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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 83

TITLE: A DESCRIPTION OF THE HEAVENLY CITY

TEXT: REVELATION 21:9-14

INTRODUCTION: (1) IN HIS UPPER ROOM DISCOURSE, THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SPOKE WORDS OF COMFORT TO HIS DISCIPLES.

* THE REASON FOR THAT WAS JESUS REALIZED THAT THE WORLD OF HIS DISCIPLES WAS ABOUT TO BE SHATTERED BY THE EVENTS THAT WOULD HAPPEN THE NEXT DAY.

** THEY HAD SPENT APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 3 ½ YEARS WITH JESUS AND LEFT BASICALLY ALL TO FOLLOW HIM.

*** NOW HE TELLS THEM THAT HE IS GOING TO BE WITH THEM A LITTLE WHILE LONGER AND WHERE HE IS GOING, THEY CANNOT COME IN JOHN 13:33.

****WELL, TO COMFORT THEM, JESUS COMMUNICATES THESE COMFORTING PROMISES IN JOHN 14:1-3 WHERE HE SAID: (READ THEM)

(2) NOW THE FATHER’S HOUSE THAT JESUS REFERRED TO IN JOHN 14:2 IS THE NEW JERUSALEM, WHERE OUR LORD AND OUR GOD WILL LIVE WITH HIS PEOPLE FOREVER.

* IN FACT, THE FATHER’S HOUSE IS THE PRESENT HEAVEN WHERE GOD IS, WERE THE HOLY ANGELS WORSHIP HIM AND WHERE CHRISTIANS GO WHEN THEY DIE.

** AND THIS PLACE, THIS HOLY CITY THAT THE LORD HAS PREPARED WILL AFTER THE EARTHLY RULE OF CHRIST, DESCEND FROM HEAVEN TO THE NEW EARTH IN THE ETERNAL STATE WHERE IT WILL BE THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH.

***FOR YOU SEE THE NEW JERUSALEM IS A PREPARED CITY THAT “COMES DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD” IN REVELATION 21:2.

**** AND WHEN JOHN LAID HIS EYES ON THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, IT WAS COMPLETE ALREADY; IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE NEW EARTH FROM ANOTHER PLACE, FROM ABOVE.

(3) FOR THE PHRASE, “COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN” IS USED 3 TIMES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION TO DESCRIBE THE ORIGINATION POINT FROM WHERE THE NEW JERUSALEM COMES FROM.

* SO THE NEW JERUSALEM, THE CAPITAL CITY OF HEAVEN, THE FATHER’S HOUSE WHERE BELIEVERS FROM THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS WILL DWELL, DESCENDS RIGHT BEFORE JOHN’S EYES, OUT OF THE VERY REALM OF GOD, WHERE IT HAS BEEN PREPARED, WHOSE ARCHITECT AND BUILDER IS GOD.

** IN FACT, THE NEW JERUSALEM IS THE VERY CITY THAT ABRAHAM OF THE O.T. WAS SEEKING.

*** FOR HEBREWS 11:10 SAYS OF ABRAHAM, “FOR HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE CITY WHICH HAS FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE ARCHITECT AND BUILDER IS GOD.”

***AND THEN THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAYS IN HEBREWS 12:22&23 TO THE REDEEMED, TO BELIEVERS THIS: “BUT YOU HAVE COME TO MOUNT ZION AND TO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, AND TO MYRIADS OF ANGELS, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN WHO ARE ENROLLED IN HEAVEN, AND TO GOD, THE JUDGE OF ALL, AND TO THE SPIRITS OF THE RIGHTEOUS MADE PERFECT,”

(4) NOW THE TRUTH HERE IS PRETTY NEAT. FOR MOUNT ZION IS A HILL THAT IS ADJACENT, RIGHT NEXT TO THE TEMPLE MOUNT IN OLD JERUSALEM.

* AND TO DWELL IN ZION IS TO HAVE OUR DWELLING OR RESIDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE LORD’S OWN HOLY DWELLING PLACE.

