March 8, 2003(16)
THE CONTRAST OF THE TWO JERUSALEM.
THE EXISTING CITY. THE OLD CITY. The history of the birth of the sons of Abraham is made into an allegory by Paul. In which he reversed the spiritual status of the two covenants, the two women and the two sons. In which, the one which now is, became the natural, earthly, the city of the old covenant. Illustrated by Ishmael and Hagar. According to Paul, the earthly city which they represented exemplified bondage. Hagar was a slave, a bondwoman. Her son was born after the will of the flesh, the natural, the carnal. The covenant which was imparted from mount Sinai speaks of bondage and is declared to be Hagar or the Jerusalem which is currently in existence and is in bondage with her children. Gal. 4:22-25 What does the scripture say? Cast out the bond woman and her son. Remember, Hagar and Ishmael are being used by Paul as representing Israel and Jerusalem. The bond woman and her son will not be heirs of God. Gal. 4:30 In the plan and purpose of the Lord for today all, Jew and Gentile, all must be a part of the NEW JERUSALEM. Jesus said, to the old city, your house is left unto you desolate. Mt. 21:38 He likewise made many other statements showing that His interest was in the NEW.
THE CITY TO COME. NEW JERUSALEM, THE ETERNAL CITY. It is that which is from above and is the mother of the redeemed in Christ Jesus. That which is NEW, is FREE, liberated and serving the Lord in the freedom and liberty of the Spirit. The son of the freewoman which was Isaac, was the one who was born after the promise of the Lord. Gal. 4:23 Sarah being she who exemplified the New Jerusalem which is the heavenly city and is the mother of us all. The redeemed in Christ are counted as being the children of promise, or the children of the New Covenant which is sealed by the blood of Jesus. This is the one and only covenant acknowledged by the Lord. Gal. 4:28, 31
A REFERENCE TO A PROPHECY BY ISAIAH. This one who is called < mother of us all > is the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ. Gal. 4:27 Yet she is declared to be barren or childless. Even so, she will rejoice, break forth and cry aloud, for the children of the childless woman shall be more than the woman with a husband. The woman never having given birth will find her husband to be her creator. Who will create the Bride but Christ? The Lord of Hosts, her personal Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth. Isa. 54:5 The children of the so called < forsaken woman > will be multiplied more than those of she who had a husband. There is a positive reference here to the offspring of Christ and His Bride. It involves the one hundred forty-four thousand for they will be the productive portion of the body of Christ. Isa. 54:1 The secrets of the Lord are revealed in many ways and in many places in the Word.