Some Things Learned from God’s Family Record.—No. 4.
By M. M. Osgood
WHILE John was an exile on the isle of Patmos, he was permitted to see future things as they would appear when the time came for their fulfillment. He was transported to the Mount of Olives, probably in the same manner that Paul was caught up to the third Heaven (see 2 Cor. 12:2). From this place he looked toward heaven and saw the city of God coming down toward the mount. Rev. 21:9, 10, 11: “And there came unto me one of the seven angels, . . . saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” As he saw the city coming from heaven, so we think it must be, while in Heaven, the present home of God and Jesus and the angels.
Verse 3: “And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.” By comparing the above with Zech. 14:4–11, we think that the mount to which John was carried was the mount of Olives—that memorable mount from which the disciples saw the Saviour ascend, while the angels assured them that this same Jesus should so come in like manner as they then saw him go into Heaven. See Acts 1:11.
John describes the city of foundations that Abraham looked for, thus: “And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels. . . . And the wall of the city had twelve foundations. . . . And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth; and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.” Rev. 21:12–16.
We learn from Kitto, that the ancient method of measuring cities was to get the whole distance around them. God’s city, thus measured, was twelve thousand furlongs; which equals fifteen hundred miles. This, divided by four, gives, as the length of one side, three hundred and seventy-five miles. As the length and breadth are equal, it must contain within its limits one hundred and forty thousand, six hundred and twenty-five square miles. Large as this is, it is none too large for the comfortable reception of both branches of God’s family; viz., the angels, and redeemed men.
M. M. OSGOOD.