0:00 We sang together, we rejoiced together, but our worship continues now in the word of God. And so I gladly invite you now to turn with me to the book of Revelation. And let's join together there in Revelation chapter 21. If you were not with us last week, then you probably don't know that we went on a tour together as a church. And that tour was of the New Jerusalem.
0:30 John has been our escort, and he himself had an angelic guide that showed him the magnificent breathtaking details of the capital of the new heavens and the new earth. This is the central hub of the eternal age. And if you're worried that you missed out on this excursion, I wanna encourage you not to be concerned because we've only just begun. We only looked at a few details and briefly at that about our future home and those features include three main things that we've explored already. The first is the purpose of the New Jerusalem.
1:21 The purpose of God creating such a place is not for the place itself. It's not merely for the place to be enjoyed by us. That place is designed to host our fellowship with Christ. It's about the person who will be in that place. And that should be the main draw.
1:39 That should be our main attraction. In the same way that it would be problematic if you got married and your spouse is more excited about the house that you're living in than the person that they have committed to for the rest of their lives living in that house. It's Jesus that we are excited about. And from the purpose we consider the glory of the New Jerusalem. Oh, it is indeed glorious.
2:05 And we did our best to try to understand this concept of the glory of God. How do you define the glory of God? Well, we've determined that one thing it means is the manifest presence of God. This the summation of all his divine attributes being experientially known. And that's why you have men like Moses who say, please show me your glory.
2:34 I wanna know more of who you are. And what we discover about the New Jerusalem is that we will know the glory of God and his fullness. And we will be fashioned with our resurrected bodies to be able to handle it and enjoy it and bask in it. So the glory of God will be the actual light of the new heaven and the new earth. Can you imagine that?
3:03 And finally, we we became a little bit more technical in our journey through the New Jerusalem and we looked at again very briefly the gates and the foundations of this holy city. And what message they might contain and what kind of deeper meaning is there for us to meditate on and apply to our own lives. Now, if you've ever been on a tour especially of a city, then you are aware that it is impossible to take in every single aspect and every single historical truth anecdote architectural feature in a single session, in a single day, even in a single week. You are prepared whenever you go on a tour. To understand that you're not gonna be able to absorb everything but to do your best to stop and observe significant things and to take it in and that's exactly what we're going to do here.
4:04 We're not going to be able to look at every single piece of information about our future home. But we will do our best to just pause from time to time along the way and taken enough that will enlighten us and encourage us about our future that has been purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ. And hopefully, by the end of it and we seek to complete this chapter this morning, you'll be so moved that you will say to yourself, I wanna go on another tour. My own time and look at the things that we didn't have a chance to cover. That's how I felt when we visited Israel many years ago.
4:44 It was a ten day trip and by the end of it, we saw so much, woke up very early, tried to go to bed on time. And I thought to myself, I need another trip. Maybe the Lord will give us that very soon. And so we continue. We continue here on this tour of the New Jerusalem.
5:04 And we go now from examining the gates and staring at the foundations to the measurements of the New Jerusalem, one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies four squared length the same as its width And he measured the city with his rod. 12,000 stadia. Its length and width had and height are equal. He also measured its wall, a 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement.
5:59 Let's pray. Father, we humble ourselves before your word and we recognize that these things are too deep for us. They're marvelous. They are mysterious but we also trust that you've given them to us to be understood. So give us understanding.
6:18 And Lord, may it create worship in our hearts. May it cause us to have a stronger ache for our home to come, the dwelling place where we will be with you face to face forever. May it blast away every love that we may have for this world. And may every ounce of our affection be drawn out for the things above. We ask these things in Jesus' name.
6:48 Amen. Did you know that there are only two places in the Book of Revelation where this act of measuring is carried out? We can say it this way, there are only two things in the book of Revelation that are measured. What we find here in Revelation chapter 21 and what we saw many chapters ago in Revelation chapter 11. You remember what happened in Revelation chapter 11 where John was instructed to measure the temple, the altar, and the worshipers within those precincts in the city of Jerusalem during the tribulation period.
