MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Book of Revelation: Chapter Twenty-One
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Outline:
The Description of the Eternal State: verses 1-5
The Citizens of the Eternal State: verses 6-8
The Capitol of the Eternal State: verses 9-27
Revelation 21:1
Then, [sequential use of the Greek word kai] I saw [in a vision] the new heaven [replacing the created 1st and 2nd heavens] and the new earth [Isaiah 65:17] for the first [in order of time: Genesis 1:1] heaven [the atmosphere around planet earth and stellar space] and the first earth were blown away [departed] and there was no longer any sea.
Καὶ εἶδον οὐρανὸν καινὸν καὶ γῆν καινήν· ὁ γὰρ πρῶτος οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ πρώτη γῆ ἀπῆλθαν, καὶ ἡ θάλασσα οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι.
Genesis 1:1, “In eternity past, God created the heavens [the universe excluding the earth] and the earth [with animal and plant life].”
Isaiah 65:17, "Behold, I will create new heavens [universe] and a new earth. Consequently, the former things will not be remembered [our memories will be cleansed of our past], or enter into the stream of consciousness [there will be no new thoughts regarding former things on this present earth].”
Revelation 21:2
And I saw the holy city [set apart for the residency of Christ and of the great believers of every generation], the New Jerusalem [the capitol of the new universe in the eternal state], coming down out of heaven [suspended in space] from God, having been made ready as a bride has been made beautiful for her husband [this satellite city will be absolutely beautiful].
καὶ τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἁγίαν Ἰερουσαλὴµ καινὴν εἶδον καταβαίνουσαν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἡτοιµασµένην ὡς νύµφην κεκοσµηµένην τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς.
In the eternal universe, there will be a satellite city suspended above the new earth. It will be the capitol of the new universe and the residence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the eternal state.
This city should not be confused with the Millennial Jerusalem which will be the capitol of the Jewish Client Nation for a thousand years. Some differences should be noted: The Millennial Jerusalem is located around the present site, has natural light, has no walls, has a temple and animal sacrifices (Ezekiel 40-48). Living water flows from the temple according to Ezekiel 47:1. Unbelievers live in this city (Zachariah 12:6, 14:11). There are trees for food and healing (Ezekiel 47:7-12). On the other hand, the Eternal Jerusalem is suspended in space, has supernatural light from the Shekinah Glory, has high walls, has no temple and no animal sacrifices. The Water of Life comes out from the throne room of God according to Revelation 22:1 and there is also a Tree of Life in this eternal city, and furthermore, since it is a part of the eternal state, only believers live there (Revelation 21:4, 27; 22:14).
Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice [a high ranking angel designated by R. B. Thieme Jr. as the King of Arms who functions as a teaching angel] from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God [the Shekinah glory namely the Lord will be seen by those in resurrection bodies ] is with mankind [among men], and He will tabernacle [dwell] with them [with the believers of the eternal state, but he will likely spend most of his time in the New Jerusalem where the greatest believers will be residing], and they shall be [predictive future] his peoples [all believers but with emphasis on the greatest believers of every generation], consequently God himself will be with them,
καὶ ἤκουσα φωνῆς µεγάλης ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου λεγούσης, Ἰδοὺ ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ θεοῦ µετὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ σκηνώσει µετí αὐτῶν, καὶ αὐτοὶ λαοὶ αὐτοῦ ἔσονται, καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ θεὸς µετí αὐτῶν ἔσται, [αὐτῶν θεός,]
Revelation 21:4
And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes [removes suffering] furthermore, death shall no longer exist; neither shall there be any longer mental anguish [sorrow, sadness, grief], nor crying [a manifestation of all kinds of pain], nor physical pain; because the first things have [the old order of things has] passed away [culminative aorist: historical suffering from the viewpoint of the results].”
