The New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:1-22:5
Key verse 21:3
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
This book of Revelation is about Jesus. It begins with descriptions of Jesus who is God the Almighty, the First and the Last, the Living One. Jesus is the good, faithful shepherd who is among the churches, rebuking them, disciplining them, encouraging them, and giving them the words of eternal life. Jesus is the Lamb who was slain. For with his blood, he redeemed us, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve God. Jesus is the one who has all authority and power to fulfill God’s righteousness through his judgment upon the earth. Jesus is the one who clothes us with the bright white robes washed by his blood. Jesus makes us to triumph over the devil by His own blood. Jesus is the Lord of lords and the King of kings who defeats all the enemies. Satan, the beast, the false prophet, even Death and Hades, and all his followers have been judged and thrown into the lake of burning sulfur. In there, they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev20:10, 15) In every pages of this book, we have come to learn Jesus. Hallelujah! Jesus, Lord of lords and King of kings, has completed God’s wrath.
Then, what comes next? Now it is finally the time for God’s holy people to receive the rewards that Jesus has promised. It is time of the fulfillment of his purposes for the people of God. After His enemies are destroyed, God’s Holy people will enter into the glorious kingdom of heaven, the New Jerusalem, Jesus has prepared for his bride. There God will their God and they will be His people. That is the God’s will which God has relentlessly worked from Genesis to Revelation. This kingdom of Heaven, New Jerusalem is the living hope for all believers. For this hope, we patiently endure hardships or persecutions in obedience to his word. For this hope, we choose to be faithful to the point of death. (13:10, 14:12) For this hope of the kingdom of God, so many God’s people had been martyred. This Hope of the kingdom of God is real. It strengthens us; empower us to overcome the time of tribulation. It is the reason and purpose for us to live by faith. Through this bible study, God may bless us to have this living Hope of the kingdom of God, New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. Because of this hope, we may choose to follow Jesus; choose to be witnesses of Jesus. Because of this hope, we may choose to be faithful to Jesus, our Lord, even to the point of death.
I. New Heave and New earth (21:1-8, 22:1-5)
Look at verses 1-2. “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first haven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Through God’s judgments, the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. The first haven and the first earth refer to what God created in the beginning. (Gen1:1) In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Especially, God created mankind in His image to be stewards of God’s creation. In the Garden of Eden which God prepared for men’s happiness, men dwelled in perfect relationship with God. There was no death, decay, tears, sorrow, no sin. It was not just good, but very good.
However, Satan, the ancient serpent, led Adam astray to disobey God. As a result, sin entered the world. Then, came death, and with it came spoiling and decay, corruption and the death of all things. Falling into sin and death, mankind lost the life-giving relationship with God and turned out to be the object of God’s wrath. The world, once God’s beautiful creation, had been transformed into a place of rebellion, a place of bondage and corruption. Being held in slavery under the power of sin and death, everyday humanity had suffered, mourned, and cried. Sin has ruined everything. The first haven and the first earth were not good any more.
God’s people had gone through the great tribulation in the first heaven and the first earth. And also, by the blood of Jesus, they have been cleansed and clothed with new bright and white robes. Would you like go back to this dirty, smelly and filthy place again? Would you want to start your new life in a dumpster? Is that place Jesus, our bridegroom, has prepared for us? NO! Through God’s 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and then 7 bowls judgment, the first haven and the first earth has been passed away. Instead, God has prepared “a New Heave and a New Earth.” This is the place for His people purified and glorified through trials and tribulations. This is the place Jesus has prepared for His disciples who has been faithful.
Look at verse 2. For His people, God create a new heaven, a new earth, especially the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. He has prepared the New Jerusalem as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. We all love weddings. The climax of every wedding is that moment when the bride makes her entrance at the beginning of the aisle, beautifully dressed for her husband. It’s a breathtaking and stunning moment that has captured all eyes and every heart. That is the image of the Holy City which Jesus has prepared for his people. How does the New Jerusalem different or special?
First of all, it is the Holy City, like the pure bride. The great city Babylon, thought it had such great wealth, gold, precious stones, was called a mother of prostitutes for she was full of idols, demons, impure spirit, and immorality. Especially it was full of adultery and pride. However, the New Jerusalem, is the Holy City. Nothing impure will ever enter, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful. (27) Simply there is no more sin or darkness. The things that entangle us, that work against us such as lusts, all kinds of addictions or habits are gone. Rather, the city is full of light. Look at 21:11, “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” This light is actually the glory of God and the glory of the Lamb. It is so bright that there is no need for the sun and the moon. This city will like a day all the time. Since there is no night, its gates will ever be shut.
