|
THE NEW JERUSALEM |
|
Billy Sunday said, “If we could get an appreciation for what heaven is, we would all be so homesick for Heaven the devil wouldn’t have a friend left on the earth.” When you talk about heaven, you are talking about a grand and glorious place. Like Sunday said, if we all could get an appreciation for heaven like we ought, we would be so homesick the devil wouldn’t have a friend on the earth.
When Melancthon, the close and dear friend of Martin Luther, lay dying, Luther said he should not die and began to earnestly pray for his recovery. When his prayers began to change the condition of Melancthon, he said to Luther, “Let me die, Luther, let me die. Leave off your prayers.”
We talk about heaven and how we want to go there, but when the first pain hits us, we ran straight to the doctor screaming, “Help me doc, you’ve got to help me. I’m dying.” I don’t think we are as excited about going to heaven as we may act. In all seriousness, if we could get a real appreciation for heaven, I think many of us, instead of fearing death, would be wishing for death.
When Hugh M’Kail was put to death for his faith, he walked to one side of the scaffold and cried, “Farewell, sun, moon, and stars! Farewell, all earthly delights!” He then walked to the other side of the scaffold and shouted, “Welcome, God and Father! Welcome, sweet Jesus! Welcome, death! Welcome, glory!”
Oh, what a wonderful place it is and shall be for those who are saved. The more one understands about heaven, the more one appreciates it. The more one appreciates it, the more one welcomes it.
In our last study we began looking at the vision John saw of heaven. We looked at verses 1-8 and saw how God will one day make all things new. This present heaven and earth will exist no more, and it will be replaced with a new heaven and earth.
As we look at verses 9-27 we learn more about this new heaven and earth. The focus turns to what is often referred to as the New Jerusalem. It is described in verse 10 as a “great city” and the “holy Jerusalem.” It is called the “New Jerusalem” in verse 2. It is the place that I believed Jesus spoke of preparing when He said in John 14:2, “I go to prepare a place for you.” I also believe it is the place where our loved ones that have already gone now live.
We read in verse 9, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” The angel was saying, “You want to get a glimpse of your future home? Let me show you.”
Let’s look at this city and the heavenly home of the saved that John saw. First, let me say a word about:
1. THE DESCENSION OF THE CITY
We read in verses 10-11, “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.”
John saw the great city and holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven. First, take note of it’s:
A) Preparation by God
John saw the city as a city “from God.” In verse 2 John says that he saw the new Jerusalem “coming down from God out of heaven.” This is a place from God. God is the architect, designer and builder of this heavenly city. This is a city of divine origin.
The Bible says in Hebrews 11:10 that Abraham “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
As I mentioned earlier, just before Jesus went back to heaven He said in John 14:2, “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.” The city that John sees coming down from heaven is that place. It is the place God has prepared for all who saved.
Furthermore, take note of this city’s:
B) Glorification of God
In verse 11 the Bible speaks of this city as, “Having the glory of God.” John adds that “her light was like unto stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” The glory of God will radiate from this city. It bear the mark of its creator in every facet and detail.
The word “light” actually speaks of its brilliance. To John, the city was like one great and brilliant light and that being the glory of God.
John described this brilliance as a “jasper stone.” The word “jasper” does not speak of jasper as we know. The word speaks of a stone like our diamond. John saw this city as one big diamond refracting and reflecting the glory of its designer and creator.
Everything about heaven will be a reflection of the glory of God. His glory will be manifested in an unlimited and unconfined way.
You remember Moses sought to see God’s glory. We read in Exodus 33:18 that Moses prayed, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” God said to Moses in verses 21-23, “And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.”
Moses could not look upon the unlimited and unconfined glory of God. But in heaven, God’s glory will not restricted. His full glory will be manifested, so much so, the New Jerusalem will be a one great light.
