Christ and the Holy City, the New Jerusalem

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 shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And 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, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 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: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 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. 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. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 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; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 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. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 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. 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. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 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. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. - Revelation 21:9-22:5

    'And 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' (Revelation 21:9)

    Throughout the Book of Revelation we have seen vision after vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in his redemptive, saving, preserving grace. Every vision seen and recorded by John sets forth the whole history of redemption from the incarnation of Christ until the final consummation of all things at his glorious second advent. Each vision is historical, current, and prophetic. And, as you read through the Book, you get a sense of anticipation. Everything appears to be moving in one direction, with steady pace, toward a particular end. Really, history is not circular, but linear. All of history moves in a direct line to one, glorious end to accomplish one object. And that object is the complete revelation of God’s glory in the salvation of his elect by Christ Jesus. This is the vision which John describes in Revelation 21:9 - 22:5.

    In this passage of Scripture we have a beautiful, symbolic picture of the church of God, the Bride of Christ, as God views it. It is the holy city, the new Jerusalem. Remember, the picture is altogether symbolical. It is a picture of the church of God in her eternal, heavenly glory. But this vision of the church’s triumphant glory is also a vision of the church’s present glory in Christ. In Christ, by virtue of our union with him, the church of God and every member of it is perfectly and eternally complete (Col. 2:10). In this passage, John tells us twelve things about the church of the living God as she shall be in that glorious state called 'the holy Jerusalem.'

    1. The church of God is described as a city, the holy city, the new Jerusalem (21:10, 16, 18)

    The church is a community of men and women who have fellowship with God in the Lord Jesus Christ. This community will, in its ultimate fulness, be an enormous, flourishing city. It is called 'the Holy City' because it has been purified and made holy by the blood of Christ. It is called 'the new Jerusalem' because it has been renewed by the grace and power of God the Holy Spirit. It is called a 'great city' because it is made up of a vast multitude which no man can number. The New Jerusalem is a radiant, highly valued city, a city of pure gold because God considers his church the most valuable thing in his creation. And it is described as a city four square (1400 miles high, 1400 miles long, and 1400 miles wide), complete and in perfect cemetry because it is altogether perfect (Ps. 48:12-14)

    2. This holy city, the church, is the bride of Christ (21:2, 9)

    The people of this city are the objects of his eternal love, the choice of his heart, the bride to whom he is betrothed, for whom dowry of righteousness and redemption has been paid, whom he is coming to wed

    3. This city, the new Jerusalem, is a well lit city (21:11, 23; 22:5)

    The Lord God himself, as he is revealed and known in the sin-atoning Lamb, is the light of the city. Christ the Light drives out the darkness of ignorance and the night of sorrow. It is only in Christ that the glory of God is seen in this world (2 Cor. 4:4-6). And it is only in Christ the glory of God can be seen in everlasting glory (Isa. 60:1, 3, 5, 19-21). God is Spirit. We cannot see a spirit. But we shall see all the fulness of the triune God in the person of our Savior, when we see him face to face (John 1:18).

    4. The church is the temple of God, but here John tells us that God is the temple of his church (Rev. 21:22)

    It is true that God dwells in us. But understand this: we dwell in God! And in eternity, we shall have the full manifestation and enjoyment of the atmosphere of God’s being. The radiance of God’s being shall fill the entire city of God. It shall be fully manifest everywhere, to everyone. There shall be no back settlements in the heavenly Canaan, no dark corners in the New Jerusalem. All God’s elect shall forever dwell in the immediate, direct, presence of God.

    5. The new Jerusalem is a divinely secured fortress of grace (Rev. 21:12, 17, 18)

    Round about this city is a great high wall, a wall with four sides. It is an unseen wall, but it is a very secure wall. The wall of our salvation is our great God (Zech. 2:5). We are secured from all harm and all real danger by the purpose, purchase, power, and promises of our God.

    6. The foundations upon which this city is built are the twelve apostles of Christ (Rev. 21:14, 19, 20)

    Men and women come into this city, come into this church of God, and enter into glory at last, by the preaching of the apostles, by the message they delivered - The gospel of Christ. The apostles were the messengers of the Lamb. Their foundations are really one - Jesus Christ himself (Eph. 2:20; 1 Cor. 3:9). In this great foundation, all the glorious attributes of God are revealed and set forth by the many precious stones.

    7. This great city has twelve gates of pearl (Rev. 21:12, 13, 21, 25, 27; 22:14-15)

    There are plenty of open gates on every side for all who will enter. But the gates are made and opened for a specific people. They are the ones whose names are inscribed upon them, 'the twelve tribes of the children of Israel,' that is to say, God’s elect. At every gate there is an angel, a messenger, calling for men to enter into the city. These messengers represent God’s preachers. The gates are pearls, one pearl, even the Pearl of Great Price, Jesus Christ. He is the door, the only door, by whom we enter the city. The gates to the City Beautiful are never shut. Christ is an open door by whom sinners draw near to and find acceptance with the eternal God.

    8. The street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass (Rev. 21:21)

    There is but one street running through the city. It leads from every gate right up to the throne of God, the river of the waters of life and the tree of life. And that street is the pure, transparent, golden gospel of Christ. This street represents the gospel, the only way to God. It is pure and transparent. It has nothing to hide. And it is more valuable than all the gold of the earth.

    9. This great city is supplied with life by the river of the water of life, proceeding from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1; Ps. 46:4)

    The source of life is the throne of God. And the River of Life is the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.

    10. In the midst of the city is the Tree of Life (Rev. 22:1-3)

    This represents the cross of Christ, the message of blood atonement by the crucified Substitute (Gal. 3:13). It bears regular, appointed fruit (Isa. 55:11). It bears abundant fruit. It’s leaves (doctrines) are for the healing of the nations. The message of redemption by Christ is the means by which God heals the souls of men (John 3:14-16).

    11. In the new Jerusalem God sits upon his throne (Rev. 22:3-4)

    There his sovereignty is acknowledged. His will is obeyed. And his face is seen.

    12. The inhabitants of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, are God’s elect (Rev. 21:24, 27)

    All whose names are written in the Book of Life (all the elect), all who were redeemed by the blood of Christ, all who are justified and sanctified (saved and made holy) in Christ by the grace of God, all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be in the New Jerusalem and shall reign forever and ever with the Son of God! Will you be among the inhabitants of that city?