7:33 Now here's what's so interesting if you compare those two scenes. When John was instructed to measure the temple of the tribulation period, no numbers were granted. No exact dimensions were provided. Whereas here, we see actual scales being given to us. Why?
7:56 Well, we have to remember that when John was performing that act in that vision, he's doing something that we see frequently in the old testament. And that is how the act of measuring often carries a symbolic meaning to dramatize the message. And so in many cases, you will find in a prophetic declaration or in a vision, the Lord or one of his angels measuring or saying that they are measuring to show what? In the context of God's judgment that he is not arbitrary. That he is not unrestrained in his rage.
8:40 God's justice is calculated. God's justice is deliberate. God's justice is fair. He measures. He is faithful.
8:51 He is not persuaded by bribes. He's not moved by that which would influence what is accurate in his assessment. But in other instances, we find the act of measuring in a positive light. And so one example of this is in Zechariah chapter two and we don't have to turn there because we looked at it together when we looked at Revelation chapter 11. What you'll find there in that passage if you forgot is that Jerusalem was being measured, But it wasn't being measured for judgment.
9:25 It was being measured to demonstrate that God owns Jerusalem. He has the right to determine its breath. It's its expanse. How much ground it actually should own and possess and that he alone has the right to make any adjustments to it. And so when you come to Revelation chapter 11, that is exactly what John is performing.
9:59 It says though the Lord is saying through that act, this temple in this period of time and those within it are mine and I will keep them. More specifically in light of our understanding of prophecy, what you find there in chapter 11 is the Lord saying, I will preserve and protect a Jewish remnant. Even in the most trying times of human history, they will be kept by me because they belong to me unto salvation. But what we find here in Revelation chapter 21 is a different emphasis. Because we have actual numbers now.
10:46 And the reason why this is provided to us is twofold. Number one, to convey the reality of the city itself. It's a real city. But secondly, it's an invitation for us as we've come to the end of our Bibles. To look back and see is there any deeper meaning to these numbers pertaining to the Holy City?
11:11 And that's what we wanna consider. The measurements of the New Jerusalem. Look, before we even do that, let's just consider the sheer size of this thing. It is enormous. Look at it again, 12,000 stadia.
11:25 Now a stadia is an ancient unit of measurement that equates to about 607 feet. And so you multiply 607 by 12,000 and you get approximately 1,400 miles to its breadth, to its length and to its height. Do you understand the scale of this? To get a better picture, The USA from coast to coast spans roughly 2,800 miles. And as we're looking at the capital city, it would take up a little bit over half of the terrain of our current country in terms of its length.
12:09 And this is just the capital city of the new heaven and the new earth. And so we look at this further and we understand this is quite remarkable, but it gets even more staggering because John describes the New Jerusalem as a cube. Did you notice that? It says here in verse 16 that the city lies four square. In other words, what we're told here is that it it sits on a slab that is squared in shape.
12:43 But more than that, he mentions its length, he mentions its width, and then he talks about its height. Its height being the same measurement as everything else. So this is perfectly symmetrical. It gives the impression that we're looking at a cube shaped city. Now take that in for a moment.
13:03 I understand 1,400 miles wide and long but 1,400 miles high? Do you know how many miles it is from sea level to space? If you didn't, it's around 62 miles. Do you know how much distance there is between the International Space Station and where we are now? Around 250 miles.
13:37 So if we go with John's description and take it literally, this new Jerusalem will tower far into outer space if it sits on our current planet. So the impression that we're to have from this is this is humongous. This is massive. Why? Well, here's a comforting truth.
14:04 There's gonna be a lot of room there for us. We don't have to worry about being congested. We don't have to worry about the space. No. The Lord is making ample room for the redeemed.
14:17 There'll be plenty for us there. And this is again just the main city. So I thought that was just helpful to jog our imagination and to just realize how different this world will be. But there's more here for us. Why would a city be shaped as a cube?
