1872 159 You may observe that the expectation and the desire of getting the earth into possession and under dominion rule the mind of Jesus and the saints through the Book of Revelation.
In the opening of the prophetic part, Revelation 4, you see the sign of the earth's security — the rainbow. And in the same chapter the Lord is celebrated as the One for whose pleasure all things were created, that is, His glory as Creator is owned: we are, in spirit, in Genesis 1
Then, in Revelation 5, the book of the inheritance of the earth passes into the hand of the Lamb. We are in spirit in Genesis 2, where the Lord God Himself, and all the creatures owned the dominion of Adam, the Lord God by confessing it, the creatures by submitting to it. And in this same chapter the heavenly saints glory in the prospect of their reign over the earth.
Judgments proceed under the opening of the seals of the book, the necessary precursor of the destined kingdom. They are continued under the trumpets. But in Revelation 10 the Lord Jesus, as the mighty angel, triumphs in the near approaching moment of inheritance and dominion over the earth and sea, and then in Revelation 11 the saints in heaven do the same.
The voice heard in heaven in Revelation 12, and the song of the victor-harpers in Revelation 15, alike utter joy in the thought of "the kingdom of the Christ," or of "all nations worshipping him."
Then, in Revelation 19, after ridding the earth of the great offences, the marriage is celebrated; but the subject of the joy even then is the kingdom, "Alleluia, the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth."
In Revelation 20 the first resurrection is spoken of, as being for the very purpose of His going in or manifesting the kingdom; "they reigned and lived with Christ a thousand years."
And how does the book close? Not with a sight of the church in the hidden places of heaven, as the Father's house, but with a sight of the church in the manifested heavens, the place of power, up to the light of which the kings will bring their honour and glory, and forth from which will go the water of the river and the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations. It is such a sight of the glory as suits the earth in the days of the kingdom, when the earth will own the supremacy of heaven, and live upon the bounties of heaven. (Rev. 21, Rev. 22)
This is a suited close of the book. The heavens being occupied by the saints, the distinct rulers of "the world to come," or of the millennial earth, it is fitting that we should then see that action which reduces the earth to the obedience of God, in the perfectness of which reduction all in heaven rejoice.
The volume of God thus closes as it has opened. Heaven and earth are exhibited now, as they had been created then, only with glorious differences: heaven with an elect household of saved sinners in it, or all as the blessed God Himself and His angels; earth purified and made the scene and the witness of richer blessings from God and His Christ than ever the garden of Eden had known.
"In the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth."