Summary:
The New Jerusalem
Verses 1-27
John saw a new heaven and a new earth because the first heaven and earth had passed away. And, there was no more sea. He saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, descending from heaven, sent by God. The city was like a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. John heard a loud voice from the throne say, " 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He Himself will be with them and be their God. 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.' " (Verses 3b-4)
The One seated on the throne said that He was making everything new. He told John to write the following down, because His words are trustworthy and true. " 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.' " (Verses 6-8)
One of the 7 angels, with the 7 plagues, told John to come see the wife of the Lamb. He carried John in the Spirit to a great mountain, where he showed John the New Jerusalem descending from heave. The city shone like the glory of God. Its brilliance is like a very precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a high wall with 12 gates. There are 12 angels at the gates. On each gate are written the names of the tribes of Israel. There are 3 gates on each side - north, south, east, and west. On the wall with the 12 foundations are written the names of the Lord's 12 apostles (I'm sure John was joyful to hear this.)
The angel had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city in man's measurements. The city was shaped as a square. It was about 1,400 miles (12,000 stadia) long, wide, and high. Its wall is about 200 feet thick (144 cubits). The wall is made of jasper. The city is made of pure gold, like glass. The foundations are decorated with every kind of precious stone:
1st - jasper
2nd - sapphire
3rd - chalcedony
4th - emerald
5th - sardonyx
6th - carnelian
7th - chrysolite
8th - beryl
9th - topaz
10th - chrysoprase
11th - jacinth
12th - amethyst
The 12 gates are made of 12 pearls; each gate is a single pearl. The great street is made of pure gold, like transparent glass.
John saw no temple, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple. There is no sun or moon, because God gives the light and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by this light and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. The gates will never be shut, because it will never be night. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure, shameful, or deceitful will ever enter it - only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Lori's Thoughts:
This is what God intended for us: to live with us. We will never again doubt His existence or presence in our lives. As surely as He will keep His word to live with us, then He surely dwells in our hearts now, if we have asked Him too. Sounds a bit existential, doesn't it? Well, that's doubt and unbelief, which I am guilty of. I constantly pray for faith. But, I have moments when I just know. That is the Holy Spirit speaking to me.
Aside from dwelling with God, we will live free from pain and suffering. How I long for that day. It seems like this life is mostly pain and suffering, with a few glimpses of love and hope and peace. These few glimpses are what I long for and what get me through this life. One day, it will be all love and peace. Hope, we'll no longer need, because we will have reached what we had hoped for, and we will live without any glimpses of any kind of evil.
When God told John the type of people that will be thrown into the sulfur lake (which, I see, is the same as the lake of fire), I thought - I'm guilty of several of those sins: being cowardly, unbelieving, sexually immoral, investigating the magic arts, idolizing, and lying. But, I must remember that I am covered by Christ's blood, which paid my entrance fee to heaven. And, He sent the Holy Spirit to transform me into a woman after His own heart.
God greatly loves King David. So much that He had mercy, numerous times, with the Israelites, when they rebelled against Him. He did so on David's behalf. And David was already dead! When alive, David had sought God with his whole heart. But, he committed murder, sexual immorality, and most of the other sins listed in verses 6-8 of this chapter. However, God calls David a man after His own heart. It is not about being a perfect person. It is about having a perfect Savior who freely forgives and loves us, if we will just say yes.
And, how awesome does heaven sound? Gold so pure it's like glass. Every precious stone imaginable. (I want diamonds.) A fortified palace illuminated by God.
If your primary love language* is receiving gifts - can you tell how much your heavenly Father loves you by this palace that He has made for you?
If your primary love language is quality time - can you tell how much He loves you by promising to live with you?
If it is acts of service - can you tell how much He loves you by dying on the cross for you?
If it is physical touch - can you tell how much He loves you by promising to dwell in your heart?
If it is words of affirmation - can you tell how much He loves you by giving you the Bible for encouragement?
He loves us - all of us - in our own unique ways of identifying love.
*See Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages
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