One of the most amazing things that will ever be seen is the city that God will bring to earth one day for the redeemed – the New Jerusalem. Never before, and never again, will it be repeated.
This city will be revealed after the literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth, after the Great White Throne Judgment, and after there is a new earth. Sin will have already been put down forever, and only righteousness reigns.
The New Jerusalem, as it is called in Revelation 21:3, comes from God out of Heaven to the new earth. It is all dressed up, or decorated, we are told, like a bride for her wedding.
Verse 4 of this chapter emphasizes the most important thing about this city. Although it is incredibly beautiful, it is not its greatest feature. Instead, we find in verse 3 that: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
Another important feature tells us that this city is unlike any other one. Of what other city in history could it be said that: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (verse 4)? Imagine a city with no crime, pain, or loss!
Concerning the city itself, we immediately notice that it is unlike any other in many other ways, too. It is unique:
1. In Its Beauty – “having the glory of God” (vs. 11)
2. In Its Protection – surrounded by a great wall with gates, and an angel at each gate (vs. 12).
3. In Its Solidity – twelve foundations (unshakeable) (vs. 14)
4. In Its Immensity – 1,500 miles long X 1,500 miles wide X 1,500 miles high. This could be either a cube or pyramid in shape (vs. 16).
5. In Its Wealth – the city and the streets are purest gold (vss. 18,21); the foundations of the wall are made of 12 jewels (vss. 19,20), and each gate is a single pearl (vs. 21).
6. In Its Glory – the city needs no sunlight, and it is never night there, because “the glory of the Lord did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (vss. 23,25). Note that this verse is not saying that there is no sun for the rest of the earth, only that the New Jerusalem does not need it.
7. In Its Population – only the saved (vss. 24-27). There will be nations outside of the New Jerusalem, with kings, and the nations will only have saved and glorified people in them. No unsaved people will be on earth at all – ever again!
8. In Its Abundance – out of the Throne flows the River of Life and the Tree of Life is available for all (Rev. 22:1,2).
In this City, the saved are not kept away from God’s presence as they are now (except in spirit), but they shall have free access to a very present Savior at that time: “the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face” (Rev. 21:3,4).
What a most glorious city! An absolutely beautiful and perfect place! May our hearts, as believers, like Abraham’s, continue to look “for a city, which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10).
God Bless,
Evangelist Mike Valles
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