Bible Commentaries
Revelation 21

Verses 1-6

The Alpha and Omega of Creation

Genesis 1:1-5 ; Revelation 21:1-6

INTRODUCTORY WORDS

1. Genesis and Revelation contrasted. The Book of Genesis is commonly known as the Book of beginnings. It is there that everything takes its form, and comes into being. The Book of Revelation has been called Palin-genesis, that is, the beginning again. Revelation gives us the finality of everything that was created and made.

Genesis is creation; Revelation is the re-creation, or, the consummation of creation. Over Genesis one, two, and three we may write our word Alpha; over Revelation twenty-one and twenty-two we may write Omega, applying these two words, for the time, to God's creation. We understand, of course, that God, the Holy Trinity, lay back of creation in the eternal ages past; and that He also lies beyond creation, in the eternal ages to come. The story of Genesis is merely a story of beginnings, and not of completions.

If one would learn the whole story of anything which has its beginning in Genesis, he must read everything that lies between Genesis and Revelation. Genesis gives the foundation, Revelation gives the capstone of a great building; the rest of the Bible gives the detailed structure of the building itself.

2. The parallelisms between Genesis and Revelation, a marvelous mark of inspiration. The inspiration of the Scriptures stands forth in glowing colors, when one grasps the significance of the first Book of the Bible, as the complement of the Bible's last Book, The Bible is formed of sixty-six Books, and yet the Bible is but one great whole. With the loss of any part of the Bible, the message of the Bible would remain forever incomplete. With any man-made addition to the Bible, the message would become unseemly, and overstated. There is a unity in the Bible which becomes more and more striking as its continuity is grasped.

All that we have just said is magnified by the marvelous manner in which the early statements of Scripture dove-tail with its final statements. Revelation, in its final chapters, is so plainly the counterpart and the culmination of Genesis, in its early chapters, that one stands amazed as he views their correlation.

The glory of this correlation, and its deeper meaning, will grip us the more as we develop the themes as given in the following diagram:

Follow this diagram with care:

a. The first creation. Genesis 1:1 .

b. The earth despoiled.Genesis 1:2; Genesis 1:2 .

c. The earth renewed and blessed Genesis 1:2 , l.c.

d. Light before the sun. Genesis 1:3 .

e. The tree of life. Genesis 2:9 .

f. The Edenic river. Genesis 2:10 .

g. Gold and precious stones.Genesis 2:11; Genesis 2:11 , Genesis 2:12 .

h. The bride Adam's wife Genesis 2:21 , Genesis 2:22 .

i. Satan enters in.Genesis 3:1; Genesis 3:1 .

j. Man driven out.Genesis 3:24; Genesis 3:24 .

k. Sorrow, suffering, death enters in.Genesis 3:16-19; Genesis 3:16-19 .

k. Sorrow, suffering, death forever pass away.Revelation 21:4; Revelation 21:4 .

j. Man enters in.Revelation 22:14; Revelation 22:14 .

i. Satan cast out.Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:1-3 , Revelation 20:10 .

h. The Bride Christ's wife. Revelation 21:2 .

g. Gold and precious stones. Revelation 21:18-21 .

f. The river of Water of Life. Revelation 22:1 , Revelation 22:2 .

e. The Tree of Life. Revelation 22:14 , f.c.

d. Light before the sun. Revelation 21:23-25 .

c. The earth renewed and blessed. Revelation 21:24 .

b. The earth despoiled it passes away. Revelation 20:11 .

a. The last creation. Revelation 21:1 .

I. THE TWO CREATIONS COMPARED (Read the Scriptures as to Diagram)

We have been assigned the a, b, and c of the diagram. This covers that part referring to the physical earth.

1. The first creation compared with the last creation. Genesis 1:1 tells us that, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." In Revelation 21:1 we read, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth." There has been quite a discussion as to whether the new heaven and the new earth is the same as the first heaven and the first earth. We may get some light upon this subject by following our chart.

