Revelation 21 – The New Jerusalem
The next thing John sees is a new heaven and a new earth, the eternal dwelling place of all God’s children. Point is made that there is no more sea. I think this is emphasizing the fact that everything that is part of our eternity will be for our enjoyment. The sea represents that which is unpredictable and uncontrollable. John then sees the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. John compares its beauty to that of a bride adorned for her husband. Then John hears a voice from heaven declaring that God will dwell with His people as their God. He will wipe away all tears, and there will never again be such thing as death, sorrow, crying or pain. This is a new beginning for man, the beginning of his eternal existence. God declares that He has made all things new. He then declares that His purpose for the creation of man has been accomplished. As the originating source of creation and the destroying force of the original creation, He declares that all those in His kingdom can now drink of the water of life freely. Those who are part of His kingdom are overcomers, heirs of the King, His sons and daughters.
All who have rejected Him as their God—the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars—are condemned to the lake of fire. This is a thought-provoking verse. Why did He not just say the unbelieving?
At this point another one of the angels that took part in dispensing the last 7 plagues comes to take John to see the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Then he carries him away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and shows him the holy Jerusalem descending down out of heaven from God. It’s interesting that in verse 2 the city is described as a bride and verse 9 describes it as “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” We know that the church is the bride, but the city is the place He has prepared for us, and is synonymous with the bride. This is much like a king is synonymous with his kingdom, or a ruler with his nation.
The city is described as shining with the glory of God described as a very pure light. The wall is very high and has 12 gates that are named for the 12 tribes of Israel. There are three gates each on each of the four sides (east, north, south, west), and angels are posted at each gate. Why? I have no idea. The wall has 12 foundations that are named for the 12 apostles. Is the 12th apostle Matthias or Paul? I don’t know. John’s companion had a measuring reed to measure the city, the gates and the wall. It is described as “foursquare” (equal in length and width) and measured 12,000 furlongs each (estimated at 1400 miles each). We are then told that its height also measures the same. The wall is measured to be 144 cubits (or approximately 200 feet) thick. The walls of the city are made of gold so pure that it’s as clear as glass. Each of the 12 foundations are encrusted with gemstones as follows: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprasus, jacinth and amethyst. Although some of these names are unfamiliar, we know they will be beautiful.
Each gate is described as being one giant pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, like the walls. There is no temple in the city since its citizens have direct access to God the Father and Son. It has need of no other light than the glory of the LORD.
It’s interesting to note that believers will still be recognized as belonging to different nations and that the kings of the earth will bring glory and honor to it from their nations. This city is obviously the capital city of the new heavens and earth. It’s the city for which Abraham looked.
Hebrews 11:8–10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
The gates of the city are never shut, and it never experiences night. Nothing that would defile it will ever be allowed to enter it. Only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be allowed in.
The wording is interesting. It indicates that things that defile still exist. I don’t know if this ties in some way to the degrees of eternal punishment that seem to be referenced in scripture. We know that evil beings will be in torment forever, but we don’t really understand how that works. I just know their existence will be devoid of the presence of God and will not be allowed to impact our eternal future.
Revelation 22 – Even So, Come Lord Jesus
John is next shown a “pure river of water of life” that flows from the throne of God and His Son, the Lamb Jesus. In the middle of the street and along the sides of the river grows the tree of life. It yields 12 different kinds of fruit and produces new fruit every month. It’s interesting to note that the leaves are “for the healing of the nations.” The Greek for healing led me to believe that these leaves will facilitate our worship in some way.
Beautiful truth—“there shall be no more curse!” God and His Son are on the throne and His servants will forever serve faithfully and obediently. We will have access to Him and will proudly wear His name in our foreheads. Again, emphasis is made that there will be no night there. Why? I believe it is because the night and darkness are associated with evil and wickedness in scripture.
John’s guide assures him that everything he has seen and heard is “faithful and true.” This Revelation is intended to make the children of God aware of their future.
Jesus now speaks up and assures John that He is coming quickly and that those who treasure and live by the prophecy of this book will be blessed.
Again, John emphasizes that he personally saw and heard the things he is recording. He then falls down in worship before the angel that is with him, but the angel rebukes him. He identifies himself as a fellowservant, in fact, another prophet, who also treasures the message of this Revelation. He then tells John to worship God.
This again reminds me that John’s guide is identified as one of the angels that poured out the 7 vials. Maybe this is a clue that it is 7 honored prophets who are chosen to empty those vials.
John is then told that he is to share this message with others; it is not to be sealed because the time is at hand. This is in direct opposition to the instruction given Daniel; he was told to seal his message because it applied to end times.
At this point the fate of every person has been determined—those that are unjust will remain unjust, those who are filthy will stay filthy; those who are righteous will remain righteous and those who are holy will remain holy.
Again, encouraging words from the Lord—He is coming quickly, and He will reward every person according to his work. Scripture is clear that the work of the child of God is to believe on Him, and through Him we will be declared righteous.
John 6:29 “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
There will be no grounds for accusation or judgment that can condemn us; we are declared innocent in Christ. Those who have rejected the LORD will have to stand on their own works as they measure up to God’s law, and every person depending upon his own works will be found guilty and will be condemned.
John 3:18-19 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The LORD again identifies Himself as the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” He pronounces a blessing on those who do His commandments; they will have access to the tree of life and the New Jerusalem.
Verse 15 clarifies that no one is annihilated. Dogs (a derogatory term), sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters, and liars will still exist outside of God’s Kingdom.
Jesus declares that He has sent His angel/messenger to testify to John, and he is to testify to the churches. Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as the “root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” In other words He is the qualified successor to the throne of David.
Verse 17 should reflect the heart of every believer—Come; choose to be a part of the family of God. The water of life is offered freely to “whosoever.” No one is excluded from the opportunity to choose life over death.
Now a solemn warning is given to those that hear the words of this prophecy. You are not to add to or take away from the truth that God has revealed. If you do, you will experience the plagues written in this book and your part in the book of life will be removed, you will not have access to the holy city or the blessings associated with living in the presence of God. It is this warning that makes me very careful to clarify what I share as my understanding. I am continually seeking more understanding, and sometimes that causes me to see things differently than I did before. I do not claim to know the whole truth, and I look forward to gaining more wisdom and enlightenment. I am privileged to have access to many different viewpoints from people much more learned than I, but I draw my own conclusions as I feel the Spirit is teaching me. I am personally responsible before the LORD for what I believe and how I represent Him.
The last verse of this book gets my hearty Amen! “He which testifieth these things [Jesus] saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come, LORD Jesus.”
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