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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Revelation XXI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>R E V E L A T I O N.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Hitherto the prophecy of this book has presented to us a very
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remarkable mixture of light and shade, prosperity and adversity, mercy
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and judgment, in the conduct of divine Providence towards the church in
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the world: now, at the close of all, the day breaks, and the shadows
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flee away; a new world now appears, the former having passed away. Some
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are willing to understand all that is said in these last two chapters
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of the state of the church even here on earth, in the glory of the
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latter days; but others, more probably, take it as a representation of
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the perfect and triumphant state of the church in heaven. Let but the
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faithful saints and servants of God wait awhile, and they shall not
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only see, but enjoy, the perfect holiness and happiness of that world.
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In this chapter you have,
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I. An introduction to the vision of the new Jerusalem,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:1-9">ver. 1-9</A>.
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II. The vision itself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:10-27">ver. 10</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Re21_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The New Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven
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and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
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2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from
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God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
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3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the
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tabernacle of God <I>is</I> with men, and he will dwell with them, and
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they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them,
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<I>and be</I> their God.
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4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there
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shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
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there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
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5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all
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things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true
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and faithful.
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6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the
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beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of
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the fountain of the water of life freely.
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7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be
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his God, and he shall be my son.
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8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
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murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and
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all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with
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fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a more general account of the happiness of the church of
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God in the future state, by which it seems most safe to understand the
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heavenly state.</P>
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<P>
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I. A new world now opens to our view
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>I saw a new heaven and a new earth;</I> that is, a new universe; for
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we suppose the world to be made up of heaven and earth. By the new
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earth we may understand a new state for the bodies of men, as well as a
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heaven for their souls. This world is not now newly created, but newly
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opened, and filled with all those who were the heirs of it. The new
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heaven and the new earth will not then be distinct; the very earth of
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the saints, their glorified bodies, will now be spiritual and heavenly,
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and suited to those pure and bright mansions. To make way for the
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commencement of this new world, the old world, with all its troubles
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and commotions, <I>passed away.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. In this new world the apostle <I>saw the holy city, the new
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Jerusalem, coming down from heaven,</I> not locally, but as to its
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original: this new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and
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perfect state, <I>prepared as a bride adorned for her husband,</I>
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beautified with all perfection of wisdom and holiness, meet for the
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full fruition of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory.</P>
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<P>
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III. The blessed presence of God with his people is here proclaimed and
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admired: <I>I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the
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tabernacle of God is with men,</I> &c.,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Observe,
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1. The presence of God with his church is the glory of the church.
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2. It is matter of wonder that a holy God should ever dwell with any
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of the children of men.
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3. The presence of God with his people in heaven will not be
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interrupted as it is on earth, but he will dwell with them continually.
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4. The covenant, interest, and relation, that there are now between God
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and his people, will be filled up and perfected in heaven. <I>They
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shall be his people;</I> their souls shall be assimilated to him,
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filled with all the love, honour, and delight in God which their
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relation to him requires, and this will constitute their perfect
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holiness; and he will be their God: <I>God himself will be their
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God;</I> his immediate presence with them, his love fully manifested to
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them, and his glory put upon them, will be their perfect happiness;
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then he will fully answer the character of the relation on his part, as
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they shall do on their part.</P>
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<P>
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IV. This new and blessed state will be free from all trouble and
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sorrow; for,
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1. All the effects of former trouble shall be done away. They have
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been often before in tears, by reason of sin, of affliction, of the
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calamities of the church; but now <I>all tears shall be wiped away;</I>
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no signs, no remembrance of former sorrows shall remain, any further
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than to make their present felicity the greater. God himself, as their
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tender Father, with his own kind hand, <I>shall wipe away the tears</I>
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of his children; and they would not have been without those tears when
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God shall come and wipe them away.