** AND THIS HEAVENLY ZION WILL BE THE EVERLASTING HOME OF ALL “WHO ARE ENROLLED IN HEAVEN” – ALL THE SAVED CHRISTIANS FROM ALL AGES.

***NOW WITH THAT SAID, JOHN IS GIVEN A BRIEF BUT STAGGERING DESCRIPTION OF THIS DIAMOND CITY, OF THE HEAVENLY CITY IN OUR TEXT TODAY.

****AND JUST AS A PERSON PREPARING TO TRAVEL TO A FOREIGN CITY LIKES TO GET SOME INFORMATION AND DETAILS ABOUT THAT CITY, TRUE BELIEVERS LONG FOR A GLIMPSE OF THE HEAVENLY CITY WHERE THEY WILL GO TO AND LIVE FOREVER.

(5) AND JOHN IS GIVEN A PEEK AT THIS CITY IN OUR TEXT TODAY WHICH I’VE SIMPLY TITLED, “A DESCRIPTION OF THE HEAVENLY CITY.”

* AND UNDER THAT HEADING AND TITLE WE’LL LOOK AT 4 THINGS AS WE WORK THROUGH REV. 21:9-14.

** NO. 1 THE GUIDE THAT JOHN HAS FOR HIS TOUR, VV. 9&10, NO. 2 THE GLORY OF THE CITY, V. 11, NO. 3 THE GATES OF THE CITY, VV. 12&13, AND NO. 4 THE GROUNDWORK OR FOUNDATIONS OF THE CITY, V. 14

*** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS OUR TOUR GUIDE, LOOK AT REV. 21:9 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE GUIDE.

I. THE GUIDE, (READ V. 9)

A. NOW JOHN’S TOUR GUIDE FOR THE NEW JERUSALEM IS ONE OF THE SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENT ANGELS, AND JOHN DOESN’T SAY WHICH ONE, WHICH JUDGMENT THIS PARTICULAR ANGEL POURED OUT, BUT ALL THE BOWLS WERE TERRIBLE JUDGMENTS AND THE FINAL JUDGMENTS OF THE TRIBULATION.

* WELL, THE ANGEL COMES TO JOHN IN THIS VISION AND SPEAKS TO HIM, GIVING JOHN A COMMAND.

** AND THE COMMAND IS “COME HERE” OR “COME” DEPENDING ON WHICH TRANSLATION YOU HAVE, “I WILL SHOW YOU THE BRIDE, THE WIFE OF THE LAMB.”

***NOW THE VERB COME OR COME HERE IS IN THE IMPERATIVE MOOD SO THAT IS NOT AN INVITATION, BUT A COMMAND.

****AND ALTHOUGH IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT JOHN WOULD RESIST, HE IS NOT GIVEN ANY OPTION.

1. AND NO DOUBT HE WOULD WANT TO SEE THE BRIDE, THE WIFE OF THE LAMB.

* NOW THE HOLY CITY IS CHARACTERIZED AS THE BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE.

** FOR BACK IN V. 2 JOHN SAID, “AND I SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, MADE READY AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. “

***NOW IN V.2 WE HAVE THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY COMPARED TO A BRIDE PREPARED FOR HER HUSBAND. SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.

**** BUT HERE IN V.9 THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS CITY WILL CONSIST OF THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE OF THE LAMB, A TITLE ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO THE CHURCH, BUT NOW ENLARGED TO ENCOMPASS ALL THE SAVED OF ALL THE AGES, O.T. AND N.T.

***** AND THE NEW JERUSALEM IS LIKENED OR COMPARED TO A BRIDE BECAUSE BELIEVERS ARE FOREVER AND ETERNALLY UNITED OR MARRIED TO GOD AND THE LAMB – THE LORD JESUS.

2. AND NOW THAT THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM HAVE COME TOGETHER IN MARRIAGE, SINCE THEY ARE NOW IN THE SAME PLACE UNITED, THE BRIDE IS FURTHER DEFINED AS THE WIFE OF THE LAMB HERE, FOR THE MARRIAGE HAS NOW BEEN CONSUMMATED, AN ETERNAL MARRIAGE WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF DIVORCE.