One thing odd is that there is no longer any sea. Does it mean there will be no water? No. In revelation, “sea” symbolizes the origin of evil, chaos, conflicts, troubles and a place of death (20:13). So, it means that there will more chaos; no more division; no more conflict. Why? Because there is no sin. It is the Holy City. Once God cleansed the earth with the flood and restarted with Noah’s family. But, soon or later the earth was filled with all kinds of evil again because of sin stained in the hearts of man. But this time will different because all our sins are washed away by the power of the blood of Jesus. God will give us new hearts, fresh and pure. By faith in Jesus, God will make us a new creation without sin. We will enter this Holy City as our old-self, but as a new-self, God’s Holy people, a New Creation in Christ Jesus.
Secondly, In the New Jerusalem, God will dwell with His people. Look at verse 3. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Because of sin, mankind lost its life-giving relationship with God, the very source of life. Without God, they became restless wonderers with insatiable thirst and hunger. Their hearts were filled with emptiness, meaninglessness, and then darkness. Though they longed for God, there was no way to reach to God because of sin. Because of this separation, they had suffered under the darkness with sorrow, fear, shame, and corruptions.
However, this separation from God is over! In the New Jerusalem, there is no longer a separation between God and his people. It is because Jesus has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by offering his body as a peace offering. Since sin has been washed away, we can unite with God without any barriers. The revelation emphasizes this relationship, saying “God will be their God and they will be his people.” Again, verse 7b says, “I will be their God and they will be my children.” Our relationship with God will be fully restored as children of God in the Kingdom of God. God will dwell among us and we will freely come in the presence of God. We will see him face to face and serve him without fear as his servants.(22:3-4) What a beautiful picture it is! This is the complete restoration of paradise, the Garden of Eden. “God will be our God and we will be his people.” What makes the kingdom of God truly the kingdom of God is not gold or precious stones, but the completely restored relationship with God: “God will be our God and we will be his people.”
Thirdly, in the kingdom of God, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Look at verse 4. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.” In this world tainted by the evil, we still taste suffering because of our mortal bodies; we tear to endure terrible mistreatment, injustice, and persecution; we tear because of failures, depression, sorrow and especially death of our loved ones. Death is our number one enemy. It is cruel and finite which brings mourning, crying and sorrow. Nothing in this world can stop these tears. But in the New Jerusalem, God will wipe every tear from our eyes. How? Because there will be no more death, so there is no reason to mourn, cry or tear. Death has been thrown into the lake of fire. In the kingdom of heaven, there will be No elements of death – No more tears; No more sorrow; No more pain; No more parting and no more evil. Name it anything that brings you to tears. God has already removed it. Rather, we will enjoy perfect peace and love with God in eternity.
This is possible because “God is making everything new!” Look at verse 4b-5a. “for the old order of things has passed away! He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Everything will be New. Especially God will make his redeemed to be new. We all will be changed. We will have New body which is imperishable, immortal, and glorious. (1Cor15:50-54) Not only things, but also the order of things will be New. This change is fundamental change from its root. In this world, everyone become old and perish. But in the New Jerusalem, no one becomes old. Everyone is free from the old order of aging; free from sickness of body; free from selfish, ego centric desires. In the new Jerusalem, No one would be hunger or thirst; you will not be tired or sick. Under the law of sin and death, we had suffered a lot and cried a lot. However, the old order of things has passed away. There will be New Order of things! In the kingdom of God, we are under the new order of things; the law of the Spirit, who gives life, has set us free. Under the new order, there will be no death, no tear, no cry in the New heaven and earth; who knows –if we can fly in the sky or swim in deep sea;
Lastly, all our souls will be quenched with the water of life and be satisfied with the fruit from the tree of life. Look at verse 6b. “To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” In the New Jerusalem, the water of life comes from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It becomes the river of the water of life. (22:1) Jesus will give us not bottles of water, but the river of the water of life! In this world, no matter how many bottles of water we drink or how many dishes we devour, we are still thirsty and hungry. However, in the New Jerusalem, we will not be thirsty or hungry because God will provide the living water and the fruits of life.
Look at verse 22:3. We are no longer under the cruse. No longer will we work and sweat to eat 3 meals a day; no longer will we suffer because of broken relationships; no longer will we suffer death; trees will yield its fruit every month. Instead of the curse, we will be under God’s blessings. In verse 6a, God declares, “It is done.” It means that God has completed all whatever it requires to make the new heaven and the new earth to be the perfect place; there is nothing lack or missing. What a wonderful and perfect place the New Jerusalem is!