καὶ ἐξαλείψει πᾶν δάκρυον ἐκ τῶν ὀφθαλµῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ ὁ θάνατος οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι, οὔτε πένθος οὔτε κραυγὴ οὔτε πόνος οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι· [ὅτι] τὰ πρῶτα ἀπῆλθαν.
The happiness of the eternal state is impossible to explain. So, it is explained somewhat from the standpoint of negatives. In the eternal state there is an abolition of all suffering, remorse (bitter regret; moral anguish over past misdeeds), regret and sadness. There will be no regret in the eternal state since there will no memories of these and so no tears related to regrets. There will be regret and shame for the loser at the Evaluation Platform of Christ, but that will not last.
Revelation 21:5
Then, He who sits on the throne [an event which has not yet occurred] said [to John], “Behold [concentrate], I am making all things new in species [new resurrection body; the new heavens and earth].” Then, He [the Lord] continued [his message to John] speaking [the pictorial present], “Write [Culminative aorist: The Lord is giving John a mandate to finish writing the book of Revelation], for these words [instructions and doctrines] are dependable [accurate] and true.”
Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ καθήµενος ἐπὶ τῷ θρόνῳ, Ἰδοὺ καινὰ ποιῶ πάντα. καὶ λέγει, Γράψον, ὅτι οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι πιστοὶ καὶ ἀληθινοί εἰσιν.
Revelation 21:6
Then, He [the Lord Jesus Christ] said to me [to the advantage of John and for us as well], “It is done [a dramatic perfect: human history will have been completed at the completion of the Millennium]. I am the Alpha [eternal God] and the Omega [the God-Man in hypostatic union] the beginning [in eternity past, Jesus Christ was God who always existed and so, preexisted history: John 1:1] and the end [the one who terminates history], (I will give without cost [in grace] to him who thirsts [the desire for eternal salvation; the action of the retroactive present goes back to God-consciousness] from the spring of the water of life [eternal salvation].)
καὶ εἶπέν µοι, Γέγοναν. ἐγώ [εἰµι] τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ, ἡ ἀρχὴ καὶ τὸ τέλος. ἐγὼ τῷ διψῶντι δώσω ἐκ τῆς πηγῆς τοῦ ὕδατος τῆς ζωῆς δωρεάν.
This is a parenthesis presenting salvation. The one who thirst is the unbeliever who wants to know more about God at God-consciousness and will respond to the gospel at either normal gospel hearing or under crisis evangelism. When the ‘water of life’ that is the gospel is presented the one who thirsts drinks. Drinking is analogous to faith, a non-meritorious function of perception.
Revelation 21:7
"He who overcomes [all who in human history who have believed in Christ] will inherit these things [all believers will have some inheritance, but some will inherit much more than others in the eternal state], and I will be his God and he will be my son.
ὁ νικῶν κληρονοµήσει ταῦτα, καὶ ἔσοµαι αὐτῷ θεὸς καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται µοι υἱός.
Also explained in 1 John 5:4-5:
1 John 5:4, "Because everyone who has been born out from God [the Father] overcomes the world [the system of Satan], and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith [in Christ Jesus]."
All unbelievers live in the sphere of real spiritual death and are influenced, to some degree, by the cosmic system (Satan’s system of motivation, thinking, decision and action). This varies greatly among unbelievers. To the extent the unbeliever adheres to the Divine Laws of Establishment as found in the Mosaic Law, to that extend, he has some protection from Satan’s cosmic (organized) system.
At salvation, the believer is taken out of Satan’s system and entered into fellowship with the Holy Spirit at which time, the new believer is completely out of Satan’s system called the cosmos. He remains in God’s system until he commits his first sin. At which time, this decision to sin puts him back into Satan’s system from which he can only depart through the use of God’s Recovery Procedure (The naming of his sins to the Father). Upon using the recovery procedure, he is back in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit until the next time he sins.
