God does not glorify his overcomers simply to judge the earth, however. He glorifies them to restore the earth.
‘Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:1-2)
Psalm 48 calls “the city of our God” by several names here, “his holy mountain,” “Mount Zion” and,
the city of the great King.” The beginning prophecy of this series from Isaiah 2 calls this city, “the mountain of the house of the LORD.” The Book of Revelation further reveals the name of this city as “New Jerusalem.” Revelation further tells us that the sons of God, the overcomers, actually comprise this city, or house. The apostle Paul teaches obedient believers in Christ are “living stones” that make up God’s temple. This temple Paul speaks of is actually New Jerusalem, the city of God. Thus we understand that God gives his city many different names, for example, “the city of our God,” “the city of the great King,” “Jerusalem,” “Mount Zion,” “the mountain of the house of the LORD,” and finally “New Jerusalem.” God wrote the Bible in parables. Natural historical stories ultimately become spiritual realities. God’s goal for each of us is that we ultimately make it to his city. Even more than that, he intends that we literally become part of this spiritual city. New Jerusalem, therefore, is not to be confused with old carnal Jerusalem in the middle eastern ancient land of natural Israel. Just as God did not return to Shiloh, neither shall he return to natural Jerusalem to dwell. This is why John names the city “New Jerusalem” in the Book of Revelation. You can find many posts concerning New Jerusalem on this site by using the search bar. Today I want to focus on the spiritual light which Psalm 48 and other Scriptures bring to our understanding of God’ city and those who comprise it, the mountains of Israel.
Psalm 48 portrays New Jerusalem as a “holy mountain.” Here in these first two verses we also learn that God calls it “Mount Zion,” that it is said to be “in the far north,” and that it is “the city of the great King,” God himself. Now, by applying simple logic, we discern that the glorified overcomers must literally become God’s holy mountain and thus Mount Zion itself. This we can discern because we already know that the overcomers become New Jerusalem according to Revelation 21-22 and that New Jerusalem itself is the city of God because God dwells there according to Revelation 21:3, 10, 11, 22, 23, and Revelation 22:1-5. These verses literally reveal the overcomers as being like God himself. How can that be? you ask. Isn’t that blasphemy? Well, that is what Jesus was crucified for saying about himself.
I am sure these last sentences above surprise some of you, but consider that God intends his sons to become the exact representation of himself. Thus the Scripture says of Jesus, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high….” (Hebrews 1:3) Now re-read the last prophecy from Ken Visscher that I posted a few weeks ago. There he speaks of overcomers literally sitting on the throne with Jesus and thus becoming actually identified with him. When we appear on earth, he says, we will appear as Jesus himself. But why should this surprise any of us? Did not Jesus teach his disciples that we believers would be as one with him? Did not Paul teach that this identification is like the mystery of a husband and wife who become “one flesh?” Did not Jesus himself prophecy through John, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21 NKJV) How can you sit in the same seat as another person unless you are that person?
Now let’s consider some more prophecies concerning God’s mountains and see how they relate to these new ideas. Ezekiel prophesies an amazing word concerning the identity of these high hills. He says,
8 “But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 9 For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10 And I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt. 11 And I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12 I will let people walk on you, even my people Israel. And they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance…. (Ezekiel 36:8-12)
How can a mountain know that God is the Lord? God is not speaking of literal mountains here; he is speaking of people who become mountains in the eyes of the rest of the world. These mountains are his glorified overcomers. This prophesy from Ezekiel dovetails with the following one from Isaiah:
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
10 For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain…. (Isaiah 25:6-10)
Remember now that Revelation 12:1-6 describes “the woman” (all Israel) who gives birth to the manchild who will then feed her, the manchild’s mother, for 1260 days in the wilderness. Revelation prophesies that God’s glorified overcomers will miraculously provide for the rest of God’s people who are not yet mature when the tribulation begins. Please read Leland Earls’ prophecies concerning this which you can find in the links to the right.
Following are more prophecies from Isaiah concerning these mountains:
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,
and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.
And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
[ The Greatness of God ] Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up.
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
Finally, consider this amazing prophecy that comprises the entire 60th chapter of Isaiah. This prophecy describes that which is about to take place when God glorifies his firstfruits, the very first men and women of creation who actually become part of New Jerusalem, part of the Kingdom of God. When you read this you will understand why Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.“ (Matthew 11:11)
60 Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,[a]
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;
the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,
and I will beautify my beautiful house.
8 Who are these that fly like a cloud,
and like doves to their windows?
9 For the coastlands shall hope for me,
the ships of Tarshish first,
to bring your children from afar,
their silver and gold with them,
for the name of the Lord your God,
and for the Holy One of Israel,
because he has made you beautiful.
10 Foreigners shall build up your walls,
and their kings shall minister to you;
for in my wrath I struck you,
but in my favor I have had mercy on you.
11 Your gates shall be open continually;
day and night they shall not be shut,
that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
with their kings led in procession.
12 For the nation and kingdom
that will not serve you shall perish;
those nations shall be utterly laid waste.
13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
the cypress, the plane, and the pine,
to beautify the place of my sanctuary,
and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14 The sons of those who afflicted you
shall come bending low to you,
and all who despised you
shall bow down at your feet;
they shall call you the City of the Lord,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
with no one passing through,
I will make you majestic forever,
a joy from age to age.
16 You shall suck the milk of nations;
you shall nurse at the breast of kings;
and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
and instead of iron I will bring silver;
instead of wood, bronze,
instead of stones, iron.
I will make your overseers peace
and your taskmasters righteousness.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
devastation or destruction within your borders;
you shall call your walls Salvation [salvation is the translation of the Hebrew word Yeshua which is Jesus’ Hebrew name]
and your gates Praise.
19 The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;[b]
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.[c]
20 Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
21 Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.[d]
22 The least one shall become a clan,
and the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the Lord;
in its time I will hasten it. (Isaiah 60 ESV)
John the Baptist, great as he was, was still a man and, therefore, still subject to his sinful nature. Like all of us he “mourned” over his sinful, imperfect condition until he died. The “least” in the Kingdom of God will be perfect with respect to character. This is the high calling of God. This is the stature of God’s overcomers. These are the mountains of Israel!
