OUR FIRST GLIMPSE OF OUR ETERNAL HOME

Revelation 21:1-27
Bob Bonner
June 25, 2006

Throughout human history, there has always been a longing in the human heart for a better life, a hope for a perfect society where there is no evil and every desire and need is fulfilled. While many may question the reality of a place called heaven, in our hearts most of us hope it exists and that we will be a part of it. According to the Bible, heaven is an actual place, not a state of spiritual consciousness. This is evident because we are told in the Bible that Enoch, Elijah and Jesus are said to be there waiting for us. Furthermore, in John 14, Jesus told His disciples that after His ascension to the Father, He was preparing a place for us there.

Although heaven is referred to over 500 times in the Bible, of which 50 are found in the book of Revelation, the two concluding chapters of the book of Revelation contain virtually all that the Bible has to say about heaven and the eternal state of the believer. Certainly there are many passages in the Old Testament that picture a time of great blessing and utopian peace, but those are prophecies not of heaven but of the thousand-year kingdom which precedes heaven. In Hebrews 11 and 12, we are told that God is the architect and builder of heaven and that Abraham and I presume others longed for this new creation called the “heavenly Jerusalem.” But these two concluding chapters of Revelation give us the only specific statements about heaven and what it will look like. Heaven, as we discover in these two chapters, is an entirely new creation that springs into being at God’s command.

Chronologically, we catch our first glimpse of heaven right after the Great White Throne judgment (Rev. 20), of those who have rejected God and have been cast into hell. Following this, is the time for God to reveal to those eternal beings who will spend eternity with their God, what the place will be like in which they will dwell forever.

As we look at these next two chapters, John begins with a broad or general look at the believer’s eternal home, called here, “the new heaven and the new earth,” with its capital city, the “New Jerusalem.” As we continue through this and the next chapter, John moves from the broad and general look at our eternal home to the more specific details of what heaven will be like. Let’s begin with John’s general statements about our new heavenly home, in veres 1-4. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.”

Right from the start, John makes it very clear that this is not a remake of our present world. The word “new” means new, not in the sense of new in a chronological order but in a qualitative sense, something brand new, fresh, never been seen before. This will be a fresh new work of God, a new creation. That fact that this is not a renovation project of our old world is supported by the additional statement, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 

In addition to a new earth, there will be a new heaven.  The new heaven refers not to the abode of God, but to the new earth’s atmosphere and planetary space that surrounds it.

Furthermore, in contrast to our present earth, which has most of its surface covered by water, there will be no large body of water on the new earth. Why? Ray Stedman offers this explanation as to why no large body of water. He writes, “Over 70 percent of the surface of our world is covered with salt water. The average depth of the ocean is 2.3 miles. Why does our planet need such a massive covering of salt water? Answer: To cleanse the earth and make life possible. The earth is bathed in God’s great antiseptic solution composed of about 96 % water. 3.5 % salt, and about .5% trace constituents—Chlorine, magnesium, calcium, and the like. The salty brine of the ocean purges, cleanses, and preserves our planet.

The rivers on our planets wash pollutants and the waste we produce into the sea. The antiseptic salinity of the sea absorbs, scrubs and breaks down these pollutants and wastes. The sun heats the sea, causing only pure, clean water vapor to float up into the sky, forming clouds which bring refreshing rain back to the land—a continuous cycle of cleansing and renewal. But in the new heaven and new earth there will be no more pollution, no more decay, no more need for cleansing, and thus no more need for a salty sea.”

In verse 2, we move from the broad look at the new heaven and earth, to the “New Jerusalem” or what will be the capital city of the new earth. We read, “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”

This “New Jerusalem” is one and the same as that mentioned back in Revelation 3:12, where we read, “the city of my God, which is Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God.” It is the same city that the writer of Hebrews 11:10, 16 refers to as being that “heavenly city” which Abraham and the rest of the redeemed will be looking for. It is called a “holy city” not just because it is set apart as unique, but also because it’s people or citizens are holy (20:6).

The use of the marriage figure here and down in verses 9-11 is not to be confused with “the bride of Christ” which is a reference to the Church. The descriptive terms that coincide with “the bride” mentioned in this chapter do not refer to a group of believers, as in the church, but clearly refer to a city or dwelling place being described as something new, having the freshness and beauty of a bride adorned for marriage to her husband.

