[502]The brightness and glory of the earth is the sun, which illuminates and gives life to the things of earth.  Scientists declare that this light is produced by explosive gas which ascends from the sun to a height of from 5,000 to 300,000 miles.  It is the brightness of the firmament; and the glory in the presence of Jehovah is illustrated by this brightness, as indicated by the Prophet:  “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament”. (Daniel 12:3) The wise ones are those who devote themselves to understanding and doing Jehovah’s will.  They are the righteous ones, who have been made so through the merit of Christ Jesus, and whom he gathers in during his presence.  When these enter into the glorious presence of Jehovah, “then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father”.  —­Matthew 13:43.

[503]It was Jesus who said to his disciples:  “In my Father’s house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you, ... that where I am, there ye may be also”. (John 14:2,3) The promise here is, then, that a special habitation shall be prepared for the church, which habitation will be in the glorious presence of the Lord Jehovah.  This holy or heavenly kingdom class, the royal family, is spoken of as Zion, and of it the Prophet of the Lord wrote:  “The Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation”. (Psalm 132:13) Of its beauty and glory the Psalmist wrote:  “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined”. (Psalm 50:2) Jehovah will shine forth through the new creation for the blessing of all the families of the earth.  The glory to be experienced by the church in the presence of Jehovah will bring unspeakable joy; for ’in his presence is fullness of joy; at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore’.—­Psalm 16:11.

[504]In the glorious presence of Jehovah, we may be sure that all will be his friends; and as an inducement to strive for that place his Prophet wrote:  “He that loveth with a pure heart and hath grace upon his lips will have the king as his friend” (Proverbs 22:11, Leeser), and he will be sure of being loved for evermore.—­Proverbs 17:17.

[505]_Honor_ applies more to a recognized station or position in God’s arrangement.  Always glorious, God is honored in the minds of his creatures who worship him.  The position of the glorified church will be that of the bride of Christ, for ever with him; and he being at the right hand of the Father, their position will be one of great honor.  The special honor, therefore, of the church is that of being the glorious bride or associate of the Lord Jesus, the King of glory.  His recognition of her station as his own wife pictures the superlative degree of her honor and glory.  Jesus said:  “Father, I will ... that they be with me where I am".—­John 17:24.