Revelation 21:9–27 - BibleStudy.ph

These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

Review…

OUTLINE…
- THREE times – PAST – PRESENT – FUTURE – Revelation 1:19
- THREE events – RAPTURE – WRATH – RETURN of Jesus
- THREE judgements – SEAL – TRUMPET – and BOWL judgments
- All Things New…
- New Heaven and Earth…
  - AFTER the Great White Throne judgement – God will create a NEW heaven and a NEW earth
  - The OLD earth [and universe] will be consumed by FIRE – II Peter 3:7
- New Jerusalem…
  - There will also be a NEW city – the NEW Jerusalem…
  - It will be HOLY [ἅγιος] – and come down from God – like a BRIDE for her husband…
  - Jesus will dwell there with His people – He will be the NEW tabernacle…
  - God will wipe away all our TEARS – because there will be no more SIN…
  - And all who dwell there can freely drink from the fountains of LIFE!
- The Choice…
  - All this is given to those who OVERCOME – I Corinthians 15:57
  - But those who DOUBT the WORD – and have no FAITH – therefore STINK before God…
  - Those who practice SIN – will NOT be allowed in – they will face the SECOND death!

New Jerusalem…

1^st – The Holy City… vs. 9-11
- 1^st – Bride of God… vs. 9
  - One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came.
  - [He] talked with me saying – Come – I will show you the bride – the Lambs wife!
  - Having seen the NEW heaven and Earth…
  - One of the ANGELS who HAS [present] one the SEVEN bowls of wrath – Revelation 16
  - Commanded [imperative] John to come and see the BRIDE – the WIFE of the Lamb…
  - Note – here the church is not just the BRIDE [getting ready to be married]
  - The Church has now become the WIFE of Jesus [the Lamb of God]!
  - Have you ever noticed almost all fairy tales end with the wedding…
  - The world tends to look at the WEDDING as the best part of a marriage…
  - As if somehow we should expect life to go downhill [get worse] after that!
  - Marriage is a picture of our relationship with God – we are His BRIDE – Ephesians 5:32
  - And the wedding is NOT supposed to the be BEST part of our MARRIAGE…
  - When we have Jesus at the center – each year should be better than the one before!
- 2^nd – Glory God … vs. 10-11
  - The Vision… vs. 10
    - He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain – and showed me the great city.
    - The ANGEL carried John away in the SPIRIT [for the fourth and final time]
    - This seems to emphasize the idea John was not physically in there…
    - It was a VISION the Lord gave to him regarding the BRIDE of Christ…
    - But the BRIDE John saw – is described as a great [μέγας] CITY…
    - A city that is so HUGE – it looks like a great [μέγας] MOUNTAIN!
  - The City… vs. 10-11
    - The holy Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God. Having the glory of God!
    - This is NOT the CITY we know today – this is the NEW Jerusalem…
    - It is on the NEW earth – so the whole world is different [no oceans]
    - It is the HOLY [ἅγιος] city – one that comes from God – Revelation 21:2
    - The CITY is NOT the BRIDE – but the BRIDE does live in the CITY…
    - And it is the BRIDE – that is the GLORY [δόξα] of God!
    - The most beautiful house – looks empty without someone inside…
    - In the same way it is not the CITY that is the GLORY of God…
    - We are His GLORY – we are what makes the NEW Jerusalem so special!
2^nd – The Description… vs. 11-16
- 1^st – The Light… vs. 11
  - Her light was like a most precious stone – like a jasper stone – clear as crystal!
  - Having seen the CITY – John goes on to try and describe HER to us…
  - The LIGHT in the HER [the city] – is LIKE a precious [τίμιος] stone…
  - It is LIKE a JASPER – a stone that is typically multicolored – but here it is CLEAR [κρυσταλλίζω]!
  - The most valuable stone today is a DIAMOND – but not all are equal…
  - The more CLEAR a DIAMOND is – the more valuable it becomes!
  - The only way we can see anything – is if there is LIGHT [cannot see in the dark]
  - The brighter the LIGHT – the better we can see [a candle compared to the sun]
  - And the LIGHT in the NEW Jerusalem – lets us see EVERYTHING [valuable]
  - Because as we will see – the LIGHT does not come from the SUN – it comes from Jesus!
- 2^nd – The Gates… vs. 12-13
  - The Angels…
    - She had a great and high wall with twelve gates – and twelve angels at the gates!
    - SHE – the CITY with the BRIDE inside – had TWELVE gates…
    - ON the GATES – are TWELVE angels [one Angel is at each gate]
    - Like the Garden of EDEN – perhaps they stand guard – Genesis 3:24
    - Only allowing those who are WORTHY to come into the City of God!
  - The Tribes…
    - And names written on them which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
    - God is NOT done with Israel – they will ALWAYS be His chosen people…
    - It is NOT just the church that is described as the BRIDE – Israel is also called His WIFE…
    - Therefore on each of the GATES – is the name of ONE of the TWELVE tribes of Israel!
    - Isaiah 54:5 – “For your Maker is your husband. – The LORD of hosts is His name!”
  - Four sides…
    - Three gates on the east – three on the north – three on the south – and three on the west!
    - The GATES are divided into FOUR groups of THREE – one group on each side…
    - Meaning the ONLY way to get into the CITY – is through Israel!
    - We may not have been BORN as children of Abraham…
    - But when we were BORN again – we were GRAFTED into Israel – Romans 11:17
    - There are those in the church today who believe the church has REPLACED Israel…
    - They could not be more WRONG – the only way in – is through ISRAEL…
    - We did not replace them – we become them – by FAITH in Jesus!
    - Romans 11:18 – “Remember that you do not support the root – but the root supports you.”
- 3^rd – The Walls… vs. 14
  - Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations.
  - And on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb!
  - The TWELVE foundations of the WALLS – had the TWELVE names of THE [ὁ] Apostles!
  - While the Apostles waiting for the Holy Spirit – they decided to REPLACE Judas – Acts 1:15-26
  - THEY chose two men who met THEIR qualifications…
  - Since God did not answer when they asked Him to choose one – they rolled the dice…
  - And the LOT fell on Mathias – and he was numbered as one of the TWELVE…
  - A man who we NEVER read anything about again in the Bible…
  - The big question – is his name on one of the FOUNDATIONS in the NEW Jerusalem!
  - The Apostles had been told to do NOTHING till the Spirit came – Acts 1:4
  - Then THEY tried to LIMIT God with their choice of who THEY thought was qualified…
  - But God was NOT limited by THEIR choices – He chose someone else…
  - He chose a man who was a MURDER – who PERSECUTED the church – Acts 9:15
  - The very LAST person the Apostles would have chosen – was the man God wanted…
  - And Paul we read a LOT more about – he wrote almost HALF the books of the NT!
- 4^th – The Size… vs. 15-16
  - He who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city – her gates – and her wall.
  - The city is laid out as a square – her length is as great as her breadth.
  - The measured the city with the reed: 12,000 furlongs. Her length – breadth – height are equal!
  - The ANGEL had a measuring rod [reed] and he measured the size of the city…
  - It was a GIANT square – it had four equal sides – as TALL as it was LONG and WIDE…
  - FURLONG = 2 hundred meters – 12,000 FURLONGS = 2,400 Kilometers!
  - Imagine a CITY that stretches from Manila – to Fukuoka Japan…
  - That city is as LONG as it is WIDE [square] – and ALSO 2,400 Kilometers HIGH…
  - The tallest mountain in the world [Everest] is only 9 Kilometers…
  - Outer space [no more atmosphere] starts at 100 Kilometers…
  - If we allow for each FLOOR of the city to be as high as the SKY – it still has 24 STORIES…
  - That give it a total area of over 5 MILLION square kilometers per FLOOR…
  - Or a total of over 120 MILLION square kilometers inside the CITY!
  - The total area of the Philippines – is ONLY 300,000 square Kilometers…
  - Meaning you can put the 400 Philippines inside the New Jerusalem…
  - The total population of world since Adam – is maximum of around 100 Billion people…
  - If EVERYONE who ever lived made it to heaven – each person would have 1200 square meters!
  - John 14:2 – “In My Father’s house are many mansions.”
3^rd – The Materials… vs. 17-21
- 1^st – The Wall… vs. 17-18
  - Cubit…
    - Then he measured its wall: 144 cubits according to the measure of a man – that is of an angel!
    - Having described the CITY – John goes on to tell us what is made from…
    - The same ANGEL went on to measure the [height] of WALL around the city…
    - CUBIT = half meter – a 144 CUBITS = 72 meters high wall around the city!
    - Note – the measure the ANGEL used – was the measure of a MAN…
    - Emphasizing that these are REAL measurements we are meant to understand!
  - Jasper and Gold…
    - The construction of its wall was of jasper – and the city was pure gold – like clear glass!
    - The WALL will be made from TRANSPARENT materials – Jasper and Gold…
    - The reason for the CLEAR walls – nothing is HIDDEN!
    - If Hallel does something she is not supposed to – she tried to hide it…
    - She is rarely successful – Jen and I can tell she is guilty – Hebrews 4:13
    - There is no reason to HIDE anything when we get to the NEW Jerusalem…
    - There is no more SIN – we can live open and TRANSPARENT lives!
- 2^nd – The Foundation… vs. 19-20
  - The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones:
  - The TWELVE foundations – which have the names of the TWELVE Apostles…
  - Also are decorated with TWELVE different kinds of GEMS:
  - Jasper – as we have mentioned – is usually a multicolored stone…
  - Sapphire – is stone that comes in a variety of colors – but is often bluish in color…
  - Chalcedony – is a kind of quartz [crystal] – comes in many colors…
  - Emerald- a famous gem known for its dark green color…
  - Sardonyx – an onyx stone that is often multicolored…
  - Sardius – a rep red stone – the city of Sardis is named for this gem
  - Chrysolite – is usually a light golden color
  - Beryl – is a pale green gemstone
  - Topaz – is a greenish yellow gemstone
  - Chrysoprase – is a green stone with a golden tint
  - Jacinth – is a dark or royal blue color gemstone
  - Amethyst – is a violet or purple color
  - All of the stones are VALUABLE – and BEAUTIFUL – but very DIFFERENT…
  - Because none of the Apostles were same…
  - Peter – Andrew – James – John were uneducated Fishermen…
  - Matthew was a tax collector – Simon was a zealot [think NPA]
  - God does not just save ONE kind or person – He has no favorites – Romans 2:11
  - There is BEAUTY in the diversity of people that make up the BRIDE of Christ!
  - Revelation 5:9 – “Redeemed… out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
- 3^rd – The Gates… vs. 21
  - The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl!
  - The TWELVE gates were made out of PEARLS – each gate was ONE peal [really big]!
  - Note: this is where we get the phrase the PEARLY gates of heaven!
  - Jesus gave a PARABLE about a very valuable PEARL – Matthew 13:46
  - When it was found – the merchant sold all He had to purchase it…
  - Oysters are UNCLEAN animals in the Bible – forbidden by the Law – Leviticus 11:12
  - Yet from something UNCLEAN – comes something of great VALUE!
  - We were UNCLEAN – sinners – but when Jesus found us He saw something priceless…
  - And He was willing to give up EVERYTHING – died – so they He could purchase us!
- 4^th – The Street… vs. 21
  - The street of the city was pure gold – like transparent glass!
  - Even the STREETS in heaven – are made from the finest [pure] GOLD!
  - The story goes there was once a man who was able to take his GOLD to heaven…
  - He was so excited – thinking he would be the richest man in eternity…
  - But to his shock – when he arrived everyone just laughed at him…
  - Why did he bother bringing something as worthless as CONCRETE – to heaven!
  - Why would God pave the streets in gold – I think to make a simple point…
  - The things that are the most valuable to us here on earth – mean nothing in heaven!
4^th – What is missing… vs. 22-27
- 1^st – No Temple… vs. 22
  - I saw no temple in her – for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are her temple!
  - As BIG as the NEW Jerusalem will be – there are FOUR things that are missing…
  - FIRST – there is NO Temple in the New Jerusalem!