1 John 5:5, "Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"
At salvation, the person overcomes completely Satan’s cosmic system for at salvation, the new believer is entered into God’s system of power namely walking in the light in contrast to Satan’s system of walking in darkness. Unfortunately, as soon as the new believer decides to sin, he leaves God’s system of power and enters again into Satan’s system of evil. However, this can easily be resolved by using the Recovery Procedure.
Sins that distract the unbeliever from believing in Christ.
Revelation 21:8
“But for the cowardly ones [only in the sense of not being able to face death and eternal future] that is the unbelieving ones [they do not believe in Christ]: detestable ones [people who would tend to make you throw up mentally such as self-righteous people who think that they are qualified by their own merit and so see no need for salvation] murderers [too much scar tissue in the soul and too much garbage in the subconscious to the point of destroying faith], male fornicators [including adultery; those preoccupied with sex and sexual lust], drug abusers [unable to comprehend the gospel due to drug use], idolaters [distracted through religion and demonic involvement] and all the pathological liars [never face reality], their part will be in the Lake which burns with fire and sulfur, which is the Second Death. [these sins are distractions from believing in Christ]
τοῖς δὲ δειλοῖς καὶ ἀπίστοις καὶ ἐβδελυγµένοις καὶ φονεῦσιν καὶ πόρνοις καὶ φαρµάκοις καὶ εἰδωλολάτραις καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ψευδέσιν τὸ µέρος αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ λίµνῃ τῇ καιοµένῃ πυρὶ καὶ θείῳ, ὅ ἐστιν ὁ θάνατος ὁ δεύτερος.
This verse begins with a conjunction which sets up a contrast between this verse and the previous verse. The previous verse dealt with unbelievers responding to the gospel; these unbelievers in this passage remained as unbelievers for two reasons: first because they were distracted and hindered by one or more of the six categories of sins mentioned above and secondly, too cowardly to listen and examine the gospel message.
Concerning the first two words in this verse only the first noun in this verse has an article; the second is anarthrous that is without an article. Thus, according to the Grandville Sharp Rule, if two nouns or substantives are joined by the Greek conjunction “kai” (and) and only the first noun or substantive possesses an article (the English ‘the’), it is a hendiadys. This is what we have here. So, the first two words should be translated as ‘the cowardly ones even (that is) the unbelievers.’ The rest of the words are associated or connected to this hendiadys by conjunctions. They are a special category of sins; those sins which tend to hinder or distract the unbeliever from believing in Christ. Remember that no sin prevents an unbeliever from becoming a believer since the penalty of all sins were paid for on the Cross, but sins can hinder one from believing in Christ and that is the issue in this verse.
In this verse, we do not have the Greek word porne which is a prostitute, but instead we have the Greek word “pornos” which is a male who fornicates or commits adultery as a lifestyle. Prostitutes are not normally preoccupied with sex; they are just trying to make a living. However, men who are involved in much fornication become obsessed with sex. They never look beyond the female body in a one-night stand. They look at life from the standpoint of sexual lust and stimulation, never understanding that happiness is in the soul. They are so preoccupied with their present or next conquest that they never give the salvation message any real consideration.
The Greek noun “pharmakos” is where we get the English word ‘pharmacy.’ It refers to a sorcerer or a drug user. These meanings are closely related since many sorcerers were drug users. If a person becomes addictive to narcotics, the neurons of the brain will be damaged or destroyed and so limit or seriously damage the cognitive function of the brain. If the unbeliever destroys this important function, he will not be able to comprehend the gospel and so dies as an unbeliever bound for the Lake of Fire.
The Greek noun eidololatres refers to an idolater. An idolater is someone who worships an idol, a physical object which represents a god that is a demon. If one worships demons, it is an easy step to become demon possessed. Obviously, if one is worshipping demons, he will not give much thought to the gospel. Furthermore, if a person is so weak that he is willing to turn his body over to a demon, he has lost considerable control over his volition. An idolater or worse a demon possessed idolater has severely hindered his chances of becoming a believer.