* AND SO THE NEW JERUSALEM IS CALLED THE BRIDE, THE WIFE OF THE LAMB, IT’S THE HEAVENLY HOUSE WHERE THEY WILL DWELL IN MARITAL BLISS.

** AND IN REALITY A CITY IS NOT SO MUCH ITS BUILDINGS AND STREETS, BUT IT’S INHABITANTS, FOR IT’S INHABITANTS MAKE IT A CITY, WITHOUT PEOPLE YOU JUST HAVE CONCRETE, ASPHALT, BRICK, WOOD, AND MATERIAL THINGS.

*** SO THE FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THIS CITY IS OF ITS INHABITANTS.

**** NOW ONE QUICK THING BEFORE I MOVE ONTO V. 10. IT APPEARS WE HAVE IN REVELATION 21:9 A CLEAR CONTRAST BETWEEN THE HOLY NEW JERUSALEM FROM HEAVEN HERE AND THE UNHOLY BABYLON FROM THE EARTH.

3. FOR BACK IN REV. 17:1-2 IT SAYS THIS: “THEN ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN BOWLS CAME AND SPOKE WITH ME, SAYING, “COME HERE, I WILL SHOW YOU THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT HARLOT WHO SITS ON MY WATERS, WITH WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH COMMITTED ACTS OF IMMORALITY, AND THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH WERE MADE DRUNK WITH THE WINE OF HER IMMORALITY.”

* NOW HERE WE HAVE ALMOST IDENTICAL WORDING WITH ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS TELLING JOHN TO COME AND TAKING HIM TO A CITY TO SHOW HIM SOMETHING.

* IN REVELATION 17:1&2 JOHNS IS SHOWN THE WICKED CITY OF BABYLON ON EARTH, COMMUNICATING AN EVIL CITY.

** BUT IN REV. 21:9&10, JOHN IS SHOWN A HOLY CITY FROM HEAVEN, THE EPITOME OF ALL THAT IS PURE, A BRIDE IN COMPARISON TO BABYLON, A PROSTITUTE.

**** AND IT APPEARS TO ME THIS IS JUST A CLEAR CONTRAST BETWEEN EVIL AND GOOD, TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL, WICKED AND HOLY, AND UNBELIEVERS AND BELIEVERS.

4. AND WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT ENDINGS FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE BEAST IN HIS CITY AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE LAMB IN HIS CITY.

* AND WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE END? WELL, OBVIOUSLY IN THE NEW JERUSALEM. AND THAT JOHN HAS A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF BOTH GIVEN BY POSSIBLY THE SAME ANGEL IS NOT AN ACCIDENT OR COINCIDENCE TO ME.

** THE PURPOSE IS TO SHOW A CONTRAST BETWEEN FOLLOWING THE BEAST AND FOLLOWING THE LAMB. FOLLOWING EVIL AND SINNING IS NEVER WORTH IT IN THE FINAL END. READ PROV. 13:15 AND PS. 73:3&17.

*** NOW WITH THAT OBSERVATION AND APPLICATION IN MIND, LET’S MOVE ON AND LOOK AT V. 10.

B. READ V. 10 . NOW BEGINNING IN VERSE 10 AND GOING THROUGH V. 14 IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE WE HAVE ONE COMPOUND SENTENCE THAT DESCRIBES THE NEW JERUSALEM COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN.

* AND JOHN IS ABLE TO GET A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THIS LITERAL CITY COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN BECAUSE THE ANGEL IN HIS VISION CARRIED HIM AWAY IN THE SPIRIT TO A GREAT AND HIGH MOUNTAIN.

** AND THIS ANGEL FROM THIS HIGH ELEVATION SHOWS JOHN THE HOLY CITY JERUSALEM AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVING JOHN A DIVINE REVELATION OF THE FUTURE.