14:41 Why would it have perfect measurements on all sides? Well, you begin to think and meditate and realize that there is only one other structure, one other space in all of the Bible that is measured equally on all sides. The Holy of Holies. I invite you to turn with me to first Kings chapter six and look at two verses with me. As Solomon, David's son was instructed to build this wonderful house of worship and its blueprints were granted by God.
15:19 And we see something quite astounding about the most significant piece to this structure in first Kings chapter six beginning in verse 19. The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. The inner sanctuary was 20 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 20 cubits high. And he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar.
15:58 So when the Lord asked for that space that would host his presence to be built, he demanded that it would be perfectly symmetrical. And that in itself communicates something. That when the high priest would enter into that place and when the people would understand what was behind that veil, they would recognize a picture here of perfection. They would see that there is something of harmony concerning God and all his attributes. The space and its design itself would communicate that no matter what direction you look pertaining to God's character, there is nothing of him that contradicts, diminishes or cancels out one of his traits.
16:48 There is a wonderful balance here. The design again in itself speaks about God's impeccability, speaks of his consistency and the Lord wanted it that way. But more than that, there's a pattern that is set here in the scriptures. That from this point on, whenever you think of a cube, especially for a space that's shaped like this, it would be associated with God's presence on earth. And so the next time you encounter something similar and the only time really in all of the Bible, you would make that association.
17:21 That's precisely what the Holy Spirit is doing here in Revelation chapter 21. You see the city and you realize that it is perfectly equal on all sides and it should bring you back to something. Here's what God is saying as you look at Revelation 21. Think about the Holy of Holies. Think back.
17:42 But don't just think about the Holy of Holies, realize that there's a fulfillment of the Holy of Holies here. That what the new Jerusalem essentially will be is the ultimate Holy of Holies. Do you understand how radical this is? Do you understand the implications of this conclusion? The capital city of the new heaven and the new earth will be God's dwelling place where his manifest presence will be experienced no longer limited to a privileged high priest from the line of Aaron of the tribe of Levi from the nation of Israel.
18:20 We all will have access to God's presence. We all will experience it. And it will not be accessed one time a year like the high priest knew. But it will be unending. Day and night for eternity.
18:37 We will stand in the glow of God's glory. And that is why he says the following in Revelation 21 verse 22, And I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. Now, for most of Jerusalem's history, you could not separate the city from the temple. In fact, that's what made Jerusalem so sanctified and sacred is the place where God chose his house of worship to reside in. And so, you can imagine how shocking it would be especially to the Jewish mind who would come into contact with such a prophecy that there is going to be a renewed Jerusalem that will stand everlastingly and yet there is no temple in it?
19:33 How can that be? Well, this missing piece in no way signifies a downgrade. In no way does it suggest that the city will be incomplete. No. Quite the opposite.
19:49 Everything that the temple points to has now reached its full manifestation. It's reaches full realization. The glory of God will no longer be contained or veiled. It'll be shared. It will spread.
20:06 It will be enjoyed by us as the holy city will function as the holy of holies. And here's what that means practically. There will be in this new world no designated place of worship. There will be no temple to go to. There will be no gatherings like this necessarily that concentrate on worship and God's presence being known in a special way.
20:34 Every day is going to be worship. Every place, every portion of this new world will be attributed to adoring God. Why? Because His presence will fill all things. You will not be able to escape it.
20:51 You will always live in its light. You're saying, that's wonderful. I'm not sure how to imagine that or understand how that will work in my heart and my mind. Well, let me help you with this thought. We know that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our minds, all our soul, all our strength.
21:10 Can I ask you this? Is there any day that you've been able to do that perfectly? We'd love to. Right? We try to right by his help.
21:18 Why can't we? Because of this flesh and because of temptations around us and because of all the threats to our to our love to the Lord. But no such things will hinder us in this new world. You have to understand that the reason for a tabernacle and a temple was because there needed to be a barrier between a holy God and an unholy environment. No sin, no temptation, no evil in that world to come.
21:45 No need for a building. No need for a thick curtain. No need for separation. And with that, because we will know the unveiled majesty of God, Oh, we will also be able to worship him unendingly. Now people have the strange idea about heaven that it's gonna be this ceaseless worship service.
