The prophet Isaiah will say that the Word of God, which we understand, of course, to be the Gospel, will go forth from Zion, Isaiah 2:3 [“Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”].

We know, then, from Acts chapters 8 and 9 that, in fact, the Word did, the Gospel did, go forth from Jerusalem, a fulfillment of that prophesy, of course, when the first persecution by the Jews came upon Christians there in the city of Jerusalem—that’s where they all were when the persecution came upon them—and then they scattered, they went out from the city of Jerusalem. The record tells us that they went everywhere preaching, or teaching, the Gospel [Acts 8:1, 4: “At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles…Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.”]. So, indeed, the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, went forth from Zion.

Those references clearly define “Zion” as the city of Jerusalem.

But “Zion” is also understood to be “the stronghold of God,” as it’s used in Psalm 48 [“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King. 3 God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge.

4 For behold, the kings assembled, They passed by together. 5 They saw it, and so they marveled; They were troubled, they hastened away. 6 Fear took hold of them there, And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, 7 As when You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind.

8 As we have heard, So we have seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, In the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah

9 We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple. 10 According to Your Name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments.

12 Walk about Zion, And go all around her. Count her towers; 13 Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; That you may tell it to the generation following. 14 For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.”].

So, Zion has the understanding here of something that is secure, something that is firm, and carries with it also an understanding of victory, or, being victorious.

Other passages of Scripture concerning Zion and what it represents—a symbol of God’s faithful people, and a symbol of victory:

Micah 4: “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it. 2 Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.

4 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. 5 For all people walk each in the name of his god, But we will walk in the Name of the LORD our God Forever and ever.”

Joel 2:32: “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the Name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.”