Rev 21:9 "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 show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."

Again, we point out that the use of the term angels in the book of Revelation has reference to messengers. Gospel ministers are messengers to the churches and there were seven angels of the seven churches of Asia. We are given no reason to think that the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues were any different from the angels of the seven churches. The purpose of an angel is to bear the message of God. One of the grand themes of the gospel ministry is to show to God's people the "bride, the Lamb's wife." The rest of Chapter 21 does that very thing. It shows to the Lord's people characteristics of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel was told to show the house to the house of Israel: Ezek. 43:10 "Thou son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern." In 1 Tim. 3:15 the church of God is said to be the house of God: "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." The pattern of the church is set forth for us in Rev. 21:10-27. It is that pattern we will be examining in the next few installments.

Rev 21:10  "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."

The phrase "high mountain" is used to denote kingdoms:
1. Is. 13:1 "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles."
2. Is. 40:9 "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"
3. Is. 57:7 "Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice."
4. Jere. 3:6 "The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot."
5. Ezek. 17:22 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: 23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell."
6. Matt. 4:8 "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;"
7. Matt. 17:1 "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him."
8. Ps. 48:1 "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King."
9. Jere. 31:23 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness."

In Ref. 1 the kingdom of Babylon is compared to a high mountain. In Ref. 2 Zion, the kingdom of God, is compared to a high mountain. In Ref. 3 Babylon is said to be a lofty and high mountain. In Ref. 4 Israel is said to play the harlot with the kingdoms about her which are called high mountains. In Ref. 5, a prophecy is made of a kingdom to be planted upon the top of the high mountain called Israel. In Ref. 6 Satan promised the kingdoms of the world from an exceeding high mountain, thus maintaining the biblical pattern of associating "high mountains" with "kingdoms." In Ref. 7 Jesus is transfigured upon a high mountain. By implication this high mountain would be the Kingdom of God. In Ref. 8 Mount Zion is compared to the mountain of God's holiness. Mt. Zion is a figure of the Kingdom of God. In Ref. 9, a prophecy is made of the establishment of the Kingdom of God, comparing it to a mountain of holiness. Thus the great and high mountain in Rev. 21:10 is the Kingdom of God for it is the greatest of all kingdoms and unlike the kingdoms of men, it comes down from God from which it originated.

That "great city, the holy Jerusalem" is established in the "great high mountain" of the Kingdom of God. Psalms 48:1, 2 shows forth the relationship between the kingdom of God and the city of the great King. As we have previously established, the holy Jerusalem is the Lord's church. She is indeed beautiful for situation and is indeed the joy of the whole earth.

Rev 21:11 "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;"

How different is the Lord's bride or church from the religious organizations of the world. The religious organizations of the world have their own glory. They teach for doctrines the commandments of men. Their praise is in the efforts of men. Their means are based on the works of men. They glory in the organizations and institutions of men.

Contrariwise, the Lord's church has no righteousness of her own, but is clothed in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ:
1. 2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
2. Rom. 5:17 "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."
3. Rom. 10:3 "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
4. 1 Cor. 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
5. Phil. 3:9 "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
6. Rev. 19:8 "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."
Furthermore, the true gospel of Jesus Christ, preached by his ministers in the true church gives all the glory of eternal salvation to God and the people who worship therein give all the glory to God:
1. 1 Cor. 1:31 "That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
2. 2 Cor. 4:15 "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."
3. Gal. 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
4. Eph. 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
5. Eph. 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
6. Eph. 3:21 "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
7. Rev. 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 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."
8. Rev. 5:12 "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on 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, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."
9. Rev. 7:9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
10. Ps. 115:1 "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

"And her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." Previously we examined the jasper and the sardine stones. These were the first and the last stones in the breastplate of the high priest. They both were red in color. The sardine stone was blood red, whereas, the jasper stone was fire red. Fire is associated in the scripture with the judgment of God. Of course, the judgment of God, because of the sins of the elect, resulted in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Judgment of their sins was satisfied by His blood atonement.

Rom. 8:33 "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Eternal judgment for sin is complete and over for God's elect. The church shines forth as a beacon showing forth the finished work of Jesus Christ who redeemed us from our sins. The Lord told her to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The light of God's eternal judgment shines forth and is manifested in the good works of God's elect to his name's praise, honor, and glory.