he most memorable portion of the vision. But the vision also makes frequent reference to the transition from the religion of the Jews to the new dispensation of Christ. In John's vision Christ's mission of salvation is reconfirmed, the promises Christ made are reiterated, and the church's role as the means of salvation for all humanity receives the sanction of heaven. In this new order the possibility of salvation was open to everyone -- Jews and Gentiles. One of the principal symbols of this transition was the concept of Christ's church as the new Jerusalem. The church and the new order instituted by Christ were understood to replace the old order represented by Jerusalem and Judaism. John was shown "the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God." On the gates he saw "the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel", the city featured twelve gates and twelve foundations on which he saw "the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." In the details described by John figures from the Old and New Testaments blend in the structure of the new Jerusalem. Both prophets and apostles are seen as integral parts of its structure.
The importance of the prophets was certainly well known. The word of God as it was revealed to the Old Testament prophets was understood under the new dispensation as having prophesied the mission of Christ. John's vision draws heavily on the imagery of the prophecies and visions of the Old Testament prophets. In a sense the vision in Revelation repeats and amplifies the warnings of the Old Testament prophets while expanding their specific importance to the whole human race rather than just the Israelites -- though the number of the Israelites who will be saved is given special attention as John sees 12,000 members of each of the twelve tribes of Israel with the mark of God on them. But in addition to the Israelites John sees "a great multitude which no man could number, fr...