2. The two earths despoiled. There must be an indeterminable lapse of time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 , We do not know when the "beginning" was, in which God created the heaven and the earth. It may have been millions of years past. In the Bible it is spoken of only as "In the beginning." Of this, however, we may assure ourselves that when God created the heaven and the earth, it was not created as it Is described in the second verse of the Bible. A cataclysmic and catastrophic judgment must have taken place between the "creation" of Genesis 1:1 and the "waste and void" of Genesis 2:2 .

In Revelation 20:11 , we find that the earth is once more despoiled. It passes away. Peter tells us that it is melted with fervent heat. This despoiling of the earth reminds us of that which took place far back in the eternity of God concerning the first heaven and earth.

3. The earth renewed and blessed, as it is contrasted in Genesis and Revelation. Genesis describes the renewal, under these words, "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." The words which follow detail how God in six days made the earth and the heaven a fit place for the habitation of man.

In contrast with this, we find in Revelation 21:24 , the new heaven and the new earth renewed and blessed. The nations of them who are saved, will inhabit the earth, and its kings will bring their glory and honor into the new and Heavenly Jerusalem.

The physical earth of the first creation, is the same physical earth that was despoiled, and made waste and void. The same earth was, afterward, renewed and blessed, It is that earth, upon which we now live. It may be that the second despoiling of the earth, when it passes away with a great noise; and when it melts with fervent heat, will be the same earth which God will renew and bless, and call, "A new heaven and a new earth." This is immaterial to us. We do know, however, that there will be a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

II. THE LIGHT CONTRASTED (Genesis 1:3 ; Revelation 21:23-25 )

1. The third verse of the Bible carries a significant statement concerning light. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." Light came on the first day, while the creation of the sun, and the moon, and the stars, followed on the fourth day. There are some who use this fact as an argument against the accuracy of Scripture. Such an argument, is utterly foolish. God, Himself is Light, and the very fact that God's Spirit moved upon the face of the waters is sufficient to know that light was about to break through the darkness.

Along this line it is interesting to note that the sun and the moon and the stars were set in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night; to divide the light from the darkness. If it were not for these heavenly bodies, there would be no division between light and darkness. It would either be all dark through the absence of God's personal presence, or all light through His continued presence.

It is very vital to observe the Scriptures in reference to the new heaven and the new earth as set forth in Revelation 21:23-25 . Nor is that all, for the very nations themselves, who dwell upon the new earth, walk in the effulgence of the light of the city.

If God can get along throughout a long eternity without the sun or the moon to give light upon the new earth, He could certainly have managed to give light to the first heaven and the first earth during the three days prior to the placing of the sun and the moon in the firmament of heaven. There will be no night there.

2. The fourth verse, of Genesis 1:1-31 , carries this statement concerning light and darkness. "And God divided the light from the darkness." There is a tremendous message set forth in the quotation above. It is the message of "separation." God has said, "What communion hath light with darkness? * * or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" The call of God which begins in Genesis 1:4 continues throughout the Bible, until we come into Revelation 21:23-24 , inasmuch as in the new heaven and the new earth there will be no night, and no darkness. There will, likewise, be no sin, and no sinners, from which saints must separate themselves.

III. THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE EDENIC RIVER OF GENESIS CONTRASTED WITH THOSE OF REVELATION (Genesis 2:9-10 , with Revelation 22:1-2 ; Revelation 22:14 )

1. The Tree of Life. We do not know very much about these trees, but we know that they were the central trees, positionally, in the Garden of Eden. Every tree that grew was pleasant to the sight, and good for food, and of them our first parents had the right to eat freely; "But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the Garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall, ye touch it, lest ye die."

After Eve, and Adam with her, had sinned and had eaten of the tree, God drove them out from the garden (Genesis 3:24 ).

How glorious, then, is the promise that redeemed man, according to Revelation 22:14 , shall have right to the Tree of Life.

The Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden was debarred to man. The Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem is reserved for man.

