New Jerusalem (Part II)

Lesson Content

1. Only those who are saved, baptized in water by immersion, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and grow to the perfection of Christ, will become the Bride of Christ in eternity.

2. We who are many are made members of that one body of Christ when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit (I Cor.12:13). After that we have to be perfected not just individually but collectively as well (Eph.4:15,16; 2:19-22).

3. All Spirit -baptized churches cannot prepare the Bride of Christ. As seen in Ephesians 2:20, we have to be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. These offices are gifts of Christ to the Church for her perfection (Eph.4:11-13). All who call themselves apostles are not apostles. Only the called and chosen and consecrated servants of God can become the foundation (Lk.14:26,33). New Jerusalem is also seen to have twelve foundations with the names of the apostles written on them. So those who are to inherit New Jerusalem must continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship. They must be obedient to the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and to the servants of God who watch for their souls, as they that must give account (Rom.8:14; Acts 20:32; Heb.13:17).

4. We read that Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together (Psa.122:3). This is what is expressed in Ephesians 2:21,22 and 4:16 also. We are built upon the corner stone Jesus and upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets and are fitly framed together.

5. Moreover, those who are preparing to be the Bride of Christ must have a life of separation and prayer. New Jerusalem is said to have a wall great and high. This great and high wall speaks of a life of separation and prayer (Isa.62:6) which we must have if we are to inherit New Jerusalem.

6. The Bride of Christ is prepared altogether by grace. The woman with the moon under her feet in Revelation 12:1 is the Church and the moon speaks of grace about which it is spoken of in Romans 5:2 as grace to which we have access by faith wherein we stand.

7. Those who inherit New Jerusalem must be wholly sanctified in body, soul and spirit (I Thess.5:23). That is why it is called a holy city and it is said that, “...there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth” (Rev.21:2,27). This means that we must be separate from all uncleanness, be cleansed from all impurity (II Cor.7:1) and be consecrated unto the Lord.

8. In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 we read that all rewards are for the overcomers. We have a battle against sin, sickness, Satan, the world and death. Those who overcome all these will inherit the throne of God in New Jerusalem (Rev.3:21). Only the overcoming church will become the Bride of Christ (Rev.12:5).

9. The Bride of Christ must be perfected in the character of Christ (Eph.4:13). She must be perfected in the four characterstics of faith, love, holiness and doing the will of God (Jam.2:22; I Jn.4:17,18; II Cor.7:1; Col.4:12). That is why New Jerusalem is said to be four -square. To put on the character of Christ, the Bride of Christ has to go through many paths of suffering just as Christ did and attain perfection (Heb.2:10).

10. There are many names given to the Bride of Christ who will inherit New Jerusalem. Some of them are: A perfect man (Eph.4:13), Manchild (Rev.12:5), The Lamb’s wife (Rev.21:9), Habitation of God (Eph.2:22), Chaste virgin (II Cor.11:2), A glorious Church (Eph.5:27), The Heirs of God (Rom.8:17), Precious fruit (Jam.5:7). The kingdom of God (Jn.3:5), A holy temple (Eph.2:21).

11. The Bride of Christ is caught up at His secret coming. This is called the ‘Rapture’. The perfected saints who are dead in Christ will rise first. Those who are alive and ready for His coming will be changed or transformed in the twinkling of an eye and caught up (I Thess.4:15-17; I Cor.15:51,52). The Lord is coming for those who ardently wait for Him. As a bride ardently waits for her bridegroom, the Church of Christ must be filled with the love of God and ardently wait for the second coming of the Lord Jesus her Bridegroom.