A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)
Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.
I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we continue our study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as given to John, we begin in chapter 21.
We have witnessed the prophecy of the demise of Satan and his evil minions. We now turn to the attributes describing the heavenly dwelling for the Bride of Christ, The Church.
Rev. 21:1. 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
We are past the time of the melting with fervent heat all the physical things God created in the universe. The earth, moon, and stars are all gone. A New Heaven and a New Earth are now in existence. Once again, Jesus is showing John the future in the spirit realm.
Things John Saw
Rev. 21:2. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Indicated is a new city where the saints shall dwell. It is identified as a New Jerusalem. The earthly Jerusalem was a shadow of ‘things to come’. Jerusalem was the city God chose for His children, Israel; the Hebrew Nation. Now a new city is where God chooses to dwell with His saved. The appearance is as a city decorated for a wedding ceremony; a city ‘prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.’ Just as we decorate a wedding parlor with beautiful decorations depicting the beauty of the bride, God is decorating the new city for the ultimate wedding; the wedding of The Son of God and his bride.
Rev. 21:3-7. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 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. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (reference the Samaritan woman at the well; John 4)
Those who overcome shall be given all things for eternal life.
Rev. 2:7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life,
Rev. 2:11. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev. 2:17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Rev. 2:26. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev. 3:5. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev. 3:12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
Rev. 3:21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
Rev. 21:7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Who Shall Not Be Given All Things For Eternal Life?
Rev. 21:8. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Many lists are recorded of those who shall not inherit eternal life all throughout the New Testament. It appears at this point in time, judgment has occurred but a warning is still necessary for us until the final end occurs in this literal physical earthly realm.
A Literal Spirit Identification Of Things We Recognize To Describe The New Heaven And New Jerusalem.
Rev. 21:9-14. 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. 10 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, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
One of the angels which poured out one of the ‘last’ vials of wrath upon the earth now shows John the bride, the Lamb's wife. (vs. 9) John sees The New Jerusalem. It has certain facets which are of importance.
The city has twelve gates in the walls
Twelve angels monitoring the gates
Each gate is named; one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel
Three gates per wall; the city is four square
Included are the twelve apostles of the Lamb of God; Jesus Christ. Their names are written on twelve foundations of the city
We have read about certain people having great positions given unto them in Heaven. Here we identify a few of them; twelve sons of Jacob; twelve apostles of Christ. Their significance upon mankind shall never be forgotten; even throughout eternity.
Additional Descriptions of the New Jerusalem
Rev. 21:15-16. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
The New Jerusalem is going to be large. It will accommodate, with the area without the city, all the redeemed of earth. It is designed like a cube; equal sides and equal height.
Rev. 21:17. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. To give us an indication of the measuring unit. John says it is according to the measure of a man; no, the measure of the angel. An indication of the size of the spirits, angels, in heaven, are similar to the size of men.
The Beauty of the City
John describes the city as the angel shows it to him. It appears to be of stones mankind finds to be of great value; precious valuable collections of stones we desire to have.
God also had such precious stones made into the high priest’s breastplate. Aaron wore it first. Let us remind ourselves of this garment. Exodus 28:15-21. 15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. 16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. 17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. 18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. 21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
Rev. 21:18-20. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
The twelve city gates will be just as magnificent. Twelve pearls. Rev. 21:21. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
John has described. in language which we can identify and comprehend, the magnificent New Jerusalem city. God desires the best as we would describe these things. It shows us the value God places on His people and dwelling place for He and His people.
Things Not Found In The City; Things God Shall Provide
No Temple
No Sun or moon
The Son, the glory of God shall light the city
No night; do darkness (nothing unrighteous)
The gates will never be shut to keep out evils.
Righteous kings of earth shall bring their glory and honor into it
The righteous of the earth shall be brought to the city by the righteous kings
The glory and honor are the saints, redeemed from the earth.
Noone who will defile the city shall enter (the unclean)
Noone who worketh abominations (the most vial things God hates) shall enter
No liars will be there
The righteous, those whose names are written in The Lamb’s Book of Life shall enter the Holy City
Rev. 21:22-27. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 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. 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. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 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.
This city shall be inhabited by ‘the kings of the earth’. These kings shall bring their glory and honor to the city. Who are these kings of the earth? Revelation 1:4-6. 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus is the prince of the kings of the earth. We are these kings. Vs. 6 [Jesus] hath made us kings and priests. We shall bring our glory and honor to the great city glorifying God, Jesus, the groom, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus showed John the magnitude and the majesty of what Heaven will look like and who shall enter it. This description should be enough for any man to want to live righteously and enter The Holy City Jerusalem.
Verse 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it … but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Only those whose names are written in the book are the jewels God shall gather to enter Heaven. Those who feared the Lord had fellowship with one another. God heard their voices and ‘harkened’ and heard their fellowship. The Book of Life was written as a remembrance to God of their love for each other all their lives. And, God gathered them as one gathers jewels–precious tokens to them. Malachi 3:16-18. 16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
When the marriage is over, then shall we discern between the righteous and the wicked, between those who served God and those who didn’t. The righteous shall be in eternal heaven; the unrighteous shall be in eternal hell.
