21 Revelation

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INTRO: o The Bible refers to heaven 728 times in 681 verses o 54 of those verses are in the book of Revelation o As believers, we know that our citizenship is in heaven

There’s a great hymn I used to sing… Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold.

When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory! o Heaven is our home, it’s our final destination… AND o The last two chapters of Revelation describe for us what we refer to as heaven or the eternal state

Revelation 21:1 (NKJV) All Things Made New 21 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. o John says I saw a new heaven and a new earth o The word new in Revelation suggests something that has just arisen or appeared o It doesn’t refer to the old heaven and the old earth renovated

John tells us the old heaven and earth are destroyed Revelation 20:11 (NKJV) The Great White Throne Judgment 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

Peter tells us the old heaven and earth are destroyed with fire

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2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV) The Day of the Lord 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. o The new earth will not have any oceans o This doesn’t mean there won’t be any bodies of waters – just no seas o The oceans are the result of the flood which was God’s judgment for sin

Revelation 21:2 (NKJV) 21 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. o Notice that this holy city has been “prepared”

Jesus told us John 14:2 (NKJV) 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. o The word “prepared” that John uses in Revelation is the same word that Jesus uses

It’s also the same word that Paul uses when he says… 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV) 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” o The holy city is described as being like a bride adorned for her husband o There are two ways that we can interpret this passage o First, the New Jerusalem is radiant, pure and beautiful like a bride at a wedding o I’ve done dozens of weddings and I’ve never met an ugly bride o Secondly, the New Jerusalem is the New Testament Church also referred to as the Bride of Christ

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Peter tells us… 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; o John uses both symbolic and literal language in reference to the New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:3–4 (NKJV) 21 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” o This is the last of 21 times the term “great voice” or “a loud voice” is mentioned o That fact that the voice is great indicates that what is said is important and authoritative

The loud voice says – BEHOLD… Listen, Pay Attention o God is establishing the foundation for the eternal state o He reveals what life in the New Heaven and Earth will be like o The voice declares – Behold the Tabernacle of God with men o The word used for tabernacle is different than the word used for The Tabernacle in the wilderness

The verse itself explains the meaning and identity of the tabernacle o The tabernacle is with men, o He will dwell with them, o They shall be His people, o God Himself will be with them and He will be their God.

John gives us insight on the identity of the tabernacle John 1:14 (NKJV) The Incarnation of Christ

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14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. o Jesus is the Tabernacle – God in the flesh who dwells among us

The Spirit reveals the New Creation with Jesus – the tabernacle of God - in their midst and this is what Jesus does… o He wipes away every tear from their eyes o There is no more death o No sorrow, no crying and no pain o Because all the former things are passed away – meaning they have ceased to exist – all things are new

Isaiah tells us… Isaiah 65:17–19 (NKJV) The Glorious New Creation 17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. o When we’re in the New Creation, we won’t have any memory of our time here on earth o Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled and there will be no more tears, no more sorrow

John continues… Revelation 21:5 (NKJV) 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” o God makes a second declaration – He makes all things new

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Paul spoke of this to the Corinthian church 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. o Here’s what we need to understand – God does not change o God is the same yesterday, today and forever o He tells John to write these words are true and faithful o His word is true and faithful in the former state and it continues to be true and faithful in the eternal state

God affirms the finished work of the cross in the eternal state Revelation 21:6–8 (NKJV) 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

In the eternal state redemption is complete – it is done o The identity of Jesus hasn’t changed o He is the Alpha and the Omega o The Beginning and the End

The ministry of Jesus hasn’t changed o He said out of our bellies would flow rivers of living waters o Here he says I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts

His promises haven’t changed o He who overcomes will inherit all things o God says… I will be his God and he will be my son

His law hasn’t changed o The wages of sin is death o Sinners have their part in the lake of fire

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Revelation 21:9–13 (NKJV) The New Jerusalem 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. o From verse 9 – 21 John gives us a description of the New Jerusalem o The angel tells John – Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife

INTERESTING NOTE: The angel doesn’t show John a bride with a veil dressed in white, but shows John the New Jerusalem. o The New Jerusalem is described as having the glory of God o The manifestation of God’s glory on Mt. Sinai when Israel was in the wilderness strikes terror into the heart of sinful man o But here we see the beloved Bride of Christ clothed in the righteousness of God in Christ – fully embracing the glory of God

The word Paul uses for light in vs. 11 means “source of light” o The New Jerusalem is a light giver, not a light reflector. o Jesus said, I am the light of the world (John 9:5)

The city itself is like a precious jem o Jasper is a transliteration of the world iaspis o Scholars suggest that iaspis could mean diamonds which are clear as crystal

There are 12 gates to the city with 3 gates on each side o 12 is the number of governments or nations and 3 is the number of Elohim – the triune God. o On each gate is the name of one of the tribes of Israel o The Eastern Tribes were Judah, Issachar, Zebulun

______THE REVELATION o The Southern Tribes were Reuben, Simeon, Gad o The Western Tribes were Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin o The Northern Tribes were Dan, Asher, Naphtali

The Tribe of Levi was the priesthood who served in the Tabernacle o Peter tell us the Bride of Christ is the Royal Priesthood o We serve in the New Jerusalem and dwell there as Levi served the tabernacle and dwelled there o Everything in the city will face in because God’s Presence is dwelling with man in the New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:14–21 (NKJV) 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The city has twelve foundations o The name of the twelve apostles are on them o The Church today is built on the foundation of the apostles

Ephesians 2:20 says.. Ephesians 2:20 (NKJV) 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

When Jesus ascended to heaven he entrusted the church to the apostles

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Acts 1:1–2 (NKJV) Prologue 1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

Who are the twelve apostles whose names are on the foundation? o We know there are at least eleven originals o Simon Peter, Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot o But who is the 12th? o We know it’s not Judas Iscariot, but is it Matthias who was voted in by the other apostles? Or could it be Paul?

According to Church Tradition an apostle had to be an eyewitness of the resurrection and… o They had to be appointed by Christ Himself o According to this test, Matthias was certainly an eyewitness to the resurrection, but not appointed by Christ Himself. o He was appointed by the other eleven who cast lots o Paul on the other hand was an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ when he was knocked off his high horse and… o Paul was an apostle by the will of God – chosen by God and not man. o So I believe Paul’s name will be one of the twelve apostles whose names are on the foundation of the New Jerusalem

The measurements of the city are 12,000 furlongs square or 1500 miles. o It is in the shape of a cube that is a little larger than the moon o The walls are 144 cubits (12 x 12) in height or 216 feet o These walls make the city impregnable to attack and beautiful in appearance.

The stones used to build the wall produce multi-colored hues of light o Jasper is clear like a diamond o Sapphire is blue o Chalcedony is greenish blue

______THE REVELATION o Emerald is green o Sardonyx is red o Sardius is fiery red o Chrysolyte is golden yellow o Beryl is green o Topaz is greenish yellow o Chrysoprasus is gold-green o Jacinth is violet o Amethyst is purple

The wall is made of Jasper which is a sphere and the city is made out of pure gold – which is like pure glass (gold is clear when it’s pure) o The New Jerusalem will be city of light and a city of color o All of this color will emerge from this new planet of light and flood God’s universe with beauty o The twelve gates are made out of 12 pearls o Each gate is made of one pearl o One is the number of Unity o Gates are symbolic of Jesus – Jesus said I am the door o Pearls represent redeemed humanity – Jesus bought the whole field to purchase the Pearl of Great Price o Pearls were considered the most precious of stones o The Latin term unio or unity was applied to pearls because no two were found alike – they were unique o The doors made out of one pearl represent the uniqueness of every believer and the unity between Jesus and His Bride o The street is made out of pure gold – like transparent glass o What a beautiful sight