(Chapter 21)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 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. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Rev 21:1 - 7)

Chapter 21 is mostly concerned with the Bride, and her Husband - the wife of the Lamb. But Jesus has done EVERYTHING; and is fully God - so, it has both sovereignty of God, and some creation statements. We shall take a quick look at those before we consider the Bride.

God is triune. God is three distinct individuals - all EQUAL; all SOVEREIGN; submitted to each other; completely HOLY; and completely PERFECT.

These three distinct, complete individuals - are commonly referred to as: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Joseph Seiss in his book: The Apocalypse - made the following observations:

[There is a sacred arithmetic, as well as sacred persons, places, and times. Numbers in the Scriptures are as significant as words. They are as much a part of the Apocalypse as anything else. And there is as much resting upon them, as upon any other class of particulars contained in this book; as we shall see when we come to consider them . . .

There is a sacred significance in numbers : not cabalistic, not fanciful; but proceeding from the very nature of things, well settled in the Scriptures, and universally acknowledged in all the highest and deepest systems of human thought and religion. The unit, one, is the source and parent of all numbers . It therefore stands for God, in the most hidden absoluteness of His being, in which the whole Godhead, and all things, stand. "There is one God, and there is none other but He" (Mark 12:32). One expresses commencement, and God is the commencement. The unit underlies all continuation, and by God all things consist. And nothing can so well express the absolute First Cause, as the number ONE. It stands for the absolute Unity in heaven, and the abstract individual on earth. But Godhead, as let forth to the contemplation of rational beings, is a Trinity-a One Three and a Three One. Nearly all the leading nations of antiquity, in harmony with revelation, have so represented Him. In this Trinity, the Son is the second. Two, therefore, stands for Christ, and is significant of in-completion, or something missing. It is the first from the one, and reposes on the one, and is necessary to the making up of the first complete complex number, but is not complete in itself. It is the productive number, but it is only complete when the product is added. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Man and wife are two-one, but the product of dual unity is needed to complete the family. Three is the number of individual completion. It is composed of three numbers , each of which is in itself one, and which multiplied together still make only one. Three, therefore, represents the Trinity, each number of which is God, and yet the Three together are still only One. It is the simplest composite unity, and forms the simplest compound figure in geometry-the equal-sided triangle, which is indivisible, and unresolvable into anything else. It is the first and fixed compound unit of mathematical science. It therefore properly stands for the Trinity and individual completeness. As such, it has also been done in all God's works. Man is body, soul, and spirit-three-one. The family is man, and wife, and offspring-three-one. Religion is knowledge, action, and experience-three-one.] (The Apocalypse: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation; by Jospeph A Seiss (Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1998 by Biblesoft))

Chapter 21 of Revelation Prophecy - is mostly about the Bride of Christ; or the Wife of the Lamb.

In Revelation - we saw the other two major references to the Bride - with Chapter 7; and then Chapter 14.

THREE is the number of individual completion; and of the Trinity. The very first reference to the Bride is in Revelation Chapter 3, starting with verse 7 - addressing the ‘church’ of Philadelphia.

We then have the two chapters of 7 & 14; and finally we come to the last chapter with major references to the Wife of the Lamb; and who she is - chapter 21. (R6:6 & R12 discuss the escape of the Bride) Three times Seven equals Twenty One. And so, in Revelation Prophecy - God put His last major description and reference to the Wonderful WIFE of Jesus - at Chapter 21.

Now, JESUS is the HEAD of ALL!! So, before we come to the major description and focus on the Bride (most of R21) - Revelation Prophecy again declares WHO is GOD; and the SOVEREIGNTY of JESUS; and who HE is; and WHAT HE has DONE; and is going to DO!!

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (R21:1 & 2)

A totally NEW heaven; and a NEW earth! The OLD has passed away! And the Holy City - the new Jerusalem - comes down out of heaven - as a BRIDE for her husband!

Will a city Jerusalem exist during the Millennium? YES! Will the WIFE of the Lamb - BE an actual CITY??

NO!

