CHRIST AS THE LAMB AMONG THE REDEEMED

THE REVELATION OF CHRIST AS THE LAMB AMONG THE REDEEMED 21:1-22:5

 

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."

 

 

Introduction

The Time:

1. The millennium is now finished (20:3, 5, 7). The final state now follows the millennium. There seems to be no reason why these two chapters should be regarded as describing something during the millennium.
2. The paragraph beginning with 20:11 continues right on through 21:8. This seems to be a picture of historical narrative with events taking place in order. The millennium has come to a close. Satan is loosed and destroyed. Sinners are raised and judged. The new heaven and new earth are ushered in.
3. The historical references are marked by the use of the aorist tenses, "I saw," "passed" (1); "there is no more sea" (1).

The Change:

1. The order of things is now changed for eternity. "The former things are passed away" (21:4). "First heaven and first earth were passed away" (21:1). The aorists are resultant or effec­tive, marking the completion of a process. In verse 5, Christ declares, "I am making all things new." This was begun at the Revelation of Christ and is now consummated at the close of the millennium (Isa. 65:17; 66:22.; 2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1).
2. The doom of sinful man is fixed for eternity (20:10; 21:8). This also includes Satan.
3. The portion of the saints is also fixed for eternity (22:5). Though the saints are said to reign for 1000 years (20:4, 6), this kingdom will be merged with eternity and the saints will continue on forever and ever (Dan. 2:44; 7:14, 18, 22, 27).

The Purpose:

One feature of our blessed Lord becomes prominent during this period. While Christ was viewed as the Lord of the churches during the age and the Judge and Ruler of the nations during the tribula­tion and millennium, He is unveiled as the Lamb of God during the eternal state. Seven times this fact is called to our attention during the course of these chapters (21:9, 14, 22, 23, 27; 22:1, 3). This is the number of completeness and perfection and reminds us that throughout eternity the saints of earth and sky will remember one supreme event that made it possible to enjoy supreme and eternal bless in fellowship with God. This will be the complete realization of Ephesians 1:5-6, 12, 14; and John 17:24.

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."