The Holy City
Notes
Transcript
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.
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.
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
The Holy City - A Place of Unimaginable Blessing
John is given a tour of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem by an angel.
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,
John’s way of describing the beauty of the New Jerusalem - use of similes - “like”
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
The Holy City shines with the brilliance of thee glory of God.
The Greatest Feature of the New Jerusalem is Almighty God
1. The Holy City Speaks of the Covenantal, Promise-keeping God.
2. The Holy City Speaks of the Glory of God.
3. The Holy City Speaks of God’s everlasting love.
1. The Holy City Speaks of the Covenantal, Promise-keeping God.
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.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The Twelve Tribes of Israel and The Twelve Apostles of the Lamb - The Old and New Testaments
One new man from the two, thus making peace (from Ephesians 2)
The unifying work of the Lord Jesus Christ
God is a God of unity.
We also see that the Holy City has the imagery of the body of Christ - the Church.
The twelve foundations have the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Thee light of God should shine through the church even now.
2. The Holy City Speaks of the Glory of God.
Queen Elizabeth’s death (talk of how many came out opposing the British monarchy and those supporting it).
People think in terms of equity (and not equality), some came forward with arguments over colonialism, the need for reparations, etc.
When God finally rules eternally in the New Jerusalem, there will be no iota of doubt about His rulership. No one can ever bring it to question. The rule of God the Father and the Lord Jesus over the whole earth will be the perfect Kingdom - perfect in goodness, righteousness, justice and truth.
You saw the pomp and the glamour of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. Bashers thought it was excessive and unjustified glorification of the queen and the monarchy.
But God does not need any festivities, or any other glamorization by anyone for Him to be glorified, the glory of God emanates from His person. The glory of the triune God will both radiate and sound forth from His holy city.
Consider the size of the city:
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.
The size of the city - fantastically large! A furlong is 1400 miles. Two million square miles.
To put this in perspective:
Show 2D picture
Show 3D picture here
Consider the Construction of the city
The wall.
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.
Not found in Home Depot - these are not DIY materials!
The foundations adorned with all kinds of precious stones.
The gates - This is where we get the phrase “the pearly gates”
The street is of pure gold.
Filled with beauty - Jesus is beautiful.
3. The Holy City Speaks of God’s everlasting love.
The eternal presence of God.
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
No need for the sun or the moon
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
God will provide the warmth and illumination. He will be the source of life.
There will be a constant reminder of the salvation of God
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
All the redeemed are welcome. There is perpetual light.
25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
Walk as children of light.
26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
There is a huge registration or database of who will be the citizens of the Holy City..
The Lamb’s Book of Life
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Imagine the Beautyy of The New Jerusalem, but it sets for us reminders of the love of God and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.. picture Jerusalem of Old,, (explain)..
A poem was written by Frederick Weatherly in the 1800’s
Last night I lay a-sleeping
There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing,
And ever as they sang,
Me thought the voice of angels
From heaven in answer rang
Me thought the voice of angels
From heaven in answer rang.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!
And then me thought my dream was changed,
The streets no longer rang,
Hushed were the glad Hosannas
The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery,
The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!
And once again the scene was changed;
New earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea.
The light of God was on it's streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o'er!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna for evermore!
These were made into the lyrics of a song..
Jesus at the very center
Notice that the Lord is not mentioned by Name — He has a new Name
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
In this whole chapter, Jesus is referred to not by His Name Jesus or Yeshua but “The Lamb’
Being called the lamb, in this eternal state — it was impressed upon John what Jesus’ primary accomplishment is:
He is the lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world.
There will be reminders in heaven of Jesus’ eternal sacrifice