The City of God

Robert Cote

Things to Come • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Revelation 21:1–8

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Revelation 21:9–27 (NKJV)

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.

Introduction:

As we continue in this section of chapter twenty one, we see the New Jerusalem described in all her glory.

Much has been written about this city, and much speculation as to just what it looks like and to it’s size.

But these things are really not what is important, because this is a spiritual city.

The word city (POLIS) properly translates to mean the center of a population.

It is large in contrast to it’s counterparts of villages, towns, etc.

But, as we know, every earthly city has it’s own specific architectural identity, so does the spiritual city.

I. It is the Heavenly Bride of Christ. Vs. 9-22

“Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” vs.9

So much has been written about the physical dimensions of this city,and it’s adornments.

But, this is just the imagery used to describe the truth of the city, that it is actually the bride of Christ, or in other words, the redeemed of God.

The Revelation of Saint John The Architecture of the New Jerusalem (21:9–21)

The description of the church of Christ’s followers in architectural terms (whether as a house or a temple) is reflected elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g. Mt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:10–17; 1 Pet. 2:4–8). The most striking parallel, however, is to be found at Eph. 2:20, which speaks of the Church as having been built on the foundation(-stone) of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus being the cornerstone.

And her description shows that the bride of Christ will be a perfect body of Jews and gentiles.

The Twelve gates - Twelve tribes of Israel

The Twelve foundations - Twelve Apostles

A. It is a perfect city

The symmetry , size, and grandness of it proves this.

B. It is a pure city

Nothing enters that is unclean, and further demonstrated by gold clear as crystal.

C. It is a beautiful city

Emphasized by the ornamentation never seen is this world.

II. It is the Place where God is. Vs. 23-27

This portion complicates the preceding, for if the city is actually the body of Christ, doesn’t this portion seem to say something different?

This section cannot be interpreted literally, because it describes a spiritual place, beyond the confines of physical laws.

Remember last week when we saw that the new earth had no more sea? We concluded that the new earth did not need to exist within natural laws.

It is the same with the New Jerusalem, the descriptions given are to guide our understanding that this is the glorious state of the redeemed.

A. There is no Sun or Moon, for the glory of God illuminates it.

Just as we saw no sea, we see no moon or sun!

Plants will not need to photosynthesize.

There will be no tide changes.

In short, Life itself will be derived from the life Giver.

B. The gates shall not be shut, for there is no night there.

there will be no need to shut the gates, because there will not be a single threat.

C. Nothing sinful enters, only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.

In fact, this is all that’s left, the redeemed.

Conclusion:

The thought I’d like you to take away from this, is that the New Jerusalem will be the perfection of the body of Christ.

Jew and Gentile, all forgiven, cleansed, resurrected, and glorified, living eternally in and with the presence of Almighty God!