Worthy is the Lamb: Finally Home

This morning we are going to look at the largest swaths of the Book of Revelation since we began our journey through it twenty months ago. It is not that I’m in a hurry to finish. This passage encompasses the most detailed account of any single event that occurs in the book. Whereas the Apostle John takes a mere eight verses in describing the new heaven and new earth, he takes twenty-three verse to describe the New Jerusalem that comes down our of heaven. The angel of verse 9 describes it to John as “the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

What are we to make of this city? Do we take John literally? Do we take it symbolically?

Of all of Christian literature I’ve read, I think the best treatment of this passage is found in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. At the end of Bunyan’s book, we find two believers — one named Christian and the other called Hopeful — on the final leg of their spiritual journey. They are about to enter the New Jerusalem, which Bunyan refers to as The Celestial City.

John Bunyan writes: “ ... as they drew near to the city, they had a more perfect view of it. It was built of pearls and precious stones, and the street was paved with gold; and the natural glory of the city and the reflection of the sunbeams upon it made Christian sick with desire. Hopeful also had a spell or two of the same disease. Because of this they lay down for a while, crying out, "If you see my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.”

From the City of Destruction to the gates of the Celestial City, this is the scope of The Pilgrim's Progress, and Christian has made the journey. If you are in Christ, it’s also your journey. As John Newton wrote: “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath bro’t me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.”

“Christian” and “Hopeful” are ready to enter their eternal home. The question is, “Are you?” Let me take a few moment to pose three questions about our eternal home.

What will the Celestial City be like?

How do we get to the Celestial City?

How can I be ready to enter the Celestial City/

I. WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE?

1. I love how Bunyan describes our Pilgrim’s first close-up glimpse of the Celestial City

ILLUS. “ ... as they drew near to the city, they had a more perfect view of it. It was built of pearls and precious stones, and the street was paved with gold; and the natural glory of the city and the reflection of the sunbeams upon it made Christian sick with desire.

2. the passage begins with John being carried away to a great, high mountain and from there the Apostle sees the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God

a. this is the city whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:10)

b. how different this city is from the other city described in Revelation — Babylon the Great

1) that first city is described as the mother of all harlots, and she is drunk on the blood of the martyrs

a) the New Jerusalem is the bride, the wife of the Lamb, and is home to the martyrs made by the first city

2) the first city is the home of sinners

a) the New Jerusalem is the home of saints

3) the first city is full of wickedness and immorality

a) the New Jerusalem is full of holiness and righteousness

c. the contrasts couldn’t be greater

3. the beginning of human history begins in a garden, and will end in city that is like a garden ... let’s look what the passage tells us about this city

A. THE “CELESTIAL CITY” WILL BE AN IMMENSE PLACE

1. it will be unlike any city you or I have ever seen

“The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.” (Revelation 21:16, ESV)

ILLUS. Nothing in this life can prepare us for the site of this city. (New York City experience).

b. according to this verse the New Jerusalem is 1,500 miles long, wide, and high

1) that’s the distance from Maine to Florida

c. at those dimension, the New Jerusalem contains 2.25 billion square miles

1) that’s amazing when you consider that New York City — the world’s largest metropolitan area — is only 3,352 square miles

2) the dimensions describe a perfect cube

d. we’re also told that the entire city is like made of pure gold and the walls around the city are of jasper

“The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass.” (Revelation 21:18, ESV)

2. it is a place of incredible symmetry, majesty, and beauty

a. some of you may be asking yourselves, “Pastor, do you really believe all that?”

b. yep

3. verse 22 gives us the explanation for these dimensions

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (Revelation 21:22, NIV84)

a. to the ancient Jews, these dimensions would have been a direct reference to the holiest room in their temple: a room called the Holy of Holies

“He prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. 20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.” (1 Kings 6:19–20, NIV84)

b. do you see it? ... the Holy of Holies was a perfect room ... a perfect room overlaid with pure gold

