Rev. # 78~21:1-27 The Pearly White City, Our Future Home Series

Rev. # 78~21:1-27 THE PEARLY WHITE CITY, OUR FUTURE HOME 11-13-10

We left off last time talking about the names of the 12 tribes of Israel being engraved on the gates of the City.

Chapters 21 and 22 are a description of the eternal state (following the Millennium and the final judgment), centering in the New Jerusalem as the eternal habitation of the saved.

This idea of a new heaven and a new earth is not confined to the New Testament. God foretold these things to Israel, saying,

Isa.65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. And then in

Isa.66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make**, shall remain before Me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

Ø Listen as I read verses 1-12 once again.

1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

The idea is one of transition, not extinction, not annihilation, God does not annihilate any thing.

The renovation of the heavens and the earth indicates a continuing place for the entire universe in the plan of God. Earth and the 1st and 2nd heaven will be completely purified by fire.

2And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

It is called the "holy city" and is described "as a bride adorned for her husband, in verses 9 and 10

3And 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.

4And 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. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10And 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, 11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

There are twelve gates to the city, three gates on each side. On each gate is the name of one of the tribes of Israel. This suggests the order in which the children of Israel camped about the tabernacle in the wilderness wanderings. The tribe of Levi was the priesthood tribe and served in the tabernacle proper.

Let’s keep in mind that each of these 12 gates are made of one solid Pearl according to verse

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl:

Ø These verses describe the beauty and glory of the holy Jerusalem. It is called Christ’s bride in verse 2, a reference to the church as the city’s principal inhabitant. It is an expression of the glory of God.

The wall shows its security and protection. Its gates show accessibility. It has dimensions of approximately 1,500 miles cubed, or square.

The gold and precious stones may be earthly materials glorified. They picture the glory, beauty, and eternal quality of the city.

It is called the "holy city" and is described "as a bride adorned for her husband." In verses 9 and 10.