“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” — Revelation 21:99And 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. (Revelation 21:9).
THE eternal home of the saints was to John as a beautiful city “coming down out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” We often picture a city as a woman. We speak of London under the figure of the queen-city on the Thames. Rome comes before us both as the city that in John’s day had dominion over all the earth, and as the scarlet woman, Babylon the Great. So the New Jerusalem appears as the capital city of the glorious kingdom of God and as the Bride of the Lamb.
All the redeemed are fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God, Jerusalem, which is above, is our mother. Our citizenship is in heaven, We are but strangers here passing on to that eternal rest which remains for the people of God.
“Jerusalem the glorious!
Glory of the elect, ―
O dear and future vision
That eager hearts expect!
E’en now by faith I see thee,
E’en here thy walls discern;
To thee my thoughts are kindled,
And strive, and pant, and yearn!
O sweet and blessed Country!
Shall I e’er see thy face?
O sweet and blessed Country!
Shall I e’er win thy grace? —
Exult, O dust and ashes!
The Lord shall be thy part;
His only, His forever,
Thou shalt be, and thou art!”
―Bernard.