4. this is where the ark of the covenant rested, and where the high priest of Israel would atone for the sins of Israel once per year

a. it was a place that represented the presence of God on earth

b. it’s a graphic way a confirming God’ repeated promise to His people — the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God

B. THE “CELESTIAL CITY” WILL BE A RADIANT PLACE

1. John describes it as a resplendent place

“having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” (Revelation 21:11, ESV)

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:23, ESV)

ILLUS. Dwight Lyman Moody was an evangelist and the “Billy Graham” of the late 19th century. A few hours before his death at age 62, Dwight L. Moody caught a glimpse of the glory awaiting him. Awakening from sleep, but never opening his eyes, Moody said, "Earth recedes. Heaven opens before me. If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go!" Moody's son was standing at his bedside and said, "No, no father. You are dreaming." Dr. Moody replied, "No, I am not dreaming. I have been within the gates: I have seen the children's faces." He then faded off to sleep again. A short time later, Dr. Moody spoke once more, "This is my triumph; this is my coronation day! It is glorious!” And with that he died.

ILLUS. Dr. R. G. Lee was a great Baptist preacher during the first half of the 20th century. He was the pastor of the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN for thirty-three years. When Dr. Lee was dying, he suddenly opened his eyes and said to his wife, "I see Heaven! Oh...I didn't do it justice! I see Jesus! I didn't do Him justice!"

2. like“Christian” these two men of God catch a glimpse of heaven and their heavenly king and find themselves sick with desire

a. human words cannot adequately describe what they see

b. the Apostle Paul said it this way ... “ ... , as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—” (1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV)

C. THE “CELESTIAL CITY” WILL BE A PLACE OF ABUNDANT LIFE

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.” (Revelation 22:1–3, NIV84)

1. in these verses, John essentially describes Eden regained

a. it’s a place where every desire is met, and our chief desire will be the fellowship of God

b. it is a place where we will walk in perfect fellowship with God, perfect fellowship with each other, and perfect fellowship with the created order of the new heaven and new earth

D. THE “CELESTIAL CITY” WILL BE A PLACE OF ETERNAL WORSHIP OF GOD

“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:3–4, ESV)

1. John is saying that saints will fellowship intimately in the presence of a holy God forever

ILLUS. The theologian, Augustine of Hippo, said of God’s kingdom, “Heaven is the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God and of one another in God.”

ILLUS. When “Christian” and “Hopeful” ask the angels “What shall we do in the holy place?” The angels answer, “You shall wear crowns of gold and enjoy the constant sight of the Holy One, for ‘there you shall see him as he is.’ There also you shall serve continually with praise, shouting, and thanksgiving, Him whom you desired to serve in the world, ... “

2. the “Celestial City” will be a place of eternal bliss and happiness

a. no sorrow will be permitted in God’s kingdom

b. no suffering will ever be experienced by God’s people

c. joy and happiness are the order for eternity in God’s kingdom

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new ... ” (Revelation 21:4–5, ESV)

ILLUS. Think of the sorrow and suffering experienced by the Christians of Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday when suicide-bombers set off explosives in churches and Christian events. In the Celestial City the sorrow of the survivors and the suffering of the martyrs who died that day will become their glory and honor in the New Jerusalem.

3. the Scriptures are rich with descriptions of the kingdom of heaven

a. it is called . . .

1) the Sheepfold

2) the New Jerusalem

3) the Kingdom of His dear Son

4) the Holy City

5) the Dwelling Place of God

6) Paradise

4. whatever you call it, there will be a lot of neat things in the kingdom

a. the pearly white gates

b. the streets of gold

c. choruses of angels singing

d. the fellowship of the saints

e. the revelation of every mystery you’ve ever wondered about ...