*** NOW REVELATION 21:2 IS SIMILAR TO V. 2 AND IS TALKING ABOUT THE SAME LITERAL CITY.

**** FOR REVELATION 21:2 SAYS: “AND I SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, MADE READY AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. “

1. NOW THE SIMILARITIES. THIS CITY IS CALLED THE HOLY CITY, IT IS CALLED JERUSALEM AND IT COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN FROM GOD.

* SO CLEARLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME PLACE…AND A REAL EVENT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE.

** SO THE CITY IS A REAL CITY AND THE NAME JERUSALEM SHOWS HISTORICAL LINKS WITH BOTH A REAL PLACE AND A REAL PEOPLE.

*** AND BEYOND THAT, J. RITCHIE IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REVELATION POINTS OUT THAT THE ADJECTIVE, HOLY WHICH IS USED BEFORE THE WORD CITY, IS NEVER USED IN SCRIPTURE WITH A SYMBOL, BUT ONLY WITH WHAT IS REAL.

**** AND THE HOLY CITY JERUSALEM WILL BE A PLACE WHERE THERE IS NEVER ANY SIN, IT IS A HOLY PLACE.

2. AND BELOVED, CAN YOU DREAM WITH ME AND HOW GOOD THAT WILL BE ALONE, WITHOUT ANY OTHER DESCRIPTIONS?

* I MEAN A HOLY CITY WITHOUT SIN MEANS NO LOCKS, NO KEYS, NO ALARMS, NO FEARS, NO FIGHTS, NO MURDERS, NO POLLUTION, NO ANGER, NO IMPATIENCE, NO RUST, NO PAINTING, NO STAINING, NO SEALING, BECAUSE THE CITY AND IT’S MAKEUP WILL HAVE NO DETERIORATION, NO CURSE, AND NO SIN. (NO WEATHER, NO RAIN, ETC.)

** AND THAT ALONE WILL BE WONDERFUL, BEYOND ALL THE OTHER GLORIOUS THINGS; IT IS A HOLY CITY PERFECT IN EVERY RESPECT.

*** IT’S A CITY FORM ABOVE, AND COMES DOWN AS A GIFT FROM GOD TO HIS PEOPLE.

**** AND I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IN BEAUTIFUL CITIES LIKE SAN DIEGO, VIENNA, SYDNEY, AND MOSCOW, BUT ALL THESE CITIES WILL BE LIKE SLUM CITIES COMPARED TO THE HOLY CITY THAT COMES FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN.

3. BUT NOT ONLY IS THIS CITY A HOLY CITY, IT’S A CITY THAT HAS THE GLORY OF GOD IN IT. LOOK AT V. 11 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE GLORY.

II. THE GLORY (READ V. 11)

A. NOW IN ISA. 60:19, ISAIAH COMMUNICATES A FUTURE PROMISE TO HIS PEOPLE THAT WILL BE FULFILLED HERE IN REVELATION 21:11

* IT SAYS: “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.”

** NOW ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE NEW JERUSALEM IS THE LORD WILL BE THE LIGHT OF IT AND GOD WILL BE THERE AMONG HIS PEOPLE SO HIS GLORY WILL BE THERE.

*** SO THE NEW JERUSALEM HAS THE GLORY OF GOD. THE SHEKINAH, THE VISIBLE, SHINING, GLORIOUS PRESENCE THAT DWELT IN THE TABERNACLE IN EXODUS 40:34 AND IN THE TEMPLE IN II CHRONICLES 5:14 HAS TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN THIS CITY AND IMPARTS A LIGHT, A BRILLIANCE THAT SHINES, THAT GLOWS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

**** THIS CITY GLITTERS WITH A SHIMMERING RADIANCE, FOR NOTICE AS JOHN GOES ON IN V. 11 HE SAYS, HER BRILLIANCE, HER LIGHT, USING HER TO PERSONIFY, TO SPEAK OF THE CITY!

