A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Thanks for joining us today for A Daily Walk. Today we take a tour of the Holy City that will come down from heaven, and the apostle John is our tour guide. What it's like and more importantly what it takes to get there is our focus today as we open Revelation chapter 21. Is there really any point to this life if this is all there is? The bottom line is the Lord has prepared a place for us, a wonderful place called the New Jerusalem. But we must take the step of faith in Christ that opens the door to it. Here’s Pastor John Randall.

John Randall: Do you have your Bibles? If you would open up with me now to the book of Revelation, chapter 21, with a message entitled, "He Makes All Things New." Revelation chapter 21, if you'd look at beginning in verse one, if you'd follow along with me. "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. And then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. And God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.' Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'"

As we come to the 21st chapter of the book of Revelation, we are given a glimpse of the unimaginable glories of eternity. I can't tell you I am so excited to talk about heaven. That's good news. Heaven. By the way, this isn't heaven. No, heaven is something much better. It was Charles Spurgeon, who was a famous preacher years ago, and he was instructing a group of pastors on sermon delivery. This is what he said: "When you speak of heaven, let your face light up with a heavenly gleam. Let your eyes shine with reflected glory. And then," he said, "when you speak of hell, well then your usual face will do."

For the believer in Jesus Christ, this earth is not our home. Friends, this is a stop along the way. Heaven is our home. The New Jerusalem is our final destination. The Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 13, in verse 14, "For this world is not our permanent home. We are looking forward to a home yet to come." Growing up, I can recall as a child learning songs about heaven with lyrics like, "Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace. I want to see my Savior's face because heaven is a wonderful place. I want to go there."

Truly heaven is a wonderful place, but our understanding about heaven is incomplete. We have some built-in limitations. We can't fully comprehend that which is infinite while living in these finite bodies. There have been some who have given the impression that heaven is somehow going to be boring. It's going to be uninteresting. Depictions and portrayals are made of believers walking through pearly gates, receiving a pair of wings, and then signing up for harp lessons. Then once they master the harp, they're sent off to a puffy cloud in the sky for eternity, playing the harmonious praises that are equivalent to a sleepy lullaby.

Friend, let me just shatter that picture. That is not what heaven is going to be like. Heaven is like something we've never seen before. It's important when you begin to consider heaven and heavenly things to remember what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, and that is this: that eye hasn't seen, ear hasn't heard, it hasn't entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. It goes beyond our ability to comprehend.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 13, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." Although we're not able to fully comprehend the magnitude and the weight of the glories of heaven at this time, one day we will. For the Bible tells us in 1 John chapter 3, "Beloved, we are now children of God, and it is not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in himself purifies himself, just as He is pure."

The word "heaven" appears 500 times in the scriptures. It's mentioned at least 50 times in the book of Revelation. The Hebrew word for heaven and its Greek counterpart are both used in scripture in three different ways. The first heaven the Bible mentions is the air. It's the atmosphere immediately above the earth. It is the heaven where the birds fly. But then the second heaven that is mentioned in scripture is the celestial realm where the sun, the moon, and the stars and the planets and the galaxies reside.

Oh, but then the Bible speaks of the third heaven, and that applies to the dwelling place of God, far above the atmosphere or the celestial heavens. Friend, heaven is not a state of mind. It's an actual place. The Bible calls it a city, a country, a destination. Even though heaven beyond the created world is another dimension, when believers in Jesus Christ die, that is immediately where they go. To be absent from this body as a believer in Jesus Christ is to be present with the Lord. Those believers who will be alive at the rapture will be transported immediately to heaven.

Keep in mind at this point in our study of Revelation, 20 chapters in, the rapture of the church has taken place. The tribulation period has ended. The millennial reign of Christ is completed. The Great White Throne Judgment has taken place. The devil has been cast into the lake of fire. In the last two chapters of Revelation, we begin to understand or get a glimpse of the eternal state.

Here's where it begins. It begins with the unveiling of a new heaven and a new earth. Again, look at verse one. "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea." There are at least seven new things that John writes in the next two chapters. The first vision that John sees is a new heaven and a new earth.

The Bible says that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. We know that the earth was without form and it was void, and that God called it into existence and created it all. We also know that He holds all of His creation together by the word of His power. The first heaven and earth were prepared for Adam and Eve, who sinned in the garden. The consequence of their sin is that death passed to all men, and creation was also affected and impacted by man's sin.