The Wife of the Lamb is composed of various believers who LOVED just as JESUS LOVED; with passion, conviction, and as GOD would have us LOVE. She repented of her sins; and LOVED so much - that God declared her to be a VIRGIN and BLAMELESS!!

SHE is a group of SAINTS - who have become the WIFE of the LAMB. She has become equal with God; and is married to the Lamb. She has AUTHORITY. And she is ONE with JESUS - while consisting of many, many people - who made themselves ready to be a Wife for the lamb. They CLOTHED themselves with the OIL of the HOLY SPIRIT; and all that HE would have them do and become!

Will a CITY exist? Probably. But, this description is of the WIFE - who is being described as a CITY - since the dwelling place of God was supposed to be in the Temple which was located in the city of Jerusalem. And now the WIFE is shining with the Glory of God (R21:11); and is described in wonderful, beautiful terms . . . while not meaning that God is going to take people and make them become a cube with walls; unable to move . . .

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. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Rev 21:3 - 7)

God is now intimately dwelling with men; and ALL pain and tears are gone! NO more death!

GOD makes everything new; and declares that these words (this prophecy) are TRUSTWORTHY and TRUE! God takes the time to declare that this is an IMPORTANT prophecy! And that HE is the BEGINNING and the END. And that HE will give the water of LIFE without COST; to those who are thirsty and have overcome!

GOD has PAID our debts! HE LOVES us; and asks us to TRUSTS him!

The phrase: Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End is interesting. The Greeks have a word ALPHA. And the Greek alphabet names the first letter of the Greek Alphabet - ALPHA.

ALPHA - a[lfa [G270] (Alpha, “{First} or {Beginning}”) The word ALPHA is used - referencing the very first letter of the Greek Alphabet - but using the word which means FIRST.

OMEGA - \W [G6042] (letter of the Greek alphabet; Omega) This is just the LAST letter of the Greek Alphabet. It is not a ‘word’ in the strictest sense of the term. It is a LETTER. It is used as a word (Omega) and found only in the following three instances: R1:8 ; 21:6; 22:13 Always small case in those three locations: w\

[Alpha and Omega

in Christianity, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, used to designate the comprehensiveness of God, implying that God includes all that can be. In the New Testament Revelation to John, the term is used as the self-designation of God and of Christ. The reference in Revelation likely had a Jewish origin, based on such Old Testament passages as Isa. 44:6 (“I am the first and the last”), and Ps. 90:2 (“from everlasting to everlasting thou art God”). In rabbinic literature, the word emet (“truth”), composed of the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, is “the seal of God,” and in Judaic tradition it carries somewhat the same connotation as Alpha and Omega.] (Copyright © 1994-2002 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc; 2002 Deluxe Edition CD-Rom v2002.01.0002.0)

In the above scriptures - we have the declaration (in a LOUD voice) - that the dwelling place of GOD is now with MEN!

No more sin separates us. SIN does not exist any longer. Unrighteousness no longer exists. ALL those who refused to repent and accept Jesus are in eternal torment (Hell); and God has made EVERYTHING new; and is now dwelling with Holy, Sanctified; men! And we LOVE being with Him and our God!

This declaration that GOD is now dwelling with us - flows into the declaration and statement of the Alpha and the Omega. This is a SOVEREIGNTY statement. It is a GOD statement. It is an absolute statement. A statement of power, authority, rulership, all rolled into one . . .

JESUS or the CHRIST - is the ONLY one who has DIED for us - and been resurrected! He has ALL authority - in Heaven - and on Earth!. SOVEREIGN. Scripture is so very clear that Jesus is GOD! And that he LOVES us; and FREED us from our sins!

. . . and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood . . . (Rev 1:5)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Rev 22:12 - 13)

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations . . . (Rev 2:26)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Mt 28:18)

Jesus is seated on His throne; and also makes the following statement:

. . . To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Rev 21:6 - 7)

Chapter 21 is focused on the Wife of the Lamb; and it is focused on Jesus. Which is why it declares Him to be God. It also continues and states that Jesus is making everything new! The triune God created it in the first place (beginning); and now He is making it anew!

