Dear followers of OTWH ministries, first I want to apologize for the delay in completion of the Revelation study. I can assure you it has been beyond my control. I spent 4 weeks in the hospital and two weeks in rehab in which I was very weak and unable to walk or move around much. Add to that a minor bout with COVID. After much therapy and constant care by my loving daughter, Leigh, I am finding my way back to becoming my old self again. I thank all of you who prayed for me during this hard time. The prayers mean so much and I appreciate you and love you all for thinking of me.

With that being said let's get on with our study. We are in chapter 21 of Revelation, and we ended last time with verse 8 so we will pick up there.

                                                                                                             REV. 21, PART 2

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     The next section is a description of the new creation. The new Jerusalem does not come into view until the end of the millennium and the beginning of eternity now follow me closely as this can become come complicated.

The new Jerusalem will be, to eternity, what the earthly Jerusalem is to the Millennium. The earthly Jerusalem does not pass away, but it takes second place in eternity. We are told that righteousness will rule over Jerusalem, but it will LIVE in the NEW Jerusalem. Just who will live in the new Jerusalem? It is the eternal residence of the church, the home of the church, our hometown. Look at verse 10.

10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a Mountain High and great, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

     This city comes down from heaven, it originates in heaven. It has foundations as it’s base, and it is built upon that foundation rather than the foundation that is the earth. Jesus, himself is the builder. There is no indication that this city ever touches the earth. But just how far down this city descends is a matter of speculation. This passage of scripture sort of leaves the city hanging in midair. But why? Or why not? This chapter indicates that the city will be the center of all things. All activity and glory will revolve around this city. It will be God's headquarters.

 

     11. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a Jasper, clear as crystal.

what a wonderful anticipation it will be to experience fully the glory of God.

      1. The presence of God makes the city the source of glory for the universe.

      2. The presence of the church does not take away from the glory of God.

Sin caused God to remove His glory from man's presence, but all of that is now passed. Man will experience the full glory of God as never before. (Light is translated from the Greek “phoster” which means the source of light.) The city itself will give light to the world. It does not reflect the light of the moon or sun or anything else. It does not generate light. It is the source of the light. God is the light. He said, “I am the light of the world.

 

 

 

The whole city is like a precious gem. The Jasper is a multi-colored quartz stone. But it is not clear. It could mean a modern Opal, diamond, or Topaz because this stone referred to here is clear. most likely it is a diamond. Like a diamond in a gold mounting. Could this be the engagement ring for the bride?

      12. It had a great, high wall with the 12 gates, and with 12 angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.

      13. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the South, and three on the West.

 

Twelve gates, three on each side. The name of one of the tribes of Israel is on each one. That is very interesting, because Israel will be the priests in the new Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem, itself, will be a temple or Tabernacle, in a way, because it is where God lives with man. Everything in eternity will face toward this city.

 

O.K. By now, I am sure you are asking, ‘Who is going to occupy the earth? The Jews will live on the earth (they are not part of the church) and will come into the new Jerusalem as they came into the temple or Tabernacle in the wilderness. The children of Israel will be among the multitudes that will come into the city to worship they will not live in a new Jerusalem just as they did not live in the temple those who live here will be the church, the bride who will occupy the closest place to God in eternity. But the 12 tribes will come up to the city to worship. 3 tribes coming from each direction just as they did in the wilderness. Then they will return, back to the earth after a period of worship, but the bride will dwell in the new Jerusalem with her husband, Jesus.

    14. The wall of the city has 12 foundations, and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.

Twelve foundations, and twelve apostle’s names. The church today is built upon the foundation of the apostles (Ephesians 2:20). The church was in the hands of the apostles when Jesus ascended. They were left with the task of building the church. The church was built upon the foundations laid by these twelve men.

    15. The Angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.

    16. The city was laid out like a square. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 strata in length, and its width and height was the same as its length.

 

The shape of the city is difficult to describe. 12,000 strata or furlongs is the same as 1500 miles. 4- square indicates that the city will be a perfect cube 1500 miles in each direction. Here, we live on the outside of the earth out in space. There, we will live on the inside of a square.