But the day is coming when the Bible says there will be a new heaven and a new earth. You remember Jesus declared in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 25, He said that heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. The apostle Peter in his second letter, 2 Peter chapter 3, said this: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat. Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

Thus there will be the need for a new heaven and a new earth. Now when the apostle John describes heaven and earth as being new, there is some differing opinion, theologically speaking. Some suggest that John is describing a renovation of the old heaven and the old earth. The tribulation period has completely demoed what we live in at the present time, and in some way, God's going to renovate what was old and make it new.

Others believe that it is a new creation altogether. The Bible seems to indicate that. For example, in Isaiah chapter 65 and verse 17, it says, "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind." It seems pretty clear there. What we know for certain, write this down, make a note of this, this will give you clarity. This is what we know for sure. It's going to be new. That we know for sure. It's going to be new. Something we haven't experienced or seen before, nothing to compare it to.

Now, there's one slight hint concerning the new heaven and new earth, and that is, well, it says there will be no more sea. All the surfers just think, "How can this be?" Listen, folks, it doesn't mean that there's not going to be any water, but rather it's an indication that the new earth will have a different arrangement as far as water is concerned, which again seems to point to a new creation. As wonderful and as beautiful as there are places in this earth today, we don't have an accurate comparison to what the new heaven and new earth is going to be like. It's going to be beyond our wildest imagination. It goes beyond human comprehension, and listen, you will want to be there.

As the vision continued to unfold, the apostle John now moves from a general description of new heaven and new earth to a description of a new city and called the New Jerusalem. Notice in verse two. "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." The New Jerusalem is not heaven, but it is the eternal capital city. It's not the old or current Jerusalem there in Israel. It's something new.

John describes it as a holy city that comes down from heaven. He also described this city as being symbolized by a bride adorned for her husband in beauty. He's not saying the city is the bride, but the beauty of that city and the splendor of that capital is comparable to a bride on her wedding day, so beautiful, so breathtaking. Within this glorious capital city of the New Jerusalem, John describes many blessings that will be experienced by those who have the privilege of dwelling there.

But before we consider the blessings of dwelling in that city, here's what I want to do. We're going to take a tour of this city as described in Revelation 21. You know, I remember my wife and I, the first time we went to New York City, and we were overwhelmed by the people under the ground, on the ground, above the ground. It was just people everywhere. The city just seemed so expansive and so large, and you didn't know how to make your way around it.

So what we did is we went and we got a ticket to get on the red bus. You get on top of the red bus, you go up to the very top, and you're sitting there, it's open, and then you take your earphones and you put them in and you begin to listen to the tour as a guide directs you, points out this, this is what that is, and over there that's where you get this. He highlights all the city for you. You go the length and breadth of the entire city, and you get a lay of the land. Then afterwards, you get off the bus and you go explore those things for yourself.

In the same way, what John does here, listen, he gives us a description, a tour, an overview of the city. He tells us about the origin of the city. He tells us of the materials that are used in the building of the city, the size of the city, and then finally the blessings for those who dwell in this city. All right, you ready for the tour? You've got your ticket. Follow me. Here we go.

Verse nine and 10, we see the origin of the city. "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, he came to me, and he talked with me, saying, 'Come, and I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and he showed me the great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like the most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal."

Here John gets a glimpse of the origin of this holy city. Now we've observed in our study of Revelation John's many encounters with different angels. This time, one of the angels who took part in the bowl judgments of God in pouring them out comes and he speaks with John. He takes him in the Spirit to a high mountain where he can observe the bride of Christ as well as the Holy Jerusalem that comes down from heaven. Within that city is the glory of God. This is the residence of the saints. It's the hometown of the believers in Jesus Christ.

You may recall when Jesus spoke to His disciples prior to His ascension back to glory. Remember what He said in John chapter 14? He said, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. And I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know."

This is what He was talking about. This is what was coming. This is what they were going to experience. John gets to see what Jesus told him about. The New Jerusalem is that place that Jesus promised that He's prepared. It is the present heaven where God dwells, where the holy angels are, where the redeemed go when they die. In the book of Hebrews, the Bible tells us that this was the city that Abraham was actually looking for and waiting for.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 11, "For he waited for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." That's what Abraham was looking for. That's what the apostles were longing for. That's what John gets to see here in Revelation. One of the most distinguishing characteristics of this city is the glory of God. The glory of God. The glory of God is the sum total of all of His attributes.