22:10 Right? We're just gonna sing songs over and over again and have bible studies over and over again. Worship is far more than that, isn't it? And if you're truly filled with the Holy Spirit, you desire to worship. Not only do you desire to worship, you love to worship.
22:26 With your thoughts and your affections and your actions, when we get to this place, we will be able to effortlessly worship as we are continually exposed to God because the holy city will be the new Holy of Holies. So these are just some of the things that we can learn from the measurements of the New Jerusalem but we move from the measurements to the materials. The materials of the New Jerusalem. The dimensions of the city are followed by a description of the spectacular jewels and stones that will embellish the holy city, that will that will decorate it from all sides. Let's read about it here in verse 18.
23:11 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 a gate, 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 twelfth amethyst. And 12 gates were 12 pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl and the street of the city was pure gold like transparent glass. What are we supposed to take of this?
23:50 What are we supposed to make of this? Unspeakable beauty. Staggering, marvelous glory. And this is not meant to show us the luxury of the city necessarily but how everything will reflect God's glory. But as always, there's more to meditate on than just that.
24:12 So I'm looking at this list. I'm looking at this chapter as a whole and I'm trying to see is there any consistency? Is there anything deeper here for us to chew on? And there is I believe a few things. Not all of them.
24:24 Again, we're on a tour here. We gotta get going. There's a lot to see. You know what one thing stood out to me that deeply moved me? Is how often the materials here of the New Jerusalem are described as transparent.
24:40 We're going somewhere here. Let's review briefly. Look at verse 11 of Revelation 21. Having the glory of God, It's radiance like almost rare jewel like a Jasper clear as crystal. Underline that, clear as crystal.
24:59 But then at verse 18, notice what is repeated. The wall was built of Jasper. Oh, there's so much to say about Jasper, but we're not going there. The wall was built of jasper while the city was pure gold like clear glass. Look at verse 21 of revelation 21.
25:17 And the 12 gates were 12 pearls. Each of the gates made of a single pearl and the street of the city was pure gold like transparent glass. The New Jerusalem is going to be see through it seems. And this is a dominant feature, isn't it? And it shouldn't surprise us.
25:39 Why? Because we heard about how the glory of God will radiate in that place. And so it necessitates the configurations to be translucent or transparent more accurately so that the light of God's glory can indeed shine through everything. Nothing will block God's glory. Everything will assist it.
26:03 But I I like to think more practically. If these structures will be see through, what does that mean for privacy? Maybe the introverts are really wanting to know about that. Well the answer is quite simple. In the new heaven and the new earth, there will be nothing that requires privacy.
26:28 Think about it. Generally speaking, why do we keep precious possessions or information confidential? For safety reasons. Legitimate concern. Furthermore, why do we hide ourselves at time?
26:46 Why do we seclude our presence at certain times of the day? Because we see a need for protection. We see the need to step outside of the public eye. And sometimes those reasons are out of shame or embarrassment. But the conditions that make the concealment necessary in our present world will no longer exist in the eternal age to come.
27:14 Think about this now with me. There will be no temptation or sin to be practiced in secret. There will be no discouragement that drives us into deep isolation. There will be no wickedness that requires us to shield ourselves or our loved ones or possessions. There will be no fear of judgment or people misusing the things that they know about us.
27:45 In the world that we live in today, being completely exposed is dangerous. Being fully transparent with our data, our personal data or even our hearts is considered unwise. But the openness of heaven tells us that we'll be living in a world without secrets. A world of pure childlike freedom in God's presence. You can almost look at it this way that the innocence and the liberty once known in the Garden Of Eden before the fall is making a comeback.
28:35 Can you imagine that kind of a world? You don't have to close your curtains. You don't need to lock your door. You don't need to get away. Everything will be transparent.
28:52 And that will be a joyful thing. But there's more here to look at when we look at the materials of the New Jerusalem. One thing that stands out to me on top of this, though there is much to comment on is what we find here in verse 21 about the gates. What are the gates made out of? And the 12 gates were 12 pearls.
