All right, the book of Revelation
chapter 21, Revelation chapter 21, as we continue through this
passage of scripture that shares with us the way God views, the
way God sees the church, verses 9 through 27 of this chapter
is a very special way, a special revelation of Jesus Christ that
John got to see himself and every believer as God views them and
viewed him. So as we go down through here,
every believer gets to view themselves as the way God views them in
this new Jerusalem, in this city that comes down from God. And
the figurative language of this passage of scripture is a declaration
of God's grace and God's glory to his people. every step of
the way. Whether we're talking or reading
about the foundations or the gates or the walls or the light
in the city or the no need for a temple, the actual temple of
the city, it is sharing with us God's grace and glory to the
saints. And we see here in this figurative
language a view of how God sees his church. We're looking through,
and please, This is a figure of speech. We're looking through
God's glasses at this view. And it's a wonderful description.
And if we just remember that this is figurative, it's pictorial,
it's word images, and not take it literal. Because once we've
done that, we've gone off the line. We're looking aside, and
we're not looking at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The measuring
of the city or the church is mentioned in the three verses
that we'd like to look at tonight. Verses 15, 16, and 17. The measuring
of the city. And this measuring is done with
a golden measuring reed. Now, there is only one golden
measuring reed that's ever given for measuring spiritual things. And his name is Jesus. He's the
measuring instrument. And we find out, left to ourself,
if we're outside of the city, we don't measure up. If we're
in the city, and we're part of the city, and we're the members
of the body, then we measure up because we measure in Christ. And that's the only way that
we measure up, is in Christ. This verse 15, let's look at
this verse 15 of this chapter. It says, and he that talked with
me had a golden reed to measure the city and the gates thereof
and the walls thereof. It's a golden reed to measure. Now, there are a number of places
in the New Testament that this word measure is used. And it's
not always translated this way, but let's look at two or three
of them as we see how God used this word from the original language
and placed it in different places in the New Testament and how
it's been translated for us. And the first one I'd like to
look at is found in the book of Luke chapter three. As we
think about this measure, I am interested in how I can measure
up. I'm interested in what this measuring
is, and who it represents, and who it represents for whom. I want to stand in the representative
that measures up to every demand that God has. And the only way
that this city will measure up is it is covered with Jesus Christ. All right. In the book of Luke
chapter 6 and verse 38, this word is used, and it's used in
a manner, well, let's just get there and we'll read it. Luke
chapter 6. And verse 38, this word is used
that we find here in the book of Revelation chapter 21 and
verse 15. Luke chapter 6, verse 38. And the word says, give and it
shall be given unto you good measure, good measure. Press down and shaken together,
running over, shall men give in your bosom, for with the same
measure that ye meet with all, it shall be measured to you.
Now, it's interesting in that verse of scripture that the word
measure is used, but it is not the same word that we find over
in the book of Revelation. The word that we find in the
book of Revelation is this word that ye meet with all, that how
you measure it, how you meet with all. Good, pressed down,
shaken together. God's grace, his glory, his blessings,
they are immeasurable. They are beyond compare. We cannot
ever come to the conclusion of that. Even though we shake it
down and press it down like we're measuring something that we want
accurate measure on and we don't want any error in it, we find
for with the same measure that you meet with all, it shall be
measured to you. So as the Lord has measured us, we are measuring
out that same grace. to others. This is that word
that we find over there. And then in 2 Corinthians, this
word is used in almost a negative sense, but it has much to do
with the measuring instrument. If we measure by ourself, if
we compare ourself with others, we measure ourself with others,
we're having a faulty measure. 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse
12. It shares this, 2 Corinthians
chapter 10 verse 12. For we dare not make ourselves
of the number or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves,
but they measure themselves, measuring themselves by themselves
and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise. So if we're saying, well, I'm
measuring myself compared to someone else, but I measure better.
