The Lord is There
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Good morning! Take your Bibles and turn with me to Revelation 21. This morning we’ll begin our study in verse 9. If you don’t have a Bible, take the one in front of you in the seat pocket. We’ll be on page 740 all the way in the back of the Bible. If you don’t own a Bible, feel free to take the one in the pew as our gift to you.
What is the best thing about Seattle? or maybe think about your favorite city. Mine is New York City. I love the combination of cultures in major cities.
Maybe it’s the food. Maybe for you it’s the sight-seeing. Maybe for others it would be that they have family there. Maybe for some it’s the history and museums that the city offers.
In Revelation 21, we are introduced to a city — the Holy City of Jerusalem. And when we talk about heaven, we’re talking about the New Jerusalem. And throughout the sermon this morning, I’m going to refer to this New Jerusalem as heaven.
So as we think about heaven… What, in your opinion, is the best thing about heaven?
Maybe it’s… No more suffering. Pure love and acceptance. Reuniting with family. Peace. Seeing our pets who have gone on before.
One teenager said that the best thing about heaven will be when we sleep we’ll never sleep on a warm pillow.
So what is the best thing about heaven? This morning, Revelation 21 is going to show us.
Let’s begin by reading our passage beginning in Revelation 21:9-10
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Last week we were introduced to the New Jerusalem. Pastor Bobby helped us understand that, similarly to what we see in verse 10, the Bride of Christ/the Church of Christ and the new city of Jerusalem are the same thing. The people are the place.
Our passage today is the physical description of the New Jerusalem.
Let’s continue… and notice what’s repeated.
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several (individual) gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
*Pray — Lord, we come eager to see a clear picture of you, to be helped by your Scriptures, to be encouraged through the testimony of your Word. May I, as the preacher, present you above all else. Help me to point this body to you, God and to leave sinners inexcusable in neglecting your great mercy. Grant me clarity of thought and humility of spirit.
Help the listener to remove distractions of the heart and mind, and focus in on encountering Jesus through the testimony of the Scriptures.
May we all leave today being encouraged, convicted, and strengthened through our time together this morning. Amen.
Is the best thing about heaven, that Holy City of Jerusalem, its…
PROTECTION (vs.12-17)
PROTECTION (vs.12-17)
If you had lived in the first century, maybe this would have been the answer. A city with walls that cannot fall. A place where enemies cannot enter. A place where God's people are finally safe. Is this the best thing about heaven?
Did you notice what was repeated?
“In the ancient world, walls afforded protection from enemies, especially if they were thick and high, since such walls were difficult to breach and to scale. Thus the high wall symbolizes absolute safety and protection for those in the city; nothing can threaten them.” — Thomas Schreiner
And here in verse 12, we find that New Jerusalem has a wall that is great and high. Skipping ahead, John sees and angel in verse 15 who is measuring the city. He’s able to quantify exactly how great and high the walls are.
In verse 16, the walls are measured and declared to be equal in length, width, and height. Each side of this cubed city is 12,000 furlongs (or 1,400 miles). The walls stretched for 1,400 miles into the sky! In the next verse (verse 17), the wall is declared to be 144 cubits (or 216 feet) thick.
But it’s as if the city’s walls aren’t enough protection, notice in verse 12. The city is being guarded by 12 angels.
If you remember back to Revelation 20:1-2, a single angel has enough power to capture Satan and cast him into the bottomless pit. One single angel. But the security of heaven includes 12 angels!
Can you think of another peaceful paradise that could boast of the protection of angels?
Think back to Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned, God drove them from His presence, and cherubim guarded the way back. Now Revelation brings us full circle. The paradise that was lost has become the paradise that will never be lost. God's people will dwell safely with Him forever.
Here then lies the question… Who is admitted entrance into the New Jerusalem?
Because John witnesses and records that there are 12 gates with the 12 angels stationed at each of them. There’s 3 gates on each side of the cubed city.
But why have gates in the first place if protection is what is being accomplished? Look at Revelation 21:12
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
“John is teaching his readers that the gates of entrance into the people of God and the city of God are the tribes of Israel. The church of Jesus Christ consists of the sons and daughters of Abraham, and those who trust in Jesus are the true Israel.” — Thomas Schreiner
This is exactly what Paul writes in Galatians 3:26-29
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The citizens of this city are Abraham's offspring because they belong to Christ; they are the Bride of Christ.
But these verses don’t only show who are the citizens of the city (True Isreal) but how you may become a citizen of the city. And we’ve already touched on it in the passage from Galatians. And actually, how you become a citizen of this heavenly city is the foundations of the whole city.
Notice with me Revelation 21:14
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
This holy city is built upon one thing… the testimony of the apostles concerning Jesus Christ. To belong to the city is to believe in Christ.
The Gospel, the good news, of Jesus Christ is the sure, steady, strong, and safe foundation for this heavenly city.