29:16 Each of the gates made of a single pearl. Those are massive pearls. And the street of the city was pure gold like transferring glass. Pearls. Again, we read this and we think, okay, it's beautiful.
29:30 But go deeper. Think longer. Meditate with more intentionality. Here's how I'm thinking. I see pearls.
29:39 Beautiful. What does the Bible say about pearls? So I do a survey. Pearls. I'm looking for pearls everywhere.
29:45 Pearls pearls pearls. And here's the consistent pattern about pearls in the bible. They are extremely valued. They are of supreme worth especially in ancient times. Jesus Christ himself likens the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 13 verse forty five and forty six as a pearl of great price worth everything to be sold in order to have for yourself.
30:16 So you get this glimpse of the new heaven and the new earth and you see these pearls at the entrance and you think, Oh, the treasure of this place. But what makes it so valuable? I'm speaking about pearls more specifically because this is a deliberate choice. God is the architect of the city. Did we not read that in Hebrews 11?
30:39 He's the designer. He's the builder. And out of all the metals, out of all the jewels, why did he set pearls to greet us as we go into the city, as we come out of the city. What makes pearls unique from all other stones? Two things.
31:03 The way they are formed and the way they are found. First of all, pearls are stones that stand alone in that they come from a living organism and not from the earth's crust. Moreover, pearls are formed by marine oysters. Right? And even this, freshwater mussels as a natural defense mechanism.
31:30 So that any irritant or any parasite or foreign object that would enter into it or any injury that would be caused to his soft tissue would be the beginning process of a pearl. Because what would happen is the oyster would gradually deposit layers of material around the irritant and these layers would then build up over time to be this smooth, lustrous substance called nacre or what is also known as mother of pearl. And so, what is the muscle doing? What is the oyster doing? It is creating the shield enclosing the aggravation so that it protects itself.
32:20 And over time, that very irritant that pose a threat to the shelled creature turns into one of the most valuable things you can purchase even today. In fact, do you know how unnatural pearls are generated? The difference between an organic pearl and an on... Unorganic pearl. It's not that unorganic pearls are, you know, created using things that are not related to that animal.
32:48 It's that human intervention steps in and deposits some kind of tissue, some kind of object in the shell so that it can produce the nacre and then form the pearls. And why people pay the big money is that they want the pearls where there is no kind of human intervention that just happens through natural means. All in all this process indeed speaks to the genius and the wisdom and the power of God's creativity. Does it not? But also makes you wonder with this piece of information out of all the things that the Lord could have chosen to fashion these gates, did he select pearls to convey a particular message?
33:34 Because you see the stone is not only beautiful, it is a beauty that emerges out of irritation and injury of a living being. And I believe this details one of the many ways that we'll be constantly reminded as we live in this new place and all its stunning glory that we will enjoy. It didn't come about by chance. No. It was made possible through suffering.
34:07 And it wasn't a suffering that was endured by an oyster but by the Son of God himself. And the magnitude of these pearls also speak to the magnitude of that suffering. And the fact that they're at the entrance can also say something about how you and I having access into this place comes by recognizing the beauty of what Christ has done for us and realizing that it is sufficient. We have so many things in the new Jerusalem that will remind us why we're there. How we got to be there.
34:51 And the price that was paid for it to become a reality for us. But I also believe that these pearls also encourage us about our own suffering. Do they not? And what it will all lead to. What did Luke tell us in acts fourteen twenty two when he was recording the ministry of Paul and others with him as they would go from city to city in acts fourteen twenty two, strengthening the souls of disciples, encouraging them to continue the faith and testifying that through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God.
35:31 This suffering is leading to something beautiful. In fact, there is no entrance. There is no glory without suffering. What about what Paul said in second Corinthians four seventeen? For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
35:59 It's light, it's momentary and it's preparing for us. Something wonderful that's not even worth comparing. The ratio is not even worth discussing. I love how there's going to be pearls in the New Jerusalem in the very same place where the Bible tells us there will be no more sea. Pearls with no sea.
