Daily Devotions – The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

Daily Devotions – The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

 

Image by Reimund Bertrams from Pixabay

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Revelation 21:9-14 (NIV)
The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Revelation 21:24-27 (NIV)
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 

Can you imagine/feel what it will be like for you as one of the Bride of Christ?

 

I remember the thrill of being in big processions like the past two Harley-Davidson anniversary parades where thousands of people gathered in celebration. I remember the body tingling excitement and overwhelming enjoyment I felt as I joined with bikers from around the globe to ride down the streets of Milwaukee to be greeted and cheered by the entire city so much that I actually glowed for a couple of days afterward. That experience is so insignificant and trivial compared to joining the gazillions of Christ Followers coming together from all tribes and nations and from all times of history as Your Church, Your precious Bride, on the last day to enter the Holy City, Jerusalem, that You have prepared for us. The brilliance will be utterly breathtaking and the exuberant joy to Worship You face to face will be unspeakable. My heart beats fast thinking about it now! Lord, I pray that today our congregation will reach out to those who do not know You as Lord and Savior and help them know Your wonderful love, and saving grace so that they too may be included in the Lamb’s book of life and join the church eternal in the greatest celebration that will never end. Amen