And that reminds me of Pilgrim's Progress. At the end of the story, Christian finally reaches the Celestial City. After all the dangers and struggles of his journey, he arrives at the gates. He doesn't point to his accomplishments and say, “Look what I've done.” He presents the scroll he had been given which is the evidence that he belongs there.
And that's the hope of the Gospel. When we enter the New Jerusalem, we won't enter because we were good enough. We won't enter because we lived a good enough life. We enter because we belong to the Lamb.
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, gave Himself for sinners so that those who trust in Him can belong to God and dwell with Him forever.
Ephesians 2:20 says that believers are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”
The apostles testify about the Lamb. The Lamb is the cornerstone. And those who belong to Christ are the citizens of this city.
Application: Unbeliever, you may feel like you are bombarded by life, like the walls of your city have fallen and you’re exposed to all manner of hurt, anxiety, and wickedness. Thats true. You have built your life without the sure foundation of Christ. You need Jesus.
Did you happen to notice the dimensions of the New Jerusalem? It’s huge! That’s a good thing for you and for all that hear the Gospel. There is room in heaven for all who call upon Jesus as their Savior!
Husbands, you probably experience the weight of protecting your family, your wife, and your kids. Parents with kids of all ages. I talk with many of you often about the intense desire to protect your children from hurts both physical, emotional, and spiritual. Here’s the bad news… We cannot perfectly protect those we love. But if we lead them to Jesus, they will enjoy his protection forever. In Jesus is found eternal protection.
But, even as wonderful as the protection heaven affords is… the best thing about heaven is not its protection…
Is the best thing about heaven, that Holy City of Jerusalem, its…
PROSPERITY (vs.18-21)
PROSPERITY (vs.18-21)
In these next set of verses, we move on from the measurements of the city to the material of the city. What is the city made of?
The walls that are 1,400 miles long and high are made of jasper — a precious gemstone. Yes the walls that are 216 feet thick. And this might be the most ordinary looking material that we’ll read about this morning.
Verse 18 describes the city as made of pure gold. Gold that doesn’t have any impurities. Gold that apparently is so pure that it appears as clear glass.
The foundations for the wall are decorated with all sorts of precious metals.
And the gates of the city are made of singular pearls.
And to top it all off, the streets of this beautiful city are made of pure and crystal clear gold.
The city described here is indescribably and achingly beautiful. It is the city of dreams, a city that fills every longing of the human heart. A city that is unlike any other city that has ever existed.
The city that John saw and recorded has no earthly equal. It doesn’t even have a rival.
And yet, even with all of the amazing materials with which the city is built and decorated with… it all seems a little underwhelming, a little ordinary.
I mean, it seems as though John moves through these verses quickly, almost as an aside… “And oh yeah… the city is made of the most precious metals mankind has to offer. But no big deal.”
The wealth of the world is just an after thought in heaven.
There's an old Twilight Zone episode about a group of thieves who steal a fortune in gold and then hide themselves away for a hundred years. When one of them finally emerges, he's desperate for water. He offers a gold bar to a man for help. But the man doesn't care. Gold isn't valuable anymore. The thief is holding what he once considered priceless, but in this new world it has become worthless.
That's Revelation's picture of heaven. The things we spend our lives chasing will look completely different when we see them from eternity.
Application: Believer, this world will one day end. The financial and material things we worry about now will not matter in eternity.
Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
If our goal is to lay up treasures on earth, they will fade away. So live for the kingdom that lasts.
And while the prosperity of the New Jerusalem is limitless and unfathomable… the best thing about heaven is not its prosperity…
Think back to my earlier question concerning Seattle.
What makes Seattle… Seattle? The space needle/Pike place market.
What about San Fransisco? The Golden Gate Bridge
What about NYC? Statue of Liberty / Empire State Building
What about ancient Jerusalem? the temple
Up until now in the sermon, I’ve failed to point out some key cultural connections that the original audience would have immediately understood.
The city is a perfect cube. Do you know what else was a perfect cube? The Holy of Holies… the place where God dwelt with man.
And the precious stones echo the priestly garments and even Eden… the place where God dwelt with man.
John is showing us something: the entire city has become the Holy of Holies.
All of these allusions leads us to verse 22 where John seems to be looking for the temple in the New Jerusalem. Read Revelation 21:22 with me…
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
There’s two reasons why there is no temple in the New Jerusalem.
There is no temple because there is no longer a need for sacrifices. The Lamb has already made the once-for-all sacrifice for sin.
But John gives us an even greater reason…and it’s the best thing about heaven. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
The best thing about heaven, that Holy City of Jerusalem, is the…
PRESENCE OF GOD (vs.22-27)
PRESENCE OF GOD (vs.22-27)
After the Garden of Eden, mankind dwelt with God in a mediated way. Because of the sin that plagues humanity, mankind always needed a mediator.