Furthermore, seeing that this is a city, we know that as in most cities, this New Jerusalem will be a city in which relationships, activity, responsibility, socialization, communion and cooperation will take place. As the capital city, this New Jerusalem will be the bond between the new heaven and the new earth.

With verses 3-4, a voice, whether Christ’s or one of the angels who were next to the throne we don’t know for sure, tells us a little bit more about what will and will not take place in this city. We read, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,” In other words, there will be no heavenly temple there. Jesus, Immanuel, “God with us” will finally be fulfilled. Jesus will be right there with us and hence, no need for a tabernacle. He is the tabernacle.

Two results will occur from being able to see Jesus face to face in unbroken communion. As a result of being in His presence, safe and secure we will be in continual and ongoing communion and worship. Heaven will be unbroken communion with Jesus Christ. Whereas today, we stop once or twice a week for corporate worship, and maybe daily for thirty minutes in private worship, in heaven, worship will be a way of life. Worship will be ongoing and uninterrupted, even as we work and serve the Lamb.

A second result of being continually in His presence, is revealed in verse 4. It reads, “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” The tears seem to refer to tears shed on earth as the believers down through history endured suffering for Christ’s sake. Hence, the emphasis here is on the comfort of God, not on the remorse of the saints.  His point is there will be no more tears shed as a result of misfortune in heaven or tears over lost love, or tears of remorse, or tears of regret, or tears over death, or tears brought on by pain ...no tears for any reason for “the former things are passed away.”

Have you ever grieved so deeply over a past mistake you made, that you thought your heart would break? Even after you knew you were forgiven, suddenly you get hit with a surprise attack of guilt from the past? I have. Although I can recall the truth of Christ’s complete forgiveness, acceptance and approval, these attacks of guilt come from the enemy and grieve us. One day, you will never have to fear those surprise attacks and the grieving and the tears that go with it.

I’ll never forget the first time I realized the importance of this truth, that God would one day wipe away every tear. The day after my mother’s memorial service, following her untimely death, I was grieving over the tragedy of her life and sudden death. Tears were flowing down my face and the pain was so acute that I thought to myself, “Will I feel like this for the rest of my life?” Right after I thought that question, I reached over to a stack of sympathy cards that I had yet to open. The very first one I opened had Revelation 21:4 written in it. It was the first time I recalled ever reading it. Suddenly, I realized that this acute pain wouldn’t last forever. It may last the rest of my life here on earth (which it hasn’t) but great hope filled my soul when I realized that one day the pain would cease, because of this promise. Believing this to be true, my grieving was replaced by the hope of a grieving-free, tear-free future. Hence, the importance of this truth: Heaven will bring relief to all believers.

When we come to verses 5-8, Jesus, who sits on the throne, speaks up and gives John some instructions. He tells him to “write this down” or “quote Me on this.” We read, “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”[meaning they are correct and worthy of you banking your life on them.] Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Once again we are told that this heaven, earth and Jerusalem will be “new” except this time, Jesus is clearly the one making this statement. Again, “new” means new in character, new in that no one will ever have experienced such a place. To set this new heaven off from the old, Jesus declares, “It is done” or a drastic change has taken place. The work of the whole history of human drama is finished prior to this eternal state. It is not a statement declaring that there are no future works of God, but the old world order is over and done with.

Here is another neat thing that will be true about heaven but is not true now. Right now, we all “thirst.” Nothing on earth satisfies our souls—not wealth, fame, pleasure, or possessions. There is only one thing that can quench the deep thirst of the soul and that is God Himself. In heaven, we will have all of Him that our soul’s can desire. Heaven will satisfy the soul’s hunger with Him. In heaven, from Christ will spring up the satisfying waters of the spring of life. We will know Him in such greater intimacy that we will be called “His son.” which, in the Jewish tradition, is the closest relationship one can have with the father.

However, in contrast to the saved (those who will enjoy this intimate relationship with Christ) will be those who practice the sins of the unbelieving world. These unbelievers will be excluded from the New Jerusalem. This judgment is a righteous punishment for their sins, of which eight of their typical unforgiven sins are itemized here. For all of their lives, these people have wished that God would leave them alone, that He would quit trying to control their lives, and now they get their wish. Something this passage calls “the second death,” eternal life being lived out in the absence of God and all that is good. Placed in an eternal existence that is described as “the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.”