1. BUT HER BRILLIANCE WAS LIKE A VERY COSTLY STONE, LIKE A RARE JEWEL AND THE WORD LIKE IS USED FOR JOHN HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

* AND WE SHOULD BEAR IN MIND THAT HE IS DESCRIBING WHAT HE SEES BY COMPARING IT TO THAT WHICH HUMAN BEINGS ARE ABLE TO COMPREHEND. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS USING LANGUAGE THROUGH HIM THAT IS BEST ADAPTED TO OUR LIMITED COMPREHENSION, AN ACCOMMODATION.

** AND THE STONE THAT IS USED THAT IS BEST ADAPTED TO WHAT HE KNEW OF IN HIS DAY WAS A CRYSTAL CLEAR JASPER.

*** SO JASPER HERE DOES NOT REFER TO OUR MODERN STONE OF THE SAME NAME, WHICH IS OPAQUE, NOT ALLOWING LIGHT TO PASS THROUGH IT, THAT IS NOT CLEAR, THAT DOES NOT SHINE.

**** FOR THE STONE HERE IN V. 11 IS CRYSTAL CLEAR, TRANSLUCENT, TRANSPARENT AND PERMITS LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH IT.

2. SO THE WORD JASPER IN THIS PASSAGE IS BEST UNDERSTOOD AS REFERRING TO A DIAMOND LIKE STONE.

* THUS HEAVEN’S CAPITAL IS PICTURED AS A GIGANTIC FLAWLESS DIAMOND REFRACTING AND REFLECTING THE BLAZING BRILLIANT MAGNIFICENT GLORY OF GOD THROUGHOUT THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH.

** BELOVED THE NEW JERUSALEM LOOKS LIKE A HUGE GLITTERING GEM TO JOHN AS HE VIEWS IT FROM A HIGH MOUNTAIN COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN.

*** IT MUST HAVE BEEN A GLORIOUS SITE, A STUNNING SITE, EVEN A SHOCKING SITE, FOR THE HE NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE IT.

**** AND BECAUSE GOD IS TABERNACLED IN IT, BECAUSE HIS PRESENCE IS ETERNAL THERE, THE SHEKINAH OF GOD ILLUMINATES IT.

3. AND ONE QUICK APPLICATION BEFORE I MOVE ON, AND THAT IS THE GREEK WORD, TRANSLATED LIGHT HERE IN V. 11, PHOCE-TAIR, IS USED IN ONLY ONE OTHER PLACE IN THE N.T. IN PHILIPPIANS 2:15 WHERE IT SAYS, (READ IT)

* NOW WE AS BELIEVERS ARE TO SHINE FOR OUR LORD IN THE DARK WORLD WE LIVE IN. AND IT SHOULD BE CLEAR BY THE WAY WE LIVE AND TALK AND BY OUR ATTITUDES THAT WE ARE CHRISTIANS, I MEAN WE SHOULD LIGHT UP OUR PLACES OF WORK, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR CHRIST.

** AND A LIGHT IN A DARK PLACE STANDS OUT. AND MAYBE YOU DON’T WANT TO STAND OUT FOR CHRIST, MAYBE YOU ARE ASHAMED OF HIM.

*** IF YOU ARE REPENT, AND SHINE BRIGHTLY FOR CHRIST WITH KINDNESS AND GRACE AND HONESTY AND INTEGRITY AND PURITY AND BY HARD WORK AND BY YOUR SPEECH AND EVEN IN YOUR DRIVING THAT JESUS CHRIST IS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

****AND DON’T PUT A BASKET OR A LIGHT COVER OVER YOUR LIGHT, SHINE FOR JESUS, FOR JESUS SAID IN MATT. 5:14-16, (READ THAT) ALSO READ I PETER 3:15.

4. BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE NEED TO SHINE FOR OUR REDEEMER BY LIVING OUT A REDEEMED LIFE. WE NEED TO REFLECT HIS GLORY, FOR JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. READ JOHN 8:12.

* AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WILL BE LIGHTING UP THE NEW JERUSALEM, HIS GLORY WILL SHINE!

** WITH THAT SAID, WE’LL MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE GATES OF THE NEW JERUSALEM, LOOK AT V. 12 PLEASE.

