… St. John’s Revelation as recorded by the great apostle, … is the acme of … [Christian] Science as the Bible reveals it. (S&H 577:29-31)
Mary Baker Eddy
Bible Study Session
Saturday, MAY 19, 2012 - 10:00 am (Eastern Time)
Dial in US Toll-free: 866-576-7975
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Passcode: 617788
Topic: The New Jerusalem
Bible Text: Revelation 21:1-27
Thoughts to consider:
- Kratzer’s overview of Chapter 21, p.367: “In this act of the drama, no evil characters appear as alive or active, and no conflict is represented. There is merely the description in symbolical language of the consciousness of the spiritual man. There is occasional mention of evil and evil-doers, but such mention is made only to bring out the facts and the blessedness of spiritual consciousness by way of contrast with the material factor in the human order of consciousness” [underlining added]
- “And there was no more sea” – what does this mean?
- Hoyt, p.25: “Sea, a condition representing hidden erroneous conditions coming to the surface in upheaval, only to disappear, to be self-destroyed, as waves break into nothingness on a shore.” The sea represents fear. - Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary (See Biblos, Revelation 21:1): “the sea is the type of perpetual unrest.” - Kratzer, p.368: “the "sea", which is the symbol of turbulence and division,”
- Who is the Lamb and what is the meaning of the Lamb?
- Who is the Bride of the Lamb?
- What does one need to do to receive “the fountain of the water of life?” (Revelation 21:6) How did Simon think he could get the Gift of God?
- Who is allowed to enter New Jerusalem? Who is not admitted to New Jerusalem?
- What is the “second death?”
- What is the reason for the golden reed?: “he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city”
- What is New Jerusalem?
- Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
- Romans 8:13 - “if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
- Hoyt, p.33: “The reward for overcoming is stated, ‘he shall not be hurt of the second death.’ Rev. 2:11. The first realization about eternal life is that there is no death. This realization is the reward for overcoming false beliefs about life.”
- Kratzer, p.342: “The Final Destruction of Evil: Then will follow the absolute and final destruction of general evil, general mortal belief, and all remnants of error as described in 20:14-15. This event John speaks of as "the second death."
- See Ezekiel chapter 40: “In the visions of God…”
- People’s New Testament (see Biblos, Revelation 11:1): “It (“the reed”) is a divine measure. Whatever is measured is to be compared with a divine standard.”
- Revelation 3:12 – “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God…”
- Hebrews 11:10 – “…a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”
- Kratzer, p.368 - "The holy city, new Jerusalem", is the spiritualized consciousness, coming down to human beings from God out of the realm of harmony. This is, of course, not a coming down from a higher level of space to a lower, but an impartation of higher, heavenly consciousness to the lower order of human thought, destroying that lower order.”
- Hoyt, p.211: “in the old temple you had your atonement or point of communion with God once a year. In the New Jerusalem there is no temple, for God and His Christ fill the city and you are always in communion with the Infinite One.”
- Kratzer, p.370: “Verses 22-27. In these verses we are informed that the city of God, the spiritual consciousness, has and needs in it no material structure, nor any material source of light, and that that state of consciousness is constantly lighted spiritually by God Himself.”
- Exodus 28: 9 – the high priest’s breastplate: “and thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel”; See also Exodus 39:6.
- Jewish encyclopedia: Breastplate of the High Priest - “A species of pouch, adorned with precious stones, worn by the high priest on his breast when he presented in the Holy Place the names of the children of Israel.”
- Jewish encyclopedia: Breastplate of judgment - “The Rabbis explain that the breastplate of the high priest is called in Scripture ("breastplate of judgment") because it was intended to work atonement for errors in pronouncing judgment.”
- Clarke’s Commentary (See Biblos, Exodus 28:15) – “the breastplate of judgment, because the high priest wore it upon his breast when he went to ask counsel of the Lord, to give judgment in any particular case; as also when he sat as judge to teach the law, …”
- Hebrews 4:14 – “…great high priest, … Jesus the Son of God,”
- John 1:25-30 - Exodus 12:21-28 [Hebrew, pasach: Passover] - 1 Corinthians 5:7 “…Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” [Aramaic: pascha from pesach, the Passover; the Passover supper or lamb] - 1 Peter 1:18-20 - ··“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were … redeemed ….… with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, ….” - Kratzer, p.379: “…"the Bride " is the spiritual factor in human consciousness in its attitude of aspiring after and worshiping God,—it is the true, spiritual church.” - Clarke’s Commentary (See Biblos, Revelation 21:9): “The bride, the Lamb's wife - The pure and holy Christian Church.” - John 4:10-14· (“the gift of God”) - Acts 8:18-21 (Simon) - Ephesians 2:8 (“grace”) - Kratzer, Glossary, p.388: "Rivers and fountains of waters," "rivers of waters," "fountains," or "waters." ·Sources and channels of thought and feeling. In the higher sense, these expressions symbolize divine love and the divine ideas, regarded as the support of true consciousness or life.” - Grace (Webster’s 1828). “2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.” - Revelation 21:7 and 8
10.· Describe the Temple in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22)
11.· What is the relevance of the jewels of Aaron’s (also the high priest’s) breastplate to the jewels of the city? (Revelation 21:19-21)
References
Hoyt, Edith Armstrong.· Studies in the Apocalypse of John of Patmos. A non-interpretive and literary approach to the Last Book of the English Bible. Fourth Edition, Ann Arbor, MI, Edwards Brothers, Inc., 1954. 245 pp.
Kratzer, George A., Rev., Revelation Interpreted. First Edition, Chicago, IL, The Author, 1915.· 396 pp.
Jewish encyclopedia
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3668-breastplate-of-the-high-priest
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