Question: Why is this solemn statement placed right here?  Why does Jesus insist that John quote Him word for word here? Because this event has yet to happen and this is a head’s up warning to those who are stiff-arming God. This is God’s clear warning for our generation to realize that one day, the second chances at a new life will be over. It emphasizes the seriousness that the choices we make here, make a difference in our eternal state.

From here to the end of this chapter and through part of the next, one of the seven angels who brought about one of the seven bowl judgments takes John on an angelic tour of the New Jerusalem. By using the same angel who pronounced God’s wrath back in chapter 18, we see the blending of God’s wrath and judgment with God’s promise of eternal blessing. We see the full character of God. We read, “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me [this bride] the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.”

At this point, the angel is going to show John the specific details of the New Jerusalem. This capital city of the new heaven and earth will reflect all that God is.  In the New Jerusalem, all light, all glory originates from the Lamb. The brilliance and variance of colors will remind us of the breadth and depth of God’s character and person being beyond our comprehension.

“Out of heaven” means that the city is not heaven. The heaven referred to here is not the new heaven or that expanse that is above the earth through which the is birds fly or the stars exist. This heaven is the very throne room of God. It is from His throne room and by His divine authority that this holy city, the New Jerusalem comes.

The rest of verse 11 and on describes this city, as a reflection of God’s glory. We read, “Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.”

It should be obvious to the reader by now, that this is not some spiritual state of consciousness to which John is referring, but an actual city with walls, doors, sides and dimensions. This is not some nebulous thought imagined in someone’s mind, but it is an actual physical place. My presumption is that the measurements given here are in terms that we humans can understand. Although these measurements belong to a city, the significance of all three measurements is that they mark out what belongs to God, just as did God’s measurements given of the millennial temple in Ezekiel and the Tribulation temple back in chapter 11. 

John gives us more specifics of the New Jerusalem, in verses 18-22. “The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.  I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”

All of the stones or jewels mentioned here are transparent or translucent, which indicates that this city is designed to transmit the glory of God in the form of various hues of light without hindrance. The light playing of the jewels will be a magnificent array or spectrum of brilliant color resembling the glory of God.

Also, notice the mention of the pearly gates. Undoubtedly, you have heard many jokes about St. Peter waiting at the pearly gates to test people as to whether or not they can enter. This is the only place in Scripture that the pearly gates are mentioned. Notice that there is not just one set of pearly gates, but twelve and at none of those gates do we find Peter guarding the entrance! 

But the mention of these gates of pearl is extremely significant. John Phillips, in his commentary makes specific mention of these “pearly gates” we so often hear talked about. He writes this concerning their symbolic significance. “The humble oyster receives an irritation or a wound, and around the offending article which has penetrated and hurt it, the oyster builds a pearl. The pearl, we might say, is the answer of the oyster to that which injured it. The glory land is God’s answer, in Christ, to wicked men who crucified heaven’s beloved and put Him to open shame. How like God it is to make the gates of then New Jerusalem of pearl. The saints as they come and go will be forever reminded, as they pass the gates of glory, that access to God’s home is only because of Calvary. Think of the size of those gates! Think of the supernatural pearls from which they are made! What gigantic suffering is symbolized by those gates of pearl! The sufferings of Christ...the pearl of Great price!” [p. 270]

John continues in his description of what the New Jerusalem looked like. “And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

Different than our present earth and heaven, that has a sun, moon and stars that shed light upon the earth, there will be no sun or moon and, by implication, no stars in the new heaven that surrounds the earth. Why, because we don’t need them for light. The very glory of God, the Lamb will be the source of light in our eternal home. Will there be other planets in the new heaven? I don’t know. We are not told one way or the other.

