KINGDOM - OLOGY 34

The Sociological Arrangement of the Kingdom is Projected into the Eternal State 

        Two areas of concern are set forth in Revelation having to do with the inhabitants of the eternal state. The first has to do with the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem, the capital city, and the second has to do with the vast population that will dwell in the earth outside the city. It must be remembered that the city includes both a population and a place; this is not out of character with our evaluations of cities today.

            The population of the New Jerusalem is the matter of first concern in the Revelation. It is described as a bride and as the tabernacle of God (Rev. 21:2-3, 9). As the bride of Christ, she was sought out, purchased, prepared and wedded to the Son of God. He chose her before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). He sought her out from among the Gentiles (Acts 15:14). He purchased here with His own precious blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25). He prepared her for presentation to Himself (Eph. 5:26-27). And at last, fully arrayed in garments clean and white, He took her to Himself (Rev. 19:7-8). This city is her city. It is the place where the King and the Queen will abide forever. This is where the Father's house resides and where He went to prepare a place for her, His bride. This is where the mansions are seen for this is where the upper heirarchy of the Kingdom of God resides. This does not mean that others will not be there. The Old Testament saints will be there as attendants to the bride (John 3:29). And the tribulation martyrs will also be part of this great household (Heb. 12:22-24). In addition, this household will enjoy the services of an innumerable company of angels whose business is not only to serve God and assist the saints before salvation, but also for all eternity. As part of this nobility there is the Triune God; the Father who is the Judge of all, Jesus who is the Mediator of the new covenant; and the Spirit who dwells within this assembly of saints. A city of the heirarchy. No wonder the many mansions reside there. He was telling His faithful that night in the upper room of this city He was going to prepare for her. And that He would return for her to wash her feet before entering this city and her habitation.

            The population of the earth outside the city is described in Rev. 21:24-27. Here are nations that are saved (vs. 24). This means that they came out of the period of tribulation and the millennium where they heard the gospel and believed to the saving of their souls. We must assume that since no word to the contrary appears in the Scriptures that they did not die nor experience any transformation. They are living in natural bodies from which the curse has been lifted and the old nature is gone.

            During the tribulation and the millennium the greatest periods of evangelization in the history of the world have taken place: during the tribulation under the most adverse circumstances; and during the millennium under the most favorable circumstances. Every part of the earth will be reached with the message of salvation during the tribulation (Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10). A specially prepared and protected people will perform this ministry, the 144,000 (Rev. 11:3-12; 7:1-8; 14:1-5). During the millennium this ministry will be spearheaded by the nation of Israel. At last this people, who were called to function as priests between God and a lost world, will have come into their own (Exod. 19:6). As a result they will be "named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the ministers of our God" (Isa. 61:6). Through their ministry "all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (Isa. 52:10; Matt. 24:14; Mark 13:10).

            How many billions of people may make up this population cannot possibly be known. But it should be recognized that during the millennium alone, where there is a population explosion, under the most favorable circumstances, where life is prolonged to great age, where disease and death are reduced to almost an absolute minimum, and where the ravages of war are done away, the multiplication of humanity will reach astounding proportions. You get some idea of the number, when you realize that the rebellion at the end, itself, is as the sands of the sea (Rev. 20:8). But this rebellion most certainly constitutes only a small part in relation to the stupendous population of the earth as it then exists.

            Will there be sufficient room for this multitude? If we can depend on the fact that there is no more sea, and changes in the earth's surface has made the deserts, mountains, and artic regions habitable, then there will be thirty-two times as much space for people to live. To move from one fourth of the earth's surface that is now habitable into thirty-two times that amount, surely no one will lack for room to enjoy the fruits of this new order. There is no word of Scripture which tells us anything about procreation. Those in the New Jerusalem are resurrected and transformed saints so they neither marry nor are given in marriage, nor do they bear children (Luke 20:36). But the nations outside the city are living in natural bodies. If in the original creation Adam and Eve were commanded to multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28), then perhaps this may also take place in the restored earth. In any event, whatever be the course of events, it will be good and righteous and holy.

            Not only are those who take up their residence in the eternal city completely saved people, but also those who dwell in the outer regions of the earth. Of them it is said that they make pilgrimages to the Holy City to bring their glory and honor before the sovereign (Rev. 21:24-26). Because of this, it is also affirmed that: "There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:27). That speaks of being both bathed and washed before entry. This means that every member of this vast population is a completely saved person. There is therefore no peril, or even the slightest possibility of peril that this perfect environment will suffer what happened to the original creation.