Reflection on Revelation 21:9-22:5

How do you frame your expectations for future? Today, people hope to live a long and healthy life, provide financially the best they can, give their children the best education and multiple opportunities for stability and advancement. I have to admit that I am one of those people. But deep down in my heart, I know all of this is fragile and uncertain. We do not see around corners or know exactly what the years ahead of us hold except that we all going to die in the end. And we do not know what going to happen after our death. But God knows and controls what we do not know and cannot control. We need to listen to what He reveals to us.

In Revelation 21, God's Spirit gave John eyes to see the things he wrote down for us, our glorious future as His children, our ultimate, secured future. "One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to" John, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the  Lamb. ...the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." What John saw from the vantage point on “a mountain great and high" was not his imagination. He saw the reality of the Holy City, dressed as the most beautiful bride of the Lamb. John only gives us a brief description filled with meaning, leaving room for our imagination. The City "shone the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal." The Holy City is full of the glory of God, radiating all He is. Whatever God creates reflects His character. The eternal city and the eternal future of God's people reflect the brilliant perfection of God Himself.

The City "had a great high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates, on the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. ... The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Inclusion of these names depicts the unity and continuity of the Old Testament with the New Testament, along with Israel and the Church as the people of God. Paul illustrated the spiritual unity in Ephesians 2 "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of His household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone." Here in Revelation, John's vision of the Holy City gathers these biblical images to reveal God's fulfillment of all His promises to both Israel and the Church.

Next, John saw the angel who talked with him "had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls." The City forms a perfect cube, 12,000 stadia in length, width and height. (about 1,400 miles) The City's wall is 144 cubits in thickness.(about 200 feet) The number 12,000 and 144 are both multiple of 12, a number of completeness and wholeness. The measurements represent the vastness, stability and perfection of the New Jerusalem. It seems more likely that these grand dimensions represent a perfect city large enough to host all the saints of all ages from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. This Holy City descends from heaven to the renewed earth as all is consummated and perfected. It is a gift of God, not a work of man. But human words seem inadequate to describe the grandeur of the place God's people will live forever. The perfect cube shape of the City is reflected by the Holy of Holies, the inner room of the sanctuary. The Holy of Holies was the place of God's presence temporarily; the Holy City is God's exalted home now and forever.

This City of gold has wall of jasper. "The foundation of the city walls was decorated with every kind of precious stone." The focus is not on identifying each gemstone, but rather the effect created: the New Jerusalem is a beautiful, brilliant dwelling place fit for a regal God and His people. "The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass." Such pearls would be immeasurable. Such pure gold cannot be found on earth. The lavish splendor is overwhelming, reflecting the indescribable beauty of God Himself. The eternal City radiates the fullness of God and the absence of sin.

John says, "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." The temple served the purpose of connecting the people with their God, a place for sacrifice and worship. Jesus' sacrifice has been made "once for all when He offered Himself." And God is present with His people in the City. His glorious presence fills the whole City. The whole City is the temple because the temple is where God dwells.

"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." In the Holy City, the glory of the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb outshines any light known to mankind. His light will never yield to darkness so "there will be no night there." What is your source of light right now? In this modern age, we are bombarded with words, images, information and advice. Where do you go for insight, understanding and help? Come to the Creator of heaven and earth, who is also the wisdom giver, the source of real light! Unfolding His words gives you light and understanding. If you try to seek help from other source, you will be more confused.

No sun and moon also means the absence of time. The concept of time totally lost its significance in eternity. The destiny for God's people will radiate with His own powerful presence. Forever with Him, life will be always new. Are you happy that you have no deadlines to catch and your body is always fresh?

In the City, "the nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it." The nations and kings are the redeemed. God is truly inclusive, but inclusion comes through the Lamb, the Lord Jesus. As a result, the best of purified human civilization, maybe including art, music, gardening, loving human interaction, and so on, comes into the Holy City in ways that honor God, to develop the riches of the creation. God's people will enjoy the most fully their God given creativity in the brilliance of His glory without the danger of misusing it. Because the City and its residents are absolutely and eternally safe, no evil is present. Its gates will be open all the time. But the open gates will admit nothing impure or nobody hostile. All who died in their impurity, shame and deceit in hostility to Christ have no part of this world. For those who live and die in Christ, what eternal security awaits them! With whom do you want to share this future? If that person is not a believer yet, you need to pray and preach.

The delights of Paradise (Eden) are captured in chapter 22 as images reappear from Genesis 1-3, yet with even greater splendor. "The river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." The throne of God the Father is shared with the Lamb, whose sacrifice proves Him worthy of all honors and all praises. God became sacrifice to give us Paradise. The river of life and the tree of life symbolize blessings from God's presence. God's provision is generous and beautiful. The redeemed now fully experience God's gift of eternal life in a city filled with the fruit of God's life-giving power.

I do not really understand what the leaves of the tree are for "the healing of the nations" means, because Christ makes eternal life available in all its fullness and perfection and "no longer will there be any curse." Maybe you can help me with this part or I wait to ask Him when I see Him face to face to serve Him. In the Holy City, God's people will serve Him personally, will enjoy idyllic communion with Him, in His very presence, face to face. Not only will God's people see His face, His name will be on their foreheads. What could be a greater honor than to carry God's name? How thrilling to be identified with Him and belong to Him. God said, "Let us make man in our images, in our likeness." Finally we can live a life as God always intends for us. We can claim our likeness in Him to bring Him glory. What Adam and Eve failed to do, we can do it and much more. God promises our future will reflect His own characters. The certain future that awaits us gives joyful anticipation today.