The Daily Word of Righteousness

Building the House of God, #9

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 22:3—NIV)

The Bride of the Lamb is the Christian Church. That is all there is to it. The Lamb has only one bride, and it is the Church.

This means the new Jerusalem is the glorified Christian Church. I guess the reason Bible teachers have trouble with the new Jerusalem being the glorified Christian Church is that they want us to stay in Heaven forever. In this they do not understand the eternal plan of God to dwell among people.

However, until a student of the Bible realizes thoroughly that the new Jerusalem is the house of God constructed from God's elect, the one Seed of Abraham, it is absolutely impossible to understand the Kingdom of God or the eternal plan of God to dwell among people in His tabernacle, His house.

How could the new Jerusalem be anything but the glorified Christian Church, the Wife of the Lamb?

Note the following characteristics of the new Jerusalem:

It is referred to as the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.

It shines with the Glory of God.

The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are engraved in the twelve foundations.

The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

The Glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

The river of the water of life flows from the Throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of its street.

On each side of the river stands the Tree of Life.

The Throne of God and of the Lamb are in the city.

And Bible scholars have trouble identifying this city as the Church of Jesus Christ?

I can't see where there is anything left in Heaven that I want. All that is desirable to the human being has come to the new earth.

How do you feel about this?

The city is referred to clearly as the "dwelling of God," in verse three of the twenty-first chapter.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." (Revelation 21:3—NIV)

We already have presented several references that state the Church, the Body of Christ, is being built as a dwelling place of God. Here the holy city is referred to as the dwelling of God.

Now, what we are dealing with here is the purpose of the coming of the Father and Son to dwell in us.

We have shown somewhat clearly, I think, that the eternal dwelling place of the Father and the Son is the new Jerusalem (the Throne of God and of the Lamb are in it).

Does the Book of Revelation tell us why God and the Lamb have chosen to dwell in the holy city, the new Jerusalem—the glorified Christian Church?

I think it does, and rather clearly. The same concept can be found in the Book of Isaiah.

The purpose for the construction of the eternal house of God is that God might dwell with people, might be with them, might be their God.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." (Revelation 21:3—NIV)

To be continued.