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2. All the causes of future sorrow shall be for ever removed: <I>There
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shall be neither death nor pain;</I> and therefore <I>no sorrow nor
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crying;</I> these are things incident to that state in which they were
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before, but now all <I>former things have passed away.</I></P>
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<P>
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V. The truth and certainty of this blessed state are ratified by the
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word and promise of God, and ordered to be committed to writing, as
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matter of perpetual record,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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The subject-matter of this vision is so great, and of such great
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importance to the church and people of God, that they have need of the
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fullest assurances of it; and God therefore from heaven repeats and
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ratifies the truth thereof. Besides, many ages must pass between the
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time when this vision was given forth and the accomplishment of it, and
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many great trials must intervene; and therefore God would have it
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committed to writing, for perpetual memory, and continual use to his
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people. Observe,
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1. The certainty of the promise averred: <I>These words are faithful
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and true;</I> and it follows, <I>It is done,</I> is as sure as if it
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were done already. We may and ought to take God's promise as present
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payment; if he has said that he <I>makes all things new, it is
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done.</I>
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2. He gives us his titles of honour as a pledge or surety of the full
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performance, even those titles of <I>Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
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the end.</I> As it was his glory that he gave the rise and beginning to
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the world and to his church, it will be his glory to finish the work
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begin, and not to leave it imperfect. As his power and will were the
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first cause of all things, his pleasure and glory are the last end, and
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he will not lose his design; for then he would no longer be the
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<I>Alpha and Omega.</I> Men may begin designs which they can never
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bring to perfection; but <I>the counsel of God shall stand,</I> and he
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will do all his pleasure.
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3. The desires of his people towards this blessed state furnish another
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evidence of the truth and certainty of it. They thirst after a state of
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sinless perfection and the uninterrupted enjoyment of God, and God has
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wrought in them these longing desires, which cannot be satisfied with
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any thing else, and therefore would be the torment of the soul if they
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were disappointed but it would be inconsistent with the goodness of
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God, and his love to his people, to create in them holy and heavenly
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desires, and then deny them their proper satisfaction; and therefore
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they may be assured that, when they have overcome their present
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difficulties, <I>he will give them of the fountain of the water of life
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freely.</I></P>
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<P>
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VI. The greatness of this future felicity is declared and illustrated,
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1. By the freeness of it--it is the free gift of God: <I>He gives of the
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water of life freely;</I> this will not make it less but more grateful
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to his people.
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2. The fulness of it. The people of God then lie at the fountain-head
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of all blessedness: they <I>inherit all things</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>);
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enjoying God, they enjoy all things. He is all in all.
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3. By the tenure and title by which they enjoy this blessedness--by
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right of inheritance, as <I>the sons of God,</I> a title of all others
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the most honourable, as resulting from so near and endeared a relation
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to God himself, and the most sure and indefeasible, that can no more
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cease than the relation from which it results.
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4. By the vastly different state of the wicked. Their misery helps to
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illustrate the glory and blessedness of the saints, and the
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distinguishing goodness of God towards them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Here observe,
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(1.) The sins of those who perish, among which are first mentioned
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their cowardliness and unbelief. <I>The fearful</I> lead the van in
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this black list. They durst not encounter the difficulties of religion,
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and their slavish fear proceeded from their unbelief; but those who
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were so dastardly as not to dare to take up the cross of Christ, and
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discharge their duty to him, were yet so desperate as to run into all
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manner of abominable wickedness--<I>murder, adultery, sorcery,
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idolatry,</I> and <I>lying.</I>
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(2.) Their punishment: <I>They have their part in the lake that burns
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with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.</I>
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[1.] They could not burn at a stake for Christ, but they must burn in
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hell for sin.
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[2.] They must die another death after their natural death; the agonies
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and terrors of the first death will consign them over to the far
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greater terrors and agonies of eternal death, to die and to be always
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dying.
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[3.] This misery will be their proper part and portion, what they have
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justly deserved, what they have in effect chosen, and what they have
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prepared themselves for by their sins. Thus the misery of the damned
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will illustrate the blessedness of those that are saved, and the
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blessedness of the saved will aggravate the misery of those that are
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damned.</P>
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<A NAME="Re21_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re21_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The New Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the
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seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me,
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saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
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10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high
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mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem,
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descending out of heaven from God,
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11 Having the glory of God: and her light <I>was</I> like unto a
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stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
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12 And had a wall great and high, <I>and</I> had twelve gates, and
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at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are
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<I>the names</I> of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
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13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the
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south three gates; and on the west three gates.
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14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them
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the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
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15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the
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city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
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16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as
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the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve
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thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of
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it are equal.
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17 And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred <I>and</I> forty
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<I>and</I> four cubits, <I>according to</I> the measure of a man, that is,
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of the angel.
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18 And the building of the wall of it was <I>of</I> jasper: and the
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city <I>was</I> pure gold, like unto clear glass.
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19 And the foundations of the wall of the city <I>were</I> garnished
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with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation <I>was</I>
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jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the
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fourth, an emerald;
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20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh,
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chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a
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chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
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21 And the twelve gates <I>were</I> twelve pearls; every several
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gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city <I>was</I> pure
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gold, as it were transparent glass.
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22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and
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the Lamb are the temple of it.
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23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to
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shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb
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<I>is</I> the light thereof.
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24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the
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light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and
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honour into it.
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25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for
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there shall be no night there.
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26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations
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into it.
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27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that
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defileth, neither <I>whatsoever</I> worketh abomination, or <I>maketh</I> a
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lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have already considered the introduction to the vision of the new
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Jerusalem in a more general idea of the heavenly state; we now come to
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the vision itself, where observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The person that opened the vision to the apostle--<I>one of the seven
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angels, that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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God has a variety of work and employment for his holy angels.
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Sometimes they are to sound the trumpet of divine Providence, and give
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fair warning to a careless world; sometimes they are to pour out the
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vials of God's anger upon impenitent sinners; and sometimes to discover
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things of a heavenly nature to those that are <I>the heirs of
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salvation.</I> They readily execute every commission they receive from
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God; and, when this world shall be at an end, yet the angels shall be
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employed by the great God in proper pleasant work to all eternity.</P>
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<P>
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II. The place from which the apostle had this glorious view and
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prospect. He was taken, in ecstasy, into <I>a high mountain.</I> From
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such situations men usually have the most distinct views of adjacent
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cities. Those who would have clear views of heaven must get as near
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heaven as they can, into the mount of vision, the mount of meditation
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and faith, whence, as from the top of Pisgah, they may behold the
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goodly land of the heavenly Canaan.</P>
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<P>
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III. The subject-matter of the vision--<I>the bride, the Lamb's wife</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>);
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that is, the church of God in her glorious, perfect, triumphant state,
|
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under the resemblance of Jerusalem, having the glory of God shining in
|
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its lustre, as <I>uxor splendit radiis mariti--the bride comely through
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the comeliness put on her by her husband;</I> glorious in her relation
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to Christ, in his image now perfected in her, and in his favour shining
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upon her. And now we have a large description of the church triumphant
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under the emblem of a city, far exceeding in riches and splendour all
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the cities of this world; and this new Jerusalem is here represented to
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us both in the exterior and the interior part of it.</P>
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<P>
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1. The exterior part of the city--<I>the wall</I> and <I>the gates,</I>
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the wall for security and the gates for entrance.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) The wall for security. Heaven is a safe state; those that are
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there are enclosed with a wall, that separates them and secures them
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from all evils and enemies: now here, in the account of the wall, we
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observe,
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[1.] The height of it, which, we are told, is very high, <I>seventy
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yards</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
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sufficient both for ornament and security.
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[2.] The matter of it: <I>It was as jasper;</I> a wall all built of the
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most precious stones, for firmness and lustre,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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This city has a wall that is impregnable as well as precious.
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[3.] The form of it was very regular and uniform: <I>It was
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four-square, the length as large as the breadth.</I> In the new
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Jerusalem all shall be equal in purity and perfection. There shall be
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an absolute uniformity in the church triumphant, a thing wanted and
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wished for on earth, but not to be expected till we come to heaven.
