THE NEW JERUSALEM--REVELATION 21:9-22:5

THE NEW JERUSALEM

REVELATION 21:9-22:5

Introduction:

The first vision is a city, coming down from heaven over a newly created earth. This is the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, and is identified as the dwelling place of God. From now on He will be “with men, and He will live with them” (21:3). God’s presence will bring perfect peace and joy; “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (v. 4).

This magnificent city is described: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband,” v. 2.

I. THE NEW JERUSALEM COME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN.

A. From God out of heaven, v. 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.”

B. Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

C. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal, v. 11.

1. Having the glory of God, Isaiah 60:1-2, 19-20, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2-For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 19-The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20-Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”

2. Her light was like unto a stone most precious…

a. Like a jasper stone…

b. Clear as crystal.

D. The Great and high wall, vs. 12- 14.

1. It had twelve gates. There were three gates on each side. The gates resemble huge, single pearls.

2. At the gates were twelve angels,

3. The gates had names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

4. The wall of the city had twelve foundations,

5. In them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

E. The number 12 is prominent in the city with 12 gates and 12 angels (v. 12), 12 tribes of Israel (v. 12), 12 foundations (v. 14), 12 apostles (v. 14), 12 pearls (v. 21), 12 kinds of fruit (22:2), with the wall 144 cubits—12 times 12 (21:17), and the height, width, and length, 12,000 stadia, about 1,400 miles (v. 16).

F. An angel measured the city with a measuring rod of gold, about 10 feet in length. The city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth, vs. 15-17.

1. Twelve thousand furlongs, about 1,400 miles in height, width, and length. Tremendous as is the dimension of the city, the amazing fact is that it is also 1,400 miles high.

2. The measure of the wall’s thickness was an hundred and forty and four cubits, i.e., 216 feet thick.

G. The distinction between Israel and the church is maintained.

1. The names of Israel’s 12 tribes on the gates (v. 12).

2. The church is represented by the apostles’ names on the twelve foundations (v. 14).

H. The decorations of the foundations (with the apostles’ names inscribed on them) include 12 stones involving different colors.

1. The color of the jasper is not indicated.

2. The sapphire was probably blue.

3. The chalcedony comes from Chalcedon, Turkey and is basically blue with stripes of other colors.

4. The emerald is a bright green.

5. The sardonyx is red and white.

6. The carnelian is usually ruby-red in color, though it sometimes has an amber or honey color.

7. The chrysolyte is a golden color, probably different from the modern chrysolyte stone, which is pale green.

8. The beryl is a sea green.

9. The topaz is a transparent yellow-green.

10. The chrysoprase is also green.

11. The jacinth is violet in color.

12. The amethyst is purple.

I. The street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass, Revelation 21:18, “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.”

J. John declared that he did not see a temple in the city because God the Father and the Lamb (God the Son) are its temple, v. 22, “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.”

K. There will be no need for light from the sun or moon because the glory of God will provide the light. As John explained, the Lamb is its lamp, v. 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.”

L. “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it,” v. 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.”

M. John then goes on to picture the river of the water of life. Its clear water flows from the throne of God right through the middle of the city, 22:1, ” And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

1. The trees by its banks yield fruit, 22:2, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

2. Its leaves are for the “healing of the nations.”

N. God’s presence provides light, and the people “will reign forever and ever” 22:5, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”