2. The two rivers. The Bible story of this first river is very striking. One division of the river compassed the land of Havilah, where there is gold, and Bdellium and the onyx stone. The second division of the river was Gihon. The third was Hiddekel, and the fourth Euphrates.

There will be a wonderful river during the reign of Christ upon the earth. This river will issue from the throne of Christ which will be set up in Jerusalem, and it will press its way toward the east, Whithersoever the river flows it will carry blessing. It will issue out toward the east country and go down into the desert, and into the sea. Whithersoever the river flows there shall be multitudes of fishes, and on either side of the river shall all trees grow for meat. The leaves of the trees shall not fade, neither shall the fruit be consumed.

There is a third river described in Revelation 22:1 , Revelation 22:2 . This river is a pure river of Water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. It is on the banks of the river that the Tree of Life will grow. It will bear twelve manner of fruit, and yield her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree will be for the health of the nations.

IV. THE BRIDE OF ADAM AND OF CHRIST CONTRASTED (Genesis 2:21-22 , with Revelation 21:2 )

1. The bride of Adam. After God had finished the creation of the physical earth, and had filled it full with all things necessary for the sustenance and pleasures of life, He created man. Before this man, whom God had created in His own image, God brought every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air, to see what Adam would call them.

It must have been a memorable hour, as Adam tamed all the living creatures, and God found among them no helpmeet for Adam. Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and God took one of Adam's ribs, "And closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man."

When Adam beheld his wife, he said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

2. The Bride of Christ. It is not until we get over into the fifth chapter of Ephesians that the full beauty of this marriage is Scripturally revealed. It is there that God quotes from the words which Adam spoke in the Garden of Eden, saying, "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."

This was a great mystery, but God was speaking of Christ and the Church. He speaks of the wife as the man's own flesh, and of the Church as the Lord's own Body. He speaks of the presentation of the Church to Christ as a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but as being holy and without blemish.

In the Book of Revelation, the culminating picture is given concerning the Bride of Christ. First of all the marriage is described as taking place. In chapter Revelation 19:7 we read. "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." In Revelation 21:9-10 we have the picture of the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, and of the delightful Home in which she dwells. John beheld the great City, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God. This was the Spirit's vision of the Lamb's Wife.

V. SATAN AND HIS WRECKAGE CONTRASTED WITH CHRIST AND HIS REDEMPTION (Genesis 3:1 ; Revelation 20:1-3 ; Revelation 20:10 )

1. Satan's entrance and exit. The whole history of Satan we may not now detail. Suffice it to say that the devil entered Eden intent upon the fall and subjugation of the happy pair to whom God had placed in charge the "keeping" and the "guarding" of the Garden. The success of the devil's deadly intent we all well know, inasmuch, as we. ourselves, have been drawn, by line of descent from Adam, into the bane of Adam's fall.

Unto this hour Satan is the "god of this world," the prince of the power of the air. Satan, however, will not always be left in control of the world and its peoples. First of all, at the Lord's Second Coming, Satan will be chained and cast into the pit of the abyss, where he will be held during the thousand year reign of Christ; finally Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire, where the beast and the false prophet are.

2. Sorrow, suffering and death; their entrance and exit. In Genesis the curse is pronounced against Adam and Eve; against the devil, and against the serpent. The literalness and fierceness of the results of that curse we all well know. We, ourselves, have all felt the pain and the bane of our sins. The physical earth is still under the throes of its subjection to vanity. Shall these things ever be thus? Thank God, no.

Satan has no promised redemption. For man there is offered redemption from sin now, upon the basis of Christ's atoning work. However, man's full fruition of redemption awaits the advent of the new Heaven and the new earth. It is only when man reaches that blest estate, that the very presence of sin and of its wreckage will have forever passed from view. In the New Jerusalem there will be no more sorrow, nor pain, nor crying, nor death, for the former things will have passed away.

The animal world and the physical creation will enter into their deliverance, after Satan is bound and Christ returns to reign. The Millennium will find the earth restored to much of its Edenic glory; but the perfection of bliss and beauty must await, as we have suggested, the day of the new Heaven and the new earth.

