Verse 9
One of the angels with the seven bowls of judgment served as John’s guide in this part of his vision (cf. Revelation 17:1). The fact that one of these particular angels helped John understand both the mystery of Babylon and that of the New Jerusalem sets these two cities in stark contrast.
"It is impossible to dwell both in Babylon and in the new Jerusalem." [Note: Morris, p. 248.]
It is quite clear that the "bride," the wife of the Lamb, is the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10; cf. Revelation 21:2). Contrast the harlot of Revelation 17:1 (cf. Revelation 19:7; Revelation 21:2). From the description that follows it also seems clear that the New Jerusalem is a city. It is not just a person or a group of people, such as Christians. Some have identified it as the church. [Note: E.g., Robert Gundry, "The New Jerusalem: People as Place, not Place for People," Novum Testamentum 29:3 (July 1987):256.] This is the first of seven references to the Lamb in this section (Revelation 21:9; Revelation 21:14; Revelation 21:22-23; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:1; Revelation 22:3). He becomes increasingly prominent as the book draws to a close. "The Lamb is all the glory in Immanuel’s land." [Note: "Immanuel’s Land" by Anne Ross Cousin.]
Be the first to react on this!
