Isaiah 3: 1 – 4:6
Heard Any Good News Lately?
1 For behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stock and the store, the whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water; 2 The mighty man and the man of war, the judge and the prophet, and the diviner and the elder; 3 The captain of fifty and the honorable man, the counselor and the skillful artisan, and the expert enchanter. 4 “ I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. 5 The people will be oppressed, every one by another and every one by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable.” 6 When a man takes hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “ You have clothing; You be our ruler, and let these ruins be under your power,” 7 In that day he will protest, saying, “ I cannot cure your ills, for in my house is neither food nor clothing; Do not make me a ruler of the people.” 8 For Jerusalem stumbled, and Judah is fallen, because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of His glory. 9 The look on their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves. 10 “ Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him. 12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.” 13 The LORD stands up to plead, and stands to judge the people. 14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders of His people and His princes.“ For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses. 15 What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord GOD of hosts. 16 Moreover the LORD says: “ Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, 17 Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will uncover their secret parts.” 18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; 19 The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; 20 The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; The perfume boxes, the charms, 21 and the rings; The nose jewels,22 the festal apparel, and the mantles; The outer garments, the purses, 23 and the mirrors; The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes. 24 And so it shall be: Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; Instead of a sash, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, baldness; Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty. 25 Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war. 26 Her gates shall lament and mourn, and she being desolate shall sit on the ground.
1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.” 2 In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. 3 And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, 5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. 6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
Today’s world can be a little confusing. Kids want to be adults. Adults want to be kids. Men want to be women and women want to be men. It hasn’t changed since the Creation. You remember the Creation of the man and woman, right?
Many people overlook some significant details that went along with our ancestors fall. Let’s just take a quick look at what happened as the book of Genesis chapter 3 teaches, “1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: “ Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” 16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “ Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”
Now we all know that Satan started this chapter off in his attack by going after who? – The woman. He asked her what God had said about the Tree of Life. What was Eve’s response? She said that God had told them that they cannot eat of that Tree and please notice what she additionally said, ‘nor touch it’. Do you see it? Satan now had his opening.
In chapter 2 we see that before Eve was created The Holy El Shadai – Almighty God had told Adam not to eat of the tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden, “16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
So, how did Eve find out about this tree? Well there is only two choices, either Adam told her or God Himself informed her directly.
The instructions from our Holy God was not to eat of the fruit of The Tree of Good and Evil. I don’t find it printed anywhere where He told them to also refrain from touching the fruit. Now do you see our Lord’s putting great importance regarding anyone adding or subtracting from His Word as He points out in the book of Revelation chapter 22, “18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. “
The story then continues with this interesting fact – “6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Wait a minute here, how is it that all of a sudden does the women come up with the idea that the food has a food value and that it look good, and that it would make her wise. Guess where, from so called honest Lucifer. He had done a great sales job on her as the previous verse points out part of his features and benefits sales pitch – “4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [ Here’s the wisdom benefit].
Now, remember Satan went with the add on from Eve, so now we can picture her reaching out and touching the fruit. What happened? - Nothing. The woman then figures the serpent must be telling the truth because she didn’t die after touching the fruit. But then came the whammy. She does what? She now does what God had strictly forbidden. She takes a bite of the fruit. By the way it wasn’t necessary an apple, it is just listed as a type of fruit.
Now, here is something important also. Adam knew what he was getting into. It wasn’t like Eve made a pie and gave Adam a slice. He knew what she had done. He saw the change in her. He knew what the fruit in her hand was all about. What he did here was life changing for all of us. He had to decide between God and his woman. He had to choose One over the other. You know of his decision.
Our Lord knew what had happened. Who did He address regarding the consequences of their sin? – The serpent, woman, and the man.. Look at how it all went down, “9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: “ Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” 16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “ Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
So, why did I get all caught up in this point? Well, our Holy Father now is going to have to deal again with both the men and the women. In chapter 3 our Precious God Is going to first direct His remarks to things that will happen to men who have forsaken Him. Then the women are going to hear what is in store for them.
Please notice in verse 1 our Holy Lord Is going to again inform the people, as He did in the Garden, that as a result of their sins they will suffer the removal of all that they depend on.
