The Mountain of the Lord
The Mountain of the Lord
Beginning in Micah 4:1 we read: “In the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways … And we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem’ “
In the same context Psalms 72:8, 11 declares: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.”
Let us examine these two texts by asking three main questions:
- How will the law go forth from Zion?
- How will the word of the Lord go forth from Jerusalem?
- How are the kings and nations going to submit to the Lord?
THE LAW FROM ZION
It is clear that Zion is not synonymous with Jerusalem. Originally Zion was the fortress of the Jebusites, and later was also called the city of David. King David conquered the mountain of Zion and then lived there. (See 2 Samuel 5:6, 7, 9.) Zion became a holy place for God. Later the temple on Mount Moriah was included in the meaning of “Zion,” and here the ark of the covenant was found during the reign of Solomon. It was also a typical picture of the reign of the entire Christ. The ark of the covenant indicated the presence of God, and through its presence Zion also became the dwelling place of God. (Psalms 9:11)
Spiritual Israel hopes for the antitypical “Zion,” the heavenly Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul writes in Hebrews 12:18, 22, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched … but ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, and heavenly Jerusalem’ “ So it is upon this Mount Zion that the lamb of God and the 144,000 stand. (Rev. 14:1) Zion therefore pictures the heavenly phase of the kingdom.
So how will the law go forth from Zion? Instead of the word “law,” the New English translation uses the word “instruction.” And in Micah 4:2 we find the word “teach.” Instruction and teaching will be the responsibility of the ancient heroes of faith: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the other ancient worthies. They will help mankind at the time the New Covenant is established. They will be the living witnesses of the love and power of God who will have delivered His people from the trouble of the last days.
And so it will “come to pass in the last days that … the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains.” Instruction will not go directly to the people, but will first go to the ancient worthies. Brother Russell thought direct communication between the ancient worthies and body of Christ could be the channel of conveyance of instruction, laws, and information. (See Volume 4, pp. 626-627) These faithful men and women will be the mouthpiece of The Christ, head and body. Instruction goes forth from Zion, heavenly Jerusalem, to these faithful ones who in turn will have many helpers and co-workers in Israel, and most likely other nations.
THE WORD FROM JERUSALEM
Jerusalem is a symbol for the earthly kingdom because it isn’t called Zion or New Jerusalem (a symbol for the bride of Christ -see Revelation 21:2; 3:12; R5189). It will be the seat of the kingdoms earthly representatives. Brother Russell even thought that literal Jerusalem would become the “world capital”.
So the word goes forth from Zion as instruction to the kingdom’s personal representatives. In Jerusalem these ancient worthies will teach that word of instruction to the people. The word of God is also characterized as the bread of heaven. How wonderful will this time be when all people will enjoy nourishment from The Christ glorified. Yes, it will come to pass that the mountain of the Lord will be on top of the mountains. The nations will say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.”
KINGS WILL SUBMIT
From Micah 4 and Psalm 72 we see four steps in this submission:
1. The acceptance of God and the recognition of his Anointed including the ancient worthies. (Micah 4:2)
2. The offering of the gold of Sheba and the presents of Tarshish. (Psalms 72:10, 15)
3. The beating of swords into plowshares. (Micah 4:3)
4. The cultivating of one’s own vine and fig tree, the abundance of grain: the acceptance of righteousness. (Psalms 72:16)
As we look at these points we must remember that (1) The law goes forth from Zion (from the church in heaven), and (2) The word of the Lord from Jerusalem (earth’s capital). This means that the instructions go forth from earth’s sole ruler, The Christ head and body. And earth’s nations and kings will recognize this as the only right way.
The acceptance of God and His anointed, The Christ, will be the result of Jacob’s great trouble. In this tribulation, God will reveal himself to His people Israel. This will be the time of the Lord’s appearing, his revealment to the world with the church in glory.
The Lord will reveal God’s plan to mankind. He will give instructions “out of Zion” (Rev. 14: 1) These instructions will go forth from Jerusalem as the word of the Lord. The resurrected ancient worthies will spread the word. Thus enlightened, the people will enter a new path, one which many today do not consider. The time of the opening of the “highway of holiness” will have come when the New Covenant has been established with the house of Israel.
This will be the first stage of submission: accepting God after the appearing of the Lord, after the “miracle” in Israel, the resurrection, the New Covenant, and the opening of the highway of holiness. The second stage is pictured by the giving of the “gold of Sheba” and the “presents of Tarshish.”
For the most part Bible Students agree that Tarshish symbolizes countries that lie far away from Israel. The signs point toward Europe. In the fourth volume Brother Russell explains that Magog, Meschech, Tubal, Gomar, Javan, and Tarschisch (Tarshish) were the children of Japheth. Japheth probably was the progenitor of Europe’s first inhabitants. Because large parts of America, Australia, and New Zealand were later colonized by Europeans, we would include these countries in the word “Tarshish.”
The Prophet Micah. “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks.”
In his comments on Psalms 72:15, Brother Russell writes that gold symbolizes obedience. Thus these countries are to give political obedience and support for Christ’s kingdom reign on earth. All those who did not know God, or knew Him only in part, will willingly submit and be obedient. The submission of the kings also involves the beating of swords into plowshares. After the kings of the earth have acknowledged the anointed one and when they will have given him honor, obedience, and support [gold, presents, incense], they must demonstrate that they really do submit. God’s kingdom on earth will be a kingdom of peace with no place for weapons.
The last stage of submission concerns the acceptance of justice by the kings of the earth. Micah 4:4 says that every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree. Psalms 72:4 says clearly, “He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.”
Truly, oppression will end and justice will rule. The people will be filled with the knowledge and the love of the Lord. “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.” (Psalms 72:18) Yes, He alone does wondrous things. We may not know all the details of the execution of His plan, but it is our hope that soon we shall participate in this great work of restitution.
Let us lift up our heads, for our deliverance draweth nigh. And let us be happy that after this short time of trouble, the kingdom of peace will be established on this earth. “Blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen!” (Psalms 72:19)
– Samuel Stalder