5. but none of those things will be as wonderful as simply being in the presence of our Heavenly Father and the Lamb of God who has taken away our sin

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.” (Revelation 7:15, ESV)

a. throughout the millennium the image of a New Heaven, and a New Earth, and a New Jerusalem have sustained the people of God in their suffering

b. martyrs have died with these images in mind

ILLUS. Fanny Crosby wrote:

When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide,

When the bright and glorious morning I shall see,

I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,

And His smile will be the first to welcome me.…

Thru the gates of the city in a robe of spotless white,

He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;

In the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight

But I long to meet my Savior first of all.

Refrain:

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

And redeemed by His side I shall stand,

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

By the print of the nails in His hand.

6. The Celestial City Is a Glorious Place Where We Will Reside with the Lord for Ever and Ever

II. HOW WILL WE GET THERE?

ILLUS. In his allegory, Bunyan writes, “So I saw in my dream that they went on together until they came within sight of the gate. Now I noticed that between them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge across it, and the river was very deep. At the sight of this river, the pilgrims were stunned; but the men who were with them said, “You must go through, or you cannot get to the gate.”

1. the river that Christian and Hopeful encounter is death

a. in this section of his book, John Bunyan paints an honest picture of a believer facing death

b. there is, as the Apostle Paul writes, a sting to it

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55–57, NIV)

2. as “Christian” begins to cross the river, an anxiety wells up within him

ILLUS. Bunyan writes of “Christian”, “He was also greatly troubled with thoughts about the sins he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. Also, his words revealed that he was troubled by visions of demons and evil spirits.”

a. even though “Christian” has been to the cross and lost the burden of his sin, and even thought he has faithfully traversed the “Road called Straight” all the way to the very edge of the “Celestial City”, Bunyan portrays our hero as a realistic human who becomes disheartened on the brink of death

1) our hero struggles, not so much with death and eternity, as with the process of dying

ILLUS. I’m kind of like Woody Allen about this. He once said, “I'm not afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens.”

b. it is “Hopefull’s” encouragement that calms his fears and reinvigorates “Christian’s” faith so that he is able to cross from temporal life to eternal life

ILLUS. “ ... Hopefull added, “Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.” And with that Christian cried out with a loud voice, “Oh! I see Him again, and He tells me, “When thou passest though the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.”“

3. unfortunately, the vast majority of us here this morning will have to cross the “River of Death” in order to get to the “Celestial City”

a. the Bible reminds us that Enoch didn't, and Elijah didn't, and there will be a generation that will not because they will be alive at the Second Coming of the Lord

b. but the odds are pretty high that many of us here—probably most—will have to suffer the sting of death to experience the splendor of our Deliverer

4. the Bible is very honest when it comes to death

a. The Bible Refers to the Suddenness of Death

1) you are on your journey in this life and suddenly you are not

b. The Bible Refers to the Separation of Death

1)you leave everything and everyone you know on this side of life

c. The Bible Refers to the Struggle of Death

ILLUS. Bunyan writes of “Christian’s” struggle, “And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian so that he could not see before him. Also, he became so distraught that he could neither remember, nor speak reasonably about those blessings he had encountered on his pilgrimage. Everything he said focused on his terrible fears of heart and mind and that he should die in that river and never enter the gate.”

1) but in the midst of their struggle to cross the river, “Christian” and “Hopeful” are encouraged in their faith as they look to Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith

ILLUS. “Then they both took courage, and after that the enemy was as silent as a stone, until they had crossed over. Presently Christian found ground to stand upon, and then the rest of the river was shallow. Thus they crossed over.” “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:53–54, NIV)

5. The Christian Enters the Celestial City by Our Death, but We Gain an Incorruptible, Undefiled, and Unfading Inheritance

III. HOW CAN I BE READY?

ILLUS. Now as they drew near the gate, a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them; and the other two Shining Ones said to this company, “These are men who have loved our Lord when they were in the world, and who have left all for his holy name ... “Blessed are they which are called into the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Then I saw in my dream that the Shining Men told them to call at the gate; and when they did, Enoch, Moses, Elijah, and others looked from above over the gate, to whom it was said, “These pilgrims have come from the City of Destruction because of their love for the King of this place.” And then each of the pilgrims handed in his certificate, which he had received in the beginning; these were carried in to the king.”