1 For behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stock and the store, the whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water;
There will be a shortage of food and water. It does not get more basic than that. I like to watch the Food Network, especially the program Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. My mouth waters at how yummy the food looks especially when the host Guy Fieri eats the restaurant’s favorite menu item. This will not be the case when the Lord brings about His discipline. The people will be overjoyed in just having bread and water alone.
Next, the Lord will judge all the important leaders of the country. He leaves no one out.
2 The mighty man and the man of war, the judge and the prophet, and the diviner and the elder; 3 The captain of fifty and the honorable man, the counselor and the skillful artisan, and the expert enchanter.
The armed services will be affected. People will not want to serve, they will not sign up to fight for the defense of their country. They will flee to other countries to avoid doing their duty.
Then you see the judicial system affected. The judges are corrupt. They secretly have their own agenda and pollute the justice system. The innocent get harsh treatment, while the rich walk freely away from their crimes.
Notice the amount of words directed toward religions, ‘and the prophet, and the diviner and the elder.’ The Truth of God’s Word is not being taught anymore. Religious establishment are nothing more than social clubs and political pawns.
‘3 The captain of fifty and the honorable man’, refers to business leaders. It use to be a man was good as his word or a hand shake sealed a deal. Today, teams of lawyers have to draft up every possibility imagined to avoid future lawsuits. The wisdom to create new products will be eliminated. No one can come up with new ideas.
Counseling will become a joke. People will all need to run to someone to hear their complaints. The counselors will have nothing worthwhile or beneficial to tell the people.
The skillful artisans will disappear. Items will be junk imported from other countries. They will have problems and have to be recalled because the skilled production is overridden for profit.
Public Speakers [enchanters] will have to use clue cards or monitors to give speeches. Others will write things that are politically correct and the speakers will have no idea what they are pronouncing to the public.
A country goes down hill as its leaders fail to do their jobs. Look how our Lord again focuses on the Government leaders.
4 “ I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
When you read the book of II Kings you see this prophecy come true. Many of the kings were mere infants when they are given their crowns. What is also reference here is not necessary the age itself, but a lack of maturity. Many of the leaders act like spoiled kids in the decisions that they make for the people.
5 The people will be oppressed, every one by another and every one by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable.”
Do you remember Hurricane Katrina? If you do you see how easily people turned to horrible acts. People no longer help each other in a time of need. It is the survival of the fittest. The strong oppress the old and vulnerable.
6 When a man takes hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “ You have clothing; You be our ruler, and let these ruins be under your power,” 7 In that day he will protest, saying, “ I cannot cure your ills, for in my house is neither food nor clothing; Do not make me a ruler of the people.”
Leaders will no longer be picked because of heroism or character. It will all be about who has the money to get elected. Politicians will spend millions to win a hundred thousand dollar job. You know that when they get elected they will gather wealth legally through helping lobbyists who give them payouts. They dress nice and promise the people all kinds of goodies but never deliver.
8 For Jerusalem stumbled, and Judah is fallen, because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of His glory. 9 The look on their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves. 10 “ Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him. 12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.”
We see now the complete ruin of the cities and the country itself. Jerusalem was the capital as it is today in Israel. Remember here Israel was the Northern kingdom that was conquered so only Judah is left. Our Lord remarks that the reason is – ‘because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of His glory.’ Our Holy God is commenting about what the people are saying and doing. There has to be a separation of church and state. You can’t have God involved anymore, because we do not want to offend anyone. If you want to hear about God show up on the Sabbath at your Synagogue. Sound familiar?
Not only had they kicked God out of their schools, government, and businesses, but they were flagrantly displaying their ‘rights’ to sin as they please. The were scheduling parades of their sexual sins – ‘9 The look on their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.’
The haven’t faced any consequence so far from God, so they presume that He does not see or care about their evil deeds as verse 9 points out. 10 “ Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”
I sit confused, upset, and disappointed at watching election results. When a nation has forsaken the Lord, He allows them to make error after error, without interfering. Why is it that we keep re-electing the same people who cause the problems. I cannot figure it out. I guess I shouldn’t even try, because our Lord tells us in verse 10 that what happened then – happens today. We put people in positions of authority the lead the nation astray. 12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.”
Well guess what, you heard of payday, someday. That day, is today. The Judge is now giving His sentence.
