14. Yea, and for our greater assurance, the blessings He gives and the place to which He leads, are, as well as the persons of the blessed, connected with the blood; for it is written-(read
from vers. 18-28), verse 22-" Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these.; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is.... entered.... into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."
Two more things are taught us here; first, that the place to which we go is secured for us by the blood; and, secondly, that all the blessings, " the good things to come," are also blood-bought and in some sense blood-adorned, or scented with the sweet savor of the blood, while its being for " us" connects the persons of the blessed likewise with the blood. Thus we see (as in Rev. 4 and v.) the throne of God Himself is not without the Lamb that was slain, nor is there one spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Eph. 1) but what is ours, and all of them in Christ Jesus, who was the Lamb that was slain and is alive again for evermore. This is important; for as we now stand in grace, and are "rejoicing in hope of the glory of God " (Rom. 5), so, when in the glory, we shall see around us every memorial of grace. Now we see glory from the position of grace in which we stand, as it is written, " Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD." Hereafter we shall be in glory, but the brightest part of its effulgent brilliancy will be that which still tells of grace as the way by which we got there. Thus, in Rev. 7, the post of peculiar honor, of the innumerable multitude whom no man could number, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, is thus characterized; it is-" before the throne and before the Lamb." Their lovely chorus too brings Him in-" Salvation to our God.... and unto the Lamb." And if their robes be so white-whiter than any fuller could whiten 'them-they "have washed them and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." And if their portion be a full one (that they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat), it is a portion they find at the hand of Jesus; as it is written: "For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water." And no sooner can it be said (Rev. 19:6) " Alleluia! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!" than we see the first-fruits of His power in what is added, " Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me [telling out the fullness of his joy in the thought of giving it as an abiding known portion to us on earth], Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And.... these are the true sayings of God." Yea, and the very "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God," tells the same tale of grace even in its glory. It is (chap. 21:9) there where the bride, the Lamb's wife, is to be seen. And its twelve gates bear the names of Israel; of whom redemption in its earthly progress treats; of whom, concerning the flesh, Jesus was born: the chief trial of God's patience, and grace, and faithfulness in time; and in eternity, THE proof of the Lamb's worthiness and fullness. Its foundations, too, have in them (ver. 14) the name of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb (ver. 22); and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Ver. 23.) The Lamb's book of life is the registry of its inhabitants (ver. 27); and its refreshment, a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb (chap. 22:1); for the throne there is the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Ver. 3.) And they who are His servants now shall then serve Him perfectly, seeing His face, and bearing " His name aloft upon their foreheads "-a diadem of beauty and glory indeed! Into what a sphere of grace and truth does hope launch the soul-a world where all the moral worth, and all the moral glory of the Lamb who shed His blood shall be known-where not one hindrance shall exist to the full manifestation and full apprehension of grace and truth, as revealed by Jesus Christ. How tender toward us is all this, and how cheering the prospect! The good things to come, of which Christ (Heb. 9:11) is become a high priest, will each and all have some fresh tale to tell us of that redeeming love in which as sinners we have taken refuge, being all fresh links of communion with the Lamb that was slain.
As to the other point, referred to first, THE PLACE itself being secured for us by the blood, I need only mention the heart and mind of Him who, now being gone there to prepare a place for us, will come again, and receive us unto Himself; and who as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. entereth into that within the veil; whither as the forerunner He is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.
This is all the result of His one finished and now long ago accepted sacrifice of Himself.
And the thoughts of His mind, now, are not about making a way to God, for that He has done; but of coming back to receive to glory those that honor that way. Now (ver. 26) once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself... yea.... Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. The guilt, ALL the guilt of the believer, has then been put away by the sacrifice of Christ, who was once offered to bear their sins: His sacrifice and offering were not in vain, and unto them that knowing this sacrifice, look for Him, He will appear again unto salvation.