III. THE GATES (READ V. 12)

A. NOW THE WALL OF THIS GLORIOUS CITY IN WHICH THE GATES ARE IN, ARE GREAT AND HIGH.

* AND THE ACTUAL MEASUREMENT OF THE WALL SURROUNDING THIS CITY IS GIVEN IN V. 17, WHICH LORD WILLING WE WILL LOOK AT IN TWO WEEKS.

** BUT FOR NOW THE WALL IS GREAT, MEANS IN THE GREEK, HUGE OR BIG AND THE WALL IS HIGH IN HEIGHT.

*** AND ONE WOULD WONDER WHY A CITY SUCH AS THIS WOULD EVEN HAVE A WALL, FOR WALLS SURROUNDING ANCIENT CITIES WERE BUILT TO PROTECT THEM FROM THEIR ENEMIES.

**** BUT IN THE ETERNAL STATE, ALL OF GOD’S ENEMIES HAVE BEEN SUBDUED AND JUDGED, SO WHY A WALL?

1. WELL, THIS HUGE WALL WILL BE A CONSTANT, A CONTINUAL REMINDER TO US THAT ARE IN CHRIST OF OUR ETERNAL SECURITY IN CHRIST.

* THOSE WALLS WILL REMIND US OF GOD’S STRENGTH AND HOW WE WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE AN ENEMY OR AN ATTACK AGAIN.

** THOSE WALLS WILL BE AN OBJECT LESSON OF OUR ABSOLUTE SECURITY AND SAFETY IN CHRIST.

***BELOVED, WE WILL NEVER FALL AND GOD WILL NOT START OVER, THIS IS THE ETERNAL STATE.

**** SO THE WALL IS A HEAVENLY REMINDER.

2. BUT NOTICE IN THOSE WALLS ARE 12 GATES. AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF 8 TIMES THAT THE WORD TWELVE IS USED IN REV. 21, AND ONE OF 23 TIMES THE WORD 12 IS USED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

* SO THE WORD TWELVE IS SIGNIFICANT IN THIS CHAPTER, POSSIBLY SUGGESTING COMPLETENESS OR THE PERFECT ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY.

** BUT CERTAINLY TWELVE IS SIGNIFICANT IN THE NEW JERUSALEM.

***FOR NOTICE IN V. 12, THERE ARE NOT ONLY 12 GATES, BUT 12 ANGELS AT THE GATES, ONE PER GATE.

**** AND THAT THE NAMES OF THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL ARE ON THE GATES, ONE PER GATE.

3. SO WE HAVE THE DAN GATE, THE NAPHTALI GATE, THE EPHRAIM GATE, THE JUDAH GATE AND SO ON. EACH GATE HAS ONE OF 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL.

* WHICH REMINDS US THE ANCIENT PEOPLE FO GOD AND O.T. SAINTS WILL BE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM. GOD’S SPECIAL CHOSEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOOKED FORWARD TO CHRIST AND EMBRACED CHRIST AND TURNED TO CHRIST WILL BE THERE.

** AND THREE QUICK THINGS BEFORE I MOVE ONTO V. 1, AND NO. 1, AN ANGEL WILL BE ASSIGNED TO EACH GATE PROBABLY AS AN HONOR GUARD, TO SERVE GOD’S PEOPLE AND ATTEND TO GOD’S GLORY.

*** BUT NO. 2, GATES IN WALLS SUGGEST TO US THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO LEAVE AND ENTER THE CITY.

**** IT WILL BE OUR HOME, BUT IT DOESN’T CONTAIN US, WE WILL NOT BE CONFINED THERE. WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE NEW EARTH AND POSSIBLY HAVE ACCESS TO EVERYTHING IN EXISTENCE AT THAT TIME.

4. SO GATES IMPLY ACCESS TO GO IN AND OUT, TO FREE AND EASY TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THE CITY.

* AND NO. 3, A QUOTE BY JOHN MACARTHUR AT THIS POINT IS BOTH HELPFUL AND CLARIFYING AT THIS POINT IN TALKING ABOUT THE LITERALNESS OF THE LANGUAGE USED TO TALK ABOUT WALLS AND GATES.

