, in the new heaven and earth where God is our “all in all.”
Comparison to Major Christian Eschatological Views
Analysis:
Amillennialism (Closest Alignment):
Similarities: My view aligns with amillennialism’s spiritual interpretation of Zechariah 14:4–5, seeing the crucifixion/resurrection as establishing the spiritual reality of the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22) and Christ’s immortal reign from heaven (Acts 3:21). The rejection of an earthly millennium with mortals, emphasizing immediate transformation to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51–54), is a key shared tenet.
Differences: My “valley of decision” (Psalm 23:4) and north-south division (believers join Christ immortal in the New Jerusalem, while rejectors remain in mortal valley) is unique, providing a distinct framework for the crucifixion’s spiritual impact. Amillennialism doesn’t emphasize this division as explicitly.
Partial Preterism:
Similarities: The spiritual interpretation of the crucifixion as fulfilling Zechariah 14 and the view of earthly Jerusalem as a shadow align with preterism’s focus on first-century events. The emphasis on the New Jerusalem’s spiritual reality resonates.
Differences: I stress a future second coming with immediate transformation to immortality, rejecting extended mortality, while preterism focuses on 70 CE fulfillments and a less defined transformation.
Postmillennialism:
Similarities: My view shares postmillennialism’s optimism about Christ’s current reign and the Spirit’s work (living waters, Zechariah 14:8).
Differences: I reject a post-return mortal golden age, insisting on an immediate universal expression of immortality at the second coming (1 Corinthians 15:51-54), obsoleting an earthly phase.
Premillennialism (Historic/Dispensational):
Differences: Both expect an earthly Zechariah 14:4 (valley, earthquake) and a millennium with mortals (Isaiah 65:20), which I acknowledge as biblically impossible due to Christ’s immortal reign and transformation of the rest when He comes (1 Corinthians 15:51–54). My spiritual view prioritizes the eternal New Jerusalem over an earthly kingdom.
Similarities: Both acknowledge Christ’s universal reign and a future return, but I emphasize heaven’s preeminence (Acts 3:21) and the universal expression of immortality as God's original intention for the final end.
Bickle/IHOPKC (Apostolic Premillennialism):
Differences: Bickle insists on an earthly Zechariah 14:4–5 (physical valley, tribulation escape) and a millennium with mortals, which I reject as incompatible with Christ’s immortal reign and universal command at His appearing. His focus on the necessity of Jesus enthroned on earth in compatibility with mortality contrasts with my emphasis on immediate transformation to immortality, for the redemption of the body to immortality, and universal destruction of the rest.
Similarities: Both see the Church as Mount Zion (spiritually) and Christ’s current reign, but my view prioritizes the eternal state and universal expression of immortality over a temporary earthly kingdom.
Unique Aspects:
The “valley of decision” (Psalm 23:4) as a spiritual space for choosing salvation, tied to Zechariah 14:4’s splitting, is distinctive.
The north-south division (believers ascending to Christ immortal in the New Jerusalem, rejectors remaining in mortal valley) integrates Psalm 103:12 uniquely.
Rejecting an earthly millennium with extended mortality, insisting on immediate transformation to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-54), at His appearing, sets my view apart from premillennialism and aligns with amillennialism’s eternal focus with more clarity of the combination of Spiritual truth, with the resurrected and enthroned physicality of Jesus, Immortal and irreversible in His Kingdom, without necessity of condescension to the opinions of men, or demands of ethnicity.
Zechariah 14:4–5 in my Perspective
Interpretation:
Crucifixion/Resurrection:
The splitting of the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) reflects the spiritual reality of the crucifixion earthquake (Matthew 27:51), separating sins “east from west” (Psalm 103:12) and creating a spiritual “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4) for decision.
Believers choose faith, “fleeing” death to ascend “north” to Christ enthroned, immortal in the eternal city of the New Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 5:8; John 14:2–3; Ephesians 4:8; Matthew 27:52–53). Rejectors remain “south” in mortality (Luke 19:14).
The Church, as Mount Zion, is established as the eternal communion of the same Spirit in trust with the immortal reality of Jesus Christ, in blessed hope of bodily redemption at the consummation (Hebrews 12:22; Galatians 4:26).
Second Coming:
No earthly valley or earthquake is needed, as living believers are transformed into the greater body of immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The unrighteous facing judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) are unable to survive Christ’s immortal entrance (Revelation 6:15-17) and the destruction of the earthly environment.
Christ’s presence, immortal where He is, makes the eternal city of Jerusalem “new” (Revelation 21:2), and His return fulfills Acts 3:21’s restoration of the eternal state of humanity to universal expression in immortality; His return is not for an intermediate initiation of an earthly mortal kingdom, He could have done that any time He wanted, if He had wanted to.
Immortality vs. Mortality:
Mortality cannot persist post-return, as Christ’s immortal reign (Acts 3:21) and transformation (1 Corinthians 15:51–54) eliminate it. The new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1–3) make manifest the eternal nature of the New Jerusalem, not an earthly millennium with mortals.
Supporting Texts:
Zechariah 14:4–5: Splitting reflects the spiritual reality of crucifixion; the valley is a decision space.
Psalm 23:4; Psalm 103:12: Valley as decision; sins separated.
1 Corinthians 15:20–28, 51–54: Christ’s reign and universal transformation to immortality.
Acts 3:21: Christ in heaven until restoration.
Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2; Galatians 4:26: New Jerusalem as Mount Zion.
John 14:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:8: Believers join Christ first in the Spirit and then bodily in immortality.
Challenges:
Earthly Imagery: Zechariah 14:4-5’s description of the Mount of Olives splitting into a physical valley, compared to Uzziah’s earthquake (Amos 1:1), suggests to some an earthly event. My spiritual interpretation reframes this as the crucifixion’s impact.
Context: Zechariah 14:2–9 (nations gathered, cosmic changes, and universal messianic reign) points to an apocalyptic event, not fully observable at the crucifixion. My view aligns with the eternal state and immortal exaltation of Jesus Christ, eclipsing a misperceived earthly phase.
North-South Division: The supposed geographical split (north-south, 14:4) isn’t carnally observed as being believers vs. rejectors, and requires a spiritual interpretation, based on the truth of Christ's rule and reign immortal from heaven.
Conclusion
Zion’s Eschatology presents a profound spiritual interpretation of Zechariah 14:4–5, viewing the crucifixion earthquake as creating a spiritual valley of decision (Psalm 23:4), where believers ascend “north” to join the immortal King in the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22) while rejectors and those in the valley of decision remain “south” in mortality (Psalm 103:12; Luke 19:14). Christ’s immortal reign from heaven (Acts 3:21) eliminates the need for an earthly, mortal millennium, with his second coming transforming believers into immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51–54) and ushering in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1–3), where God is our “all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).
This aligns closely with amillennialism’s spiritual truth focus and rejection of an earthbound expression of the millennium. Still, my unique “valley of decision” among other nuances and north-south division distinguishes it.
Unlike premillennialism (including Bickle’s), which expects an earthly Zechariah 14:4 and a millennium with Jesus dwelling on earth, among mortals, my view prioritizes the eternal New Jerusalem where Jesus Christ is reigning now, highly exalted and separate from mortals, in His physical body of Immortality, and acknowledges the biblical impossibility of extending mortality after Christ’s 2nd coming.
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