“The nations [that term here means not just gentiles but all the saved peoples who have become citizens of this New Jerusalem] will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

In the capital city of New Jerusalem, the fact that its gates will never be closed reveals that there will be no need of protection from terrorists, marauders, invaders, thieves, criminals or other dangerous individuals. Nothing unclean, no one who practices abominations or who sins will be able to enter the new heaven, new earth and in particular, the New Jerusalem. This city will secure from all who are evil. Heaven will be a permanent place of rest and safety and refreshment for those who have been forever saved, “those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Furthermore, we recognize from these verses that this new heaven will be a place of continuous activity. We are told that “kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.” I believe this refers to those saved leaders from the Millennial Kingdom who will enter the New Jerusalem, and humbly submit all of the evidences of their work and successes to the Lord, for His glory is superior to theirs. Along with them, the other peoples who make up the nations will bring their “glory” the evidence of their positive workings for the Lord into the capital city, submitting them to Him as well. Because you have the mention of “kings” and “nations” here, I believe that as on earth today, as on earth during the Millennial Kingdom, so will it be in heaven. Although every believer is equally loved by God, there will be different roles and different levels of service before the Lord. Some will be leaders or kings, while others will not. However, in this perfect environment, no jealousy will exist. All will be completely satisfied with their relationship and service to the Lamb at this point. And since there is no need for sleep, and there is only going to be day, the service to Jesus will be unbroken and continuous.

As we come to the close of this chapter, once again, I am forced to ask, “Why? Why, Lord have you included this chapter about heaven?”

I’m convinced that one reason why God concludes the book of Revelation and indeed, our entire Bible with these two chapters is because these two final chapters should be the lens through which we view all that we do today, here on earth. What these two chapters reveal should be the backdrop or the basis of how we invest our lives today. It should be the perspective from which we view all that we struggle through and challenges we face today. If we lose sight of this reality of heaven to come, we will in turn invest our lives today foolishly. When challenges come, we will become whining fools, depressed, view ourselves as victims, start arrogantly demanding our rights and seeking personal glory and pleasure or joy as our end all. Losing perspective, losing sight of the big picture that these two chapters give us, can lead to people saying, “You know what? I’m tired of getting the short end of the stick. All I want to be is happy and if this brings me happiness, even if it is wrong or violates the Lord’s instruction, I believe that the Lord would rather have me be happy than sad.”

That kind of thinking is pure foolishness. God promises us that one day we will be happy and their will be no tears, but not now. Listen to Paul’s words as to what he says we are to expect today, while we live on earth. His perspective is real and correct. He writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8-11; 16-18, “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” Now, I ask you, does that sound like the words of someone who is a charter member of the happiness cult? Does Paul testify to the pleasures of this life, of what we really have to look forward to if we choose to live for Christ?

But even during these pressure-packed times, Paul says, in verse 16, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Paul is telling us and has modeled for us that life here in the temporal world must be lived with an eternal perspective always held in the front of our minds. Why?

In Phil. 3:20 Paul answers why. He says, “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Elsewhere in Scripture, the apostle Peter agrees with Paul and reminds us that although we may be citizens of some country on this planet today, we are ultimately aliens on earth because our real home, our real citizenship is in heaven.

Therefore, because of our citizenship being in heaven, because our perspective is to be viewed through the lens of what is unseen today, but will be seen in the future, Paul in Colossians 3:1-2 makes it clear why he keeps bringing up the subject of heaven. Here, he instructs the believer “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Paul’s point is not as some wag put it, “to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good,” but rather to challenge us to keep in balance all that we do on earth with the proper perspective of life. And that proper perspective should primarily be an eternal one, that demands that one invest his or her life temporally in such a way that it will make the greatest impact on the eternal landscape.

As it concerns this eternal or heavenly perspective, John MacArthur gives an excellent reason why our lens through which we view our lives on this earth should be the lens of heaven. He writes, “A heavenly perspective is vital to the believer since everything important to one’s spiritual life and destiny are there: the Father, the Lord, the Comforter, and fellow believers.”

As you awoke this morning, what first came to mind? Was it your temporal concerns for today, or for what lies ahead? I’m not suggesting that it would be wrong to wake up thinking about the things you have to accomplish today, but merely suggesting that if you begin there, and do not step back and look at your day’s agenda through the eternal and very real lens of heaven, your day will either lack long-lasting satisfaction or be wasted, no matter what you accomplish or both. One day, everything on this earth will be destroyed. The only things that will go with you to heaven are the souls of others, the truth about God and your eternal rewards. So, how will you chose to invest the rest of your days here on earth? While you are at work, school, home, part of a club, will you see these areas of life as an opportunity to invest your life into the lives of other believers, encouraging them, serving them, building into them? Will you see them as opportunities to share Christ with those around you? Or, will it be your goal to seek to serve your own selfish desires and to seek after temporal objectives alone? 

The choice is yours. How you choose to invest your life today will make a difference in your eternity. 

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