1. “Christian” and “Hopeful” are allowed into the “Celestial City” for one reason and one reason only

a. they both have a certificate

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:21–22, NIV)

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14, NIV)

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30, NIV)

2. the “certificate” that allows “Christian” and “Hopeful” and us into the presence of the Lord is the presence of the Holy Spirit in us

a. His regenerating work is the reason we entered the narrow gate and are saved

b. His sanctifying work is the reason we can walk the narrow road until the very end

3. how do you get the Spirit of God in you?

a. just like “Christian” and “Hopeful” and all believers do — by entering in at the narrow gate and coming to the foot of the cross, and putting your faith in the Christ who died for sinners

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9–10, NIV)

ILLUS. There is a fable told about the life of Martin Luther, the man who began the protestant reformation. It is said that the devil approached Luther one day and tried to dissuade him in his faith by reminding him that every person is fallible. He presented Luther with a long list of sins of which he was guilty. When he had finished reading, Luther said to Satan, "Think a little harder; you must have forgotten some." This the devil did and added other sins to the list. At the conclusion of this exchange, Martin Luther simply said, “That's fine. Now write across that list in red ink, 'The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” There was nothing the devil could say to that.

b. when you declare openly and unashamedly, “Jesus is my Savior and Lord” there is nothing the devil can say to that or do about that

4. unfortunately, many — too many — people in our world are like Ignorance — another of Bunyan’s characters in The Pilgrims Progress

a. Bunyan closes his allegory with a dramatic warning that a person may be near and yet so far from God’s salvation

b. as “Christian” and “Hopeful” continue down the highway toward the “Celestial City” they meet a young man named “Ignorance”

1) “Ignorance” tells the two Pilgrims that he is also headed to the “Celestial City”

c. “Christian” asks “Ignorance” how he plans to enter the gate to the “Celestial City”

1) failing to see his need for justification by faith in Jesus, “Ignorance” responds that he has lived a good life and points to many other good deeds that he had done

2) “Ignorance” assures them that his heart — a good heart — told him he was acceptable in God’s sight

d. “Ignorance” believes that he will be received into the Celestial City because of his doing good works in accordance with God's will

1) for him, Jesus Christ is only an example, not a Savior

e. rather than listening to the Word of God, Ignorance took counsel with his own heart…and was deceived

5. Bunyan’s dream ends as a nightmare for “Ignorance”

ILLUS. When he had reached the gate, he looked up at the writing that was inscribed above; and then he began to knock, supposing that he would quickly be permitted to gain entrance. But the men who peered at him over the top of the gate first asked, “From where have you come? And what is it that you desire?” So Ignorance replied, “I have eaten and have drunk in the presence of the King, and he has taught in our streets.” Then they asked him for his certificate, so that they might go to the King and show it to him. So he fumbled in his chest pocket and yet was unable to find anything. Then they further inquired, “Have you none?” But the man answered not so much as a word ... So they told the King, but he would not come down to see him. Instead, he commanded the same two Shining Ones, who had previously conducted Christian and Hopeful to the City, to seize Ignorance, bind him hand and foot, and carry him away ... Then I saw that there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction. So I awoke, and behold it was a dream.

In the Book of Hebrews we read, “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14, NIV84). The New Jerusalem is the city we are looking for. It’s the city that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all longed for, the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God, (Hebrews 11:8-10). It is the Fathers house Jesus told his disciples that he was ascending to in order to prepare it for our arrival. This is home. It’s what the faithful have longed for. When you read passages like ours this morning, I hope, like Christian, it makes you sick with desire.

Like Christian in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, we began our spiritual journey when we entered the narrow gate. We’ve left behind the City of Destruction, and have set our sites on the Celestial City. In our journey there will be blessing too innumerable to count. There will be temptations and difficulties and even moments of despair and doubting. At the end, however, is a Savior waiting to usher us into his kingdom.

Related Media

Related Sermons