The Greek adjective pseudes means a lying one, with an article in this context refers to pathological liars. Pathological liars as cowards lie all the time even when it is not necessary, and they do so to avoid facing reality. If a person never faces reality regarding the simple things in this life, how is he ever going to face the reality of the eternal state and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
Certain sins can distract and hinder the unbeliever from believing in Christ. To die without believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the worst and most horrible thing that could ever happen. When the unbeliever’s soul departs from his mortal body, it is his first death; when he enters into the Lake of Fire, it is called the Second Death (Revelation 20:14) for he will for all eternity be separated from having fellowship with God.
Revelation 21:9
Then, came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues [which will occur in the Tribulation which plagues are mentioned in Revelation 16:2-21] and spoke [as a professor of eschatology] to me, saying, "Come, I will show you, the bride [symbolic for the New Jerusalem; A bride is usually considered beautiful and so is this city. The animation of the bride is analogous to the light of the city], the wife of the Lamb."
Καὶ ἦλθεν εἷς ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλων τῶν ἐχόντων τὰς ἑπτὰ φιάλας, τῶν γεµόντων τῶν ἑπτὰ πληγῶν τῶν ἐσχάτων, καὶ ἐλάλησεν µετí ἐµοῦ λέγων, ∆εῦρο, δείξω σοι τὴν νύµφην τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀρνίου.
These Bowl Judgments occur in the Tribulation: what a contrast between these Bowl Judgments and the eternal state.
Revelation 15:7, “Then one of the four living creatures [four angelic staff officers] gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.”
Revelation 16:2-4, “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and it became a loathsome and a malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. (3) The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. (4) Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood."
Revelation 16:8-12, "The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. (9) Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory. (10) Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, (11) and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of [change their thinking regarding] their deeds. (12) The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east."
Revelation16:17- 21, “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a magnificent voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done." (18) And there were flashes of lightning and noises and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty [judgment by pain and death]. (19) The great city [Jerusalem in the Tribulation] was split into three parts [formed a natural fortification in the siege of Jerusalem], and the cities of the Gentiles, fell [many prominent evil Gentile cities were destroyed]. Babylon the great [Satan’s ecumenical religion in the Tribulation with its headquarters in Rome] was remembered before God [all her evil which will be judged], to give her [this religious system] the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath [the destruction of ecumenical religion in the Tribulation]. (20) And every island vanished [fled away: destroyed through volcanic activity], and the mountains were not found [also blown away by volcanic explosive eruptions]. (21) And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each [divine judgment upon mankind destroying many people and property], came down from the atmosphere upon mankind; then the men [the survivors] blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe [they reacted to Crisis Evangelism].”
Revelation 21:10
Then, he carried me away in the spirit to a great, high mountain [in space; one which will exist in the eternal state], and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, [a satellite city]
καὶ ἀπήνεγκέν µε ἐν πνεύµατι ἐπὶ ὄρος µέγα καὶ ὑψηλόν, καὶ ἔδειξέν µοι τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἁγίαν Ἰερουσαλὴµ καταβαίνουσαν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ,
Revelation 21:11
Having the glory of God [the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Shekinah Glory] its radiance [the brilliance of the city] like a most rare [precious translucent] gem, like a crystal-clear diamond [the Greek word is closer to a diamond than a jasper].
ἔχουσαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ· ὁ φωστὴρ αὐτῆς ὅµοιος λίθῳ τιµιωτάτῳ, ὡς λίθῳ ἰάσπιδι κρυσταλλίζοντι·
Revelation 21:12
It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels [one at each gate], furthermore, names were inscribed [on the gates] which are the [names of] the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel;
ἔχουσα τεῖχος µέγα καὶ ὑψηλόν, ἔχουσα πυλῶνας δώδεκα, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς πυλῶσιν ἀγγέλους δώδεκα, καὶ ὀνόµατα ἐπιγεγραµµένα ἅ ἐστιν τῶν δώδεκα φυλῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ·
According to Numbers 2, the eastside would have the names of Judah, Issachar, Zebulun; on the north the names would be Dan, Asher, and Naphtali; on the west the names would be Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin and finally on the south there would be Reuben, Simeon and Gad.