36:26 Just look at this. It's amazing when you really meditate. And I feel I think even in that, we have something. The environment in which the pearl was formed is no longer present. Remember the sea speaks of chaos and tribulation and trepidation.
36:48 That's no more. That environment is gone but the beauty that emerged from that process remains. These pearls will serve as eternal reminders of the ultimate suffering performed by Christ that led to this beautiful place and how also our suffering now in Christ will lead to something glorious. Hang on. Trust the process.
37:18 It will all go away forever very soon. Is there more to say about the materials? Yes. I'll just leave that to you to meditate on. I like the fact that the gold will be underneath our feet.
37:31 The things that people are killing each other over, we're gonna walk on as pavement. Yeah. You're so obsessed with money, It's gonna be the sidewalk in the new city. But we won't go there. We can camp here, but the tour goes on.
37:51 We can break this up into further categories but I like to bring it under one main heading as we look at the final thought today and that is the purity of the New Jerusalem. Look at verse 23 with me. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the lamb. By its light will the nations walk and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. And its gates will never shut by day and there will be no night there.
38:33 They will bring it the glory and the honor 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. Purity, purity, purity, purity everywhere. Everywhere. And the first thing that shines here in this section is the purity of love.
38:58 The purity of love. The love of God primarily. We discussed this a couple weeks ago, I believe. That when we're talking here about the light of the glory of God, we often skip over the manifestation of it. The instrument of that light so to speak and what is it here at the end of verse 23?
39:16 It's lamp is the lamb. The lamb of God and that revelation is what's going to hold that light and radiate that light and shine that light. And so there's a filter of the light of the glory of God so to speak and it is through the lamb. The lamb speaks of the sacrificial love of the son of God. So what kind of light will warm our skin?
39:41 What kind of atmosphere are we going to breathe in? Yes, God's glory but more precisely the love of God. And we will all share in that fellowship no matter where we are. We'll be constantly under the beam of Christ strong affection for each of us but look at the glorious ramifications of that. This stood out to me in verse 24 as we consider the light and the lamp being the lamb.
40:13 Look at the first few words of verse 24. By its light, we're still talking about that same light. What will happen by its light will the nations walk? Now this is talking about physical walking. We'll be actually be able to walk.
40:28 We have physical resurrected bodies. That's true. But walking in the scripture also speaks about the path of our lives. The direction that we take. The principles and the convictions that we abide by.
40:40 Walking is often synonymous with your way of life. And so this light will be our guidance. This this light will influence and enlighten our interactions, our reactions, our transactions. Everything that you and I will do will be under the light of God's love and not only will that impact our worship and our experience of God, but how the nations walk. And nations there is not speak about designated political regions governed by different things.
41:23 It's just speaking about the different nations that are represented by the redeemed with all our various backgrounds and all our unique histories. It will be the love of Christ that will bind us together and determine how we walk with one another. Can I tell you how you and I can have heaven on earth at least the closest reality possible to with all these hindrances? If each of us know how to bask in the love of Jesus Christ. If we know how to walk in that kind of light individually, what we have here at Maranatha Bible Church can be a little foretaste of eternity.
42:05 Walk outside of that light, get in the flesh, get selfish, get consumed with your own desires and your own impulses and we lose touch with this reality. But the purity of love, love from God, love for one another but also the purity of humility. Look at the last part of verse 24. And the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. That is the new Jerusalem.
42:37 Now again you have some people who are confused by this and they they think that this can't be speaking about heaven, the new heaven and the new earth to be more specific. Because you have this mention of nations, but the word simply means nations. It's translated in other places as Gentiles. Talking about different people groups. But more than they look at kings, they think, okay, we're gonna have kings in the eternal age.
43:04 And though that can be debated, it does not suggest here that there's gonna be social classes in heaven. That there's gonna be different people occupying different positions of authority necessarily. Instead, John seems to be highlighting how powerful individuals with vast influence in this earthly life as they step into this new world will bring all their accomplishments into his presence and give Christ all the glory. It's actually the opposite of categories of people. It's how all of those distinctions will actually melt away.
