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THE LAMB OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SANCTUARIES; CH- IV, PART- 4
by Dr Surya Kumar Daimari Continued after Ch-IV: Part-3 CHAPTER-IV, PART-4 1.THE GLORY OF THE LAMB. The Heb word for 'glory' is kabad derived from 'kabed' meaning "to be heavy". It lends the idea that the one possessing glory is laden riches and power, the awesomeness or the intrinsic worth of God's being. Ps 19:1 and 63:2 speak of this glory of God. In the NT, the Gr word is "Doxa' which denotes the majesty of God and His perfection especially in relation to His righteousness. Is 6:3 speaks of 'the Glory of Yahweh', This "Glory of Yahweh" declares the majestic holiness of God, the physical appearance of His glory and the splendor known as the "Shekinah Glory". So the word 'Glory' is used of God as He only is worthy of it. In the NT, the glory of the Lord is seen in the person of Jesus Christ in many ways: We have seen the Shekinah glory of the Lord specially at the time of His birth (LK 9:28). Heb 1:3 declares that Jesus Christ is the radiation of the glory of God, "the brightness of his glory" "--- God also hath highly exalted him and given a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Ph 2:9-11 Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross as a living sacrifice for the sins of the world. But the cross is not the end in itself, if it be so, all our hope in Christ will inevitably crumble to ruins. It is the gate way to heaven. It has another wonderful facet of glory and hope on which God's salvation for man hinges. The cross, though an emblem of suffering and shame where our Savior died, is the emblem of everlasting victory. For God had raised him up from among the dead --- " having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." Acts 2:24 "Therefore being the right hand of God exalted". Act 2:33 Rev 5:12,13 Says, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven and the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them heard I saying , Blessing and honour and glory and power to be unto him that sited upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever," Rev 15:4 "who shall not fear thee, O Lord and glorify thy name ? for thou only art holy, for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgment are made manifest," Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb is our Holy Temple wherein we worship and whom we worship. 2.THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB The most precious and the most blessed event that will take place in Heaven i.e., New Jerusalem is the Marriage of the Lamb. This marriage of the Lamb refers to the great celebration of the union between Christ and His bride, the Church. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints," Rev 19:7-8 3.THE BRIDE OF THE LAMB The word in Heb, is "Kallah" when in Gr., it is "nymphe". Both refer to "a betroths or recently wedded woman." It is also translated as "spouse". In songs of Solomon 4:8-5:1 The word has been used in the Bible with a special reference to the church as the Bride of Christ. Rev 21:2, 9; 22:17; II Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25 Therefore, it is the church (composed of those who have been saved by grace through faith) for, "Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing but that should be holy and without blemish Eph 5:25-27 For, "he hath purchased (it) with his own blood." Acts 20:28 As the Lamb is without blemish and without spot (I Pet 1:19), he wants her wife to be without spot (I Pet 1:19), he wants her wife to be without spot or wrinkle that she should be holy and without blemish. On the day of his marriage; he will tell her, "Thou art all fair, My comeliness, which I had put upon thee,' Ez 16:14 At present, the marriage of the church with the Lamb, the Christ has not yet been consummated. In his parable of the ten virgins, Christ Himself foretold the occurrence of the marriage and the hour of his coming which is not known to any body. But he stressed the need to be awake and be ready with oil in the lamps (Mt 24:36; 25:1-13) The figure of oil in the lamps is perhaps of the Holy Spirit. We need to keep our lamps burning till He returns. Every believer of Christ is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (I Cor 6:19) I Thess 5:19 Says, "Quench not the Spirit." "Do not put out Spirit's fire" (NIV) The second most important thing is that as the Bride of the Lamb, she must be living as a virgin betrothed to her future husband, the Christ (II Cor 11:2). When the glorious day will come (the rapture), she will be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white which represents the righteousness of saints (Rev 19:7-8). It will be a splendid adornment given to each believer which will shine upon him with glory for ever. O, what a blessed hope ! O, what a blessed day it will be to get married with the Lamb ! 