Explanation: In Revelation 21, John sees a vision of the new heavens and the new earth, especially the new Jerusalem. Here in Revelation 21 and in the parallels in the previous chapter and in Ezekiel 38-39, judgment is followed by restoration for God's people. In Ezekiel, the LORD gives a new Temple, and comes to dwell in it, and restores Jerusalem (40-48). In Revelation 21-22, the Lord gives a new Jerusalem. He dwells in it, but there is no Temple, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are it's Temple (Revelation 21:22). In 21:2 God says that his tabernacle (meaning tent or dwelling place, not the Tabernacle which preceded the Temple as a place of worship), is with men. The common idea in both visions is that God is in the midst of his people in great glory and great blessing. The LORD simply symbolized this in different ways in the two prophecies.
     John's vision begins, in verse 1, with a brief mention of the new heavens and the new earth. The old had passed away. There was no more sea, which may be a symbol of the absence of restless, troubled, sinful humanity which has presented a threat to God's people from creation onward. The next verse, the rest of the chapter, and the first five verses of chapter 22, contain an account of the new Jerusalem. It came down from heaven, so beautiful that it was like a bride adorned for her husband. John heard a loud voice from the throne saying that God's dwelling place was now with man, and he would wipe all tears from their eyes; death would be no more: and there would be no morning, crying, or pain (1-4).
     The one (Jesus) who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new. " He called himself the "Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." He promised the water of life to him who was thirsty. Overcomers will inherit all things and will be his sons. But those who live in sin will go to the lake of fire, which is the second death (5-8).
     One of the seven angels who had one of the seven vials full of the last plagues came to John and took him to a high mountain to see the bride, the Lamb's wife. He saw the new Jerusalem, which symbolized the bride. He described it as having the glory of precious stones, as clear as crystal. It had twelve gates guarded by 12 angels, having the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. It had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles. These things symbolized the purity, security, and stability of the city (9-14).
     The angel then measured the city. It was a perfect cube. Various calculations put the length, breadth, and height at 1,400 to 1,500 miles. This is a land area as big as the central area of the United States, not to mention the city's vast distance heavenward. More descriptions are given of city with more comparisons to precious jewels, gold as clear as glass, and twelve gates, each made of single pearls. The street was paved with gold which was like transparent glass (15-21).
     It had no temple, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. It had no need of the sun or the moon, because the glory of God lit it. All the nations of the saved will walk in its light. Kings will bring glory and honor into it. The gates will never shut. Nothing that defiles, or works abomination, or makes a lie, will enter it: only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life (22-27).
     [Sermons: William Still. Sinclair B Ferguson. Eric Alexander. Philip Ryken. Various. ]
     [Illustration: Today's images illustrate three key components of today's chapter: Image 1: John's vision of the New Jerusalem is symbolized by a parallel vision experienced by Saint Peter of Nolasco. Image 2: The angel measures the perfect symmetry of the New Jerusalem, symbolizing the idea that it has no imperfections Image 3: I have titled this image "the Holiness of Jerusalem," because it seems to me that the symbolism of the image is of evil being excluded from the city. Note that the image depicts a serpent or serpents, symbolizing The Serpent, and the evil which he represents. The serpent is on all sides of the city, but not in the city. He seems to me to be looking for a way into the city but not finding it. Therefore, the city remains holy.

     ²² And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. ²³ And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. ²⁴ And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. ²⁵ And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. ²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. ²⁷ And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

---

Home | DAWN Archive

Tomorrow's Picture: TBA

     ADDITIONAL AD LIB MATERIAL: Prose, Poetry, Writers, Visual Artists, Music, DAWN, and ILLUMINATION. ILLUMINATION features a compact, Illuminated Bible. DAWN, the page you are presently visiting, features a new image and explanation daily.

Please Email Comments and Questions To

AD LIB ARTS EMAIL
copyright 2016, Scott Souza