Revelation 21:13
On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. [in other words, three gates per side]
ἀπὸ ἀνατολῆς πυλῶνες τρεῖς, καὶ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ πυλῶνες τρεῖς, καὶ ἀπὸ νότου πυλῶνες τρεῖς, καὶ ἀπὸ δυσµῶν πυλῶνες τρεῖς·
Revelation 21:14
And the wall of the city had twelve foundational stones, and on them, the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb [Peter, and his brother, Andrew, James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew also called Nathaniel, Doubting Thomas, Matthew, the tax collector, James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Paul (replacing Judas Iscariot who did not retain his apostleship)].
καὶ τὸ τεῖχος τῆς πόλεως ἔχων θεµελίους δώδεκα, καὶ ἐπí αὐτῶν δώδεκα ὀνόµατα τῶν δώδεκα ἀποστόλων τοῦ ἀρνίου.
Verses 15-17: the dimensions of the city:
Revelation 21:15
And he who spoke with me, had a gold measuring instrument to measure the city and its gates and walls.
Καὶ ὁ λαλῶν µετí ἐµοῦ εἶχεν µέτρον κάλαµον χρυσοῦν, ἵνα µετρήσῃ τὴν πόλιν καὶ τοὺς πυλῶνας αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ τεῖχος αὐτῆς.
Revelation 21:16
The city was laid out in a perfect cube, its length the same as its width; and he measured the city with the measuring rod, fourteen hundred miles long; fourteen hundred miles wide and fourteen hundred miles high.
καὶ ἡ πόλις τετράγωνος κεῖται, καὶ τὸ µῆκος αὐτῆς ὅσον τὸ πλάτος. καὶ ἐµέτρησεν τὴν πόλιν τῷ καλάµῳ ἐπὶ σταδίων δώδεκα χιλιάδων· τὸ µῆκος καὶ τὸ πλάτος καὶ τὸ ὕψος αὐτῆς ἴσα ἐστίν.
Revelation 21:17
He also measured its wall, two hundred feet by a man's measure which the angel was using. [God had the angel use a human standard, not an angelic one.]
καὶ ἐµέτρησεν τὸ τεῖχος αὐτῆς ἑκατὸν τεσσαράκοντα τεσσάρων πηχῶν, µέτρον ἀνθρώπου, ὅ ἐστιν ἀγγέλου.
God always uses our concepts of measurement when communicating to us. This would imply that angels have a different measuring system. Communication of information must be related to the frame of reference belonging to the recipients. That’s the principle.
The construction material of the New Jerusalem is found in verses 18-21. Since this is a new universe, the materials mentioned here are different from anything we have today since the metallic elements, stones, gems and minerals with which we are familiar, are from this present earth which will no longer exist in the eternal state. So, even though familiar names are given regarding these gems and metallic elements, they will be very different.
Revelation 21:18
The material of the wall was a flawless diamond [the Greek word is closer to a diamond than a jasper], while the city was pure gold like translucent glass [a different kind of gold with which we are familiar].
καὶ ἡ ἐνδώµησις τοῦ τείχους αὐτῆς ἴασπις, καὶ ἡ πόλις χρυσίον καθαρὸν ὅµοιον ὑάλῳ καθαρῷ.