Secondly, notice with me not only the descension of this city, but also:
2. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY
Beginning in verse 12 we are given a more complete description of the New Jerusalem. Let’s notice this description by first looking at:
A) The Details of the City
In verse 12 we read that the city has “a wall great and high.” The city is surrounded by a huge wall. As John gives us the details of this city we learn that in this wall were “twelve gates” (Vs. 12).
In verse 13 we learn that there are, “On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.”
Verse 12 also tells us that at each of these gates there were “twelve angels.” These angels are no doubt place there to attend to both God and His people.
Verse 12 also tells us that on each of these 12 gates are “name written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.” The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are inscribed on the gates celebrating through all of eternity God’s covenant relationship with Israel, the people from whom the Savior and the Scriptures came. The arrangement of the gates is much in the same fashion as the tribes camped around the Tabernacle, three tribes to each side.
In verse 14 we learn that “the wall of the city had twelve foundations” and that inscribed in these foundations are “the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” These twelve foundations celebrate and commemorate the Church, which upon the apostles was built. At the top of each gate was the name of a tribe of Israel and at the bottom was the name of an apostle.
After giving us details about the city, John gives us:
B) The Dimensions of the City
We read in verse 15, “And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.” The angel pulls out a heavenly ruler and shows us how massive this city is.
It is explained in verse 16 that the “city lieth foursquare” and that the “length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.” In other words, the city layout is in a cube.
When the angel measures the city it is found to be “twelve thousand furlongs” in its height, breadth, and length. The word “furlong” is the Greek word stadia. A stadion was about 607 feet, thus this city measures approximately 1,380 miles in either direction. To give you an ideal of how large that is, were that city to be superimposed on the present-day United States, it would extend from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and from Colorado to the Atlantic Ocean.
Based on certain assumptions about the design of the city and the number of the redeemed who will live in it, Henry M. Morris calculates that each person's "cube" would be approximately seventy-five acres on each side.
Some of you have always wanted a big house, well; God is preparing you a huge one!
In verse 17 we read that angel “measured the wall” that surrounds this city and found it to be “an hundred and forty and four cubits.” Most agree that the angel was measuring the thickness of the wall and it was found to be 72 yards thick or 216 feet thick.
John goes on to describe the materials that are used in this wall. In verse 18 we read, “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.” As we saw earlier, the jasper is what we know as a diamond. These massive walls are translucent like a diamond for which the glory of God to shine through.
The city itself is made of pure gold. If you were to walk up on the outside you could see through the walls a gigantic city made of pure gold. No brick, wood or stone structures in this place. They are all made out of pure gold.
In verse 19 John turns to the “foundations of the wall of the city.” He describes how these foundations are “garnished with all manner of precious stones.”
The first stone that he describes is the “jasper,” which we have already seen is the diamond.
The second is the “sapphire,” a brilliant blue stone.
The third is “chalcedony,” an agate stone from the Chalcedon region of what is now modern Turkey. This stone is sky blue in color with colored stripes.
The fourth is the “emerald,” a bright green stone.
The fifth is “sardonyx,” a red and white striped stone.
The sixth is “sardius,” a common quartz stone found in various shades of red.
The seventh is “chrysolite,” a transparent gold or yellow-hued stone.
The eighth is “beryl,” a stone found in various colors, including shades of green, yellow, and blue.
The ninth is “topaz,” a yellow-green stone.
The tenth is “chrysoprase,” a gold-tinted green stone.
The eleventh is “jacinth,” a blue or violet-colored stone in John's day.
The twelfth is “amethyst,” a purple stone.
A glorious panoply of beautiful colors deck these massive walls.
In verse 21 the gates that set in these walls are described. We read, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every gate several gate was of one pearl.” These gates are not made or overlaid with pearl, they are each one pearl. Remember the height of these walls. These are pearls that are no doubt of the same height.