This New Jerusalem is the living hope for God’s people. As a parent, we are happy to sacrifice and work hard because our children. Children are hope of parents. Some do so, because of hope to be successful, to gain some power, authority, or honor in the world. Do you know that all these are dead hope which will perish, spoil or fade? However, the kingdom of God is our true and living hope for us which can never perish, spoil or face. It is truly worthy to devote your life. The kingdom of God is the reason for God’s people to devote our lives to God. It is why I myself had made the decision to be full time servant. What an amazing hope we have in Christ Jesus! For the hope of the kingdom of God, we may live our life of faith with sense of victory and joy.
II. The structure of New Jerusalem (22:9-22)
Starting at verse 9, John describes the glorious the City of God, New Jerusalem .The Holy City Jerusalem is filled with the light of the glory of God and the Lamb. Look at verses 12-14. Its wall is great and high with twelve gates – three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west, and with twelve angels at the gates. 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. Its High and thick wall with twelve gates provide security, impenetrable security.
Verses 15-17 tell us the dimensions of the city. The city is laid out like a square, with its length, width, and height each measuring 12,000 stadia. Here, “Stadia” is what the Greeks used to measure the circumference of their typical sports stadium. One stadia is about 607 feet or 185 meters. So, the New Jerusalem is a cube which is 1400 miles wide, long, and high. This city would cover more than half the land surface of the USA, which extending 1,400 miles into the sky. It is big enough for 20 billion people to have their own mansions. Verses 18-21 describe the materials the city is made of. The city was decorated with all kinds of precious stones. The twelve gates are twelve pearls and also the street is made of gold. All these reflect the perfection of God’s new creation, the glory and splendor of God. One thing surprise us is that there is no the temple of God. Because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, there is no need for a temple. (11) The final vision of the New Jerusalem in 22:1-5 reflects the full restoration of the Garden of Eden. It is not only physical, but also spiritual restoration, resulting in a completely new sinless, redeemed, restored relationship with God : God will be our God, we will be his people. In the New Jerusalem, we will serve him, seeing him face to face; we will worship God, praise God, and have fellowship with Jesus our bridegroom.
Then, here is very important question; “Who will get this amazing kingdom of God?” Who can inherit all these amazing God’s blessings – New Jerusalem? It is those who are victorious. Look at verses 7. “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” Who are the victorious? They are those who repent of their sins and remain faithful to His name and his teaching even to the point of death; those who keep his command to endure patiently; those who hold fast the gospel of Jesus; those who believe in Jesus and obey his words; those who triumphed over Satan, sin and death by trusting in the blood of the lamb; those who take up their cross and follow him.(Mt10:37-38) They are worthy of Jesus; they are worthy of the kingdom of God.
On the other hand, there are those who will not be part of the Holy City. Rather, they will fall in the second death. Look at verse 8. “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” It seems that all these are deserve the second death except one, “the cowardly.” Many may wonder why the cowardly is the first one who falls into the second death. They seem gentle and kind to others. However, out of fear of man, they could not make a decision of faith nor identify themselves as followers of Christ. They are unwilling to neither sacrifice anything nor lose anything for Christ. They may live easy or comfort for a short time, but eventually fall into eternal condemnation. They have no faith at all. However, God’s people are those who make a decision of faith to live by one word God. God’s people are courageous people who stand on the side of truth, risking their own lives. Such people are worthy of Christ and the kingdom of God.
This book of revelation is for God’s Holy people who are living in this sinful, corrupted, troubled world. This book is not an apocalyptic puzzle or code to be figured out. Rather, it is the word of God for God’s suffering people. Why does God show this wonderful vision of the New Jerusalem to the believers and us today? God wants his people to be man of faith – making a decision to put one word of God into practice. When we look forward the New Heaven, we will not be lost; When we seek the kingdom of God, the vision of the New Jerusalem lead us to keep the word of God now. So, we can become victorious! So, Here Now we must live as man and woman of faith on the earth with this vision of the kingdom of God. Here Now we should live as Kingdom of people, as new creation in Christ Jesus by faith. All choices we make – even the little choices – become tremendously important for it causes eternal consequences. Reading Bible, praying, sharing testimony, teaching the bible, serving others, gathering for worship – all these choices have eternal consequences for us. Looking forward the Hope of the Kingdom of God, we may live for the eternity with God. Serving one lost sheep with Bible study, we may live for the eternal kingdom of God – not for petty desires of the world or selfish-ego. We may live to be a kingdom and priest for this generation.