The prophet Isaiah could see this coming radiance of God's glory in the New Jerusalem when he wrote in Isaiah chapter 60, "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor brightness shall the moon give light to you, but the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, and your God, your glory." This glory that John observed in its entire magnificent splendor, he said it was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal.

The city originated from heaven. It's the city of the saints. It's filled with the glory of God. But as the tour continues, we're given insight now into the structure of the city. What was used in the building of this particular city? Well, he tells us in verse 12, "Also, it says she had a great and high wall, 12 gates, 12 angels at the gates, and names were written on them, which are the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. Three gates to the east, three gates to the north, three gates to the south, three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb."

As John now observes the structure of the city, he describes the walls, the gates, and its foundation. The walls of the city give it its parameters. The gates, it says there are 12 gates of this city, and they're located on each of the four sides as specified in verse 13. In the description of the New Jerusalem, you'll notice the number 12. Do you see it repeated? 12 this, 12 that, 12 this. We see 12 angels, 12 gates, 12 tribes, 12 foundations, 12 pearls. 12 is related in numerology to the government of God.

The foundations are 12, and it says that they are built, the foundation of the city was built on the apostles, that is the work that they did. The apostle Paul wrote about this, you may recall, in his letter to the Ephesians in chapter two and verse 20, when he said, "Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone." There's 12 angels, one at each gate.

Guest (Male): We're taking a tour of heaven today on A Daily Walk, and the tour isn't over. Stick around; Pastor John Randall will be right back with more. You can listen to today's message from Revelation again or catch up on what you've missed at adailywalk.org or oneplace.com. And you can hear Pastor John's messages shortly after they're delivered by getting our app. It's free. Just do a search for Calvary South OC to download our app and start listening to the latest teachings from Pastor John.

Pastor John, by the way, records encouraging video daily devotionals. They are accessible at adailywalk.org. Start the day with Pastor John, a cup of coffee, and your Bible. Our offer to you throughout the month of August is "Ensnared" by Jack Marino-Chen. Astrology, crystals, tarot, witchcraft. They promise spiritual power and peace, but behind the appeal is darkness and a snare only Jesus can overcome.

As you read "Ensnared," you'll come to understand the basics of New Age and occult teachings and see what really happens behind closed doors. Learn how to identify the demonic elements behind practices involving numerology, alien contact, witchcraft, and more. Discover how to compare popular spiritual claims with the truth of the Bible, and learn how to speak with compassion to loved ones caught up in deception.

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John Randall: Well, finally, John now sees the materials that the city is built with. You construction workers, you go in and you say materials are getting so high. Wait till you see these materials. You can't find these, I guarantee you. Look at what it says. What is this place made out of anyway? What kind of...? Well, look at verse 19. "The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The 12 gates were 12 pearls. Each individual gate was of one pearl. That's a huge oyster. And the street of the city was pure gold like transparent glass."

Imagine going up to Lowes. "I'll take some amethyst. Any sardonyx? Where's the sardius? Where are the pearl gates? You guys are out of them? What, are they still out in the harbor? They haven't come in yet? Where are they? I'm just curious. Where's the supply chain?" Listen, there's a list of these gems that are described here that I've only seen on tiny little rings, and I think they were real. But you know, they're just these tiny little stones.

The walls, guys, the walls of the city are made of the most expensive and beautiful stones. Jasper, which is said when it's in its purest form is like crystal. Can you imagine a 200-foot-thick clear-as-crystal wall with the illuminated glory of God just shining right through it? The gates are made of pearl. A gate of a large city made of just one pearl. The foundations are adorned with precious stones, 12 in all, each about 500 miles long, 1,500 miles on each side. We can't even begin to fathom what a precious stone like that would look like.

And by the way, the streets, the parking lot of heaven, what is it? Gold. Gold streets as clear as crystal is what they walk on up there. That's what it's like. That's what the city is like. Can you imagine what that's going to be like? That's enough to take your breath away. And that's not all. We'll continue the tour next week on A Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall. See you then.

Guest (Male): This program is made possible through your generosity and brought to you by Calvary South OC.