In the Tabernacle and Temple, the mediator was the high priest who offered sacrifices on behalf of the people.
In the New Testament, our mediator is Jesus Christ who took the wrath of God and paid our sin debt with his life. We only have access to God through Christ.
But here in the New Jerusalem, there is no longer a temple, no longer a priesthood standing between us and God's presence, no longer a sacrificial system pointing us toward access to God. The whole city is flooded with God's presence.
There is no more need for a temple because the whole city is the temple. This is why Ezekiel prophetically names the city…
35 …The Lord is there.
The best thing about heaven is that we dwell with God in his presence.
But, and not to sound blasphemous, what is so great about being in the presence of God / dwelling with God forever? I mean, have you ever stopped and asked yourself why this is such a big deal?
Why is that better than perfect health? Better than reunion with loved ones? Better than protection? Better than everything we've ever wanted?
Literally, the whole Bible leads up to this eternity in heaven with God.
Let’s read on…Revelation 21:23-26
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Being in the presence of God, we will experience his glory in a way we never have before.
We’ll be in the presence of and under the visible rule and reign of the most powerful, most beautiful, awe-inspiring figure — God Almighty Himself. The Lord Himself, through His glory, will render the sun and moon useless.
But notice, it’s not just God… God is there and so is the Lamb. So the Christian hope isn’t merely… Someday we’ll be in God’s presence. It’s, someday we will be with the God who saved me by the Lamb.
Being in the presence of God and the Lamb, we get to fully experience the absence of darkness and the presence of absolute goodness.
Believer, in the presence of God there is no more darkness, there is no more sadness, there is no more sin, there’s no more night! All of those things disappear because the presence of God fills the city.
And in verses 26 we find, the nations bring their glory and honor into the city. Everything in the New Jerusalem is oriented toward this glory of God!
Notice quickly back in verse 25… the gates will never be closed. Now, I’m not an expert in ancient warfare, but I do believe that no matter how tall your walls are, no matter how formidable your defense is, they’re all useless if you leave your gates open. So why are the gates of heaven open?
Why are the gates always open? Because there is nothing left to fear. The enemies of God have been defeated. The people of God are completely secure in the presence of God.
And this is where I want to go back… Remember the question… What’s the best thing about heaven?
The answer isn't the streets of gold. It isn't the gates of pearl. It isn't perfect health. It isn't even reunion with people we love.
The best thing about heaven is God. And everything else that makes heaven wonderful is wonderful because God is there.
Ultimate protection is found in God's presence. Ultimate fellowship is found in God's presence. Ultimate holiness is found in God's presence. Ultimate joy is found in God's presence.
Isn’t this what the Psalmist proclaimed?
In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Everything good in this life and in the next ultimately comes from God and being in his presence forever. And this is why the absence of God is so frightening.
Unbeliever, you who have not put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice…
Do you know the worst thing for you about heaven?
You won’t be there!
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth (anything that is evil), neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Access to the eutopia of the New Jerusalem is denied to those who are defiled by sin.
Sin separates humanity from God. Nothing defiled can enter God's eternal presence. Sin must be dealt with before a sinner can dwell with a holy God.
Unbeliever, the only way to gain access into heaven is not through your works and efforts. It’s not through your family heritage. It’s not through your affiliation to a church or denomination.
The only way into the presence of God is through Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way there. You cannot inherit your way there. You cannot church your way there. You must repent of your sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ, trusting in his death and resurrection as the only sufficient payment for your sin. Would you call upon Christ to be your Savior today?
Believer, this should be a beautiful reminder to you. You will not be in heaven because you belong there. You will not be in heaven because you’ve earned it. You will not be in heaven for any other reason than Christ’s sacrifice for sins on your behalf.
As we’ve seen throughout Revelation and even in today’s passage as the nations bring their glory to God… Respond to the good news of the Gospel and God’s saving grace with thanksgiving and praise.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
But, do you want to know another best thing about heaven/the New Jerusalem?
Heaven is not like Atlantis, Plato’s legendary island empire that sank into the ocean in a single day and night, never to be found.
Heaven is not like El Dorado, the mythical "City of Gold" in South America that drove generations of Spanish explorers to search the jungle.
Heaven is not like Camelot, King Arthur’s famous, idealized castle city that exists purely in medieval romance and folklore.
Heaven is not an ideal, beautiful, fanciful fairy tale never to be found.
One of the best things about heaven is that you and I, believer, will one day live there with God forever. In fact, Paul writes we are citizens of heaven. Heaven is our home. And so believer, we long for heaven. We look for heaven as the Israelite patriarchs did. And we live as though we belong to heaven.
But, we don't ultimately long for heaven because of what heaven has. We long for heaven because of who is there.
And the One who will make heaven our home is the One who gave Himself for us.
