The great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Revelation 21:10-11
RECOMMENDED READING: REVELATION 21 “A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
COMMENTS: John did an amazing job describing what he saw in this vision God showed him, especially given he was living in primitive first century times. But John’s description goes beyond what you and I, living in today’s age of technological marvels, can imagine and comprehend too. A city 1500 miles wide x 1500 miles high x 1500 miles long surround by a wall over 200 ft high made of pearl. To inhabit such a building and be able to travel quickly from one end to another is also beyond us, even today. Yet God had it all figured out long ago. Our bodies will be capable of traveling such distances quickly and purpose of New Jerusalem will become capitol if earth and center of Jesus’ rule over heaven and earth. There Jesus will both rule and illumine and nourish earth and heaven with His tree of live and river of life flowing from Him.
This scripture tells us He will replace the current heaven and earth with new better ones. Is the New Jerusalem the home Jesus is preparing for us to stay while He creates a new heaven and new earth? Will we be able to witness that creation? Will we be able to travel freely anywhere on and in the new earth and new heaven? Will we be able to share all these experiences with family and friends? With faithful Christians of long ago? Will we know and be known by others as will know and be known by Him? THE ANSWER TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS IS YES!!
In spite of destruction and scars of sin, the earth still provides evidence of God’s handiwork and beauty. Still much of the earth still shouts of God’s love and power and beauty and faithfulness. Heaven certainly does and so does its current inhabitants.
But for whatever reason, God feels the need to redo not only the earth satan has damaged and corrupted but heaven too. I don’t know the reason but can imagine, in part, the reason includes bringing heaven and earth close enough or accessible enough so we will be able to freely inhabit and travel in heaven and on earth and in New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21-22 give us a glimpse to encourage and motivate us to a deeper walk with and faithfulness to Christ. In the midst of life’s trials and tragedies and disasters and choices comes confident hope and trust in Christ and in His promises. He has promised to keep His promises and is making final preparations before His return to take us home, to put an end to satan’s mischief and evil, and render both judgment on unforgiven sinners and mercy to those who received His mercy-forgiveness.
I believe the day of His return is soon but not certain if I will still be alive when He comes. I can’t see how He can tarry much longer. Evil is getting stronger and is bent on massive destruction to people and property.
I am so looking forward to His return, But I have mixed emotions because I still have loved ones who still need to accept His redemptive Gift of Forgiveness. How about you?
To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Jonathan Edwards
If you wish, you can access my blog at “https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com“. There you will find 465 blog posts I have made plus a link to my devotional journal material archives from 2013 to present.
You may also access my Facebook page and request to be my friend and automatically receive my daily journal publications daily. My Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/Dondevotionals/ Many thanks to a pastor and dear brother in Christ in Nepal who set up the above Facebook page to help and encourage and give opportunity for more to explore and use my devotional blog materials.
My hope and prayer are, my blog and devotional materials will become a source of encouragement and tools in ministry for you.
donsdevotions 