I know I'm doing better than that. That's not a wise measurement,
because we're using the wrong measuring stick. We're using
the wrong measuring instrument. The measure that needs to be
is the Lord Jesus Christ. How do we measure up to him? Now the only way that we can
measure up to Him is to be in Christ. That's the only way. We'll never accomplish it on
our own. We'll never get a tall enough ladder. We'll never learn
to jump high enough. We'll never ever get to the measure
of Jesus Christ on our own. But in Christ, we measure to
him. Now let's look at this verse
again. For we dare not make ourselves
of the number or compare ourselves with some that come in themselves
but they measuring themselves by themselves. Now we're immediately
using a faulty measure. We fell an atom, our mind's an
atom, body's an atom, spirit's an atom. Our measuring is wrong. We just can't guess. Peripheral
vision is wrong. Front vision is wrong. Up vision
is wrong and down vision is wrong. We just can't come to the right
measure. Now, turn with me to Revelation
chapter 11 and verse 1, and we find this word is used here. Revelation chapter 11 and verse
1, this word, this measuring the city, he talked with me,
had a golden reed to measure the city. Something that's going
to measure. Now, if we're going to look at
this literal, it's a measuring instrument. If we're going to
look at it spiritual, it's a measuring person. If we're going to have
literal, we're going to end up with a city that's 1,500 miles
square and tall. If we're going to look at it
spiritually, we're going to see that it is perfect in every direction
and God has made sure that everyone is equal and under the same blood
and stands before God on the same ground. Now there's a big
difference. Whether it's a 1500 mile, and
I thought about that and I says, wow, that's a number that no
man can number. Nobody has ever seen a city that
is 1500 miles cubed. 20, 30, 40 miles is a big city. So it's
an impossibility if it's left to a literal sense, but it is
so perfect. when it's left to a spiritual
sense. All right, now let's look here
in Revelation chapter 11, verse one. And there was given me a
reed like unto a rod. And the angel stood saying, rise
and measure the temple of God. Okay, that sounds simple. Now
we're gonna have to follow this through though. Measure the temple
of God, the altar. Now measure them that worship
there. Now that's the key. Measure them
that worship there. How are we going to do that?
Some people can say, well, it's easy to measure the temple or
to measure the altar. But how are we going to measure
them that worship there? The only way that we could ever
measure them that worship there are they in Christ. That's the only right we have
to worship there, is the Lord Jesus Christ. Are we in Christ? If not, we don't measure up. If we are, we stand perfect in
Christ. And any measurement that anybody
wants to bring up to the church stands perfect in Christ. It
is summed up this way. Who can bring any false measure
against God's elect? Who can measure them wrong? It's
God that justifies. Now, man might take this measure
and measure God's people, but that's not the measure that God's
going to use. The measure is his son. The measure
is Christ. It's a faulty measure if we're
measuring with the standards of this world. But it's the standard
of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and that's the only standard
of God, is the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Paul, excuse me, John
was given this measure. The gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ,
measure the temple. Now that old temple is faulty,
but the new temple is perfect. The old temple was a representation.
The old temple was a picture, a type, a shadow. The old altar
is the same. We can go over to the Old Testament
and find the size of the temple, the tabernacle, the altar. They're
all mentioned there. But the measure is short when
it comes to Christ. But this temple and this altar
and these people are measured by Christ and found to be four
square. That means perfect in every direction,
a cube. All right, let's go back over
to the book of Revelation chapter 21 and look at verse 16. The
city lieth four square, the city lieth four square. Over here
in Revelation chapter 21 and verse 16, and the city lieth
four square, and the length is as large as the breadth, and
he measured the city with a reed, 12,000 furlongs. The length and
the breadth and the height of it are equal. Now, if we take
that furlong and measure it out, it's approximately 1,500 miles. That's not what he's talking
about. He's not talking about that kind of size. He's talking
about perfection. He's talking about how God's
people stand in Christ. They do not stand in need. They
do not stand in need of anything. They don't need anything added
to them. in order to make them presentable.
They stand perfect in Christ. Let's look at a few verses as
the Bible describes this great dimension that's found here. Now, the reason for this wonderful
dimension, cubed, all of this size, the reason for it is the
price that was paid to purchase it. That's what makes it so great. The price that God paid to purchase
this city is of utmost value. particularly to God. Now it may
be trampled under feet by men, but it is of particular value
and great value to God. Turn with me, keeping your fingers
here, but turn with me back to the book of Acts chapter 20.
Acts chapter 20. The apostle Paul was getting
ready to leave and he stopped by Ephesus and he had this to
say. This is the value of this city. This is why it is so valuable,
why it is so foursquare, why it is so high, so broad, so deep. This is what God used to purchase
it. And this is the only thing that
was acceptable and the only thing that would purchase this city,
the people that this city represents, is the blood of the son, that's
it. Not by works of righteousness,
that would not purchase. That is not legal tender with
God. Only the blood of his son is
legal tender. That's all he accepts. We can't
give it. Christ gave it. Gave it on our
behalf. He paid the price in legal tender. His own blood. And because he
would give his own blood, it establishes the value and the
perfection of this city. It is his blood, precious blood
of the Lord Jesus. Acts chapter 20 and verse 28,
the scriptures share this. Take heed therefore unto yourselves
and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers. Talking to the Ephesian elders. Now, notice this part. Feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood. Now that gives value. And that gives perfection to
this body, to this church. It's no wonder. Now, it's immense.