3. Man's exit and entrance. In Genesis we see man driven out of the Garden, and out from the Tree of Life. In Revelation we see man entering into the glory of God. with full access and right to the Tree of Life. Bless God, the former things will pass away, and God will make all things new.

AN ILLUSTRATION

"Some things about Heaven have been made reasonably plain, but a full knowledge of what we shall be has not been made manifest but 'We shall be like Him.' We shall be free from all environments and limitations of our earthly bodies. It matters not what becomes of them. There will be moral activity in Heaven. One-third of the human family die before reaching the age of moral accountability. Gladstone, the grandest man of his time, lived to a ripe old age. Perfection is not attained at the gate of Heaven; this is not God's way. There will be progress in Heaven. All life is a growth an unfolding, a development. Life in Heaven will be no exception. There will be service there; 'Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His Temple.' Service will not be labor; it will be the highest pleasure, the source of unspeakable joy. Heaven will be a social place. I cannot explain the Trinity the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But where there is a father and a son there will be social enjoyment. Heaven is a real Home , beautiful, lovely, a most delightful place to live in not eternally the same, but ever growing more beautiful, more lovely. Heaven is a place prepared for those who are prepared for it. " W. C. Bitting, D.D.

Verses 1-27

The Marriage of the Lamb

Revelation 19:1-10 ; Revelation 21:1-27 and Revelation 22:1-21

INTRODUCTORY WORDS

1. Old Testament analogies of the coming Marriage in the skies. It is not difficult to find, in both the Old and the New Testaments, delightful foreshadowings of the coming Heavenly nuptials.

(1) There is the first marriage in Eden. Eve was the bride typical of the Bride of Christ. Observe the following:

Adam was put to sleep; Christ was put to sleep.

Adam's side was opened; Christ's side was opened.

Eve was presented to Adam; The Bride will be presented to Christ.

Adam said, "Bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." We are members of His body, His fleshy His bones.

Eve was taken out of the man; we are taken out of Christ.

Adam said, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife"; Christ said, "There is no man that hath left * * father, or mother, * * for My sake, and the Gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold * *."

(2) The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah:

Abraham sought a bride for Isaac; God seeks a Bride for His Son.

The aged servant of Damascus who had charge of all of Abraham's goods went to search for Isaac's bride; the Holy Spirit is seeking out Christ's Bride.

Rebekah left her home to travel over the desert sands with Abraham's servant; we have left all to travel over the earth's sands with the Holy Spirit (Paracletos) at our side.

The servant talked of Isaac; The Spirit talks of Christ.

Isaac went out to Lahairoi to wait Rebekah's coming; Christ will come adown the skies to the place of meeting (Lahairoi), to meet His Bride.

(3) In the New Testament there is:

In Matthew 22:1-46 , the marriage of the King's Son.

In Matthew 25:1-46 , the midnight cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh."

In Revelation 19:1-21 , the "Marriage of the Lamb is come."

2. The greatest Old Testament marriage scene is the one in Psalms 45:1-17 .

(1) There is the description of the Kingly Bridegroom.

The King is described as fairer than the children of men. Grace is poured into His lips. He is God blessed forever.

Then comes a picture of the King going forth to war. His sword is upon His thigh. He is now the Most Mighty crowned with glory and honor, and riding prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness . His right hand teaches Him terrible things, because His arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies.

Now we are ushered into the vision of the King's throne. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of Thy Kingdom is a right sceptre." These words refer to Christ as He returns the second time to reign upon the earth (Hebrews 1:8-9 ).

Next we hear the announcement of the King's glory and joy, of His ivory palaces, with these words following: "Kings' daughters were among Thy honourable women; upon Thy right hand did stand the Queen in gold of ophir."

The Marriage is over, the Queen is crowned and stands with the King. The honorable women, the King's daughter, the daughter of Tyre, and many others are gathered round.

