The Second Coming of Christ will usher in the great Millenium. During this blessed period, divine authority will be administered from two great cities: the New Jerusalem and the Old Jerusalem. This chapter tells the story of the redemption of these two great cities. Verses 1-16 speak in general of Zion, the New Jerusalem, that great city which is yet to be built upon the American continent. Verses 17-23 speak of the redemption of the Old Jerusalem.
¡°Jerusalem of
old, after the Jews have been cleansed and sanctified from all their sin, shall
become a holy city where the Lord shall dwell and from whence he shall send
forth his word unto all people. Likewise, on this continent, the city of Zion,
New Jerusalem, shall be built and from it the law of God shall also go forth.
There will be no conflict, for each city shall be headquarters for the Redeemer
of the world, and from each he shall send forth his proclamations as occasion
may require. Jerusalem shall be the gathering place of Judah and his fellows of
the house of Israel, and Zion shall be the gathering place of Ephraim and his
fellows, upon whose heads shall be conferred ¡®the
richer blessings.¡¯¡¦These two cities, one in the land of Zion and one in
Palestine, are to become capitals for the kingdom of God during the
millennium.¡± (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R.
McConkie [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-1956], 3: 69-71)