When John sees the new heaven and earth appear, he is called to come see the Bride of the Lamb[1]. He is then shown the Holy City, New Jerusalem, descending to the ground prepared as a bride.
Wow. A new heaven and earth. Sweet. And a capitol city, adorned as a bride for her ruler. Now, when God talks about a city He refers to the people who live there. Jesus made an example of this when He wept over Jerusalem, saying how much He longed to take the city in His arms[2]. Jesus didn’t want to hold the buildings, He was loving the people. In the passages of Revelation, we get not only a description of how the Holy City looks, but also of the people within it. So who are those who inhabit it?
John records hearing a loud voice declaring that God’s tabernacle is with men, that these are His people and He is their God. There are no more tears, pain, death, or sorrow, and old things are passed away. God declares all things new, and promises to give freely of the water of life to those who thirst. He says those who overcome shall inherit these things and be His sons. John says There is no temple because God and the Lamb are its temple, and there is no sun or moon because they are its light.
He goes on to say that the nations of the saved shall walk in the city’s light, that the kings and nations will bring their glory and honor into it, and that only those whose names are written in the Book of life will ever enter. John is shown the river of life, and the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of these nations. He hears it declared that the curse of separation is over and God can once again live with His servants, on whose foreheads is the name of God. They reign forever and ever.
There are two different groups here inhabiting this new earth. There are those who live in New Jerusalem where God takes residence, and there are nations of the saved who live outside the city and interact with it. Remember now, this is the new earth, all those here are His. So while most of us do live in a world with His presence, there is a special subset He draws even nearer to live with Him.
One thing we see is that God will live in the City with His servants. Servants can take the form of tradesmen, who are paid a wage and work it will, or slaves who are given neither consideration. In Old Testament times if you had a slave you had to offer him his freedom after a period of service[3]. But if you were a good and loving master he might not have wanted to leave. So you would pierce his ear as a symbol of his becoming your bondservant. In return for his agreeing to be your slave for life, you agreed to care for him and his family for life. When God speaks about His servants He speaks of His bondservants, those who when offered freedom have chosen servitude.
This City population also includes those who "overcome.” Overcome is a fighting term, meaning to gain victory against an adversary in combat. In Jesus’ letters to the churches He commends their good works, rebukes their wrongs, exhorts them to seek a special understanding, and makes a specific promise to "those who overcome.” They are promised to eat from the tree of life; to not be hurt by the second death; to be given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it unknown to any others but themselves and God. They are to be given power over the nations. They are also to be given the morning star, to be clothed in white and to never have their names blotted out from the book of life but confessed before the Father and His angels. They are to be made pillars in the temple of God and to never go out from it, and to have written on them the name of the City of God. Given new names they are granted to sit down with Jesus on His throne as was granted Him when He overcame and sat down with the Father.
These promises are all identifiable to those given by John to the inhabitants of New Jerusalem. One new promise is that of being given the morning star. Jesus called himself the Morning Star[4], and promised to give Himself as such to His Bride.
These people also eat from the tree of life, whereas in the earlier passage we saw that the leaves of the tree are for the nations.
Let’s look at that word ‘Overcoming’. In Revelation those who overcome are to be clothed in white. Daniel, in his visions, was told that after the beast had overcome the saints, many will be refined, purified, and made white. Then in Revelation 7:9-17 we see a vast multitude standing before the throne of God, wearing white robes and praising Him. These are described as those who come out of the great tribulation having washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb. These are promised to serve God before His throne day and night, and God will dwell among them. They hunger and thirst no more; the sun does not shine on them; the Lamb of the Throne will shepherd them and lead them to living waters; and their tears are wiped away. Rev. 6:9-11 shows us the souls of those slain for the Word of God and His testimony under the altar, and they cry out to God asking when He will avenge their blood. They are each given a white robe and are told to rest a while longer until the number of their brethren who are likewise killed is complete.
Dwelling on the word "overcome”, if we dig a little more we find two specific things overcome in the end time. One is the world, the other is Satan. We find that the world is overcome by the Blood of Jesus, but the Blood of the Lamb is specifically named in connection with the casting out of Satan[5]. We were told that Satan is overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, and the testimony of ‘those who do not love their lives unto death’.
This should put together some kind of picture for you. Jesus’ bride are those who have sealed themselves to God as true bondslaves willing to die for Him. They will be His Bide and live with Him in the City. And the rest of us will live outside the City in nations of the saved.
