As I write this, it is Monday
morning. I’m sitting at a picnic table
outside of the church office. I’m out
here because I locked my keys in the
building. Oops. The secretary should be along any moment now,
but, while I wait, I figured I could at least read over the sermon text for
Sunday and make a few notes.
The church sits on a hill that
looks out across housing developments and farmland. I’m looking toward Stoverstown; across the
shallow valley to the hills beyond. It’s quiet out here this morning. It’s peaceful. There is a pleasant breeze. Somewhere a Mockingbird
is pretending to be a bird it is not.
I’ll be honest, on days like this
I would gladly move my desk outside.
I find it difficult to describe
the view I see right now. If you have been at this spot before, you
know what I am talking about; if not, then I am sure my words do not do it
justice.
This was my view while reading
Revelation 21, specifically John’s description of the New Jerusalem. I suspect he was having the same problem; he
too was trying to describe something of mesmerizing beauty… something that
filled his heart with awe and wonder.
(Revelation 21:10-27) 10 So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory
of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper
as clear as crystal. 12 The city wall was broad and high, with
twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of
Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on
each side—east, north, south, and west. 14 The wall of the city
had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked to
me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and
its wall. 16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as
wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400
miles. 17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216
feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).
18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as
glass. 19 The wall of the city
was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first
was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the
fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the
ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were
made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure
gold, as clear as glass.
22 I saw no temple in the
city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon,
for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The
nations will walk in its light, and the
kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its
gates will never be closed at the end of day
because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will
bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will
be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and
dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. [1]
After the glorious promise of
being made physically and emotionally new, an angel reveals the new place where
these people will live. John attempts to
describe some of what he saw – using words such as “like” or “as” – while also
describing specific features and
dimensions of this new place. Israel
will be honored by the 12 gates and the Church will be honored by the 12
foundation stones. This allows those
ransomed through the Tribulation and those accepted through the judgment to be
reminded of individuals who honored the
Lord by their faith.
John described a massive city;
1,400 miles square and 1,400 miles high (or 1,500 miles square and high,
depending on how you measure a stadia). That’s roughly the square mileage of the
United States… stacked 1,400 miles high.
Some see this new city as a cube while others believe it is a pyramid
(although I can’t see how they can picture this as a pyramid). Jesus was right; in His Father’s house are
many dwelling places (John 14:2).
Now, if you are like me, the
concept of a walled city isn’t all that appealing. But to John and his readers, it spoke of
permanence (the foundations) and protection (the walls). Those who lived in this city would never live
in fear again; the gates were guarded by angels (Revelation 21:12) and would
never need to be closed (Revelation 21:25).
Even the wall was 216 feet thick!
So, out of the sky descends a New
Jerusalem; a new city for those who have been made new. And this New Jerusalem
rests on a new earth and sky, for the old
has passed away (Revelation 21:1). And
although I’m not too fond of the city life, I will trust that this New
Jerusalem will be far more than I can imagine. However, sitting here, looking out across
this little valley, I’m a little saddened because, like my view right now, many places
on this earth are breathtaking.
It seems unfortunate that in preparing this earth to receive the New
Jerusalem that all the beauty of this present earth will pass away.
Or will it?
What do you suppose happens to the
old earth and sky? Is it possible that
God does the same with the old earth just as He did for those who are redeemed? Maybe the earth and sky are “renewed” in the same
way believers are renewed; it will be similar to the old, minus the curses it
endured because of Adam and Eve’s sin (Genesis 3:14, 17-18). I don’t know for sure, just “wishing,” I
guess.
Whatever God has planned, I do
know it will be a place beyond our imagination.
I mean, picture a place that stirs your heart. For some, it is a seaside view. Some of us love a forest glade with soft
grass swaying beneath a canopy of trees; a small pond located behind a rustic
barn where the fish are always biting. Or a mountain lake filled with crystal
water; water so clear that you can scarcely tell where land and sea meet.
We have all seen places like this; places that moved our hearts… and
words cannot describe the beauty that touched our souls.
But… these places of beauty are
still part of a world that is cursed. And
since that is true, what kind of beauty will this new earth possess once the
curse of sin is removed? I don’t know
for sure, but what I do know is that I will see it one day.
If you place your trust in Jesus
today, one day you will see this for
yourself as well.
[1]
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation
(Re 21:10–27). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
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