Revelation Chapter 3
VERSE 12-13 continued “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him my new name. He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
A Pillar in the Temple
“To be made a pillar in the temple of God, in symbol, shows that we are to be a part of God’s plan to help the world in the next age. This temple is PICTURED as the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, and is God’s new government coming to the world to establish a new heaven and a new earth. The members of the church are the living stones, which are being built up into a spiritual house, and Jesus is the precious corner stone. (Eph 2:19-22)
The church is actually being made into the New Jerusalem (the new government) that will come down from heaven to the earth, to bless the world in the millennium. That is why the salvation of the world has to wait until the church is complete before the kingdom can come to the earth.
That we aren’t to go out anymore shows us that once we have made our calling and election sure, we don't have to worry anymore about losing our crown, for then we will be with the Lord forever. During the time of the false church system the True Church was actually cast out of the nominal temple (the nominal churches), but we will be the true temple of the Lord forever, after they are punished (not as individuals, but as false systems, i.e. anti-Christ), and bared from being a part of the true temple (See Isa 66:5-6). This scripture had a literal application with Israel, and it applies again with the nominal church in the end of the gospel age.”
“The city of the New Jerusalem is explained by Paul in Galatians 4:26, where he says that the Jerusalem that is above, is our mother, and is represented by Sarah (The free woman). The city that is on the earth, literal Jerusalem, is in bondage with her children, and was represented by Hagar, the bondwoman. The Jerusalem below represents literal Jerusalem (Israel), and the one above represents Christ and his church and the government and the salvation that they will bring to the earth. We find this symbol in Rev 21:1-4, where we see the New Jerusalem, the new government, coming down to the earth.
That we have the name of the “city” written on our forehead shows that we will be a part of the new government, and will be involved in administering the New Covenant for the world. Just as the mark in the forehead of the beast, shows the one having it is supporting the false system, the same is true of this name in that it shows we will be supporting the new government of God and Christ.
A city in the Bible is sometimes referred to as, “the mother of her inhabitants”. In this sense, the New Jerusalem will be the mother of the entire world. It will bring life and protection to them in the millennial age. During the Gospel age, it is pictured as a mother, bringing life or salvation to the True Church.
A Stamp of Ownership and Approval
To have the name of God, Christ's new name, or the name of the city New Jerusalem symbolically impressed on your forehead (intellect), would imply that you had met God’s standards, in that you had lived up to what you were required to have done. This is similar to the stone that is given in Rev 2:17, where Christ gives his approval by the giving of the white stone. Even in human affairs, men don't put their name on a finished product, unless it meets their approval.
The word “new” used with his name, does not mean “new” as in the sense of something new, as if it had never existed, but it was to be new in the sense of freshness.
Strong’s # 2537 kainos (kahee-nos'); of uncertain affinity; new especially in freshness; while 3501 is properly so with respect to age: KJV-- new. In other words, his name had taken on new significance by his having proven his faithfulness, and by his having provided salvation for all. The new name won’t be given without the recipient having met God and Christ's standards.
The subject of the name in the sixth church also seems to be the beginning and ending signature of this church. In Verse 8, we are told that the ones in this church have not denied his name. For that reason, in the end, he does not deny them, but writes his name on their forehead. He is proud to be a brother to the ones who are faithful (Heb. 2:10-12).
“He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
We find the same admonition given at the end of the sixth church, as what we have found at the end of the others. This seems to confirm that all of the help given to the churches throughout the age has been through the Holy Spirit, the helper that Jesus said he would send.”
THE PHILADELPHIA PARABLE
The 6th Parable of Matthew 13 (Verses 45, 46)
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
Luther’s doctrine of individual standing in Christ (Justification by Faith) rather than group justification (as one catholic church), was the single most important spur to the act of personal consecration to God. The believer could now know that he was called to be a part of Christ and the great salvation. This was the discovery of the pearl of great price for which a man would “sell all he had” —consecrate his all. Thus a true Christian could genuinely respect and love others who were doing likewise. It is this very thing which gives this Church its name: Brotherly Love.
Continued with next post.
