Continue With Singing The Triumpal New Song

It is just as Jehovah foretold: "I, even I, have installed my king upon Zion, my holy mountain." (Psalm 2:6; 110:2) This no longer refers to the earthly Mount Zion, the geographical location of earthly Jerusalem, in which city human kings in the line of David used to reign. (1 Chronicles 11:4-7; 2 Chronicles 5:2) No, for Jesus, after his death and resurrection in 33 C.E., was installed as a foundation cornerstone on the heavenly Mount Zion, the celestial location where Jehovah determined to place the "city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem." Hence, "the Mount Zion" here represents the exalted position of Jesus and his joint heirs, who make up heavenly Jerusalem, which is the Kingdom. (Hebrews 12:22, 28; Ephesians 3:6) It is the glorious royal situation to which Jehovah elevates them during the Lord's day. Over the centuries, anointed Christians, as "living stones," have earnestly looked forward to standing on that heavenly Mount Zion, united with the glorified Lord Jesus Christ in his majestic Kingdom. -1Peter 2:4-6; Luke 22:28-30; John 14:2, 3.

John sees not only Jesus but the complete body of the 144,000 fellow heirs of the heavenly Kingdom standing upon the Mount Zion. At the time represented by the vision, many, but not all, of the 144,000 are already in heaven. Later in the same vision, John learns that some of the holy ones still have to endure and die faithful. (Revelation 14:12, 13) Evidently, then, some of the 144,000 are still on earth. So how is it that John sees all of them standing with Jesus on Mount Zion? In that, as members of the congregation of anointed Christians, these have now "approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem." (Hebrews 12:22) Like Paul when he was still on earth, they have already-in a spiritual sense-been raised up to be in union with Christ Jesus in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:5, 6) Additionally, in 1919 they responded to the invitation, "Come on up here," and in a figurative way "went up into heaven in the cloud." (Revelation 11:12) In view of these scriptures, we can see that all the 144,000-spiritually speaking-are located on Mount Zion with Jesus Christ.

The 144,000 have no part with the worshipers of the wild beast, who are marked with the symbolic number 666. (Revelation 13:15-18) In contrast, these loyal ones have the name of God and of the Lamb written on their foreheads. No doubt John, a Jew, saw God's name in Hebrew lettering. In having the name of Jesus' Father symbolically written on their foreheads, these sealed ones make known to all that they are Jehovah's witnesses, His slaves. (Revelation 3:12) Their having Jesus' name also displayed on their foreheads indicates that they acknowledged being owned by him. He is their betrothed "husband," and they are his prospective "bride," "a new creation"serving God with heavenly life in view. (Ephesians 5:22-24; Revelation 21:2, 9; 2 Corinthians 5:17) Their intimate relationship with Jehovah and Jesus Christ affects their thoughts and actions.

Next time: Singing As If A New Song.