I. A TIME OF MASTERFUL PRAISE (Revelation 19:5-6 )

How the words ring out! "And a Voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him."

We remember how Christ once said, "Ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." There will be a joy full of glory. There are many things that will make up the exceeding gladness of that hour.

We shall see Him whom we have loved and served see Him in all of His power and might. We will shout for joy as we look upon His face.

We shall see our own loved ones in Christ, whom we had for once, but lost the while. That will be a joy unspeakable.

We shall see those whom we led to Christ in the days of our earthly sojourn. They will be our joy and crown of rejoicing.

We shall see the Triune God in all His splendor, the omnipotent God. Once more our hearts will leap with joy.

We shall see much, but not all that God has prepared for those who love Him, and sound forth our song of gladness.

II. THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME (Revelation 19:7 )

1. "The Marriage of the Lamb is come." Is this the Lamb of whom John the Baptist cried, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world"?

Yes, this is He. What then? Our minds go back to His Cross once again. The Lamb slain is He who now is about to be married. Once, at the end of the age, He was offered; once, when the fullness of time had come, He was slain.

During Christ's journeying toward the Cross, He often spoke of the "hour." and the "time" in which He was to die.

"His hour was not yet come" (John 7:30 ; John 8:20 ).

"Mine hour is not yet come" (John 2:4 ).

"When Jesus knew that His hour was come" (John 13:1 ).

"That, if it were possible the hour might pass" (Mark 14:25 ).

"The hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Matthew 26:45 ).

"This is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Luke 22:53 ).

Now another hour has come. It is the hour of the Marriage. The expression, "The Marriage of the Lamb is come," certainly suggests that the great event toward which the Lord steadily marched has now arrived. He is glad, and He wants us to be glad with Him. He is seeing the fruitage of His work as the sacrificial Lamb, therefore we read "The Marriage of the Lamb is come." Thus the Marriage and the Cross are two great and separate events, which are, however, indissolubly linked. The one is the glorious consummation of the other,

2. His Wife hath made Herself ready. She did not, by any means, furnish all of the lovely raiment with which she is now clothing herself. She is clothed in the garments of His righteousness. That is, however, not all of her beautiful raiment.

Her garments include her own righteous acts as she, in the days of her pilgrimage, served her Lord. These are a part of her trousseau. How wonderful that the Bridegroom delights in the righteous acts of the Bride.

III. ANOTHER BLESSED (Revelation 19:9 )

1. There are many "blesseds" which have been given to saints. Here are a few of them:

"Blessed are the pure in heart."

"Blessed are the merciful."

"Blessed are the meek."

"Blessed are the peacemakers."

"Blessed are the poor in spirit."

"Blessed are the persecuted."

"Blessed are they that mourn."

"Blessed are they that do His commandments."

"Blessed are they that trust in Him."

"Blessed are they that keep His Testimonies."

Many other "blesseds" might be added. But these suffice to cover a wide realm of grace.

2. Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage supper of the Lamb. John was so enraptured with the Marriage scene, that the angel had to cry "Write!" He was to tell us that the Marriage was not all. There was also the Marriage Supper. It is indeed something over which to rejoice "the Marriage," "the Wife," the Wife's raiment. These were for the while the center of attraction. Now that the Marriage is consummated, however, the Marriage Supper has come, and the invited guests are called "blessed" because they are invited to attend so great and magnificent a gathering.

3. The Marriage Supper. Some of us have enjoyed a few of these on earth. They have been happy hours. We felt thankful to be among the invited guests. Now, however, is the great climax of all weddings "The Marriage Supper of the Lamb." Blessed are the called.

Christ has already been happy to come and take up His abode with us, and He has gladly supped with us in the days of our pilgrimage. The Father, too, has come in to abide with us. Now we are invited to sup with Christ and with the Father in the skies.

IV. AFTER THE MARRIAGE THE LAMB'S WIFE (Revelation 21:10 )

1. John, in vision, was carried away from the scenes of the Marriage and of the Marriage Supper. The angel said, "Come hither, I will shew thee the Bride, the Lamb's Wife."

