Sermon Tone Analysis

"THE HEAVENLY CITY"

Revelation 21:2-22:5

INTRODUCTION

It is written that Abraham looked for a city...

A city whose builder and maker is God - Heb. 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

A city God had prepared for him Heb.

11:13-16 “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

It is written that we too look for a city...

A city which is to come - He 13:14

A city promised by Jesus to those who overcome - Rev. 3:12 “‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; 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 out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”

[John was shown a vision of a great city, along with words of comfort and warning (Re 21:2-8).

He was then offered a detailed glimpse of this heavenly city.

Let's take a closer look at what he saw...]

THE GREAT CITY (9-21)

JOHN IS SHOWN THE HOLY CITY...

By one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls of wrath - Rev. 21:9-10

Who offered to show John "the bride, the Lamb's wife"

Who carried him away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain

He sees the great city, the holy Jerusalem - Re 21:10b-11

Descending out of heaven from God - cf.

Re 21:2; also Re 3:12

Having the glory of God, with light like a jasper stone, clear as crystal - cf.

Rev. 4:2-3 “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.

And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.”

The imagery is uncertain, but the city may be depicted as hovering between heaven and the new earth

JOHN DESCRIBES THE HOLY CITY...

It had a great and high wall - Re 21:12-14

With twelve gates,

with three gates each on east, north, south

With twelve angels at the gates

With the twelve tribes of Israel's names inscribed on the gates

With twelve foundations

With the twelve apostles' names inscribed on the foundations

The measurement of the city, the gates, and the wall - Re 21:15-17

The angel had a golden reed to measure them

The city is laid out as a cube, its length, breadth, and height are each 12,000 furlongs (1500 hundred miles cubed), the distance from Orlando to Denver!

The wall is one hundred and forty-four cubits (216 feet), either high or thick

The construction of the city, the wall, its foundations, and the gates - Re 21:18-21

The wall was of jasper; the city was pure gold, like clear glass

The twelve foundations of the wall were adorned with precious stones:

Jasper

Sapphire

Chalcedony

Emerald

Sardonyx

Sardius

Chrysolite

Beryl

Topaz

Chrysoprase

Jacinth

Amethyst

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate one pearl

The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass

-- Imagine the colors, with varying shades of green, red, blue, gold, and clear crystal!

[Truly a great city; beyond our comprehension, but worthy of contemplation!

Let's read more about...]

THE GLORIOUS CITY (22-27)

ILLUMINATED BY THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THE LAMB...

Its temple are the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb - Re 21:22

There is no temple, unlike there was in heaven described earlier - Rev. 7:15 ““For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.”

For that depicted the blessing of the intermediate state, but this the eternal state

It is illuminated by the glory of God and the Lamb - Re 21:23

There was no need of the sun or moon to shine in it - cf.

Isa 60:19-20 Isa.

60:19-20 ““No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory.

“Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over.”

Of course, the sun and moon as we know it had burned up, and replaced by a new heaven and a new earth - cf. 2Pe 3:10-13 2 Pet.

3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

; Re 21:1

-- A glorious city, illuminated by a glorious God and Savior!

ENHANCED BY THOSE WHO ENTER IT...

The nations of the saved shall walk in its light - Re 21:24a

The saved come from different nations - cf.

Mt 28:19 Mt. 28:19 ““Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

The imagery is similar to that found in Isaiah - cf.

Isa 60:3-9 Isa.

60:3-9 ““Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

“Lift up your eyes round about and see; They all gather together, they come to you.

Your sons will come from afar, And your daughters will be carried in the arms.

“Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will thrill and rejoice; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you.

“A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, And will bear good news of the praises of the Lord.

“All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you, The rams of Nebaioth will minister to you; They will go up with acceptance on My altar, And I shall glorify My glorious house.

“Who are these who fly like a cloud And like the doves to their lattices?

“Surely the coastlands will wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish will come first, To bring your sons from afar, Their silv…”

The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it - Re 21:24b

Perhaps referring to such righteous kings like those of Judah (David, Hezekiah, Josiah)Or those redeemed by the Lamb, who will reign together with Him - cf.

Re 22:6

Its gates shall not be shut at all by day, and there is no night there - Re 21:25

Those twelve gates of pearl shall remain open

There is no night, for the glory of God and the Lamb are ever present

The nations shall bring their glory and honor into it - Re 21:26

Glory and honor to be added to the glory of God and the Lamb - cf.