Revelation 21:19
The foundational stones of the wall of the city were decorated with every kind of precious gem; the first foundation stone was jasper [better translated as diamond], the second sapphire [a translucent light blue], the third turquoise, the fourth emerald,
οἱ θεµέλιοι τοῦ τείχους τῆς πόλεως παντὶ λίθῳ τιµίῳ κεκοσµηµένοι· ὁ θεµέλιος ὁ πρῶτος ἴασπις, ὁ δεύτερος σάπφιρος, ὁ τρίτος χαλκηδών, ὁ τέταρτος σµάραγδος,
Revelation 21:20
The fifth sardonyx, the sixth ruby [brighter red than the sardonyx], the seventh a yellow topaz, the eighth a green peridot, the ninth a red topaz, the tenth chalcedony, the eleventh blue aquamarine, the twelfth amethyst.
ὁ πέµπτος σαρδόνυξ, ὁ ἕκτος σάρδιον, ὁ ἕβδοµος χρυσόλιθος, ὁ ὄγδοος βήρυλλος, ὁ ἔνατος τοπάζιον, ὁ δέκατος χρυσόπρασος, ὁ ἑνδέκατος ὑάκινθος, ὁ δωδέκατος ἀµέθυστος.
All of these gemstones are flawless and translucent gems in the eternal state and each will reflect a different aspect of the glory of Christ which glory will be the only source of light in the city. It will cause you to catch your breath even in your resurrection body!
Revelation 21:21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls [the gates for a 200-hundred-foot wall and so certainly not formed from any oyster], each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.
καὶ οἱ δώδεκα πυλῶνες δώδεκα µαργαρῖται, ἀνὰ εἷς ἕκαστος τῶν πυλώνων ἦν ἐξ ἑνὸς µαργαρίτου. καὶ ἡ πλατεῖα τῆς πόλεως χρυσίον καθαρὸν ὡς ὕαλος διαυγής.
Revelation 21:22
Furthermore, I did not see a temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty even the Lamb.
Καὶ ναὸν οὐκ εἶδον ἐν αὐτῇ, ὁ γὰρ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ ναὸς αὐτῆς ἐστιν, καὶ τὸ ἀρνίον.
Revelation 21:23
So, the city had no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God [the Shekinah Glory of our Lord] has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
καὶ ἡ πόλις οὐ χρείαν ἔχει τοῦ ἡλίου οὐδὲ τῆς σελήνης, ἵνα φαίνωσιν αὐτῇ, ἡ γὰρ δόξα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐφώτισεν αὐτήν, καὶ ὁ λύχνος αὐτῆς τὸ ἀρνίον.
Verses 24-27: the glory of this satellite city:
Revelation 21:24
Then, the nations [will receive their light from the Shekinah Glory] will walk by its light [on the new planet earth]; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it,
καὶ περιπατήσουσιν τὰ ἔθνη διὰ τοῦ φωτὸς αὐτῆς· καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς φέρουσιν τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν εἰς αὐτήν·
These are the new nations on the new planet earth. These nations will get their light from the satellite city, not from a sun or moon.
Revelation 21:25
And its gates shall never be shut by day for there shall be no night there;
καὶ οἱ πυλῶνες αὐτῆς οὐ µὴ κλεισθῶσιν ἡµέρας, νὺξ γὰρ οὐκ ἔσται ἐκεῖ·
Revelation 21:26
They [the kings of the new earth] shall bring into it [the New Jerusalem of the Eternal State] the glory and the honor of the nations.
καὶ οἴσουσιν τὴν δόξαν καὶ τὴν τιµὴν τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰς αὐτήν.
The preservation of divine institution number four namely nationalism is a memorial in the eternal state and a place of property and privacy.
Revelation 21:27
But nothing unclean [the unbeliever] shall enter it and no one who practices abomination [religion] or lying [lack of integrity] shall ever come into it [for they are all in the Lake of Fire], but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
καὶ οὐ µὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς αὐτὴν πᾶν κοινὸν καὶ ποιῶν βδέλυγµα καὶ ψεῦδος, εἰ µὴ οἱ γεγραµµένοι ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ ἀρνίου.
Only believers in Christ are permitted to enjoy the blessings of the New Jerusalem and the eternal state.