      17. He measured its walls, and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the Angel was using.

      18. The wall were made of Jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.

The wall of the city is for protection, a walled city is a safe city. The walls are a sign that this city has achieved the full meaning of her name, city of peace. The walls are 144 cubits or about 216 feet high. But beauty, not safety, is the motive in the design of everything. A diamond is the hardest gem and the most beautiful, and the wall is made of this substance.

 

      19. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was Jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the 4th emerald,

      20. The 5th sardonyx, 6th carnelian. 7th chrysolite, the 8th beryl, the 9th topaz, the 10th, chrysoprase the 11th Jacinth, and the 12th amethyst.

 

Can you just wrap your mind around that for a moment? just imagine the splendor and the majesty of the looks of this wall. I don't think our minds can comprehend the beauty of it. The most beautiful and costly articles known to man are the precious stones. These stones express in human terms the magnificence of the city. Put together it must look like a giant rainbow. Let me just outline for you the colors that would be represented in these walls.

1. Jasper is clear probably a diamond. It reflects light and color.

2. Sapphire is blue. Exodus 24;10 mentioned it as the foundation of God.

3. Chalcedony is greenish, like an agate.

4. Emerald, many Shades of green

5. sardonyx is red, it is described as white with layers of red.

6. Sardius, is fiery red like a Ruby.

7. chrysolite Is a golden yellow, much like a yellow topaz.

8. Beryl is sea green, like a soft shade of emerald

9. Topaz is a darker shade of greenish yellow

10. Chrysoparasus is a lighter green in color

11. Jacinth is violet. It is the color of the hyacinth.

12. amethyst is a beautiful shade of purple.

 

      Now picture the brilliance of the light of Jesus on the inside radiating out through all these gems, the most beautiful sight we will ever see. Color is described to us today as dissected light. If you pass a ray of light through a prism, it is broken up into three primary colors red, blue, and yellow. All other colors come from these three. Light is a requirement for color, no light, no color. Red absorbs all the colors, except red. It throws it back to the eye, giving us the red color.

     21. The 12 gates were 12 pearls, each gate made of a single Pearl. The great Street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

(I would love to see the oyster that grew that one pearl.]

We are told here that the street is pure gold as clear as glass. Notice that street is singular that means there is only one street in the entire city.

     22. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are its temple

     23. the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp.

 

     In the new creation, He is the direct physical as well as the spiritual light. In the Tabernacle there was the golden lampstand, which was a picture of Jesus. In the new Jerusalem, HE IS the golden lampstand.

 

 

 

    The nations of the world will enter the holy city as the priests of old entered the holy place in the Tabernacle, for the purpose of worship. The nations of the earth, as well as Israel, will come to the new Jerusalem as the high priest of old entered the holy of holy. Instead of the blood being brought, the Lamb is there in person. What a picture we have here. Remember, the temple which took the place of the Tabernacle for Israel, was the earthly dwelling place of the shekinah glory, the presence of God. It was a testimony to the presence of God and the presence of sin. God could be approached only by the ritual of the temple. However, in the new Jerusalem sin is no longer a reality. It is not ever remembered. Do you realize that the new Jerusalem is the same shape as the holy of holies in the temple, a perfect cube?

     24.. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

     25. On no day will the gate ever be shut, for there will be no night there.

(The gates are always open. There is no need to lock them because there is no danger.)

     26. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.

     27. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the lamb’s book of life.

 

      I remember growing up in Holly Grove AR. It was so safe there that no one ever locked their doors. You could sleep with the windows open or the door open without anyone breaking in. What I wonderful way of life that was. I remember a time when my grandparents went on a vacation trip and were to be gone for a week or more. As my grandmother walked out the door, she didn’t lock it. I asked her if she was going to lock it and she answered, “Oh, no. Someone might need something.” And here it will be the same way. God's original purpose for man was fellowship. God will have accomplished that purpose. Man now worships and fellowships with God because he has chosen to do so. Nothing will ever be allowed to enter that would defile this city or its occupants.

Next time, we will begin our final chapter of this amazing BOOK. I promise you; you will not want to miss it. THERE JUST MIGHT BE A SURPRISE OR TWO IN STORE FOR YOU.

LOVE YA’ALL.

MAGGIE

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