[582]The Lord through his prophet Zechariah gives a wonderful picture of the establishment of this kingdom and of the blessings that will come.  The prophecy is written in highly symbolic phrase.  It reads:  “His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.  And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal:  yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” (Zechariah 14:4,5) “His feet” in this prophecy represent Jehovah’s feet; while mountain symbolizes kingdom.  The olive is a symbol of light, peace, and divine blessing; hence the picture is that Jehovah’s authority, represented by his feet, will be established upon earth, by a kingdom of light, peace, and blessing.  The cleaving of this mountain in the midst, showing a part on the north and a part on the south, pictures the two phases, heavenly and earthly, of the Messianic kingdom; and the valley between represents the valley of blessings.  Into this valley the sin-sick, sore, feeble, oppressed, yea all, shall flee and there receive the blessings of the Lord, which will make them rich in health and peace and happiness for ever.

[583]Every one, then, who believes God’s Word and who confidently expects the kingdom to bring blessings to mankind and who sees it now being established should watch for the return of Abraham and the other faithful prophets and get into communication with them as soon as possible after their return.  And acting under their advice, all such will doubtless find early many opportunities of service, which will bring to them blessings and happiness.

[584]The Psalmist gives us another picture of this kingdom of blessing, saying:  “The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof”. (Psalm 50:1) The earth here represents the new organized government.  The rising of the sun means the beginning of the Messianic reign; while its going down pictures the completion of that reign.  Therefore, throughout the whole Millennial reign the Lord will be calling to the peoples of earth to come into this valley of blessing and receive life, peace, and happiness.  “He shall call to the heavens [the spiritual, invisible part of the kingdom] from above, and to the earth [the new organized government], that he may judge his people.” (Psalm 50:4) To judge means to give opportunity for blessings by means of a trial; and this is in harmony with the other statements of the Scriptures that every one must have a fair trial for life.

THE DEAD TO RISE