Identified with His ChurchGod has a church, a chosen people; and could all see as I have seen how closely Christ identifies Himself with His people, no such message would be heard as the one that denounces the church as Babylon. God has a people who are laborers together with Him, and they have gone straight forward, having His glory in view. Listen to the prayer of our Representative in heaven: “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory.” Oh, how the divine Head longed to have His church with Him! They had fellowship with Him in His suffering and humiliation, and it is His highest joy to have them with Him to be partakers of His glory. Christ claims the privilege of having His church with Him. “I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” To have them with Him is according to covenant promise and agreement with His Father. He reverently presents at the mercy seat His finished redemption for His people. The bow of promise encircles our Substitute and Surety as He pours out His petition of love, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory.” We shall behold the King in His beauty, and the church will be glorified. {TM 20.1}

Identisk med hans menighed
Gud har en menighed, et udvalgt folk; og kunne alle se som jeg har set, hvor tæt Kristus identificerede sig selv med sit folk, vil intet budskab blive hørt som det der kalder menigheden for Babylon. Gud har et folk som arbejder sammen med ham, og de har gået lige ud med øjnene fæstet på hans herlighed. Lyt til bønnen fra vores repræsentant i himlen: »Fader! jeg vil, at hvor jeg er, der skal også de, som du har givet mig, være hos mig, så de må skue min herlighed,« Oh, hvor det guddommelige overhoved dog længtes efter at have sin menighed hos sig! De havde fællesskab med ham i hans lidelse og ydmygelse, (21) og det er hans største glæde at have dem med sig som deltagere i hans menighed. Kristus gør krav på den forrettighed at have sin menighed hos sig. »Jeg vil, at de, som du har givet mig, skal være hos mig,« At have dem med sig er at slutte pagt og overensstemmelse med hans Fader. Ærbødigt fremlægger han ved nådestolen hans afsluttende genløsning af hans folk. løfternes bue omkredser vores stedfortræder og selvskyldner mens han øser ud af hans bønfaldene kærlighed, »Fader! jeg vil, at hvor jeg er, skal også de, som du har givet mig, være hos mig, så de må skue min herlighed.« Vi skal skue kongen i hans skønhed, og menigheden vil blive forherliget.