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[4.] The measure of the wall
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>):
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<I>Twelve thousand furlongs</I> each way, each side, which is
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forty-eight thousand furlongs in the whole compass, or fifteen hundred
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German miles. Here is room sufficient for all the people of
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God--<I>many mansions in their Father's house.</I>
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[5.] The foundation of the wall, for heaven is a city that hath her
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foundations
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>);
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the promise and power of God, and the purchase of Christ, are the
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strong foundations of the church's safety and happiness. The
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foundations are described by their number--<I>twelve,</I> alluding to
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the twelve apostles
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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whose gospel doctrines are the foundations upon which the church is
|
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built, <I>Christ himself being the chief corner-stone;</I> and, as to
|
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the matter of these foundations, it was various and precious, set forth
|
|
by twelve sorts of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellency
|
|
of the doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or
|
|
the personal excellencies of the Lord Jesus Christ.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) The gates for entrance. Heaven is not inaccessible; there is a way
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opened into the holiest of all; there is a free admission to all those
|
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that are sanctified; they shall not find themselves shut out. Now, as
|
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to these gates, observe,
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[1.] Their number--<I>twelve gates,</I> answering to the twelve tribes
|
|
of Israel. All the true Israel of God shall have entrance into the new
|
|
Jerusalem, as every tribe had into the earthly Jerusalem.
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[2.] Their guards which were placed upon them--<I>twelve angels,</I> to
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admit and receive the several tribes of the spiritual Israel and keep
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out others.
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[3.] The inscription on the gates--<I>the names of the twelve
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tribes,</I> to show that they have a right to the tree of life, and to
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enter through the gates into the city.
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[4.] The situation of the gates. As the city had four equal sides,
|
|
answering to the four quarters of the world, east, west, north, and
|
|
south, so on each side there were three gates, signifying that from all
|
|
quarters of the earth there shall be some who shall get safely to
|
|
heaven and be received there, and that there is as free entrance from
|
|
one part of the world as from the other; <I>for in Christ there is
|
|
neither Jew nor Greek, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, nor free.</I> Men of
|
|
all nations, and languages, who believe on Christ, have by him access
|
|
to God in grace here and in glory hereafter.
|
|
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[5.] The materials of these gates--they were all of pearls, and yet
|
|
with great variety: <I>Every gate one pearl,</I> either one single
|
|
pearl of that vast bigness, or one single sort of pearl. Christ is the
|
|
pearl of great price, and he is our way to God. There is nothing
|
|
magnificent enough in this world fully to set forth the glory of
|
|
heaven. Could we, in the glass of a strong imagination, contemplate
|
|
such a city as is here described, even as to the exterior part of it,
|
|
such a wall, and such gates, how amazing, how glorious, would the
|
|
prospect be! And yet this is but a faint and dim representation of what
|
|
heaven is in itself.</P>
|
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<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The interior part of the new Jerusalem,
|
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|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:22-27"><I>v.</I> 22-27</A>.
|
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|
We have seen its strong wall, and stately gates, and glorious guards;
|
|
now we are to be led through the gates into the city itself; and the
|
|
first thing which we observe there is the street of the city, <I>which
|
|
is of pure gold, like transparent glass,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
The saints in heaven tread upon gold. The new Jerusalem has its several
|
|
streets. There is the most exact order in heaven: every saint has his
|
|
proper mansion. There is converse in heaven: the saints are then at
|
|
rest, but it is not a mere passive rest; it is not a state of sleep and
|
|
inactivity, but a state of delightful motion: <I>The nations that are
|
|
saved walk in the light of it.</I> They walk with Christ in white. They
|
|
have communion not only with God, but with one another; and all their
|
|
steps are firm and clean. They are pure and clear <I>as gold and
|
|
transparent glass.</I> Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The temple of the new Jerusalem, which was no material temple,
|
|
made with men's hands, as that of Solomon and Zerubbabel, but a temple
|
|
altogether spiritual and divine; <I>for the Lord God Almighty, and the
|
|
Lamb, are the temple thereof.</I> There the saints are above the need
|
|
of ordinances, which were the means of their preparation for heaven.
