The Invitation to eternity 

In the last chapter of the Bible, the Holy Spirit along with His work, the church, make an invitation to all of humanity to partake of eternity.  Revelation 21 and 22 present the eternal condition of those redeemed by the Blood of Christ, and the work of the Spirit.   God gives us a glimpse of eternity, and extends the hand of invitation to all who choose. 

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.  Revelation 22:17 

We have the opportunity to carry the message of salvation and redemption to the lost world, to be used by the Spirit to bring people to eternity.   

We are the Bride of Christ 

When the Lord made humanity, he had our final redemption in mind.  He knew we would fall, and that man would need redemption.  Therefore, the marriage of a man and a wife, is a type of the union, between Christ and His Church.

Before Jesus died on the cross He reassured the disciples of their eternity, they would have a home in Heaven with Jesus.  This promise was not only to the disciples but to all of the redeemed in Christ.  The relationship with Christ is eternal; earth is only the starting point. 

John 14
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 

To help understand how close and intimate this relationship would be, between Christ and Church, the picture of marriage illustrates the dynamic.  As husband is supposed to be to his bride, Christ is to the church.  The church is the redeemed, we have all of eternity to look forward to a relationship with the Lord and His Church.  

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.  Ephesians 5:25-27 

In Heaven, before Christ returns in Glory and power, John witnessed the marriage of the Lamb (Jesus) and His bride the Church (the Saints). This scene in Revelation 19, includes you if you are saved, you are there!   

1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." 3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."
Revelation 19:1-9 

In the book of Revelation, the saints are in heaven, rejoicing and celebrating with the angels.  Satan is at war to prevent, people from entering this eternal relationship.  Following, this we read in Revelation, that one day, God is will make a new Heaven and a new Earth.  So even this earth, which the flesh so much focus on will pass away.  Therefore we need to live for our eternal dwelling place in mind, not this temporary one. 

Revelation 211 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 
Revelation 21:1-7 

The book of Revelation, even describes our eternal dwelling place, as the New Jerusalem, where we will have a home in the presence of God.  God and the saved will dwell in the same place that is amazing!   This is what Satan is trying to prevent. 

Revelation describes the New Jerusalem as cube shaped, 1363 miles wide, 1363 miles long and 1363 miles high. Here the saints, the saved, will dwell with Christ for eternity.  Revelation 21 and 22 present for us a picture of eternity.  God just gives a glimpse so we can have a picture of where we are going. 

To give us an understanding, we have these physical dimensions because wants to understand, the future is not metaphor but real.  There is an actual place, where will dwell, which will be as real as the world we live in today.  We even have dimensions, so we relate the future to the present.  So if we took these physical dimensions of the new city, we can see it would stretch from New York state to the Florida Keys, to the Gulf of Mexico and back up to the state of Montana and back to New York. This is only the New Jerusalem. 

The New Jerusalem, is only the home of the saints, this does not include the new heavens and the new earth, which is also there.  Remember, we are only given a glimpse of what is to come, the whole glorious picture will not be clear until that day is realized.  That day we do not want to miss, the Holy Spirit will guide us and be with us until that day.  Praise the Lord!

The Holy Spirit invites you to come, do not miss the eternity prepared for you.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17