The ten kings who receive power as kings with the beast for their brief yet bloody dominion, "make war with the

Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him

are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Rev. 17:14). When the Lord is revealed riding on a white horse and coming to

judge and make war, He is called Faithful and True, and those that follow Him upon white horses, are clothed in fine

linen, white and clean, and His name is "KlNG OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev. 19:16). The A.V. with

a keen discrimination has printed in full capitals the "name written" concerning Mystery, Babylon, in Revelation

17:5, the city which reigneth over the kings of the earth (Rev. 17:18); and the "name written" of Him Who is

Himself the Mystery of God, and King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:16).

Those whose names were NOT WRITTEN in the book of life wonder at the beast (Rev. 17:8) and only those whose

names ARE WRITTEN in the Lamb's book of life, shall enter the holy city (Rev. 21:27).

Doubtless a more careful scrutiny, and one which went beyond the English version to the original would reveal

further comparisons between these two systems. Sufficient however has been exhibited to prove that here we have,

at the end of the age, the two great opposing systems that have been in conflict "from the beginning" (John 8:44),

the one, Babylon, the depository and vehicle of all the evil that is summed up in "the mystery of iniquity" (2 Thess.

2:7); the other the Heavenly Jerusalem which embodies all the grace and truth that is summed up in "the mystery of

godliness" (1 Tim. 3:16).

So far, we have canvassed the Scriptures in order to discover the standing and calling of that company of

believers known as "The Bride", and have distinguished the Bride from that company made up of restored Israel,

spoken of as "The Wife" in the Old Testament. We shall miss much that is important for us to know, however, if we

do not prosecute our studies further, and consider the teaching embedded in Revelation 21.

As the examination of this passage will call for consideration of several side issues, the reader may be helped by

a forecast of the steps about to be taken.

(1) Does the new heaven and the new earth in Revelation 21:1 correspond with the creation "In the beginning"

(Gen. 1:1)?

(2) What bearing has the word translated "first" in Revelation 21:1 upon our answer?

(3) Will the creation of Genesis 1:1 ever "pass away"?

(4) What is the significance of the association of the new heaven and new earth, with (a) The new Jerusalem and

(b) The tabernacle of God?

(5) How is it that while Peter speaks of a new heaven and a new earth, Paul never refers to it?

(6) How comes it that after the wonderful words expressed in Revelation 21:4 "No more death" etc., we find

such dreadful words connected with access or exclusion from the new Jerusalem as are written in Revelation

21:8,27; and 22:15?

It is natural as we read of a new heaven and a new earth, to place such a revelation over against Genesis 1:1 "In

the beginning God created the heaven and the earth", and conceive of the whole of the Scripture thus:

In the beginning

At the end

 The present







Heaven and

world

A new heaven and

 since Adam



Earth created

a new earth

Here, Revelation 21:1 corresponds with Genesis 1:1, the purpose is evident, the movement is simple, and all is

satisfactory. The purpose of the ages, however, like the course of true love does not "run smooth". Things are not

so simple as that. A malignant spiritual foe continually attempts to frustrate the purpose of God, and the Scriptures

exhibit this move and countermove, until the great enemy of truth is no more. The first gleam of light comes from

the recognition of the meaning of the word translated "first" in Revelation 21:1. Protos means "former of two" and

demands another to complete the "pair".