Revelation 21

Heaven came down

Rev 21:1 And 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.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Only eternal things last. The new heaven and earth are spiritual places for glorified beings. There will be no more sea; which represents restless troubled humanity. This was all in preparation for the coming of the Lord. Will this be the change at the second coming of Christ? Or shall it occur when all sin, death and hell are removed? It will occur before heaven comes down.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

New Jerusalem coming down from God, out of heaven. A song: "Heaven came down and glory filled my soul." We will be in our resurrection bodies. A beautiful gift from the Father, a Holy dwelling place for His Son and His bride, the redeemed people of God, saved by the blood of the Lamb. It will be beautiful, clothed in glory and purity, as a bride in her wedding dress, a delight and a blessed new start. No satan, so the marriage will last. No divorce from God's dwelling place. No dividing, but a place of joy and unity, all worshipping the Father and the Son, the bride of Christ will be received as the Son. Joint heirs of God of all his good blessings. The wealth of the Father will be shared with the children. We are the new creations in Christ Jesus; His Spirit within.

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Rev 21:3 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.

A great voice, a voice out of heaven with a message, Behold, the tabernacle, the dwelling place of God is with men, glorified men. And he, Jesus, will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Who is your God? If it is a made up one, not the God of the Christ, you will not be in heaven.

Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Rev 21:4 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.

Personal loving care, in the presence of the living God.

Psa 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

Rev 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

No more tears, no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. These are all common to the man under the curse of Adam. We are to be free of the curse, blessed forever, the former things are to be passed away. For those who suffer, the redeemed of God in mortal bodies, hold on, satan shall be removed; all these things shall be removed in your eternal home with God.

Words from the Throne

Rev 21:5 And 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.

God sits on the throne. Behold I (am) make all things new. Behold, I give, first occurring in the Bible in Genesis.

Gen 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

God makes all things new, first he makes us new, born-again saints of God.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We enter into eternal life, but all things of earth shall pass away. He makes all things new for the Spirit man.

1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Rev 21:1 And 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.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

New eternal life, requires new eternal surroundings. God spoke to John to write these things down for us to see and to know, His word is true and faithful.

Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Rev 21:6 And 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.

He is faithful and true, he is from everlasting to everlasting; Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (of creation), for there is no end to almighty God. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Springs of living water and the water of the living word. We cannot survive in our bodies without water. God's Spirit in our eternal life is described as living waters.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

He that overcomes the devil and sin, how? Through faith and confession that Jesus is Lord. Jesus is our way to overcome, for he has fought our battle for us. In him is our victory!

Rev 21:8 But 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.

Those who continue in their sinful life, afraid to accept Jesus, afraid of what others may think, their sins remain. They will not inherit the things of God. Those who do not believe the truth shall lose out; they are overcome by sin and death. They shall also be cast into the lake of fire with satan, death and hell. Turn away from death and receive new life in Christ Jesus.

1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

New Jerusalem, the bride

Rev 21:9 And 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 show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

The city is the lamb's wife?

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Here the city is like a bride, in verse 21:9, it is called the bride, the Lamb's wife. It will house the church, the bride of Christ. One does not marry a building or a city, but a person. The church building is not the body of Christ, but those within are his. The New Jerusalem is a jeweled box, a dwelling place to feature the contents; the people of God.

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The angel showed John the Holy city.

Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

God will dwell in the city; and her light will be as a clear white jasper stone.

Rev 21:12 And 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:

Walls and gates, named after the twelve tribes, and at the gates twelve angels.

Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Twelve foundations, representing the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I think Paul is included in the apostles list.

1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Four square city

Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

The city is four square, such as a cube. We have seen churches named, Foursquare. This is referring to God's dwelling place with the saints. A place where God's presence dwells. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God with the saints.

He measured the city with the reed: The size of the New Jerusalem is enormous; twelve thousand furlongs equals 1,500 miles. This is the same distance from Maine to Florida; the square footage would approximate the size of the Moon. (Guzik)

Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

The cubit is the measure of the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. The measure of a man was about 18 inches, and the angel was as a man in stature. This being an average stature of man. A man six foot three inches measures 21 inches. Some Egyptian cubits were 21 inches. Twelve times twelve; twelve apostles times the 12 tribes equals one hundred forty-four cubits, or 72 yards. The wall is far beneath the height of the city. There will be plenty of room for all the saints.

Precious stones and pearly gates

Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

Pure gold and transparent. As we are to be pure and transparent, free from sin.

1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

The richness is spiritual, not material. There is no use for physical wealth in the spiritual city. All the beauty is to house those beautiful saints, free of sin, who have seen the Lord and are made pure by his forgiveness and grace. Dwelling with them is the most Holy God; the Father and the Son.

Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

The beautiful Holy City was represented symbolically by the breastplate worn by the high priest. Here it is described from God's own design given for it's construction.

Exo 28:15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
Exo 28:16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
Exo 28:17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
Exo 28:18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
Exo 28:19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
Exo 28:20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their enclosings.
Exo 28:21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

The twelve gates, were one pearl for each gate. I see this as a beautiful glowing transparent white in color; but not necessarily round in shape. Everything else seems to be clear and transparent. The stones mentioned each having various hues of colors. Some churches have stained glass windows, that always look their best with the suns light projecting colors into the tabernacle. Heaven will be a beautiful place of colored lights and glory.

Holy Light

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

No temple in the Holy New Jerusalem, the city of God and the bride; For God almighty and His Son Jesus are the temple, the place of worship first hand, not through priests and traditions for we shall worship in their presence. Jesus is included, for He shares the glory of the Father. You cannot come to God, but by believing in the Son; the Lamb of God.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Again, Father and Son share the glory and are the light of the Holy City, with the various heavenly gems casting colors; nothing to block the glory of God. But through them, is truth and light and glory that we can only imagine.

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Cor 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

The nations of those saved shall walk in their light.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor to it. Kings, such as King David, King Solomon, Righteous rulers perhaps as Constantine; Good rulers and presidents of our country; Washington to Bush. Also present will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Perhaps also those who ruled during the Millennium of the saints of God.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

The gates remain open, for it is always light and there is no threat from the devil for he is in the lake of fire, forever. There is no threat of enemy invaders, for only those who are the redeemed of the Lord and the angels are able to enter.

Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

What is the glory and honor of the nations? The good fruit and good works of the saints in this life.

1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life?

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