By Raufu Spagnoletta
Overview
In our lesson, the Apostle John is given a tour of our eternal home, the New Jerusalem, with an angel inviting John to see the “bride, the Lamb’s wife.” In a vision, John is carried away to a great and high mountain, and shown descending out of heaven from God, a prepared bride adorned for her husband. The New Jerusalem coming down from God is called the Lamb’s wife, because it will be populated by His people-the church. John uses the imagery of a marriage to illustrate the intimate relationship between Christ (the bridegroom) and the church (the bride).
Having the glory of God for all eternity, God’s presence will illuminate the entire city with a light like jasper and clear as crystal. The architectural design of the city has foundations, walls, and gates, with patterns familiar to John’s readers.The foundations speak of permanence, and the walls and gates speak of protection. The angels at the gates will act as sentries and the saints of the Old and New Covenant will be united in the New Jerusalem. The twelve gates are identified as the twelve tribes of Israel, with twelve foundations and twelve apostles.
John noted some things missing from the city but their absence only magnified it’s glory! First, there will be no temple, “for the LORD God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Second, there will be no sun and moon, “for the glory of God and the Lamb will be the source of light for the city.” Third, there will be no night because the Lord, the light source will be there; and because there is no night the gates will never be closed. Finally, there will be no unbelievers; the only residents in the New Jerusalem are the ones whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Related Scriptures: Hebrews 11:8-16; 12:22-29; 1 John 1:5-7
Hebrews 11:8-16, speaks of the patriarchs of faith , Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. They were sojourners in the land of promise, dwelling in tabernacles, confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Yet they desired a heavenly country which God hath prepared for them.
Hebrews 12:22-29, highlights the superiority of the New Covenant, offering an unshakable kingdom and a more acceptable way to serve God with reverence and godly fear, recognizing Him as a consuming fire.
In, 1 John 1:5-7, John declares, God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness (unconfessed sin) we are practicing a lie. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. Sin interrupts our fellowship with God but confession restores it; and immediate confession keeps the fellowship unbroken.
Practical Point: We are ultimately citizens of the heavenly city to come, not whatever earthly city we currently inhabit.
“How amazing is that?” We have dual citizenship in heaven and in earth; And one day our passport on earth will expire with no need of renewal because we will be eternal residents in the New Jerusalem, with our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me. I go to prepare a place for you…that where I am, there ye may be also.”
(John 14: 1-6)
