The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

"And I wilt write upon him the name of My God. Considered as a pillar or column in the
temple. The name of God would be conspicuously recorded on it to show that he belonged
to God. The allusion is to a public edifice on the columns of which the names of
distinguished and honored persons were recorded; that is, where there was a public
testimonial of the respect in which one whose name was thus recorded was held. The
honor thus conferred on him 'who should overcome,' would be as great as if the name of
that God whom he served, and whose favor and friendship he enjoyed, were inscribed on
him in some conspicuous manner. The meaning is that he would be known and
recognized as belonging to God; the God of the Redeemer Himself--indicated by the
phrase, 'the name of My God.'
"And the name of the city of My God. That is, indicating that he belongs to that city, or that
the New Jerusalem is the city of his habitation. The idea would seem to be, that in this
world, and in all worlds wherever he goes and wherever he abides, he will be recognized
as belonging to that holy city; as enjoying the rights and immunities of such a citizen.
"Which is New Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the place where the temple was reared, and where
the worship of God was celebrated. It thus came to be synonymous with the Church--the
dwelling place of God on earth.
"Which cometh down out of heaven from My God. Of course, this must be a figurative
representation, but the idea is plain. It is (1) that the [glorified] Church is, in accordance
with settled Scripture language, represented as a city [a government]--the abode of God on
earth. (2) That this, instead of being built here, or having an earthly origin, has its origin in
heaven. It is as if it had been constructed there, and then sent down to earth ready formed.
The type, the form, the whole structure is heavenly. It is a departure from all proper laws
of interpretation to explain this literally, as if a city should be actually let down from
heaven; and equally so to infer from this passage and the others of similar import in this
book, that a city will be literally reared for the residence of the saints. If the passage proves
anything on either of these points, it is, that a great and splendid city, such as that
described in chapter 21, will literally come down from heaven. But who can believe that?
Such an interpretation, however, is by no means necessary. The comparison of the Church
with a beautiful city, and the fact that it has its origin in heaven, is all that is fairly implied
in the passage.
"And I will write upon him My new name. The reward, therefore, promised here is, that he
who by persevering fidelity showed that he was a real friend of the Savior, would be
honored with a permanent abode in the holy city of His habitation. In the Church
redeemed and triumphant [symbolized by the New Jerusalem] he would have a perpetual
dwelling, and wherever he should be, there would be given him sure pledges that he
belonged to Him, and was recognized as a citizen of the heavenly world. [We would say,
sharers in the heavenly government itself.]"
We should hardly expect that this man of God, who may well be regarded as one of the
light-bearers of the Philadelphian period, would understand the full nature of the reward