The Church as Secure
Continuing on with Kenneth Gentry’s book The Book of Revelation Made Easy, which shows us that the city described in Revelation 21 and 22 is a picture of the church, God’s people, we read in Revelation 21:12 that this city had “had a great, high wall with twelve gates”, and in v14 that “the wall of the city had twelve foundations”.
These great walls and firm foundations of the city are pictures of the security that God’s people have in Him. This is a common theme in the Old Testament – we read in Jeremiah 1:18 God saying to the prophet “Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land” (Jeremiah 1:18 NIV).
Unshakeable Spiritual Security
And who can forget Jesus’ powerful words in Matthew 16:18, where he says “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”?
John here in Revelation 21 is painting a picture of the strong and secure church – built up by God and held by God so that nothing can overcome it.
Now remember what Gentry said about these images which I shared on Monday: “Though John presents them in ideal form, they exist in spiritual principle in the present.” So while we await the completion of this vision of John’s, when there is no more evil to fight because God’s truth has conquered and won over the whole world – in the meantime we know this to be true as a spiritual principle. So we know that as people of God, saved by His grace, counted as His ‘bride’, we are secure. No evil can overcome us. No temptation is too strong. No power or principality is too much for us. We are held by a more powerful God.
Think of the implications for this, in your day today. With your faith in Christ, you can not only believe in Him as your Saviour and Father, but as the powerful one who give you strength to endure. Though the gates of hell may be coming at you, if you believe in His power and believe in His strength, and hold onto that belief, then the attack against you will not overcome you. You’ll be able to stand secure and firm.
Faith's Overcoming Power
Remember, this is a theme through the whole Bible. David in Psalm 27 said “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” The sons of Korah wrote in Psalm 46 that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” Earlier in the New Testament the same John who wrote Revelation told the church that “everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NIV11)
If you will believe – not just in God’s existence, but in His overcoming power, then friends you will find that that picture in Revelation of the church as a strong and mighty city is true.
May you believe today, in the God who is not only real, but able to keep you secure in every way.
