Redemption is for Life, Life is for New Jerusalem
New Jerusalem is built with gold, pearls, and precious stones. These three materials are seen in Genesis 2, 1 Corinthians 3, and Revelation 21, but there is a change in the second.
In type in Genesis, in the actual building in 1 Corinthians, and in the fulfillment in Revelation, there are only three categories of materials for God’s building….We see bdellium in Genesis, silver in 1 Corinthians, and pearls in Revelation. Bdellium is not something of the animal life but something of the plant life. In the Bible the animal life with the blood is for redemption. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22)….Bdellium is out of the plant life in Genesis 2, and pearl is out of the oyster, the animal life, in Revelation 21. This is because in Genesis 2 sin had not yet come in. The producing of bdellium out of the plant life means that at that time there was no need of redemption.*
Without sin, Genesis 2 has bdellium from the plant life, but because of sin and our need for redemption, 1 Corinthians has silver and Revelation 21 has pearl.
Thank the Lord for His redemptive death! “Who Himself bore up our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose bruise you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). And, “through His name everyone who believes into Him will receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43).
The redemption accomplished by the Lord Jesus is for us to be forgiven and cleansed, and those steps are so that we may receive eternal life. And eternal life grows in us to make us proper members of New Jerusalem. And eternally in New Jerusalem the river of life with the tree of life flows out of the throne on which the redeeming Lamb sits.
* From chapter 29, Witness Lee, God’s New Testament Economy, published by Living Stream Ministry, © Witness Lee, 1986.
Posted by Don on January 2, 2023