|
|
When the end is attained the means are no longer useful. Perfect and
|
|
immediate communion with God will more than supply the place of gospel
|
|
institutions.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The light of this city. Where there is no light, there can be no
|
|
lustre nor pleasure. Heaven is <I>the inheritance of the saints in
|
|
light.</I> But what is that light? There is no sun nor moon shining
|
|
there,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
Light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is to behold the sun. What a
|
|
dismal world would this be if it were not for the light of the sun!
|
|
What is there in heaven that supplies the want of it? There is no want
|
|
of the light of the sun, <I>for the glory of God lightens that city,
|
|
and the Lamb is the light thereof.</I> God in Christ will be an
|
|
everlasting fountain of knowledge and joy to the saints in heaven; and,
|
|
if so, there is no need of the sun or moon, any more than we here need
|
|
to set up candles at noon day, when the sun shineth in its
|
|
strength.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) The inhabitants of this city. They are described here several
|
|
ways.
|
|
|
|
[1.] By their numbers--whole nations of saved souls; some out of all
|
|
nations, and many out of some nations. All those multitudes who were
|
|
sealed on earth are saved in heaven.
|
|
|
|
[2.] By their dignity--some of the kings and princes of the earth:
|
|
great kings. God will have some of all ranks and degrees of men to fill
|
|
the heavenly mansions, high and low; and when the greatest kings come
|
|
to heaven they will see all their former honour and glory swallowed up
|
|
of this heavenly glory that so much excels.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Their continual accession and entrance into this city: <I>The
|
|
gates shall never be shut.</I> There is no night, and therefore no need
|
|
of shutting up the gates. Some one or other is coming in every hour and
|
|
moment, and those that are sanctified always find the gates open; they
|
|
have <I>an abundant entrance into the kingdom.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) The accommodations of this city: All the <I>glory and honour of
|
|
the nations shall be brought into it.</I> Whatever is excellent and
|
|
valuable in this world shall be there enjoyed in a more refined kind,
|
|
and to a far greater degree--brighter crowns, a better and more enduring
|
|
substance, more sweet and satisfying feasts, a more glorious
|
|
attendance, a truer sense of honour and far higher posts of honour, a
|
|
more glorious temper of mind, and a form and a countenance more
|
|
glorious than ever were known in this world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(5.) The unmixed purity of all who belong to the new Jerusalem,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
[1.] There the saints shall have no impure thing remaining in them. In
|
|
the article of death they shall be cleansed from every thing that is of
|
|
a defiling nature. Now they feel a sad mixture of corruption with their
|
|
graces, which hinders them in the service of God, interrupts their
|
|
communion with him, and intercepts the light of his countenance; but,
|
|
at their entrance into the holy of holies, they are washed in the laver
|
|
of Christ's blood, and presented to the Father without spot.
|
|
|
|
[2.] There the saints shall have no impure persons admitted among them.
|
|
In the earthly Jerusalem there will be a mixed communion, after all the
|
|
care that can be taken. Some roots of bitterness will spring up to
|
|
trouble and defile Christian societies; but in the new Jerusalem there
|
|
is a society perfectly pure. <I>First,</I> Free from such as are openly
|
|
profane. There are none admitted into heaven who work abominations. In
|
|
the churches on earth sometimes abominable things are done, solemn
|
|
ordinances profaned and prostituted to men openly vicious, for worldly
|
|
ends; but no such abominations can have place in heaven.
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> Free from hypocrites, such as make lies, say they are
|
|
Jews, and are not, but do lie. These will creep into the churches of
|
|
Christ on earth, and may lie concealed there a long time, perhaps all
|
|
their days; but they cannot intrude into the new Jerusalem, which is
|
|
wholly reserved for those that are called, and chosen, and faithful,
|
|
who are all written, not only in the register if the visible church,
|
|
<I>but in the Lamb's book of life.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
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