The Temple: a blessing.
`But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple:
And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,
for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.`
(Rev. 21: 22 & 23)
The Temple represented Christ`s function as Mediator on behalf of mankind. It offered privilege of access to God in prayer, irrespective of people`s origin, or race.
Christ transcends the function of the Temple as He is universally accessible, His privileges are eternal, and His storehouse of wealth is greater. The riches of His love, His kindness and mercy, His wisdom and knowledge are all greater than the temple`s earthly riches. And the glory of Christ far exceeds any sun or moon, no wonder that the kings of the earth desire to enter this wondrous place.
` And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it.
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it.
But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles,
or causes an abomination or a lie,
but only those who are written in the Lamb`s book of life.`
(Rev. 21: 24 – 27)
The blessings within the New Jerusalem are now shown to us as a river and a tree with all kinds of fruit. These represent spiritual realities.
The River of Life: Christ`s divine nature.
The `river of life,` is Christ`s own divine nature that is sent forth from God by the Holy Spirit to refresh, energise and give continuous life to the people.
`And he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.`
(Rev. 22: 1)
The Tree of Life: Christ`s life of service.
The `tree of Life,` with its 12 fruits each month is the life of service coming from Christ`s life. This enables the community to function and serve, being fruitful in every good work with the `leaves,` drawing in nutriment for continuous health.
`In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river,
was the tree of life, which bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.
And the leaves of the tree were for the healing (health) of the nations.`
(Rev. 22: 2)
`But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple:
And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,
for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.`
(Rev. 21: 22 & 23)
The Temple represented Christ`s function as Mediator on behalf of mankind. It offered privilege of access to God in prayer, irrespective of people`s origin, or race.
Christ transcends the function of the Temple as He is universally accessible, His privileges are eternal, and His storehouse of wealth is greater. The riches of His love, His kindness and mercy, His wisdom and knowledge are all greater than the temple`s earthly riches. And the glory of Christ far exceeds any sun or moon, no wonder that the kings of the earth desire to enter this wondrous place.
` And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it.
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it.
But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles,
or causes an abomination or a lie,
but only those who are written in the Lamb`s book of life.`
(Rev. 21: 24 – 27)
The blessings within the New Jerusalem are now shown to us as a river and a tree with all kinds of fruit. These represent spiritual realities.
The River of Life: Christ`s divine nature.
The `river of life,` is Christ`s own divine nature that is sent forth from God by the Holy Spirit to refresh, energise and give continuous life to the people.
`And he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.`
(Rev. 22: 1)
The Tree of Life: Christ`s life of service.
The `tree of Life,` with its 12 fruits each month is the life of service coming from Christ`s life. This enables the community to function and serve, being fruitful in every good work with the `leaves,` drawing in nutriment for continuous health.
`In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river,
was the tree of life, which bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.
And the leaves of the tree were for the healing (health) of the nations.`
(Rev. 22: 2)
