Isaiah 60:1 say: “Arise, O woman, shed light, for your light has come. The glory of Jehovah shines on you.” The other verse them around Isaiah 60:1 show that the “woman” was Zion, or Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah during that time. (Isa. 60:14; 62:​1, 2) The city stand for the whole nation. We will answer two questions about this scripture: First, when Jerusalem “arise” and started shining spiritual light, and how it happen? Second, you think what Isaiah say get greater fulfillment in our time?

When Jerusalem “arise” and started shining spiritual light, and how it happen? The Jews were in Babylon for 70 years as slaves while the temple in Jerusalem remain in bad condition. But after the Medes and the Persians capture Babylon, Israelites from all over Babylon were free to go back to Jerusalem and start worshiping Jehovah the right way again. (Ezra 1:​1-4) Starting in 537 B.C.E., faithful people from all the 12 tribes went back to Jerusalem. (Isa. 60:4) They started making sacrifices to Jehovah, celebrating the festivals, and building the temple again. (Ezra 3:​1-4, 7-11; 6:​16-22) Jehovah glory started shining on his people again in Jerusalem. Then, they too started shining their spiritual light to all the other nations that never knew Jehovah.

But most of the things Isaiah say not fulfill that time. Most of the Israelite them not continue to obey God. (Neh. 13:27; Mal. 1:​6-8; 2:​13, 14; Matt. 15:​7-9) Later on, they even refuse to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. (Matt. 27:​1, 2) In 70 C.E, Jerusalem and the temple were destroy for the second time.

Jehovah talk about it even before it happen. (Dan. 9:​24-27) So it clear, that it was not Jehovah purpose for Jerusalem on earth to fulfill all the prophecies in Isaiah chapter 60.

You think what Isaiah say get greater fulfillment in our time? Yes, but it talking about different woman who stand for “the Jerusalem above.” The apostle Paul say: She our ma. (Gal. 4:26) The Jerusalem above that the heavenly part of God organization, and all the loyal angels part of it. Her “children” that Jesus and the 144,000 anointed Christians, who get the hope to go to heaven like Paul. The Bible call anointed Christians “a holy nation”—“the Israel of God.”—1 Pet. 2:9; Gal. 6:16.

How the Jerusalem above “arise” and “shed light”? She do it through her anointed children on earth. Compare the prophesy in Isaiah chapter 60 with what they pass through.

The anointed Christians needed to “arise” because they were in spiritual darkness when false teaching spread after the apostles die. (Matt. 13:​37-43) So they were under the control of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. The anointed Christians remain under the control of Babylon the Great until “the conclusion of the system of things,” the time that started in the year 1914. (Matt. 13:​39, 40) Right after that, in 1919, Jehovah free them from Babylon the Great. Right  away they started to shine their spiritual light by spending more time in the preaching work. a For plenty years now, people from all over the world na come to that light. And also the Israel of God that still on earth or the “kings” that Isaiah 60:3 talk about, na come to that light too.—Rev. 5:​9, 10.

In the future, anointed Christians will shine that light from Jehovah even more. How they will do it? When they die, they will go to heaven and be part of the “New Jerusalem,” or Jesus wife, the 144,000 that will rule with Jesus as kings and priests.—Rev. 14:1; 21:​1, 2, 24; 22:​3-5.

The New Jerusalem will play important part in fulfilling Isaiah 60:1. (Compare Isaiah 60:​1, 3, 5, 11, 19, 20 with Revelation 21:​2, 9-11, 22-26.) Just how Israel government use to be in Jerusalem way back, that the same way New Jerusalem and Jesus Christ will be the government in the new world. How the New Jerusalem will “[come] down out of heaven from God”? It will do it by taking action that affect the earth. All around the world, people who fear God “will walk by means of its light.” They will even be free from sin and death. (Rev. 21:​3, 4, 24) It will mean complete “restoration of all things,” just how Isaiah and the other prophet them say it. (Acts 3:21) The great restoration started when Christ became King, and it will end when his One Thousand Year Rule finish.