4.ETERNITY WITH THE LAMB The greatest and the most excellent thing that we can ever hope for is to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. When Christ was in this earth, he said to his disciples, "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye my be also." Jn 14:2,3 It is really a blessed hope to be in the blessed Kingdom of our Lord. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus is portrayed as the Lamb of God and a king sitting on His throne. He is a king by divine prerogative. He is a king of the kingdom of God and Heaven. The Book is full of the majesty of a king. 'Throne', 'crown', 'sword', 'reign', 'rule' are the words that prevail in the entire book in a very significant manner. Christ is described as, "The king of the age" Rev 15:3 (NIV) "Lord of the Lords and king of kings" Rev 17:14 "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" Rev 19:16 cf I Tim 6:15," the blessed and only Potentate, The king of Kings, and Lord of Lords" He is also described as "Great and marvelous" Rev 15:3 "Lord God Almighty"" As a King, He is 'righteous' Rev 16:5 "Just and true" Rev 15:3 "King of saints" Holy Rev 15:4 He only is the worthy to receive all the glory of God, "Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honour and power, for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created." See Rev 5:12,13; 11:17; 19:1-2,6-8 The Book of Revelation distinctly speaks of two kinds of reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1) His rule in the Millennial kingdom. (2) His rule in the New Jerusalem for eternity. 1. His rule in the Millennial Kingdom The Kingdom of God here on earth at present is a spiritual kingdom which will continue till the second advent of Jesus Christ. According to the Premilleniasm, the future visible aspect of the Kingdom of God will begin with Jesus here on Jerusalem in person in righteousness and peace. There are many passages in the OT which foretell about this kingdom. Deut 30:1-10; Ps 2:72; 89"19-29; Is 11:1-16; 65:17; 66:24; Jer 32:36-44 Is 33:4-18; Joel 3:17-21; Zech 14:9-17 Rev 20:4-6 speak about a millennial Kingdom on this earth, "they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him thousand years." V6 The word, "Millennium" comes from Latin "Mile" which means "a thousand" and "annum" which means "Year". So "Millennium" means "a thousand years". Millennium is a time of special blessing from Lord during which Satan will be bound for a thousand years and the gospel will flourish without any hindrance. The Millennium kingdom is the results of the God's unconditional covenant made with the nation Israel. God's covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) concerning his land and his seeds, and with David concerning his house, his throne and his kingdom (II Sam 7:16) will be literally fulfilled. The promised covenanted to Jeremiah (Jer 31:31-34) concerning the writing of God's law upon the hearts of people will also be fulfilled. Israel will repent and receive a new heart and experience the forgiveness of sin. The promises made with Moses (Deut 30:1-10) concerning the gathering of Israel from all corners of the world will also be fulfilled. Israel will be a blessed nation in the land of Palestine. The Characteristics of the Millennial Age. (1) It will be a time of peace. Nations will be subjected to the rule of Jesus. Rev 11:15 cf Is 9:6-7 Wars will be abolished. (2) It will be a time of Joy. Is 65:18-19 (3) It will be a kingdom of Holiness. Zech 14:20-21 (4) The glory of the Lord will manifest in all the earth. Is 35:2 (5) The king will administer the people with comfort and perfect justice. Is 66:13, Is 9:7 (6) The teachings of the H.S. will widespread. Is 11:2 cf Jer 31:33-34 (7) There will be no curse on earth. Is 11:6-9; Rom 8:17-23 (8) Physical infirmity and sickness will be removed. Is 35:3-5; Ez 47:12 (9) Longevity of life will be restored. Is 65:20 (10) There will be a perfect social order, also an economic abundance. Is 65:21-23; 30:3-26 (11) The whole earth will worship the Lord. Is 45:22-24 Zech 14:16 (a) At the end of the thousand years, the Satan will be loosed again (Rev 20:7-9) and he shall go out to deceive nations. But God will righteously judge the world. The judgment of Satan and the wicked and the final destruction will fallow. (Rev 20 10-15) (b) At the end of the thousand years, Jesus will surrender the kingdom to his Father that He may be all in all (I Cor 15:24-28) 2. His rule in New Jerusalem for eternity. This will take place after the Millennium, when Christ will reappear with "ten thousand of his saints" (Jude 14) "To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all Their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." Jude 15 See Rev 20:10-15 The Satan that deceived them and all the ungodly will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone ---- shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever which has been described as the Second death (Rev 20:14) John being inspired by the Holy Spirit speaks of a New Jerusalem. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adored for her husband, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away." Rev 21:1-4 "---- There came unto me one of the seven angels ---- and talked to me saying come hither, I will show the bride, the Lamb's wife. And He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and show me that great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Having the glory of God and her light was like unto stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal". Rev 21:9-11. The New Jerusalem (Rev 3:12;21:1-22:5) referred to as the "great city", the Holy Jerusalem (Rev 21:10) and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22) is not identical with the earthly Jerusalem of the millennium (Rev 20:4-6). This New City is described as coming down out of heaven from God after the millennium. It is true tabernacle of God Himself, the eternal habitation of Christ and the church. The description of gold and precious stones, the divine architectural achievement (Rev 21:15-21) speak of God's righteousness, holiness and the glory of God which also indicate a material reality in heaven. The measurement of the city, a solid of "four square" of golden construction of 12000 furlongs equal to 1500 miles in breath, wide and heights real the Holy of Holes in the OT sanctuary which was also a cube (1king 6:20). There are also the precious stone in the twelve foundation stone are surprisingly identical with those of the high priest's breastplate (Ex 28:17-20). These twelve precious jewels also indicate the value of each person in the sight of God. In the sight of God, each believer is like a precious gem. Along with the great spiritual reality, Christ will also reign with His people with His physical real bodies. This is infact, a great mystery. The characteristic feature of the great city and the people. (1) It will be a dwelling place of God where God Himself will dwell with His people and be their God. Rev 21:3 (2) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Rev 21:4 (3) There will be no more death or morning or crying or pain. Because the old things will pass away. 21:4 (4) There will be no temple in the city, Rev 21:22 (5) There will be no need of the light of the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God will give it light and the Lamb its Lamp. 21:23 (6) The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 21:24 (7) On no day will its gates ever be shut. 21:25 (8) There will be no night there 21:26 (9) The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 21:26 (10) Nothing impure will ever enter into it, nor will any one who does what is shameful or deceitful. 21:27 (11) Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will enter into it. 21:27 (12) No longer will there be any curse. 22:3 (13) All the servants of the Lord will serve Him. 22:3 (14) All the inhabitants of the city will reign for ever and ever with Christ, the Lamb. 22:5 The statement, "They shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev 22:5) in the New Jerusalem, obviously seems to be setting over against the statement" they ---- reigned with Christ a thousand years" (20:4) in the Millennial Kingdom, the formal being in an eternal state while the latter in the temporal. Thus a general question may arise, what will happen after the Millennium ? What will happen to those inhabitants of the Millennial Kingdom ? However, the sense is not likely that they will not enter the New Jerusalem. The Millennium refers to purely an earthly kingdom, a geographical kingdom in this very earth. But this is also clearly stated that after the thousand years. Jesus will surrender this Millennial Kingdom to His Father (I Cor 15;24-28). It means that this kingdom will be transferred to a Heavenly Kingdom ie the New Jerusalem. Thus New Jerusalem is definitely the continuation of the Millennium in the eternal state. This interpretation is more likely and true which is also established by G.R. Beasley Murray. #1 According to him, the parallel assertion (cf 22:5), where he shall reign for ever and ever also includes the millennial rule. #1 G.R. Beasely Murray, The Revelation In New Bible Commentary, P 1309 Inter- Varsity press, Leicester, England. To be Continued Name of the Author of this article: Dr. Surya Kumar Daimari, MA,M.Ed, PGDTE,D.Min.(Doctor of Ministry) The author is a freelance writer. Book published: The Names of the Believers in the Bible in Types and Symbols . https://outskirtspress.com/thenamesofthebelieversinthebible Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |