Jerusalem- The New Jerusalem Series

Series: Biblical Cities- Jerusalem [#48]

JERUSALEM- THE NEW JERUSALEM

Matthew 23:37

Introduction:

We are finishing our Series about the most mentioned City in the Bible- Jerusalem. We are jumping all the way to Revelation 21 tonight to study the New Jerusalem.

Matthew 23:37

In the previous chapter of Revelation, you can read about the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the judgment of all who died without Christ as Savior. Those people will be judged 1 by 1 according to all that they had done- Books and books of sin. They will be cast into the Lake of Fire with the devil and fallen angels.

If you are saved, you are going to like the next part- The New Heaven and the New Earth.

Revelation 21:1

1. A New Heaven and A New Earth.

Why is there going to be a New Heaven and A New Earth? The Earth is going to be destroyed worse than any of us can imagine during the Tribulation. The idea that people are going to destroy this World through man made climate change is not true. As part of my School job as the Director of Energy, many people believe that I have the typical beliefs about green energy; and they are wrong. Even if our Country doing all of this green energy stuff helped; the pollution that China and Russia create is enough to ruin everything. Simply put, this Earth will be destroyed; but it will be God that destroys it.

The reason that God is creating a New Heaven is because it has been tainted by the devil. When Satan and 1/3 of the angels rebelled against God, He cast them out. In Job, we see that Satan goes into Heaven and accuses us of our evilness to God. God sees the blood of Jesus on His Children and He sees us as perfect. We are justified through the blood of Jesus- Just as if I’d never sinned. There is a need for a New Heaven.

Since there will be a New Earth, the assumption by most Bible scholars is that things will be like it was before Adam and Eve sinned. We will work on the New Earth; but it will not be toilsome. In the New Heaven we will worship Jesus. We will have a mansion that is being prepared for us by Jesus.

Revelation 21:2

2. The New Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, the City of David is where the Temple was built; and where the presence of God was represented. At this point, the New Jerusalem comes down looking like a Bride coming down the aisle.

Revelation 21:2-4

The New Jerusalem’s…

* Beautiful people.

God is going to dwell among His people. God will wipe every tear out of each person’s eyes. Why would God’s people have tears in their eyes? In Revelation 20, we see that God’s people will be present during the Great White Throne Judgment and that will put tears in eyes.

Revelation 21:9-21

The New Jerusalem’s…

* Beautiful City.

What always captures my attention is that all of these precious stones in the foundation are very valuable in this World; but in the New Jerusalem, it is just common. The 12 Gates are named after the 12 Tribes of Israel and these gates are made out of 1 pearl each. That is 1 giant pearl.

There will be 12 foundations and those foundations are named after the 12 Apostles. We know that Judas Iscariot was sent to his own place in hell; but remember that Matthias was chosen to take his place as an Apostle.

This cubed city is 12,000 stadia, (1,380 miles) on each side. The wall is made of jasper and is 144 cubits, (10ft.) thick. The city and the streets are made of pure gold- So pure that it is like glass. Again, what is the main point? All of these precious stones and gold are very valuable on this Earth; but are just regular materials in the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:22-27

The New Jerusalem’s…

* Beautiful Light.

There will be no sun or moon in New Jerusalem- It is not necessary. The glory of God gives the city light and Jesus is the lamp. The light will make it possible for everyone to walk. There will be no night and the gates will never be closed.

Conclusion:

The key to this awesome chapter is found in verse 27. Only those whose name is written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter Heaven. When you are born, your name is in the Lamb’s book of life. If you die without Jesus as your Savior, your name will be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life.