Will this new heaven and earth - have an ocean, or any type of sea?? Well, the first earth was declared ‘good’ before the corruption brought about by sin. All of the fish and water life were declared ‘good.’

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

The above verse would seem to indicate that this new Earth will not have any boating possibilities.

However; in Revelation prophecy - the word ‘sea’ seems to have several meanings. Just as in the rest of the scriptures.

        1. A body of water.

        2. A place or heart purified from sin.

        3. Pure water cleansing everything it touches.

        4. A group of sinful, wicked people.

        5. A multitude of many diverse people.

        6. An abode or dwelling place of unrighteousness and sin.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Rev 5:13) {1}

. . . “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. (Rev 18:17) {1}

Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal . . . (Rev 4:6) {2}

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God . . . ( Rev 15:2) {2}

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb . . . (Rev 22:1) {3}

He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. (Ezekiel 47:8 - 9) {3}

And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. (Rev 13:1) {4)

For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. (Rev 11:9) {4}

. . . “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. ( Rev 17:1) {4}

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus . . . (Rev 17:6) {4}

Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. (Rev 17:15) {4 & 5}

Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. (Rev 12:15) {4 & 6}

The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. (Rev 20:13) {6}

I believe that in (R21:1) when it states that no sea exists; it is actually stating that no more SIN exists. All is new, and perfect; and no more sin or unrighteousness. It is entirely possible that I am wrong; and it is stating that no more seas or lakes or oceans will exist on the new earth. But Jesus states He is making EVERYTHING new; and that would probably include sea life. And considering that the word ‘sea’ & ‘water’ references both purity and sin - in the book of revelation (and other scriptures); it is entirely probable that this is a statement of “No more SIN!”

[SEA (Heb. ym, Gr. thalassa). In the Bible the term is used in several ways.

1. The ocean, the gathering of the waters at the creation, is called sea (Gen 1:10; Ps 8:8; 24:2).

2. Almost any body of water, salt or fresh, is called sea. The Mediterranean (Acts 10:6), the Sea of Galilee (Num 34:11; Matt 4:18), the Dead Sea (Deut 3:17), and the Red Sea (Exod 13:18; 14:2) are referred to in Scripture. Obviously, not all of these would be called seas by us. Galilee is a lake, being only about twelve and a half by seven and a half miles (twenty-one by thirteen km.) in size, but it is often called a sea.

3. Even rivers may, in poetic language, be called a sea: the Nile (Isa 18:2; 19:5) and the Euphrates (21:1).

4. The basin in Solomon’s temple was called a sea (see BRONZE SEA).

The ancient Hebrews were not a sea people. The sea in the Bible becomes a symbol of restlessness, instability, and sin (Isa 57:20; Jer 49:23; James 1:6; Jude 13; Rev 13:1).] (New International Bible Dictionary, Pradis CD-ROM:Articles/S/Sea, Book Version: 5.1.50)

It might be somewhat instructive to also note that the very first words in scripture used for Sea - which was pronounced ‘good’ - also carries with it an indication of opposition to God.

God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” µy: [H3542] (sea; seashore; the west (the direction of the Mediterranean Sea relative to the Near East); by extension: a large container for holding water; the recurring image of the sea as a terrifying danger and opponent of the LORD has its source in the Sea (Yamm) as a hostile Canaanite god) And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:10)

So God created the great creatures of the sea ˆyNIT' [H9490] (serpent, snake; monster of the deep; (pr.n.) Jackal (Well); can refer to large sea creatures as well as to mythological monsters of chaos opposed to God) and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21)

God reiterates - that sinners (vile, unbelieving, cowardly, sexually immoral, etc.) - everyone who did not repent and allow themselves to be WASHED clean by the blood of the Lamb - will spend ETERNITY (second death) in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. We then progress to the Bride, the wife of the Lamb,

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (Rev 21:8 - 9)

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Rev 21:10 - 12)

We have previously seen (chapter 7) that the word Mountain has direct references to God. Now, we are taken to a mountain GREAT & HIGH; from which comes the HOLY City - Jerusalem. This wonderful, glorious city is shining (shone) with the glory of God. It is not reflecting the glory - it is shining with the glory.