13 The LORD stands up to plead, and stands to judge the people. 14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders of His people and His princes.“ For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses. 15 What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord GOD of hosts. 16 Moreover the LORD says: “ Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, 17 Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will uncover their secret parts.” 18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; 19 The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; 20 The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; The perfume boxes, the charms, 21 and the rings; The nose jewels,22 the festal apparel, and the mantles; The outer garments, the purses, 23 and the mirrors; The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes. 24 And so it shall be: Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; Instead of a sash, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, baldness; Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty. 25 Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war. 26 Her gates shall lament and mourn, and she being desolate shall sit on the ground.
If you have ever watched Law and Order you may have observed the judge’s decision. Before he lays down the punishment he sometimes states his thoughts of the criminal’s actions. First of all The Judge of all judges condemns the treatment the poor have received – “13 The LORD stands up to plead, and stands to judge the people. 14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders of His people and His princes.“ For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses.”
The Righteous Judge comments that these criminals’ acts are without any consideration of mercy. They are just arrogant - 15 What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord GOD of hosts.”
If you are a history buff then you remember the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette was queen during this time. She displayed an arrogance to the poor that our Lord describes the women in our study were similarly doing. With people starving she smugly responded, ‘let them eat cake’.
Our Holy King confronts their pride and arrogance and will take away from the women everything they depend on for their personal care - 16 Moreover the LORD says: “ Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, 17 Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will uncover their secret parts.” 18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; 19 The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; 20 The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; The perfume boxes, the charms, 21 and the rings; The nose jewels,22 the festal apparel, and the mantles; The outer garments, the purses, 23 and the mirrors; The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes. 24 And so it shall be: Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; Instead of a sash, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, baldness; Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.”
It says in the book of 1 Samuel chapter 16 this, “7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” A society is doomed that puts more emphasis on how they look then how they act.”
Young men and women will be called to fight in wars that politicians have created. In most cases it will not be in the defense of their country but fighting various conflicts that pop up. Families will sit and mourn the loss of their sons and daughters for un-necessary incidents - 25 Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war. 26 Her gates shall lament and mourn, and she being desolate shall sit on the ground.”
We are also picking up chapter 4 here not just because it is only 6 verses long but in reality it is a continuation of chapter 3. Again as a reference, the bible was not originally written with chapters and verses. So, these verses are included. I guess scholars need to do a lot a reforming and change the book of Isaiah from 66 chapters which match the bible to 65. Oh, well.
1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.” 2 In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. 3 And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, 5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. 6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
Have you ever noticed that the family is being attacked by society today? Men and women are not committing themselves to each other in marriage. Do you think it all doesn’t matter? There is a term going on between single men and women called, ‘no commitments’. Here couples enjoy the benefits of marriage [ie sex] without having to commit to anything else. However, many psychological journals are reporting major problems especially with women as a result of accepting this proposition. In the act of love women are opening themselves emotionally. They come to realize that the guy in the deal is not interested in the woman as a person but only for the sexual enjoyment. This ultimately has caused significant emotional problems which needs serious help.
This type of action displays the collapse of a society and the end of all the discipline brought on by sin. It is the end of the line. Verse 1 point out how the people have avoided marriage. As a result we read what steps women will do to be covered under a man’s love and protection. 1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.”
How do you feel now.? - Pretty overwhelmed? It is hard to hear about severe hardships. Our Precious Lord , now in His Mercy, wants to encourage the faithful believers.
Our Holy Father will send His Messiah or Anointed One to Save us. “2 In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious;” The ‘Branch’ is another name for the Messiah. In the book of Jeremiah chapter 23 our Wonderful Holy Spirit informs us, “5 “ Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “ That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Our Lord Is not mean. Silver and gold is purified in boiling water to burn off the dross, so also our Beautiful Holy Trinity takes away the dross of sin from our lives and makes us Holy’ unto Him. “And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. 3 And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,”
Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High cannot dwell with sin. He Is that Holy. Yet, in His Amazing Love He wants to hang out with us. To me that is beyond my understanding. That He cares to live with us. You want to be really encouraged, in the book of Revelation, chapter 20 He tells us, “1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
So, we see in a different description the awesome presence of our Glorious Holy God living and dwelling with us forever. 5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. 6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
This friend is Heaven.