In order to get the vision, the angel carried John away in the spirit to a great and high mountain. From that advantageous position John saw the Bride.

To us, all of this is most significant. We do not take it that the City John saw was Christ's Bride. We do take it that the City was the Home of the Bride.

2. Are we not interested in coming things? Do we not delight in seeing the things which God hath in store for us who believe? Do we not rejoice in the certainties of our future rest?

To many, Heaven, and Home, and "forever with the Lord," may be of small value; to us it is our joy and rejoicing. Indeed, we all should live looking for the Blessed Hope and the glorious Appearing of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The "many mansions" awaiting us are real, and the Word is true, or else He would not have told us.

V. THE NEW JERUSALEM (Revelation 21:2 ; Revelation 21:10-14 )

1. The Mew Jerusalem as in contrast to the Old Jerusalem. The old Jerusalem is located in Palestine. It will be the city of the King, when Christ returns to earth. From it Christ will rule and reign over all the earth. It will be the center from which the Law will go forth, and to which the nations of the earth will send their representatives, year by year to worship the Lord of Hosts. In that city the Man whose Name is the Branch, our own Christ will arise and build the Temple. It will be the joy of the whole earth.

2. The joys of the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem. 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. Behold He will make all things new. The former things of earth will have passed away.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in that City, and His servants will serve Him. The one statement, "All things new" suffices us. The statement, "Former things are passed away" is enough.

VI. THE CITY DESCRIBED (Revelation 21:11-14 )

1. The Light of the City. The City has the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like jasper stone, clear as crystal. The fact is that the City will have no need of the sun, or of the stars, or of the moon, to give it light, for the Lord God giveth it light, and "the Lamb is the Light thereof."

Blessed hour of undimmed glory! There shall be no night there. We remember how John's Gospel says, "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." Again it says, "That was the True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John's Epistle adds: "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all."

2. The walls of the City. Its wall was "great and high." The foundations of the wall were also great and high. They were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first was jasper, then sapphire, then a chalcedony; then an emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolyte; beryl; a topaz; a chrysoprasus; a jacinth; and an amethyst.

The City had twelve gates, made of pearl. Each gate was a several pearl. Beauty, magnificence, and value, as men count value. None of it can be estimated. It is past human calculation. The City is real, the foundations are real, the wall is real all is real, and we shall really be there.

VII. THE SIZE OF THE CITY (Revelation 21:15-17 )

1. It lies foursquare. Its length, Its breadth, and its height are equal. This is a marvelous revelation. No such city has ever been known to men. New York City may be proud of its skyscrapers, but they are not worthy of note by the side of this City.

2. Its dimensions. It is twelve thousand furlongs (Revelation 21:16 ), that is, one thousand and five hundred miles long, and the same in width and height. On this earth that City would lie, east and west, from New York City to Omaha; and from north to south, from the Great Lakes to Miami, Florida.

3. A few other salient features. (1) There is a river of water of life clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Wet water? Certainly, there is no other kind.

(2) The streets of the city are of gold, pure gold, transparent gold. And the streets will run throughout the length and breadth of the City.

(3) In the midst of the street will be fruit trees; and on either side of the river, will be fruit trees. They will bear twelve manner of fruit, and yield their fruit every month.

(4) In the city there shall be no curse. And in no wise anything that defileth, or worketh abomination, or a lie, will enter into it; but they whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life.

AN ILLUSTRATION

The New Jerusalem! How wonderful it all will be His and ours.

Visiting his native town of Kirriemuir, Sir James Barrie told a very lovely story. He had been calling, he said, on the most gracious lady in the land. She was then celebrating her third birthday. It was the little Princess Margaret, younger daughter of the Duke of York, now King George VI. She was looking with delight at one of her gifts a tea table, with two painted flowerpots on it, each about the size of a thimble. "Is that really yours?" asked Sir James. With the sweetest smile she answered at once, "It is yours and mine."