(9) And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (10) And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, (11) Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Reader! let you and I bless God, for this precious discovery, made to John, for the Church's joy, of the Bride, the Lamb's Wife. Here is represented, under the similitude of a temple, (Psalms 144:12) the whole body of Christ, the Church; even every individual, which was given to him by the Father, and betrothed by him before all worlds, and now, through sovereign grace, are brought home to that glory, which was from all eternity the first in God's designs, and now finished, in his final decree, according to his eternal purpose. The invitation the angel gave to John, methinks, I would humbly hope, is given to all the companions of John; (Revelation 1:9.) and therefore, by faith, I would accept the invitation; come up hither, and behold the Lamb's Wife!
What a sweet, thought it is, that when God the Father first presented the Church to his dear Son, before all worlds; she was then beheld by Christ, as she really was, in all that beauty, and glory, in which God presented her, and as she stood before him in his divine mind, holy and without blame before him in love, Ephesians 1:4. And though, in this time-state of the Church, she is sunk into such sin and misery, that all her features are changed; yet, I say, it is a blessed thought, that she was not so at the first, neither is she to be so at the last, and forever. And, therefore, God's first, and original design, must be accomplished. She shall be before him holy, and without blame in love. This Church then, this King's daughter, (Psalms 45:17) it should be remembered, hath lost nothing of her relationship by sin. A King's daughter she still was, and is, during the whole of this time-state. And a King's daughter, and a King's wife, she will remain, to all eternity. Sin destroys not this affinity. All the water of the sea, cannot wash away the relationship. In this betrothing, and union, Christ received her at the hands of his Father; and she became the object of his desire then, and must, and will remain so, to all eternity.
Well but, say you, she hath fallen into foul dishonor, shame, and misery, since. Yes! she hath. But that did not alienate the affections of her Husband from her. For these are his own words to her. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again unto me, saith the Lord, Jeremiah 3:1. And, since nothing but his own grace, put into her heart, would bring her back; that grace the Lord hath given her, and made her willing in the day of his power. Hence, this state of sin and misery, afforded a blessed opportunity, for the display of his love. And Jesus came into this our world, in quest of her, he died for her, shed his blood for her, and washed her from all her sins in his blood; and having clothed her with the robe of his own righteousness, she is now more beautiful than ever and he hath presented her to himself, a glorious Church, not haying spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but is holy and without blemish, Ephesians 5:27
It is impossible for the imagination to form to itself anything more blessed, than the contemplation of Christ, and his Church, in the manner, and way, the Angel described it to John. In the opening of this Chapter, he saw in a vision, the Church coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; but this view was in one mass. Here, the Angel brought John to a nearer, and more distinct apprehension. The Church is here said to have had upon her the glory of God. And John's mind seems to have been somewhat in the frame that Paul's was, when caught up to the third heaven, 2 Corinthians 12:2 etc.
I do not presume to enter into the full extent of what is here meant by the expression of having the glory of God. But as I am inclined to think, that what is here said of the Church, during the thousand years reign of Christ, relates to those, who are said to be blessed and holy, in having part in the first resurrection; and of consequence form part of this Church; the glory of God is upon them, both in body and soul. It should seem, that this thousand years reign is intended for some great and special purposes, in relation to the Lord's kingdom. And as such, those who constitute the kings and Priests of our God in that assembly, will be in a state of perfection, as well in body as soul; and therefore, will be under the continual manifestations of the glory of God. And, if the Shechinah was frequently in the Church in the Wilderness, and Moses was admitted into a more familiar manner than others, to behold the glory of the Lord, until the skin of his face shone, from the reflected brightness; it should seem, that no objection can be supposed to arise, for the saints of God, in this Millennium state, to be brought under such displays of glory, in the prospect also, of the near approach to the eternal kingdom. But I speak only presumptively.