** JOHN SAID IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REV. 12-22 AND I QUOTE:

***HUMAN LANGUAGE IS INADEQUATE TO FULLY DESCRIBE THE UNIMAGINABLE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE BELIEVERS’ INDESCRIBABLE ETERNAL HOME. UNWILLING TO TAKE THE LANGUAGE OF SCRIPTURE AT FACE VALUE, MANY SEEK FOR SOME HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND JOHN’S DESCRIPTION. BUT IF THE WORDS DO NOT MEAN WHAT THEY SAY, WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SAY WHAT THEY DO MEAN?

**** ABANDONING THE LITERAL MEANING OF THE TEXT LEADS ONLY TO BASELESS, GROUNDLESS, FUTILE SPECULATION. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HEAVENLY CITY IS MORE THAN IS DESCRIBED, BUT NOT LESS AND NOT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS DESCRIBED. IT IS A MATERIAL CREATION, YET SO UNIQUE AS TO BE UNIMAGINABLE TO US. THE WORDS OF JOHN PROVIDE ALL THE DETAIL WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY GOD TO EXCITE OUR HOPE.”

5. AND I TRUST THOSE DETAILS GIVEN BY JOHN EXCITE YOUR HOPE OF WHAT’S AHEAD FOR US IN THE ETERNAL STATE.

* AND WITH THAT SAID, ONE MORE QUICK DETAIL ABOUT THE GATES IS GIVEN TO US IN V. 13, LOOK AT V. 13 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 13. NOW WE WILL SEE LATER ON IN OUR STUDY OF REVELATION THAT THE CITY IS A SQUARE THAT IS A PERFECT CUBE, SO IN THAT SQUARE ON THE EAST SIDE OF CITY ARE 3 GATES, ON THE NORTH SIDE 3 GATES, ON THE SOUTH SIDE 3 GATES, AND ON THE WEST SIDE 3 GATES.

* SO 3 GATES FACED EACH DIRECTION OF THE COMPASS IN THIS CITY THAT HAS 4 EQUAL SIDES AS A PERFECT SQUARE.

** AND WITH THE DETAILS OF GATES COMPLETE, WE MOVE ON TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE FOUNDATION OF THE CITY, WHICH I’VE EXPRESS AS THE GROUNDWORK. LOOK AT V. 14 PLEASE.

IV. THE GROUNDWORK (READ V. 14)

A. NOW THE WORD 12 IS USED 3 TIMES AGAIN HERE IN V. 14.

* FOR THE GREAT AND HIGH WALL HAS 12 FOUNDATION STONES, AND ON THESE FOUNDATIONS WERE THE 12 NAMES OF THE 12 APOSTLES OF THE LAMB, WITH IS CHRIST.

** SO WE HAVE A PETER FOUNDATION STONE, A JAMES FOUNDATION STONE, A JOHN FOUNDATION STONE, AND SO ON.

*** AND IT’S INTERESTING AND APPROPRIATE TO ME THAT THE 12 APOSTLES NAMES ARE ON THOSE FOUNDATION STONES THAT UNDER GIRD THIS MASSIVE CITY.

**** FOR THE APOSTLES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH WITH CHRIST BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE, FOR EPHESIANS 2:20 SAYS: (READ IT)

1. NOW THE CHURCH, THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, THE FAMILY OF FAMILIES IN AN HISTORICAL SENSE RESTS UPON THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, UPON THEIR ESTABLISHING WORK THAT THEY DID THAT CHRIST BUILDS UPON. THEY HAD A FOUNDATION MINISTRY.

* AND HERE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM THE APOSTLES ARE SEEN AS THE FOUNDATION STONES OF THE CITY.

** THUS THE CHURCH, N.T. BELIEVERS WILL BE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM. ALL BELIEVERS OF ALL TIME REPRESENTED BY THE 12 TRIBES AND THE 12 APOSTLES WILL BE IN THIS GLORIOUS CITY.

