New Jerusalem unveiled
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· 5 viewsThe glories of Heaven become more clear as John gets more information.
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Christmas Day
Christmas Day
-Remember the excitement of Christmas Day
-I would get up before everyone else, dump out my stocking and then put it all back in as it was because I had to wait for everyone else to get up before we dug in
-But also the long wait for the day to get here
The presents unwrapped and gifts enjoyed- what was hidden is now unveiled
We knew it was coming- and now its here
In similar fashion, we have that same anticipation in the text tonight
We know story, Christ coming back, we will forever be with him and evil will forever be punished
We know its coming - we just await the unveiling of what is still hidden
Tonight we continue the unveiling of what God has deemed necessary for us know concerning the New Jerusalem
Last week, Christ making all things news- wrongs will be righted and sin with all its roots will never have a hold to any aspect of our being again
We will be with God and he will be our Father
Tonight- we get a deeper glimpse into New Jerusalem and what that place will be like in contrast to what Babylon is like in previous chapters
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
In chapt 17 we are introduced to the Harlot which is Babylon
-the world and its sinful systems and passions
In the same visionary way John is taken to see Babylon, he also is taken to see the new Jerusalem
There is a great contrast between those in love with the world( harlot) in chapt 17 to those in Christ in Chap 21
We know their is strong symbolic language that is being used and also there are numerous ties connecting back to the OT
Chap 17:1- come see the judgement that awaits, Chap 21:11 come see the glory that await
Chap 17:4- the harlot is arrayed in jewels and abominations, Chap 21:11- Radiance of the glory of God
Chap 17:5-6-Babylon full of evil and the blood of the Saints, Chap 21:4, No tears, no death, no sorrow, VS 25-27- no fear, nothing unclean, only those bought by Jesus blood
So can see the contrast between the two cities- City of Man and City of God
What makes the New Jerusalem the City of God? For it is the place has deemed to forever be with his people
Vs9- is interesting because the Angel says let show you the bride, the wife of the lamb, and then the next thing he shows them in Vs 10 is New Jerusalem
What does he mean? I believe the HS is speaking symbolically that the New Jerusalem is comprised of the complete number of believers
Jews and Greek
Look back to the letter to Philadelphia
The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
A pillar in the Temple of God? What does that even mean?
Rev 21:22 says there isnt a temple in the city, for the God and the Lamb are the temple
We said when studied Chapter 3- John was meaning that for those who persevere they could never be separated from Christ
In Christ now and in Christ for eternity
So John saw - Glory of God in the New Jerusalem is reflected by all redeemed people
Just as Ezekiel was taken to a high mountain in the Spirit to see the New Jerusalem (Eze 40) , so too is John
Vs 11- The city of God and the city of man are drastically different
As the people of God dwell with God, they will forever radiate His glory, while the harlot- the great babylon and all of its people will forever radiate His righteous wrath
Vs 12-14
Again, remember we are told we are looking at the Bride and yet seeing New Jerusalem
I think we find is this- with repetition of the number 12- gates, angels, names of the 12 tribes on the walls, 12 foundation stones and on them the names of the apostles
Think back to the Rev 7- John hears 144k from the 12 tribes but what he sees is a multitude no one can count from every tribe, nation and language
John sees the all believers, Jew or Greek, to make up TRUE ISRAEL- Gods chosen people, forever secure with God
I think that makes sense especially when you look at the next verses
And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 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. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
Just as in Ezekiels vision- the New Jerusalem is measure we see here the greater revealing of what God was intending there
Dont forget, we are looking at a Bride of Lamb that is a city
He is being symbolic here once again as the angel measures the city
If we to take these dimensions literally we would end up with a building that is a perfect cube of 1380 miles long, wide and tall with a wall that is 200 feet
Not much of wall for something that big but I dont believe that is the real point
I believe the main point is that God will be with His people in sheer perfection and absolute protection from all evil and unholy things
That both Jew and Gentile Christian will comprise the community of saints that make up the Bride of Lamb-which forever dwells in presence of God
One commentator made mention that the measurements of The New City measured the entire Hellenistic known world- meaning that New Jeru is made up of all saints Israel and all redeemed for all nations
Which makes alot of sense when you read Romans and every other NT book describes redeemed Jews and Gentiles on level ground
Just as the HP- would wear the names of the 12 tribes on his priestly ephod before Lord so to were 12 gems attached to this ephod
We see the walls are made of 12 gems- We have many years of time between the writing of the Pentateuch and Rev- so some stones maybe referred to differently
But regardless, the majority are easily accounted for and the point is that Jesus is the better HP who guarantees eternal for the OT and NT Saint- Jew or Greek- forever in the presence of God
Vs 21- Gates of pearl- If literally taken - one commentator said that each pearl would have to be atleast 200 feet in diameter for the so the wall dimensions are that
The point isnt the size of the pearls- Jesus has already taught that He is the pearl of great price
Things that we can most closely align to be things of great worth- are used to describe the most glorious place there ever will be
Streets of gold that are so pure that they are like transparent glass- Should we be hoping to walk on streets of gold, Im not certain but I dont believe Gods intention was for us to put our hope in streets of gold or gates of pearl but more so in that we will forever be with with God and all of Gods people - forever apart from the curse of sin
I think the next set of verses continue to unpack this for us
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 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. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
No need to go to a temple- For God is with his people
-We may glance over that but we worship here with veiled eyes
-Never have we seen God but yet we meet here corporately to worship as the habit of the church has been for 2000 years and even years before that in the Temple itself
Christ first coming gave unveiled access for the saint to the Father
His second coming takes him to be with him forever
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Moses took his shoes off on Holy Ground, Isaiah cries “woe is me”, and one day that some God will get us to forever be with Him
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, When I look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace, when he takes by the hand and leads me through the Promised land, what a day, glorious day that will be !!
Vs 23- No more light for the Light of world of Jesus-
Which is taken directly from
The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
What was veiled in the first coming, is unveiled in the second
Jesus- being God himself- shines Gods glory for all eternity
There is a fear to the darkness- but never will that be in the City of God
But Babylon, the world and all who reject Christ, receive eternal darkness and gnashing of teeth
V 24-25
In Christ all people - Jew or Greek- declare the glory of God and goodness of his gracious kindness to his people
Connects again to
And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
Your gates shall be open continually;
day and night they shall not be shut,
that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
with their kings led in procession.
Not as if anyone brings riches to God for a gift, as if he needed anything, but we see is that everyone person will bring their worship and praise
Just as we read in verse 8- the somber warning is present in vs27
This place isnt for all people- matter a fact its for few people- for broad is the way that leads to death and narrow is the path that leads to life and few find it
-Unbelievers are not allowed in the perfect presence of God- for that cannot be- their names are not in the Book of Life
Beloved rejoice for your salvation but may we pray and weep for those who have not repented
May their names be in the Book and God so call them to himself