There's no question about it. Because the blood of Jesus Christ
is of great value, we can't step it off. We can't imagine the
size of the city. It is bigger than anything that
we've ever seen. Bigger than any city that has
ever stood. Because it's God, and God's city,
and God's blood, and God's value, and God's perfection. That's
what makes this city so great. And it's an equal in every direction. When we go into the city, we
find that there is nobody that is of lesser or greater value. Everyone was purchased with the
blood of Jesus Christ. It wasn't the blood of Jesus
Christ plus a little bit, and it wasn't the blood of Jesus
Christ less a little bit. It's the blood of Jesus Christ
in every direction. It is all equal. Everybody is
equal before Almighty God. There is no little people, and
there's no great big people. Paul would say, I'm the least
of all. Least of all. Least of all the
apostles. Chiefest of sinners. And everyone
in this city is in the same boat with the Apostle Paul. Least
of all, less of all, chiefest of sinners. We're equal under
the blood of Jesus Christ. Have equal approach, equal time,
equal access, equal prayer, equal blessing, equal grace, equal
mercy. Everything is equal. And everyone
that is in there has been given the same faith to trust Christ. If it was up to us, we'd say,
well, I had more, and you had less. But since it's Christ,
it's all equal. Now he gives to his people faith
to faith, grace to grace. He gives his people gifts severally
among each one. They are given gifts sovereignly
by God. But when it comes to the faith,
he's the author and finisher of our faith. It's equal, it's
equal because it's all in Christ Jesus and all given by Christ
Jesus and all accredited to Christ Jesus. So this is a city four
square and it's because of the blood of Christ. Turn with me
if you would back to the book of Isaiah chapter one. Isaiah
chapter one shares with us a wonderful verse of scripture with regard
to our stand in Christ Jesus. Let us now. Let us come and reason
together. Now, we're not going to reason
with God. In this sense, I'm going to sit down and have a
little chit-chat with God, and we're going to come to the conclusion
that I want. No. He gives us right reason. He
gives us true reason. Isaiah chapter 1, verse 18, the
scripture says, come now and let us reason together, saith
the Lord. Though your sins be a scarlet, They stand out, in
other words. They stand out to God. They stand
out to us, and they stand out to our fellow man. Some of them
we can hide, but they're still, as it says there, Isaiah chapter
one, verse 18. Come now and let us reason together,
saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be
white as snow. That's across the board. Well,
that snow over there is just a little browner than over here.
No. It's a figure of speech saying it is pure, holy, righteous. Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool. He said, I'll take you from complete
sin to perfect in Christ Jesus. And it will be as tall and as
broad and as deep, perfect in every direction, and insurmountable,
cannot be compared, cannot be thought out of how grand a redemption
this is. And that city, the measure of
it tells us that. It's immense in every direction.
Oh, we might be able to have a city 1,500 miles this way and
1,500 miles this way, but take it that way. It's bigger than
we can imagine. And it's not a literal city,
it's a spiritual city, sharing with us the greatness of our
redemption in Christ Jesus. Perfect in every way, in every
direction, length, breadth, height, and depth. A city built for square. All right, turn with me, if you
would, to the book of Romans, chapter eight, verse one. And
we find here another statement about this perfection. This height
and depth and breadth The width of this city, perfect in every
way. The walls of the city are immense.
Protection, perfection, completeness in Jesus Christ, the Savior.
It's because of His blood. He has washed us white as snow. And now He tells us here in Romans
chapter 8 and verse 1, these wonderful words to the church.
And I'll be honest with you. I try to be always honest with
you. That's figure of speech. I'll be honest with you, only
the church really understands this verse. There is therefore
now no condemnation. Religion wants us to feel a little
condemnation most of the time to keep us humble. God'll keep
us humble. God will make his people humble.
They'll bow before him. Every knee shall bow and every
tongue shall confess. We don't need people making us
humble. God will take care of it. But
it says here, there is therefore now no condemnation. Oh, you're
giving people a license to sin. My goodness. If that's the way
people feel, they've just never come to the city yet. There is
no license to sin. We're not giving anybody that.
God didn't give anybody that. Paul was dealing with that same
issue in his day. Oh, if we believe that, we'd
go and sin. He says, it's not a license. And if you feel that way, you
just don't know grace. All right, there is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the spirit. This is salvation
that God gives to his people. And there is now no condemnation. No judgment is upon them. It
was imposed on someone else on our behalf. So what makes the
city so great? The blood of Christ makes it
so great. And as a result of the blood
of Christ, he takes that which was an abomination and makes
it pure as snow. cleanses and cleanses us, and
from top to bottom, height, breadth, depth, every measurement that
can be measured has been made perfect in Christ Jesus. There's
not an area, now there's not an area that Adam didn't affect,
but so it is with Christ. There's not an area that his
salvation will not have effect on. We're waiting for one. That's the old flesh. But it's
gonna be taken care of. He's gonna give us a new body,
like unto his glorious body. But the rest has been taken care
of. All right, and turn with me, if you would, to the book
of Colossians, Colossians chapter one. Colossians, that city is
so perfect. We find the Bible tells us that
God's people are made perfect in Christ Jesus. They have no
condemnation. They have no sin that they'll
answer for. They stand perfect before God. And if we have to use a club
to make people feel guilty, we're using it wrongly. We have to put them under the
law. We've got to herd them, herd goats. That's all the law
does, herd goats. Christ heard sheep. His word
carries along sheep. All right, here, Colossians.
Colossians chapter one, verse 28, it says here, whom we preach,
warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that
we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Whereunto I
also labor, striving according to the working which worketh
in me mightily. What's that say? That we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. There's not a measurement
that God didn't affect by his grace. He overcame all, took care of
all. And it's so immense, this great
salvation, this great redemption, is so great because of the great
blood of Jesus Christ, it is taller than we can imagine. It's
broader than we could ever think of. It's deeper than we could
ever put into words. And that's what we say about
the grace of God every day. It's just grander than I thought. And this city, the great walls
of this city, the huge, the mightiness, demonstrates that very thing,
that this salvation, that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher
of, is grander than we can put into words. Also in Colossians
chapter 4 and verse 12, we read this, Colossians chapter 4 and
verse 12, Epaphras, who is one of you,
a servant of Christ, salutes you, always laboring fervently
for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and complete in
all the will of God. I like that stand. Standing in
Christ, under the blood of Christ, forgiven by the blood of Christ,
forgiven by the grace of Christ, puts us in a position that we
stand before God. Well, let's just jump over to
the book right before the book of Revelation and read how complete
this is. It is complete and grand, gargantuous,
this great salvation. It is heralded by John as it's
measured out. There's nothing like it anywhere
else in all of God's creation. This is so immense. This grace
of God is so immense. The mercy of God is so immense.
The salvation of God is so grand and glorious. Let me tell you
how big it is. It's bigger than anything that
we can measure. All right, Jude. Here in the book of Jude, verse
24 and 25, now unto him that is able to keep you from falling.
Now that him is Christ. It's not some man that keeps
us, but Christ, to keep you from falling and to present you faultless. Now that's the perfection. Perfect. Perfect measurement. Every direction. Every capacity. God shall find
no fault in his church. He found that fault in Jesus
Christ. Christ became sin for us. He
found fault in him and judged him and punished him and condemned
him to death. So that he could say, now unto
him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy
to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion
and power both now and forever. Amen. Now one of the great things
about the Lord God Almighty is he's almighty. And he's able
to take sinners and save them by his grace and make them absolutely
perfect in his presence. There's no redeeming factor in
us, but there is redeeming factor in Christ. And he presents us
spotless in Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation. It just got bigger. to them that
are in Christ. Wow. It's immeasurable. I cannot comprehend the glory
of this great Savior, His blood, and His redemption. Well, it
must be that big. And they measured it off. And
they can't come to the conclusion of it. And that high. And that
went wide and that broad. How glorious is this great wall? No condemnation because of the
blood of Christ. Now, going over to verse 17,
and we'd like to spend a few moments here on verse 17. He measured the wall thereof
144 cubits. Now that's the thickness. 144 cubits. That's the protection. That's how thick this wall is.
Nothing. Not our sin after we're saved. Not our thoughts. Not our doings
are going to destroy this great wall. It's perfect. The blood of Christ is perfect.