  - The purpose of the TEMPLE – was to show men were SEPARATED from God…
  - Men could only go as far at the ALTAR – where they offered sacrifices for their SIN…
  - Priests could only go as far as the HOLIEST – where they served the LORD…
  - The High priest could enter the HOLY of HOLIES – only on the day of Yom Kippur…
  - He would enter with the bells on his priestly robe – if they stopped – he was dead…
  - Tradition tells us he would have a rope around his foot…
  - Because no one could go in after him – if anyone else entered – they would die too!
  - Hebrews 9:8 – “The Holy Spirit indicating the way into the Holiest of All was not yet [open].”
  - But in the NEW Jerusalem there will be no SEPARATION from God…
  - We will live with God [θεός] and with the Lamb [ἀρνίον]
  - Like the Garden of Eden – we will walk daily in the city with the ALMIGHTY – Genesis 3:8
- 2^nd – No Sun… vs. 23-24
  - The Light… vs. 23
    - The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in her.
    - For the glory of God illuminated her. The Lamb is her light!
    - SECOND – there is no need for the SUN or MOON in to shine in HER [New Jerusalem]
    - Because the GLORY [δόξα] of God – her LIGHT comes from the LAMB [Jesus]!
    - God created LIGHT on the first day of creation – Genesis 1:3
    - But the sun and the moon were not created until day FOUR – where is the light from…
    - Jesus was the light that first filled the whole universe – He was the Son!
    - II Corinthians 4:6 – “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness – who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ..”
    - In the BEGINNING – Jesus was the source of LIGHT that filled the universe…
    - In the END – Jesus will again be the source of LIGHT in the New Jerusalem…
    - Jesus is also the LIGHT today – He is the one who shows us the WILL of God…
    - Do we wonder what God wants us to do – what is His will for our life…
    - It is when we look to Jesus – THE LIGHT – that we will find the answers!
    - John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness.”
  - The Nations… vs. 24
    - The nations of those who are saved shall walk in her light.
    - The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into her!
    - The suggestion here is that there are people who live OUTSIDE the CITY…
    - The NATIONS [ἔθνος] – people who are SAVED [passive] by the LIGHT of Christ…
    - The KINGS [outside the city] – who bring their GLORY [δόξα] and HONOR [τιμή] to HER [city]!
    - The nation of ISRAEL and the CHURCH are the BRIDE of Christ [inside the city]
    - So who are the NATIONS and the KINGS outside the city – we do NOT know…
    - Perhaps something NEW God will create in the New Heaven and Earth…
    - But we do know HOW they are SAVED – by walking in the LIGHT of Christ!
    - I John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another!”
- 3^rd – No Night… vs. 25-26
  - Her gates shall not be shut at all by day [there shall be no night there].
  - And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into her!
  - THIRD – there is no NIGHT in the New Jerusalem…
  - And her GATES will NEVER be closed [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] – the most powerful negation in Greek…
  - So that people can ALWAYS come and bring GLORY [δόξα] and HONOR [τιμή] to HER [city]!
  - The reason to have GATES – is to keep unwanted people OUT of the city…
  - They are closed at NIGHT – because that is when BAD people come out…
  - But since Jesus is the LIGHT – there is not NIGHT…
  - So they GATES of the CITY are always open to EVERYONE – all can ENTER!
  - The heart of our God is for EVERYONE to be saved – II Peter 3:9
  - ANYONE can call upon the NAME of Jesus – Romans 10:13
  - Apparently – even those who come AFTER us – in the NEW heaven and earth!
- 4^th – No Sin… vs. 27
  - But there shall by no means enter her anything that defiles – or causes an abomination or a lie.
  - Only those who are written in the Lambs Book of Life!
  - FINALLY – the in no SIN in the New Jerusalem…
  - Anyone who is UNCLEAN – those who are an ABOMINATION…
  - Can NEVER [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] enter into the CITY…
  - ONLY those in the Lambs [Jesus] book of LIFE are allowed to go in…
  - Though the gates are open – there are ANGLES who guard the entrance – Revelation 21:12
  - Just as DARKNESS cannot exists where there is LIGHT…
  - So also SIN cannot exist where God dwells!
  - The New Jerusalem will be our perfect HOME – where we will live with our LOVING God…
  - As we turn the page of HISTORY – and see what He has waiting for us in ETERNITY!