TEACHINGS ON HEAVEN ( PART 3 )
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3209
TEACHINGS ON HEAVEN ( PART 3 )
WHAT IS THE NEW JERUSALEM?
The New Jerusalem will be far more than an improved version of ancient or modern Jerusalem.
It will be a heavenly city that exists on entirely new earth along with new heaven.
The Lord Himself will dwell in perfect peace and unity with those who are children of God ( John 1:12 ).
1. THE LIGHT SOURCE OF THE CITY
The Lord God and the Lamb ( Jesus Christ ) will serve as temple and light, providing for every need of the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem.
2. ITS BEAUTY
There we shall behold its beauty: "having the glory of God, its radiance like a rarest jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal" ( Rev.21:11 ).
3. ITS UNIQUE FEATURES
Next, we are told some of its features.
" It had a great, high wall, with twelve angels, and on the gates, the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel inscribed - 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 on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb ( Rev.21:12-14 ).
We are also told its size: " And the one who spoke to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement" (Rev 21: 15-17 ). This length is approximately 1,400 miles in each direction according to modern measurements! Most believe the shape to be a cube, though some argue for a pyramid-shaped city.
The New Jerusalem has precious jewels and riches: "The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth the twelveth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass" ( Rev.21:18-21).
4. ITS ORIGIN
From the earlier descriptions, we can surmise its origin is in heaven: " the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God " ( Rev.21:10 ).
Abba Father, there are no human words to describe what this wonderful and wondrous city will be like. The physicality described in the buildings of the New Jerusalem will suit our new bodies which though still three-dimensional has adapted and added spiritual features to all their component parts. The city's inhabitants are described in this way: " They will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life" ( Rev. 21:26-27). In addition to the Lord Almighty and the Lamb, only those whose names are in the Lamb's book of life will dwell in the New Jerusalem. It will be a city characterised by purity and the glory of God described in detail in Rev.21:9-27.
