Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Once again, the messenger associated with the bowls of judgment returns to John to move his focus toward the Bride. This bride is depicted as a city. What is a city? It is the dwelling place of a corporate group of people who want to dwell together in unity, peace, and safety, not being isolated by distance of any type. This New Jerusalem is the Body of Christ with Jesus as the head. Revelation 21:14 happens to be the 31,068th verse of the Bible. Within this number is a mystery revealed. Bonnie Gaunt did an excellent study on the numbers of the universe and the number 3,168 IS the prime number of the universe. In studies of this nature you disregard the 0. The numeric value of Lord Jesus Christ is 3,168 and that number provides the primary number when measuring our universe. (see http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.net/daily-weblogs/2008/12-2008/the-number-of-the-name-of-the-lord-jesus-christ/ )
A gate is an entrance found within a wall or separation. The Old Testament tribes denote whom the Law was given and this Law dealt with the outward behavior. Adhering to The Law allowed restricted entrance to the presence of FATHER. However the twelve apostles were given the understanding and Divine Intent of The Law- Love. Love is the foundation of the Body of Christ and it separates the Body from all other inhabitants.
The Body of Christ has the “glory of GOD” all about her. Why? She has the revelation of Love which is the Light unto all the world. Jesus spoke to the multitude in Matthew chapter 5. He openly disclosed the mystery “to be”. This state “to be” is in lieu of “doing”. After He disclose the be-attitudes, He then declared the result:
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Old Jerusalem was the city where the Temple was located. FATHER’S Presence was at the center of this city. The new city is represented by the indwelling Presence of FATHER in every aspect of the Body of Christ. Only Love can cause FATHER to be invited as an Indwelling Presence, not hope or faith alone. Love is the key to being found among the Glorious Body. John had this revelation and reality is what he wrote in 1 John chapter 4:
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love
I continue to bring this passage before you so that there is no question what is the most important focus in your daily walk. A Bride’s most important attribute is her Love for her Dearly Beloved for He is her first Love. Everything else is secondary. Read the Songs of Songs with this in mind. You can spend countless hours looking for some hidden nugget of knowledge found in each chapter of Revelation. I could have spent paragraph after paragraph dissecting words for their hidden meanings yet you would have missed the big picture. This final Gospel is all about Love and the culmination and maturity of the Bride of Christ being joined to together with Our Lord Jesus Christ being the Head. The high mountain depicts the highest Kingdom. This Kingdom has as its King Our Lord Jesus Christ. His authority supersedes the authority of all other kings and kingdoms. His Bride takes on His Name and thus shares His power and authority over all. The government depicted by the twelve tribes was incomplete but when you add the revelation given to the twelve Apostles who were specifically give the revelation of Love found in the Law, restoration of all mankind could now come forth. FATHER’S Love has been revealed as the endgame and the Bride brings forth the light (or revelation) of this Truth to the earth.
The Bride is described by the jasper stone being clear. This stone described Our Lord Jesus Christ back in Revelation chapter 4:
3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
Now the Bride has fully taken on His Character of Love and has become “one” with Him. She is pure and without blemish to the point of being transparent or clear. Oh what a glorious sight for all the earth to see. This is not only good news, it is great news! The Revelation of Jesus Christ is being revealed for all the earth to experience. Now is the time!