come hithers (revelation 21:9)

Exegetical Studies in Revelation

This message was preached at New Testament Christian Fellowship in Claremont, NC on September 19, 2021. Following last week’s contrasting of “come hither” from Revelation 21:9 with the nearly identical construction found in 17:1, this message surveys some important COME HITHERS found elsewhere in Scripture (Joshua 3:9; Ruth 2:14; I Samuel 16:11; II Samuel 20:16; I Chronicles 11:5; Proverbs 25:6-7; John 4:16). These COME HITHERS have some important things to teach us in these last days. This focus upon Revelation 21:9 concludes by asking why a detailed blueprint of a future city FOLLOWS AFTER the final invitation of 21:6-8. Why is the description that follows placed here? Why did God see fit to say more about what had already been said in 21:2? Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that this isn’t the only detailed blueprint of a future city found in Holy Scripture. God gave Israel a very intricate vision of the Millennial City of Jerusalem and its Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 40-48), and He tells His prophet exactly why: “that they may be ashamed of their iniquities” (Ezekiel 43:10). Those of us living right—amidst all the fear pornography and foolishness, and wickedness, and blindness—must consider this. Perhaps we, the American Church, should look at the detailed blueprint of Revelation 21 and also “measure the pattern” (Ezekiel 43:10) … that we, too, might be ashamed of our iniquities and Laodicean lukewarmness before the LORD (see Revelation 3:14-22).