The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah will name. You will also be a crown of glory in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. -- Isaiah 62:2,3, RLIV.
LET us never forget that we are a "peculiar people," separate from the great body of nominal Christians, as well as from the world, having higher hopes, aims and ambitions and favored with a clearer insight into the deep things of God, having been called out of our former darkness into His marvelous light. And if thus separate from the world and from Christians who partake largely of the worldly spirit, what wonder if we find them all out of harmony with us, and either ignoring or opposing us. -- Excerpt adapted from "The Royal Priesthood" (ZWT, June 1, 2903)
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The words of our text are directly spoken to Jerusalem. Today, Israel has been restored with the city of Jerusalem as its capital. However, the nations have not yet seen the righteousness of Jerusalem, as Jerusalem has not yet been made righteous. Thus, as applied to Jerusalem which exists today in the land of Israel, this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled.
Nevertheless, we believe the greater fulfillment is not upon Jerusalem in the land of Israel, but rather we believe that this applies to the church, the antitypical Jerusalem. However, the world does no – in this age – see the righteousness of those who are members of Christ’s church. Paul lets us know that the revealing of the sons of God has not yet taken place, and we do not expect that it will take place until after Satan and his hosts are abyssed, so that Satan and his hosts will no longer be able to deceive the nations. -- Romana 8:19; Colossians 3:4; Revelation 20:3.
In the meantime, those who are members of the true church are undergoing a purification process while their faith is being tried. None of the members of the body of Christ can make themselves be fully righteous, but their righteousness is imputed to them from Jehovah through their faith in Jesus and his sacrificial offering for their sins. Nevertheless, to the extent that they are able, their submission to the law of love will cause righteousness to be seen in their flesh, as they are able to produce the fruits of the spirit in their lives.
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