The City of Glory

 

Revelation Chapters 21-22

The New Jerusalem – A New Heaven and a New Earth

Chapters 21-22 mention the second death, but both their emphases are on life itself – the Book of Life, the River of Life, and the Tree of Life, in the new heaven and new Earth.

Then John saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And He saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband (21:1-2).

The universe we are living in right now shall be renewed upon the Second Coming of the Lord (v5, Isaiah 56:17; 66:22; Matthew 19:28; Romans 8:18-25). God’s dwelling in heaven will descend to join with earth to form a new heaven and new earth.

The sea is gone as well; in John’s time, the sea was viewed as dangerous and changeable. It was also the source of the beast (13:1). Instead of our going up to meet him, he comes down to be with us, just as God became man in Jesus Christ and lived among us (John 1:14). Wherever God reigns, there is peace, security, and love.

The “cowards” are the fearful ones who abandon Christ at the threats of the beast. They fear persecution so badly that they choose temporary safety over eternal life. They are put in the same list as the unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcrafts, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

By contrast, people who are victorious “endure to the end” (v.7). They will receive the blessings that God promised. They shall live in the city of God under His protection. They shall know God intimately and it is as though there is a union between the bridegroom and his bride.

To follow Christ requires boldness and bravery to stand for hm when oppression occurs. Pray for courage to do what is right no matter what pressure you face. Those who can endure the testing of evil and remain faithful will be rewarded by God.

The city is the New Jerusalem. Its measurements are symbolic of a place that will hold all God’s people. These measurements are all multiples of 12, the number of God’s people. There were 12 tribes in Israel, and 12 apostles who started the church.

The walls are 144 (12x12) cubits (216 feet) thick. There are 12 layers in the walls, and 12 gates in the city, and the length, width, and height are all the same, 12000 stadia (1400 miles). The new Jerusalem is a perfect cube, the same shape as the Most Holy Place in the Temple (1 king 6:20). These measurements illustrate that this new home will be perfect for us.

No temple is needed in the new city, because God’s presence will be everywhere. God will be the light in the new Jerusalem. Light represents what is good, pure, true, holy, and reliable. Darkness represents what is sinful and evil.

That God’s glory illuminates the city means that the city will be enveloped by him, who is perfectly holy and true. Light is also related to truth in that it exposes whatever exists. Just as darkness cannot exist in the present of light, so sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy God. The city will be completely without sin and evil.

We will be able to worship God throughout the city; nothing will hinder us from being with him. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names ware written in the Lamb’s Book of life.

So don’t think that you will get in because of your background, personality, or good behavior. Eternal life is available to you only because of what Jesus, the Lamb, has done. Trust him today to secure your citizenship in this new creation.

There is a river in the city that flows from the throne of God, with trees of life growing along the river bank, and it quenches the thirst of the people (Ezekiel 47).  Those who are hungry can pluck their fruits from the trees as their food. The leaves can bring healing to all nations. It pictures the fullness of life with God and the eternal blessings that come when we believe in him and allow him to satisfy our spiritual thirst.

God will wipe away the tears of His people and there will be no more pain, sorrow, illness and death. The curse on man shall be gone at this time. It is a reverse of chapter 3 in Genesis, devoid of the falling condition in the Garden of Eden.

God will remove all sorrows. Forevermore, there will be no death, sorrow, crying, or pain. What a wonderful truth! No matter what you are going through, it isn’t the last world—God has written the final chapter, and it is about true fulfillment and eternal joy for those who love him.

Then appears the throne of God, which indicates that God is in control (v4,5). All nations shall bow and worship before His throne, and they shall meet God face to face (1 John 3:2; 2 Corinthians 13:12).

This is the ultimate purpose for God’s creation of mankind, i.e., to have the creation meeting God face to face and dwelling in His blessed presence and rest. We do not know as much as we would like, but it is enough to know that eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine.

Lastly, John reiterated that the revelation was what they had heard and seen, and it was an authentic revelation of God. Readers are called to believe and to obey the revelation, and they are obliged to proclaim the full content of this revelation.

There will be a big separation when Christ returns, that is, whether we shall live in the New Jerusalem with the Lamb, or we shall be judged and expelled.

Jesus has spoken thrice: I am coming quickly! (vv. 7, 12, 20)

In fact, Jesus has overcome and won the victory on the cross, and the Kingdom of God as well as the new life shared by His people has already begun. Therefore, Christ is really coming quickly!

The eternal life in the Bible has already started. It is a blessed life that knows God intimately. This life has begun the moment we came to believe in the Lord, but it will be consummated when the Lord returns.

Conclusion

The holy city of Jerusalem witnessed by John relates to all kinds of light, goodness, harmony, life and healing. The vision of a new heaven and a new earth is the future hope of mankind. It is this future hope that we gain courage to continue our lives this day despite prevalent deaths and sufferings.

The vision of Revelation is not merely about some future settlements or promises in our lives, it serves to be our reminder in our current living.

Revelations found in the book itself are not demonstrated as ways for us to escape from realities, and they are not codes for us to explain away puzzles or myths in our lives. Prophecies in Revelation are for us to observe, and they are truth to be practiced in our lives. They prescribe how we are supposed to live now.

Theology of Revelation

The author of Revelation depicted and presented a prospect and vision of God’s Kingdom for his readers who were perplexed by their hardships. He had awakened them to get to know God’s authority and majesty, as well as Christ’s salvation and mercy. It allowed them to come to understand who the universe and the history belong to!

1.      God is seated on His throne, highly exalted in heavenly realm. He is liberty and eternity, and He is Alpha and Omega, He is omnipotent and transcendent, the God of salvation. He creates, looks after, redeems, judges and overcomes. He also enters into a marriage covenant with His people to enjoy an intimate relationship with them.

2.       There is a gap that exists between God’s heart, and His redemption and creation, and the One who fills this gap is Christ, the Lamb who was slain and now seated on the throne of God. Jesus Christ is God’s full representation and manifestation. The theology of Revelation is God-centric, with the other side of the same coin showing Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, as another centric figure—Christ-centric.

3.       Scenes of worship often appeared immediately after disasters or God’s judgment. The author emphasized that God was still in control in the midst of hardships and tribulations. Believers need to persevere and magnify God when they go through sufferings and persecution, as they believe God’s impending judgment and salvation.

Worship is not only sentimental expression. Instead, it is every inch a political act which involves one’s profession and declaration of his/her ownership, stand, value and direction in lives. God is the only object worthy of our worship. Worshipping of any other various objects is considered as idol worshipping and doing so will bring sure destruction.

4.      Christians should stand up and fight. Our courage is derived from Jesus Christ, the Lamb who once suffered and was slain, and who overcame. Believers should follow their Lord in going through suffering, testifying the truth and overcoming as He had overcome.

5.       The battle in the end has already been won in Christ (through His death and resurrection). But it is not yet won because the dragon, the beasts and the woman are still stirring troubles in the midst of struggles to their death. Evil forces are real and rampant, nevertheless, God shall bring forth triumphs to His creation.

This belief has joined closely together the current age and the end. Revelation is critical towards worldly powers, nor does it encourage a hermit lifestyle, or believers to have the thought of isolating or separating themselves from the world.

6.       The theodicy is combined with eschatology in the book of Revelation. The phenomena and situations we experience at times are not some ultimate answers to us. Victories we enjoy at the moment are not to be considered our final triumphs. Humiliations we suffer in reality shall not cause us to die in depression. All our answers shall be revealed in an eschatological perspective.

7.      Judgment and righteousness in the End are firmly established on the fact of the suffering of the Lamb, that the Lamb who was slain, is the One who sits on the heavenly throne and the One who shall open the seals of the scrolls. The righteousness of God is fully manifested through the ministry of the Lamb. God was once a man with flesh and blood, and He was connected with His people through His suffering. He was a suffering God.

8.      When believers obey God’s will in their lives, they are indeed testifying and revealing the values and qualities of God’s Kingdom. By doing so, they also come against lies and deceptions, condemn all kinds of violence and oppression, and resist the temptation of holding on to immediate gains and benefits. The testimony, bloodshed and lamentation of the martyrs are exemplified by their footsteps of following Christ and their witnesses for the Lord.