Correspondence.
Bromley. — If the Bride, the Lamb’s wife, is the Church, how is it its description is so Israelitish? (Rev. 21:2, 9, 14). The twelve gates and twelve angels represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve foundations represent the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Is not this figurative of a future oneness? I have hitherto for many years believed the Church to be the Body and the Bride of Christ the Lord, and future Lamb’s wife. Some say the Body cannot be the Bride, but I consider Adam and Eve is an illustration to the contrary.
THIS opens a large and most interesting field of inquiry. We believe our correspondent is quite right in what for many years he has believed.
But there is nothing Israelitish in verse 2. It has often been pointed out that Revelation 21:1-9 describes the eternal state, in contrast to Revelation 21:10-22:5, which shows the features of the Church during millennial times. In eternity all nationalities cease; there will be no Jews as distinct from other men. The Church will hold a special place throughout eternity (see Eph. 3:21) Her position will then be in the heavens; she will be the tabernacle of God, and so far as the inhabitants of the new earth are concerned, they are spoken of simply as “men,” — redeemed men no doubt, but not distinguished as Jews or Gentiles, as is the case now.
Without doubt the Church is the Bride of Christ; that she is also the Body presents no difficulty; besides this the Church is the House of God. These are different figures illustrating the varied relationships in which she stands.
In the latter part of the Apocalypse the sham church, Babylon, occupies a very prominent position. It is Satan’s masterpiece of iniquity, as to which the people of God needed to be thoroughly well informed, in order that they might reject with horror its false pretensions.
And it is remarkable that the same form of expression is used by the Spirit of God, when calling the prophet’s attention to the true as well as the false (compare Rev. 17:1 and 21:9).
Overwhelming judgment will be the portion of the false ecclesiastical system; heavenly glory will be the home of the true.
Personally, we have not a doubt that the Church is the Bride, the Lamb’s wife; others have written fully and clearly upon this point, and their works are open to all, and can be had of our publisher.
But we should like more light upon “the holy city, New Jerusalem.” Perhaps some of our readers, after prayerful study, may send us some brief remarks upon this point, which at our discretion we may insert in future numbers.
Are the “City” and the “Bride” exactly coextensive? To some, Revelation 21:9, 10, seems to imply that they are; but for ourselves, we are inclined to think that the city represents the whole heavenly company, in contrast to the earthly. In the eternal state there will be earthly saints, simply designated “men” (Rev. 21:3). These inhabitants of the new earth will reach their eternal, blessed abode, not through death, but transformed by the mighty power of God, and preserved amidst the dissolution of the elements when our present earth and heaven flee away. There is no Scripture that leads one to suppose that millennial saints will die.
We are told in Hebrews 11 That Abraham “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Is not this most suggestive of the account given in Revelation 21:9 to end of the holy city with its twelve foundations?
Then, again, speaking of Old Testament saints, God “hath prepared for them a city” (Heb. 11:16).
In the interesting account given of the city in its millennial relations (Rev. 21:9, &c.), we see angels standing at its gates, and “names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”
Angelic hosts will be its doorkeepers; nothing that defiles can enter in (Rev. 21:27), but those who have washed their robes may enter in through the gates into the city (Rev. 22:14). The redeemed and glorified saints of every age from Abel to the last Apocalyptic martyr will pass in and out of those pearly gates with unquestioned title.
Glorious and blessed company! triumphant trophies of Christ’s redemptive work!
While the Church will ever hold a special place, yet there will be a joyful and happy intermingling of heaven’s inhabitants.
ED.