[HR][/HR][1] Rev. 21, 22
[2] Matt. 23:37
[3] Gen. 21:1-6
[4] Rev. 22:16
[5] Rev. 7 and 12
Wow. A new heaven and earth. Sweet. And a capitol city, adorned as a bride for her ruler. Now, when God talks about a city He refers to the people who live there. Jesus made an example of this when He wept over Jerusalem, saying how much He longed to take the city in His arms[2]. Jesus didn’t want to hold the buildings, He was loving the people. In the passages of Revelation, we get not only a description of how the Holy City looks, but also of the people within it. So who are those who inhabit it?
John records hearing a loud voice declaring that God’s tabernacle is with men, that these are His people and He is their God. There are no more tears, pain, death, or sorrow, and old things are passed away. God declares all things new, and promises to give freely of the water of life to those who thirst. He says those who overcome shall inherit these things and be His sons. John says There is no temple because God and the Lamb are its temple, and there is no sun or moon because they are its light.
He goes on to say that the nations of the saved shall walk in the city’s light, that the kings and nations will bring their glory and honor into it, and that only those whose names are written in the Book of life will ever enter. John is shown the river of life, and the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of these nations. He hears it declared that the curse of separation is over and God can once again live with His servants, on whose foreheads is the name of God. They reign forever and ever.
There are two different groups here inhabiting this new earth. There are those who live in New Jerusalem where God takes residence, and there are nations of the saved who live outside the city and interact with it. Remember now, this is the new earth, all those here are His. So while most of us do live in a world with His presence, there is a special subset He draws even nearer to live with Him.
One thing we see is that God will live in the City with His servants. Servants can take the form of tradesmen, who are paid a wage and work it will, or slaves who are given neither consideration. In Old Testament times if you had a slave you had to offer him his freedom after a period of service[3]. But if you were a good and loving master he might not have wanted to leave. So you would pierce his ear as a symbol of his becoming your bondservant. In return for his agreeing to be your slave for life, you agreed to care for him and his family for life. When God speaks about His servants He speaks of His bondservants, those who when offered freedom have chosen servitude.
This City population also includes those who "overcome.” Overcome is a fighting term, meaning to gain victory against an adversary in combat. In Jesus’ letters to the churches He commends their good works, rebukes their wrongs, exhorts them to seek a special understanding, and makes a specific promise to "those who overcome.” They are promised to eat from the tree of life; to not be hurt by the second death; to be given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it unknown to any others but themselves and God. They are to be given power over the nations. They are also to be given the morning star, to be clothed in white and to never have their names blotted out from the book of life but confessed before the Father and His angels. They are to be made pillars in the temple of God and to never go out from it, and to have written on them the name of the City of God. Given new names they are granted to sit down with Jesus on His throne as was granted Him when He overcame and sat down with the Father.
These promises are all identifiable to those given by John to the inhabitants of New Jerusalem. One new promise is that of being given the morning star. Jesus called himself the Morning Star[4], and promised to give Himself as such to His Bride.
These people also eat from the tree of life, whereas in the earlier passage we saw that the leaves of the tree are for the nations.
Let’s look at that word ‘Overcoming’. In Revelation those who overcome are to be clothed in white. Daniel, in his visions, was told that after the beast had overcome the saints, many will be refined, purified, and made white. Then in Revelation 7:9-17 we see a vast multitude standing before the throne of God, wearing white robes and praising Him. These are described as those who come out of the great tribulation having washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb. These are promised to serve God before His throne day and night, and God will dwell among them. They hunger and thirst no more; the sun does not shine on them; the Lamb of the Throne will shepherd them and lead them to living waters; and their tears are wiped away. Rev. 6:9-11 shows us the souls of those slain for the Word of God and His testimony under the altar, and they cry out to God asking when He will avenge their blood. They are each given a white robe and are told to rest a while longer until the number of their brethren who are likewise killed is complete.
Dwelling on the word "overcome”, if we dig a little more we find two specific things overcome in the end time. One is the world, the other is Satan. We find that the world is overcome by the Blood of Jesus, but the Blood of the Lamb is specifically named in connection with the casting out of Satan[5]. We were told that Satan is overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, and the testimony of ‘those who do not love their lives unto death’.
This should put together some kind of picture for you. Jesus’ bride are those who have sealed themselves to God as true bondslaves willing to die for Him. They will be His Bide and live with Him in the City. And the rest of us will live outside the City in nations of the saved.
[HR][/HR][1] Rev. 21, 22
[2] Matt. 23:37
[3] Gen. 21:1-6
[4] Rev. 22:16
[5] Rev. 7 and 12