"For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no

place of REPENTANCE, though he sought it carefully with tears" (Heb. 12:17).

All this leads on to the "city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem ... and church of the Firstborn" (Heb.

12:22,23). The birthright of verse 16 prototokia is in view. The word firstborn being prototokos. This can be

forfeited, or it can be attained. It is unlike initial salvation which can neither be won nor lost. With this Scriptural

context we can see that the "Bride", and the New Jerusalem which John saw coming down from heaven adorned as a

bride for her husband, represent a company mainly from Israel, but with the overcomers from among the Gentiles,

called during the Acts period, which is made up of those who like Moses "refused", "chose", "esteemed", because

they had respect unto the recompense of the reward (Heb. 11:24-26). The prize winners of Philippians 3, are the

spiritual counterpart in the dispensation of the Mystery, though of course, an entirely different company, and in an

entirely different sphere.

Two cities, Babylon and the heavenly Jerusalem are set in such contrast with each other in the book of the

Revelation, as to make it impossible to interpret the place occupied by the heavenly Jerusalem if we ignore these

revealed and intended parallels. Without attempting an elaborate commentary, we believe our purpose will be

achieved if we set out some of the most obvious features that are seen to correspond with one another in the

description of Babylon in Revelation 17 and 18, and the heavenly Jerusalem in Revelation 19 and 21.

"That great city". This title is applied to both Babylon and the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 17:18; 21:10). To see

these great cities John was on two occasions "carried away in spirit" into the wilderness to see Babylon, and "to a

great and high mountain" to see the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 17:3; 21:10). Babylon is represented as an harlot

(Rev. 17:3-5), the heavenly city is likened to a Bride (Rev. 21:9). Both women are represented as being "arrayed"

with jewels of gold, precious stones and pearls (Rev. 17:4; 21:11-21). The beast that supports the harlot is seen

ascending out of the bottomless pit (Rev. 17:8); the Bride is seen descending out of heaven from God (Rev. 21:10).

Identical language is used in Revelation 17:1 and 21:9, where there came one of the seven angels that had the seven

vials which said "Come hither: I will show unto thee (a) the judgment of the great whore, and (b) the bride the

Lamb's wife".

"The Kings of the earth" are associated with Babylon in its corrupting influence (Rev. 17:2) but are seen

bringing their glory and honour into the holy city (Rev. 21:24). The Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel

the prophet (Matt. 24:15) is associated with Mystery Babylon (Rev. 17:4,5). The only other occurrences of the word

in Revelation are the statements "The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable ... shall have their part in the

lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death", and "There shall in no wise enter into it

anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the

Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:8,27).

The doom of the great city Babylon includes the word "The light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee"

(Rev. 18.23); whereas, such is the glory of that great city New Jerusalem, that we read "The city had no need of the

sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof". "And

there shall be no night there; and they need no candle ... " (Rev. 21:23; 22:5).

Two pronouncements repeat a series of solemn "no mores":

"Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found NO MORE at all. And the

voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard NO MORE at all in thee; and no

craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found ANY MORE in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be

heard NO MORE at all in thee; and the light of a candle shall shine NO MORE at all in thee; and the voice of the

bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard NO MORE at all in thee" (Rev. 18:21-23).

Over against this we read:

"There was NO MORE sea" (Rev. 21:1).

"There shall be NO MORE death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be ANY MORE pain" (Rev. 21:4).

"There shall be NO MORE curse" (Rev. 22:3).