Today’s Bible Study Verse adds a lot to our Revelation 21 discussion. And its impact is repeated just two verses later, as well. Let me show you what I mean. “And the NATIONS of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it (the City): and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it (New Jerusalem).”
What nations?
I believe here we must remember that not only is there a freshly created New Jerusalem (along with the “new heavens,” according to Second Peter 3:13. “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for NEW HEAVENS and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”) but also a freshly created “new earth!” (Let your mind go back to Revelation 21:1. “And I (John) saw a new heaven and a NEW EARTH: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” )
Then too, we must believe that when John observed New Jerusalem (the City) “coming down from God out of Heaven” … that the greatest Metropolis of all time was coming toward the “new earth.” I suspect the two locales will be near each other. Maybe with the New Jerusalem “suspended” in mid-air somewhere above the new earth. (If that’s hard for you to accept, “suspended,” go out and look at the Moon or the Sun for a second. They too are “suspended” in space. In fact, a helicopter (man-made) can “hover” pretty well, too!
If I am anywhere near right, that new earth will undoubtedly NOT be unpopulated!
I believe “saved” Israel just may dwell on the “new earth,” while the “saved” of our age (the Church Age or the Dispensation of Grace) will live in the New City, New Jerusalem. My proof, among several texts: “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOR EVER.” God talking to Abraham thousands of years ago, four millennia at least, Genesis 13:15.
Again Moses via the Word of God to Caleb: “And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s FOR EVER, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.”
What else can “for ever” mean, than eternally?
Then remember that during the Millennium people (children) will be born to the earth’s population. Those who were among the “sheep nations” of the Matthew 25 judgment. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Then seven verses later: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” The “criteria” for this Judgment … how these people, these nations, treated Israel in her greatest Hour of need! “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren (Jews), ye have done it unto me.” Jesus teaching in Matthew 25:40.
These “sheep” enter the Millennial Kingdom of God, of Jesus, here on earth! (Still the “old earth,” this “present” globe on which we live. Yes, during the Millennium children will be born, many living (apparently) to be hundreds of years old! As in pre-Flood days, Noah’s era. Someone dying at 100 years of age, will be considered merely a “child!” Isaiah 65:20 hints: “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the CHILD shall die an HUNDRED YEARS OLD.”
I am just saying, probably very awkwardly, that these earth inhabiters (God lovers, redeemed Jews and some Gentile peoples who loved and cared for Israel) will live on the millennial earth, then …
At the end of the Millennium … “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10, where the rebellious (devil followers) will then be judged at the Great White Throne.
But what about those who did not “fall” for the Devil’s lies?
They, still a multitude, of necessity must enter the “new earth” as citizens!
AND IT IS THESE NATIONS WHO WILL BE ENTERING THE NEW JERUSALEM! GOING BACK NOW (FINALLY) TO TODAY’S VERSE! “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.”
Multitudes (saved people, mind you) coming to Town … walking in the light of the City (New Jerusalem) and bringing inside (to Jesus the Lamb of God) “glory” and “honour,” in other words “worshipping our dear Savior!”
Yes, Revelation 21:24 will be fulfilled, LITERALLY, in those amazing days yet ahead.
More about this day after tomorrow.
All I can say is “Wow!”
Better yet, “Praise the Lord.” Even better than that maybe: “He doeth all things well.” Mark 7:37, the crowds speaking of Jesus! “And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well.”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell