set time is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity upon her dust. So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth thy glory: For Jehovah hath built up Zion; he hath appeared in his glory.” “His foundation is in the holy mountains. Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.” “Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, at the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it for ever.” “Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever.” “Jehovah . . . is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack. Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.” (Pss. 102:13-16; 87:1-3; 68:16; 48:2, 8; Zeph. 3:15-17, AS) The capital city of the universe is Zion, the joy and delight of the whole earth, for his beloved Son is its foundation and everyone in it speaks Jehovah’s praise.

Laying the Stone in Completion

1. Show how the Scriptures mark the time for the building of Zion.

THE Stone is placed in its proper position for eternity when the Lord appears in his glory. This is at the second appearing of Christ Jesus, for it is then he comes with glory. The Scriptures are very explicit on this matter. “The glory of his strength, at the time he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder in connection with all those who exercised faith.” (2 Thess. 1:9, 10, NW) “For the Son of man is destined to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will recompense each one according to his behavior.” (Matt. 16:27, NW) “And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will go to wailing and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet-sound and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.” (Matt. 24:30, 31, NW) He is the Royal Majesty from the heavens, a Ruler in his own right. The will of his Father shall then be done and the Father’s name, Jehovah, be praised everywhere. “You must pray, then, this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will come to pass, as in heaven, also upon earth.’”—Matt. 6:9, 10, NW.