*** AND THE FACT THAT THE NAMES OF THE 12 TRIBES AND THE NAMES OF THE 12 APOSTLES ARE LINKED WITH DIFFERENT STRUCTURES WHICH HAVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS IN THE CITY SHOWS THAT WHILE BOTH GROUPS HAVE THIS CITY AS THEIR HOMES, THERE IS A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THEM.

**** THEREFORE ON ONE HAND STUDENTS OF THE WORD WILL NOT CONFUSE ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH AS IF ONE WERE THE OTHER.

2. AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WE WILL NOT DENY THEIR RESPECTIVE PLACES OF PRIVILEGE IN GOD’S PROGRAM. THEY ARE DISTINCT, BUT BOTH GROUPS ARE IN THIS CITY.

* THE CHURCH AND ISRAEL SHARE A CITIZENSHIP IN THE CITY WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST CONFUSION.

IN WRAP UP: (1) THE APOSTLE SAID IN I COR. 2:9 (READ IT)

*NOW THE DELIGHTS AND DESSERTS OF HEAVEN THE NEW JERUSALEM ARE BEYOND THE SCOPE OF OUR WILDEST AND GREATEST IMAGINATIONS.

** BUT FOR THE TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, WE HAVE A TASTE NOW, FOR I COR. 2:10 SAYS; “GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO HIS BY HIS SPIRIT.”

***AND THE HOLY SPIRIT KIND OF WETS OUR WHISTLES HERE IN REV. 21 & 22.

****THEN HAVING CERTAIN THINGS REVEALED TO US, HAVING A FORETASTE OF HEAVEN, WE OUGHT TO HAVE OUR HEARTS FIXED AND FOCUSED FIRMLY THERE.

2. BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE ALLOW THINGS TO CHOKE OUR HOPE AND VIEW OF HEAVEN GIVEN TO US FORM THE WORD.

* AND I AM APPLYING MARK 4:19 HERE WHICH SAYS: (READ IT)

** AND BELOVED, THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR HOPE AND FUTURE JOY TO BE STOLEN AWAY FROM US OR ALLOW IT TO BE CHOKED OUT BY THINGS THAT WON’T LAST.

*** WE NEED TO FOCUS AND REALIZE THAT ETERNAL LIFE IS A PRESENT POSSESSION, NOT MERELY A FUTURE HOPE.

**** WE’RE SUPPOSED TO LIVE AS IF OUR HEARTS ARE ALREADY IN HEAVEN FOR WE CAN COMMUNE AND FELLOWSHIP WITH OUR GOD EVEN NOW, NOT FACE TO FACE, BUT THROUGH PRAYER AND THE STUDY OF HIS WORD.

3. AND NOW WE HAVE HOPE THAT HELPS. LET US CONSCIOUSLY COMMIT OURSELVES TO THINK MORE ABOUT HEAVEN THIS WEEK AND MAY WE APPLY COL. 3:1-4 IN OUR LIVES THIS WEEK. (READ THIS PASSAGE).

V.9 THEN ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN BOWLS FULL OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES CAME AND SPOKE WITH ME, SAYING, “COME HERE, I WILL SHOW YOU THE BRIDE, THE WIFE OF THE LAMB.

V.10 AND HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN THE SPIRIT TO A GREAT AND HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHOWED ME THE HOLY CITY, JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD.

V. 11 – HAVING THE GLORY OF GOD. HER BRILLIANCE WAS LIKE A VERY COSTLY STONE, AS A STONE OF CRYSTAL-CLEAR JASPER.

V.12 – IT HAD A GREAT AND HIGH WALL, WITH TWELVE GATES, AND AT THE GATES TWELVE ANGELS; AND NAMES WERE WRITTEN ON THEM, WHICH ARE THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL.

V. 13 – THERE WERE THREE GATES ON THE EAST AND THREE GATES ON THE NORTH AND THREE GATES ON THE SOUTH AND THREE GATES ON THE WEST.

V. 14 - AND THE WALL OF THE CITY HAD TWELVE FOUNDATION STONES, AND ON THEM WERE THE TWELVE NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE LAMB.