John Phillips has this comment about these gates being made of pearl: “How appropriate! All other precious gems are metals or stones, but a pearl is a gem formed within the oyster—the only one formed by living flesh. The humble oyster receives an irritation or a wound, and around the offending article that has penetrated and hurt it, the oyster builds a pearl. The pearl, we might say, is the answer of the oyster to that which injured it. The glory land is God's answer, in Christ, to wicked men who crucified heaven's beloved and put Him to open shame. How like God it is to make the gates of the new Jerusalem of pearl. The saints as they come and go will be forever reminded, as they pass the gates of glory, that access to God's home is only because of Calvary. Think of the size of those gates! Think of the supernatural pearls from which they are made! What gigantic suffering is symbolized by those gates of pearl! Throughout the endless ages we shall be reminded by those pearly gates of the immensity of the sufferings of Christ. Those pearls, hung eternally at the access routes to glory, will remind us forever of One who hung upon a tree and whose answer to those who injured Him was to invite them to share His home.”
Also in verse 21 we read, “and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” You ladies get so excited about your gold earrings, necklaces and etc. God is use gold to pave the streets in this heavenly home.
What a glorious place the New Jerusalem is going to be. Imagine living in such a place. If you are saved, it will one day be a reality.
Lastly, notice not only the descension and description of this city, but also:
3. THE DISTINCTION OF THE CITY
Beginning in verse 22 John sees certain things that set this city apart from any other city. We have already seen that certain things will not be found in this city. We saw in our last study that verse 4 tells us, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Now we learn of other things that will not be found in this city.
First, we see there is:
A) No Sanctuary
We read in verse 22, “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” There had been a temple on earth and throughout Revelation we have seen a temple in heaven. But now, there is no longer a temple.
Why? There will be no need to go anywhere to worship. We will be in the very presence of the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. There will be no need for a church, chapel or cathedral. Every moment we will constantly be in His presence. The symbols are replaced with the realities.
Secondly, there will be:
B) No Sun
We read in verse 23, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” In heaven there will be no cycles of time such as day and night as we have now. There will be one eternal day and the light of the city is the glory of God.
J. A. Seiss writes:
That shining is not from any material combustion,—not from any consumption of fuel that needs to be replaced as one supply burns out; for it is the uncreated light of Him who is light, dispensed by and through the Lamb as the everlasting Lamp, to the home, and hearts, and understandings of his glorified saints.
When Paul and Silas lay wounded and bound in the inner dungeon of the prison of Philippi, they still had sacred light which enabled them to beguile the night-watches with happy songs.
When Paul was on his way to Damascus, a light brighter than the sun at noon shone round about him, irradiating his whole being with new sights and understanding, and making his soul and body ever afterwards light in the Lord.
When Moses came down from the mount of his communion with God, his face was so luminous that his brethren could not endure to look upon it. He was in such close fellowship with light that he became informed with light, and came to the camp as a very lamp of God, glowing with the glory of God.
On the Mount of Transfiguration that same light streamed forth from all the body and raiment of the blessed Jesus.
And with reference to the very time when this city comes into being and place, Isaiah says, "the moon shall be ashamed and the sun confounded,"—ashamed because of the out-beaming glory which then shall appear in the new Jerusalem, leaving no more need for them to shine in it, since the glory of God lights it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
We read in verse 24, “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.” The word “nations” refer to people of every walk of life and every ethnicity. People from every tongue and tribe will occupy this wonderful city.
The “kings of the earth” that “bring their glory and honor into it,” in my opinion, refer to the saints of God that ruled and reigned upon the earth.
The last thing we see that distinct about this city is that there is:
C) No Sin
We read in verse 25, “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” In ancient cities, walls were to protect the city and at night the gates would be closed to keep invaders and criminals out. You want have to worry about such things in heaven.
We read in verse 27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” There will be nothing unholy or unclean about this city. The only people there are those who have their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
What a city! What a home! It is breathtaking when we read about it. Yet, there is more to learn about it in chapter 22 which will be focus of our next study.
Let me close by sharing with you the words of one poet who wrote:
© 2006 by the Living Word |