43:45 All of those things will be swallowed up as every ounce of glory and praise and honor will gravitate towards Christ. Heaven is not going to be a place where human pride or human authority will be exercised on any level. Instead, what you and I are going to see and experience is a mutual shared status before the Lord forever and ever. So this place that is to come imagine it, no one will see themselves as superior. No one will see others as more popular, more appreciated, more loved, more accomplished, regardless of what you were able to do here in your brief life.
44:41 All the kings throughout history who have been redeemed by the lamb and all the people who in this life may have been subject to such rulers will reach level ground and will give Christ everything. He's going to be the center of attention. So the kings will come in and bring their glory into it. It's yours, Lord. And we will be very satisfied in that kind of condition.
45:14 So you have the purity of love, you have the purity of humility. Let's add this. You have the purity of society as a whole. What does it say there in verse 27? 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.
45:33 Now that is strengthened by the fact that earlier read about the gates, how they will never shut. They will never shut. Why do ancient cities have gates? To be a barrier again between what's threatening outside and the safety and the health of the community inside. We've been studying Nehemiah, all the importance of gates and how he set a schedule.
46:02 You need to shut the gates at this time of the day. You need to open them out at this time of the day because he understood that was constant luring danger. And what about this new city? No need to shut it. Why?
46:15 Because nothing unclean will ever enter into it. There will be no emergencies. There will be no surprise attacks. There will be no lurking and slithering deceptions that will find their way into this covenant community. That won't even be a thought.
46:39 Now some think that because this is mentioned here that threats are possible even in the eternal age. But that is impossible because the devil, the false prophet, the Antichrist and all their followers have already been cast into hell, into the lake of fire. And there is that chasm. Instead, the reason why verse 27 is written the way it's written is included in this prophecy is to provoke a reaction from the reader who's looking into this vision. In other words, we've been taken on a tour and as we're wrapping things up, though there is more to add here in the next chapter, the Holy Spirit wants you to ask yourself, one, do you desire this place?
47:36 And two, understand that there are conditions to get into it. If you're unclean, you are not welcome into this place. If you do that which is detestable and false, you have no room in this place. And so this vision we see here is very evangelistic. Is it not?
47:57 It's meant to awe you. It's meant to move you and woo you and then ask yourself, Am I worthy to be included? No one is, but there is a way and you know the way. We've been hearing and reading about the lamb, the lamb, the lamb. Why that aspect of who Christ is in a vision about the future, so that when you come to this point, you remember not just his sacrificial love that will be enjoyed in heaven, but the sacrificial love that makes access to this place possible.
48:32 But don't think that this is just limited to unbelievers. There is a call to action for the believer. It's not necessarily found here, but back in second Peter chapter three. Let's look at those two verses together that speak about this vision and what it asks of us today. In two Peter three verse 13, Peter writes, But according to His promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
49:17 That's how the Holy Spirit wants us to think about this new heaven and new earth. It's where righteousness will dwell. That is unattractive to unrighteous people. But for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they go, oh would that place come sooner? And notice here in the beginning, but according to his promise.
49:40 Everything we've been studying in Revelation 21 is a promise. It's not a metaphor for life. It's not an analogy of something else. It's concrete. And what the Lord is saying is, I promise you an address in this place.
50:02 And notice the disposition that He wants believers to carry. We're waiting. We're waiting. Again, when you turn on the news and you see what's happening in our city and other cities, it should prompt something in your spirit. I can't wait for the day in which the only thing on the news will be righteousness.
50:24 Righteousness. Verse 14. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, I'm not just asking you to wait. Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish and at peace. Be diligent to be found by him.
50:53 Notice the language. When Christ comes back nobody can hide. He's gonna find you. He's gonna find me. And for the believer that's good news.
51:02 Because if he finds me, he's gonna take me. Take me away, Lord. That's terrifying for the unbeliever. You can't run. You can't escape.
51:11 You can't dig a hole deep enough. You can't found a mountain deep enough. You can't build a bunker strong enough. When he comes back, he's gonna find you. But this is strictly for Christians.