Shone with e[cw [G2400] ((tr.) to have, hold, keep; (intr.) to be)

The above Greek word is fairly common in scripture; occurring a total of 710 times; not translated into English 19 times; and using 168 different English words - when it is translated. To understand the Greek or the Hebrew, I read the ENGLISH. And listen to the Holy Spirit - my personal God instructor. I appreciate the English translation of: shone with in this particular verse. But this Greek word does carry a Wide variety of meanings. The most common being the word: have - 207x. It is also translated as had - 74x; / with - 24x; / need - 24x; / is - 13x; / having - 11x; / possessed by - 5x; / retain - 1x; etc. (160 more different variations.)

Translated as: shone with - 1x

the [G3836] glory [G1518] of* God [G2536]

* - not in the Greek

glory [G1518] dovxa     (This word has a wide range of meanings in the NT, corresponding closely the Hebrew 3883: glory, splendor, brilliance, from the base meaning of the awesome light that radiates from God's presence and is associated with his acts of power; honor, praise, speaking of words of excellence and assigning highest status to God)

God [G2536] qeov"       (God, usually refers to the one true God; in a very few contexts it refers to a (pagan) god or goddess. The “Son of God” as a title of Jesus emphasizes his unique relationship to the Father. “The god of this age” refers to the devil)

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Rev 21:10 - 12)

John sees the Bride, the Holy City, the Wife of the Lamb - descending from heaven - coming from the mountain of God, and shining with the glory of God. The wife is adorned brilliantly; and her brilliance and radiance are overwhelming. She has written on her - the names of the twelve tribes of Israel - since as we have seen - the twelve tribes or the 144,000 (symbolic number) constitute the Wife of the Lamb.

There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev 21:13 - 14)

As you might recall, twelve is the number of final and total, absolute completeness. Yes, seven is a number of completeness as well; but twelve indicates full and total. Everything is finalized, and done.

The Bride & the 144,000 center around the number Twelve. Twelve and multiples of it. Numbers have meaning in scripture . . . Seven is the number of fullness and completeness in God. We have seven days in a week; God rested on the seventh day; we have seven seals, seven lampstands, seven spirits of God, seven thunders, seven eyes of the Lamb, seven requests to listen to the Spirit of God . . . etc, etc.

Twelve is final or absolute total Completeness. Twelve includes the twelve apostles of the Lamb; twelve months in a year; twelve rulers; twelve stone pillars; twelve stones (Ephod); twelve loaves of bread; twelve gold dishes; twelve thousand horses; twelve bulls; twelve lions; a crown of twelve stars; twelve crops of fruit; the Bride of Christ has twelve gates and twelve angels . . .

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53 - 54)

These concepts were developed more fully in chapter Seven; and if necessary - you might wish to review that section.

The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. (Rev 21:15 - 18)

We have a measurement and revealing of Faith.

These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1Peter 1:7)

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (Isaiah 11:5)

and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. (Rev 1:13)

The measuring rod used - is that of gold. It is pure, and measuring the faith of the Bride. She is not found wanting! Her faith is found to be PERFECT. A deep, and pure faith - of pure gold, as pure as glass. Her faith constantly adds up to multiples of twelve. Perfection. She is the wife of the lamb, and she made herself ready! Faith and faithfulness. In everything related to God, love, and Jesus.

With regards to chapter 21; the Bride, and her dimensions - Adam Clarke wrote:

[The quadrangular form intimates its perfection and stability, for the square figure was a figure of perfection among the Greeks; aneer tetragoonos, the square or cubical man, was, with them, a man of unsullied integrity, perfect in all things.] (A COMMENTARY and CRITICAL NOTES by Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.S.A., & c. (Adam Clarke; 1762 - 1832) CLARKE'S COMMENTARY on THE HOLY BIBLE) [on R21:16]

aneer ajnhvr [G467 /SG435] (man, male, husband; usually an adult male, but in some contexts the emphasis is on maturity rather than gender (1Co 13:11; Eph 4:13; Jas 3:2))

tetragoonos tetravgwno" [G5481 /SG5068] (square, cubical)

The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. (Rev 21:19 - 20)

The bride is decorated with precious, precious gem stones (precious to God; not necessarily man). These stones represent tremendous beauty, and honor; and the love and choosing which God declares for his bride. They represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the choosing which God performed. The twelve tribes of Israel, are the apple of God’s eye.

“Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes . . . ” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died . . . (Ezekiel 24:16 & 18)

“Come, O Zion! Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Babylon!” For this is what the LORD Almighty says: “After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you - for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye - I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me. “Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. (Zechariah 2:7 - 10)

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. (Rev 21:21)

The Bride has pearls. Pearls are not hard; and are easily crushed. But they are formed from debris; and worthless waste. But from the worthless debris and unwanted foreign matter - we have an object of great beauty, and desirability. And we have the great faith of the people who constitute the Bride. Their paths are of pure gold, their hearts as transparent as glass; with no shadow of turning, they are faithful and LOVE. Embracing the commands of; and having an intimate walk and life with their Bridegroom - the Lamb.

The wife has twelve pearls. And just as a little sin - corrupts and destroys; so too - just a small bit of acid - will utterly destroy a pearl. But - she is sinless. She has purified herself. She is a Virgin. She made herself ready for the groom; so no sin exists in her . . .

[Pearl      . . . Pearls, like coral, develop in the sea by the abstraction of calcium carbonate from sea water. The pearl develops around a bit of foreign matter within the shell of oysters or mussels. Like coral, it cannot be classed with the hard enduring precious stones. It is easily destroyed. A small amount of acid would convert it to nearly worthless calcium chloride, a water-soluble salt, and the gas carbon dioxide . . .] (New International Bible Dictionary, Pradis CD-ROM: Articles/M/Minerals., Book Version: 5.1.50)

Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast - as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1^st Corinthians 5:6 - 7)

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” (Galatians 5:7 - 9)

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. (Rev 21:21)

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44 - 46)

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13)

I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave. (John 14:30 - 31)

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (John 1:5)

Do not be yoked together eJterozugou'nte" (to yoke together in a mismatch) with unbelievers. (2Corinthians 6:14)

Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. (1John 2:10)

. . . He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (1^st Corinthians 4:5)

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14)

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (1^st Peter 2:21 - 23)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34 - 35)

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21)

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (John 15:9 - 10)

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:11 - 12)

Finishing up with chapter 21:

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 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. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev 21:22 - 27)

The city - or Wife of the Lamb - does not need a temple; because she is totally intimate with God. Her husband - Jesus - gives her instruction, protection, and is her temple. Her EVERYTHING. The lamb is the wife’s ‘apple’. He is the light of her life; and she adores her husband!

And Jesus and the Father protect the wife from anything, or anyone who is impure. The wife of the Lamb made herself ready; she became without spot or wrinkle. Nothing impure or shameful or deceitful will ever enter her heart or mind; and only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life are allowed to approach the Wife of the Lamb.

For the calling and reward of being part of the BRIDE - we really need to get hold of LOVE and making ourselves READY. OBEDIENT! Is this a SELFISH motivation?? YES! But Jesus does want us looking to what lies beyond, and the various REWARDS which are given - to those who OBEY; and become One with the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus . . . I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . (1^st Timothy 6:11 - 14)

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (2^nd Peter 3:14)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25 - 27)

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) (Rev 19:7 - 8)

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become One flesh.” This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31 - 32)

        profound: mevga" [G3489] (great; spatially: large; of quantity or degree: loud, intense, violent; of time: long (time); of position: great, important)

        mystery: musthvrion [G3696] (mystery, secret; often refers to a misunderstood part of the OT that, with Christ's coming, is now unveiled)

*Chapter 20*   *Chapter 22*

"Questions??? Give a shout!"

All Greek/Hebrew definitions (unless otherwise noted) are taken from
The NIV Exhaustive Concordance by Edward W. Goodrick & John R. Kohlenberger III © 1990 by The Zondervan Corporation. ISBN 0-310-436970-7

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, International Version®, NIV84®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Copyright 2011 - Revelation Disclosed Updated 10/28/11

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