Mount Zion

Zion when complete beyond the vail is God’s habitation, through which he will deal with the world. The members of Zion this side the vail therefore represent his organization visible. “The Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.” (Psalm 132:13) “In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.”

The events on earth fulfilling the apostle’s words that immediately follow the above quotation prove it beyond all denial. In A. D. 1914 The Theocratic Government of the new world was born, and since then Jehovah has held the nations of earth in derision and says to them: “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Ps. 2:1-6) Therefore mount Zion represents the official Theocratic residence of Jehovah, the only true and living God.

Inasmuch as David typified the Messiah, Jehovah’s Anointed King to come, Zion became a type of Jehovah’s capital organization under His Messianic King.

We can now appreciate the prophecy of the coming of “God the Judge of all” to the true Zion, his capital organization of perfect beauty.

A city speaks of a community well organized for business, residence and worship, and having a clearly defined area with local laws and regulations, and with certain ones in authority attending to the general welfare of the citizens, such as health protection, food and water supply. Such a city was Zion with its palace and temple. It was the capital city of the nation. Zion symbolically stands for God’s organization and in particular the official part, where the throne was established.

Thus we can appreciate that the “Jerusalem above,” the “Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem,” is in reality the theocratic, universal organization of Jehovah, which organization was also symbolized by the “woman” of the Edenic prophecy.—Heb. 12:22.

Ancient Jerusalem on Mount Zion, when it was a city faithful to Jehovah God and his worship, was a prophetic picture of the spiritual Jerusalem on the heavenly Mount Zion.

Now, by being baptized with holy spirit and becoming spiritual sons of God they had really come to a spiritual Zion, a heavenly Jerusalem.

Because Jehovah's only-begotten Son Jesus Christ as a man was the Son of David, the heavenly height on which Jehovah has enthroned this glorified Son may be likened to Mount Zion.

At the end of the Gentile Times around October 4/5 in 1914, Jesus Christ was in what Hebrews 12:22 calls the “city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem,” on the heavenly Mount Zion.

Yes, that is what they had approached, the real seat of power and government, not earthly, but heavenly Jerusalem, with God, myriads of angels, the congregation of the firstborn and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

It is upon the heavenly Mount Zion that the Savior, the Lamb of God, assembles to him the 144,000 spiritual Israelites, to reign with him for a thousand years.

Ah, then, just one hundred and forty-four thousand were "bought from the earth," "bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb," for a place on the governmental Mount Zion in the heavens.

So with tears of "weeping" for joy the liberated remnant turned away from Babylon the Great and sought the spiritual Mount Zion, where their heavenly King had been standing reigning since the end of the Gentile Times in 1914.

In line with this fact, Jesus' prophecy recorded at Luke 21:24 began with an application to earthly Jerusalem but must end with reference to "heavenly Jerusalem." Yes, for "heavenly Jerusalem" has replaced earthly Jerusalem as "the city of the great King" Jehovah God. There, in that celestial "city," was the place for "the great King" Jehovah to install his glorified Son Jesus Christ at the end of the Gentile Times in 1914.

In view of these scriptures, we can see that all the 144,000—spiritually speaking—are located on Mount Zion with Jesus Christ.

This heavenly Jerusalem is none other than God's Messianic Kingdom, represented on earth today by a small band of anointed Christians who cherish the hope of being fellow rulers with Jesus Christ in that Kingdom.

The 144,000 spiritual Israelites, who will share rulership with him, are depicted as standing on heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

Their royal status is discerned in that they stand with Jehovah’s enthroned King, “the Lamb,” Jesus. And they are on heavenly Mount Zion. Earthly Mount Zion was the location of Jerusalem, Israel’s royal city. Heavenly Mount Zion represents the exalted position of Jesus and his joint heirs, who make up heavenly Jerusalem.​— 2 Chronicles 5:2; Psalm 2:6 .

This precise number is confirmed in a later chapter as being the total of those "bought from among mankind" to rule with the Lamb on the heavenly Mount Zion.

Along with him, they rule over the earth. (Rev. 5:9, 10; 14:3, 4) In the vision, John sees them standing with Jesus on heavenly Mount Zion.​—Rev. 14:1.