Lesson 25
The New Jerusalem, or heaven, is surrounded by a beautiful wall that is also 1,380 miles tall. How many cubits thick is it according to verse 17?
Heaven will have twelve gates. Of what are they made (21:21a–b)?
The twelve gates of gigantic pearls are reminders of what fact found in Ephesians 2:13?
The tabernacle, and later the temple, was a small replica of things in heaven. What do we read about the Holy Place and Holy of Holies in 1 Kings 6:20, 30?
Even the kings of the earth, who experienced power and glory in this world, will simply bring their glory into it (21:24b). This could refer to absolute equality in heaven. This is because of what truth in Romans 2:11?
John writes that nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false (21:27a–b). This has already been discussed with 21:8 (Lesson 24, page 105). Who are the only ones allowed to enter the New Jerusalem (21:27c)?
Next, the angel shows John the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (22:1). This is not water as we know it; it is symbolic of salvation. How does Jesus describe this kind of water in John 4:14b?
John explains: No longer will there be anything accursed (22:3a). This takes us back to paradise lost, when God said to Adam, “cursed is the ground because of you.” As a result, thorns and thistles came into existence (Gen. 3:17–18). Therefore, what does God tell Adam (3:19a)?
Down the middle of the street of the city and on either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month (22:2a–d). There is no end to its fruit-bearing, as the tree of life provides variety and delight to the inhabitants of the city. Since there is no time in heaven, the term month doesn’t refer to time. It refers to the never-ending fruit of the tree of life, which is also reminiscent of the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9). After driving Adam and Eve from the garden, God placed the cherubim and a flaming sword at the east gate (Gen. 3:24a–b). Why (3:24c)?
They will see his face (22:4a) means we will enjoy personal, intimate fellowship with Him, far beyond what we can experience in this life. His name will be on our foreheads (22:4b), which eternally identifies us as belonging to God. In this context, we will reign forever and ever with God as our light (22:5). How does Psalm 23:6b express this truth?