51:24 Notice what he's saying to believers who are beloved, who are already in Christ. What does he say? Be sure. Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish. If my future is in this city and righteousness dwells there and all this beauty and all this splinter, I should behave as though I'm a citizen of that city.
51:47 I should prepare myself to live in that city. But notice also this language here at the end, and at peace. At peace. Don't I have peace with God already in Christ Jesus? Yes.
52:00 Positionally but practically not always. I might be living in a way in which when Christ comes back, I'm not excited about it. I shrink from shame. Because the way my life has been lived. But I'm sure this piece has a secondary effect, not just with the Lord practically speaking, but with one another.
52:23 You wanna know a motivation for us to forgive quicker and be more understanding and reconcile with greater zeal? You're gonna live with each other in heaven. Get it together. And I get it. Some people are very stubborn and you're just waiting for the day for them to be perfected in their new resurrected body.
52:46 And so are you waiting for yourself, I hope. But be diligent. Do your best to understand. Listen, this vision of heaven reminds us that we're a family. I wonder what that's gonna look like when the Lord returns.
53:02 Again, the Bible veils much, but for those who don't fully reconcile, for those who are at odds or for those who are, is there gonna be a time where they make up before they even enter in? I'm not sure. That's not granted to us. What is commanded though is that we be at peace. We be at peace.
53:28 The clearer vision of you... That you have of heaven, the more motivation you have to be holy. That's how you understand. That's how you really know and you believe this. Find a people who believe in heaven.
53:43 You should also find a people who are living holy. When you and I live in sin, when we justify our perversion and our ungodliness, it proves that we really don't understand our future home. We really don't understand the eternal nature of our fellowship. And so Peter says, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish. That's for the believer.
54:18 And God is able to supply the power for us to be cleansed every single day. Listen, you can actually reach a point in your walk with Christ that you are abiding in a peace. If the Lord Jesus shows up today, I have nothing to worry about. Yes, primarily because I'm covered in his righteousness. Praise God for the gospel.
54:43 But I also am responding to that gospel of grace in real tangible godliness. And that is an invitation for you and I to reflect now as we look at this city. We've done a tour of it, have we not? A very very surface level one. But here's how we end.
55:05 Make a tour of your heart in this place. Ask yourself, how strongly do I believe in these prophecies? And that this is where I am headed? And more than that, how diligent am I to be prepared to represent that city now, and to meet the king of that city when he chooses to take me there. This is what true prophecy study should lead to.
55:44 Hearts that understand that Christ wants us to be prepared for it. Can we do that together? We ask father this morning that you would help us understand where each of us are headed if we are in your son. Help us not make too much of our houses. Help us not to be so worried about our possessions.
56:50 Help us to view one another with an eternal perspective. Lord, our our vision can get so cluttered so quickly. We can be inspired one moment, go to bed, wake up the next day and become so earthbound. And thank you that you've given us services like this to refresh us and to fortify our faith. But Lord, we want something more abiding, more consistent.
57:24 We we wanna be able to revisit this thought throughout our day. I'm heaven bound. There is a place where I will enjoy the Lord, be loved by him, walk with my fellow brothers forever where righteousness is conquering every aspect of it. May that bring hope to us with all the things that we're seeing around us. May it remind us that this is not permanent.
57:58 This world has an expiration date on it. May it give us strength when we are tempted to sorrow over those who have went on before us. May it sanctify us as we realize the great price that was paid for the city to be inhabited by us. Oh, may we represent you well in this life. Lord, we know that New Jerusalem will be transparent.
58:24 May our lives be free from anything that is shameful, Anything that is dark, anything that would grieve you and grieve God's people. May we be like Paul who said, I strive to have a clear conscience before God and man. Lord, you've given us your word. We've we've seen these features and these characteristics, but only you can make them real to us. And so by your spirit, make them real to us.
58:53 And Lord, may we worship in the strength of the truth that we believe today about this future home. Give us even now in these final moments a little taste of the effortless continual worship that will dominate that atmosphere. We ask these things in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.
59:19 Can we stand together church and worship the Lord?