His salvation is perfect. His redemption is perfect. It's
perfect in every way. And nothing shall destroy this. The thickness of this wall is
represented by the measuring, 144 cubits. That's a lot. It's immense. It's Christ. Now, this just reminds me of
Revelation 4. Would you turn there with me,
Revelation 7. Revelation chapter 7, verse 4. Revelation chapter seven and
verse four. We were here some time ago and we looked at this,
but I just want to read it again. When we think about the size
of the city, the thickness of the city, the height of the walls,
the width of the walls, the length of the walls, city built in perfection,
four square, and with walls so immense, perfect security, perfect
safety, All God's people. What a rock we have. What a security. What a secure
place. What safety God grants to us
in Jesus Christ. No one can take on the Lord Jesus
and win. No enemy can win. Death could not win. Satan could
not win. Hell couldn't win. Death. The grave could not win. All
losers, in other words. They're all losers. Christ was
victorious. And the immensity, now notice
here, verse four, John said, I heard the number of them that
were sealed. And there were sealed 140 and
4,000 of all the tribes of Israel. Now when we went over this, we
made this statement, or some similar statement, This Israel
is the church, it's spiritual. This is the perfect number. I
heard the number, it was a perfect number. Someone said, this is
the number of the size of the church. And John said, my goodness, that's
immense. And you know what? Not only did
he get to hear the number, then he got to see the number. He
got to see how many of this represented. It's much more than 144,000.
That's a number, perfect number, of all the elect. Now, I heard
a message yesterday, I guess it was, maybe. Recently. Days flow together. But this
message was sharing with me, or sharing with whoever heard
it, that there would be, The gospel would be preached in every
nation, might be on Marvin's message. Gospel would be preached
in every nation, and then with the income. You know, I've interpreted
that wrong every time till I heard this message. And he said in
this message, the gospel will be heard by every one of his
elect in every nation, and then the income. Now, doesn't necessarily mean
we're going to have to have a church in far off someplace. But wherever there's one of God's
children yet to be born in any nation, God will get them the
gospel. And that's when it's going to
be heard in every nation. Then the end shall come. All
right. Now, notice here in Revelation
7 verse 9, it lists the tribes. And you know what? There's a
tribe missing here that's not mentioned here, but it's mentioned
over in the Old Testament. It's the tribe of Dan, I believe.
Dan means judgment. The tribe that took its place
is Levi in this list. And Levi is the priest. God got
rid of the judgment. and gave us priests. All right, now notice here, verse
nine. After this I beheld, and lo, I got to see it. If, when, if and when, not if
and when, when we get to see the city with our spiritual eyes,
we're gonna say, you know, I heard it was big. I heard it was immense. I heard it was a city four square.
That's what the book said. I was told that that's spiritual,
and it's just how great salvation is. But when we get to see it
in its grandeur, and we sit in the feet of Jesus, that's what
he says, and behold, and I got to see it. This I beheld in lo,
a great multitude, which no man could number. I can't tell you
how big it is, because it's too big. I can't tell you how tall
it is because it's too tall. I can't tell you how deep it
is because it's too deep. I can't tell you how thick it
is because it's too thick. I just can't. Now, I've seen
it and I've heard of it. That's the measure of it. But
when you see it, the hearing of it is 144,000.
That's a perfect number. God's people out of every nation
kindred and tongue. But when you beheld it, John
beheld this great number, which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne
and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in
their hands. A number that no man can number.
When God permits his people, day by day, as they enter into
his presence, as we pass from this life to the next, And we
enter into his presence, we'll say, the half has not been told. I heard about it, and I heard
it was big. I heard about it, and I heard
it was gracious. I heard about him, that his grace
is grand. But in his presence, the half
has not been told. Number that no man can number,
out of every of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and
tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed
in white robes, the righteousness of Christ, palms in their hands,
and cried with a loud voicing, salvation to our God, which sitteth
upon the throne, and to the Lamb. And all the angels stood round
about the throne, and about the elders, and four beasts, and
fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God saying,
amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might. It just almost sounds like they
just ran out of words. I just can't express it enough.
Be unto our God forever and ever, amen. I've heard of him. When we see
him, we'll say, boy, not half was told. The size is greater
than it sounded like. The eyes, when they see him,
every eye shall see him. Every knee shall bow and say,
worthy is the lamb that was slain. All right, we'll wrap that up.