The New Jerusalem

What two weeks ago we learned that the new heaven of the new earth. God's new creation, the very presence of God where God dwells and where there is no evil. We hardly wait to be there and we must understand that we will never get to heaven on our own. All those in heaven are there because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who not only dying for our sins and was buried by two gloriously rose from the dead. Paul tells us that our Savior abolished dead that Jesus himself says I am the resurrection and the life and he offers and has offered down through the centuries. Eternal life and forgiveness of sins of those who repent of their sins and trust Christ. Paul in first Corinthians 15, quoting the Old Testament says that death is swallowed up in victory and with that we come to a passage this morning, I invite you to turn your and your Bibles to Revelation chapter 21. The second last chapter of the Bible. This is a passage that all of you. You can get last week of the Bible second last chapter, Revelation 21 and over going to be looking at the closing verses of Revelation 21 and the first five verses of Revelation 22 where we will learn about the new Jerusalem. This is our future. All I don't know about you but I want to know about my future home for mom to be for all of eternity were to learn about the new Jerusalem the holy city of God, the city of the great King, the city of peace and the new Jerusalem is going to come down out of heaven to the new heaven and the earth, and to be the center of the universe.

Revelation 21. First of all verses one into John's as I saw a new heaven and and you are for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more was in this he says I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming dying. I don't heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

This is the capital city of the new heaven and a new art. This is our eternal home and in the verses were going to look at from chapter 21 verse nine and following. John gives us a tremendous description of the new Jerusalem, a place of indescribable glory and beauty. Let's read of it from verse nine Revelation 21 verse nine, then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me saying, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God's radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal and other great high wall with 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels and on the gates the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed on the east three gates on the north three gates on the south three gates and on the west three gates on the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and on them were the 12 names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb was just up there. This is a place of indescribable beauty. This is God's new creation.

This is our eternal home in this world are Arthur planet I'm been all over it, but I visited many many different countries and our planet are, I'm sure you'll agree with me is a beautiful place even after the fall, even although it is cursed.

Our world is a beautiful world thing of walking on the Carolina beach as the sun rises. Think of our of the Blue Ridge Mountains when we lived in Michigan in the fall of the colors of the tree ramps, trees were absolutely specked actual or and we could add thousands and thousands of scenes in every country of the world, for that is spectacular beauty as we see something of the creativity of God, even although this world is fallen and is under the curse. Can you imagine how gloriously beautiful the new Jerusalem, which is going to be perfect. The new heaven and then you are absolutely perfect.

A brilliant drool coming down from heaven from God, indescribably beautiful than you Jerusalem.

If you remember, as we talked about Babylon in Revelation 17 and 18.

We saw that city, Babylon, a description of what man does what man wants in his pride and his greed and his violence that city is going to be utterly destroyed a symbol of man shaking his fist about on God, a symbol of religion where we disregard God's law. When we disregard Christ and we want to do things our own way and that city is going to be on whole system is going to be absolutely judge, but what a difference in the new Jerusalem. This eternal city which will never pass away. You notice in verse 11 has the brilliance of a priceless diamond. I clear. Jasper and the surrounded by a magnificent wall which is 12 gates inscribed with the names of the 12 tribes, each of the find of the 12 foundation stones has the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.

According to verse 14. That is all of the people of God in the Old Testament and the New Testament will be part of the new Jerusalem. This glorious future. I notice it's size verses 15 and the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia.

Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall hundred and 44 cubits by human measurements, which is also an angel's measurement wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold. Clear as 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 eye gate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the six finale in the seventh chrysolite, the eighth Burl the ninth Topaz, the 10th Kaiser phrase the 11th jacket the 12th amethyst and the 12 gates were 12 pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl and the street of the gate was pure gold, transparent as grass as glass. Think of is this angel has a broad of gold and he measures the city's gates and its walls and the heights and the length and the width are 1500 miles approximately is going to be like a giant cube. This is our future on the new Jerusalem probably will be able to travel horizontally and vertically in the gates. We read in verse 21 at each a giant peril of great price.

The streets are pure gold, like transparent glass.

This is difficult to imagine doesn't remember as a little boy maybe about six or seven, visiting one of my uncles and I had a an older cousin what was probably about 10 or 11. One of these little girls that was very precocious and you everything about everything I when she was 11 years old, not having sisters. I wasn't used to that kind of a little girl and that we were reading a book book of Bible stories.

My uncles house and we must be reading this passage and I said I wonderful that heaven has sheets of pure gold and she says no no no no no no that that's not true that's just a picture that is just a symbol. Remember being quite devastated by it and never listening to her again in my life.

Surprise, surprise. He went on to be a principal of the school, so she was a teacher very early. But the Bible says the street of the city was pure gold transponders glass. You say how could that be jumping the gold in the new Jerusalem is different from the golden idolizes difficult for John to describe idolizes difficult for us to envisage but don't you think even with the limitation of human language that the reality is going to be much, much better than the description here and notice this verse 22. Think of the temple is that I saw no temple in the city is amazing for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb and the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives it light and its Lamb is the Lamb. I wonderful this is the fullness of perfect worship.

John is told is in verse three that in the new Jerusalem. God is dwelling with us and God is the temple, God expands the temple is aware to embrace the whole universe the sun or moon and you Jerusalem no what the light the glory of God gives it light.

Verse 23 and the lamp is the Lamb credible as needed but is verse 24 by its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the arts will bring bring their glory into it and is gates will never be shot by day and there will be no night there.

There will they will bring into the glory there will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations but nothing unclean pleaser.

This nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. The nations are going to walk by the lights of the city, and there will be free access into the city. The gates are never closed.

Why do you close gates in the city for protection night. The gates are closed so the inhabitants are safe. Outside there is evil outside there are predators outside that are difficult people we want to keep them out in the city. There's no need for that. The gates are ever open.

There's no night there is no need for protection and the gates of the city imply that the inhabitants of the new Jerusalem will travel to and from the new heaven and the new art using wall that be abide. I don't know, but just think how huge our present universe. Is it so vague that scientists can describe it. Just think, when God does his new work as you create when the old universe is burned up as we saw a couple of weeks ago and this new universe.

This new heaven and you are is going to be made by God and this wonderful magnificent huge city is going to come down from God to our and this is our capital city and we will be able to go in and out of the huge city and explore surely the wonder of this new universe. This new heaven and this new art the God is going to create. See verse 26 of the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city, and there will be in this city, no sin and no impurity.

Who's going to be in the new Jerusalem verse 27. Only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. Only those who know the life-giving Savior. We saw two or three weeks ago. The great white throne that those who are not written in the Lamb's book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. Why, because heaven is a holy place. Only those who are client and send purified by the blood of the Lamb who know the Lamb, the one who comes to take away the sin of the world. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will enter the holy city, so John with his vision is describing.

However, inadequately the tremendous size and splendor and wonder of beauty of the heavenly city. The wall built of jasper, the foundation of the wall adorned with every kind of juice and however magnificent the description is surely the reality of our eternal home is going to be much, much more marvelous and glorious underdressed future homebuyer I think is fascinating that in the new Jerusalem. There is no sun or moon verse 23, for the glory of God gives it gives it light and its Lamb is the Lamb and I was at school signs wasn't my first love.

But as we studied physics. I was fascinated by the subject of lights thing of the colors when quite light is refracted through a prism you see the magnificent colors that we have in the rainbow getting this come from, or when you study that the speed of light on hundred 96,000 mi./s. When did light come from Genesis tells us God said, let there be lights and there was light. God created the sun they created the mood he created the stars within the new Jerusalem. There's there's no moon there just light flickering candles compared with the billions of god.

why, because god in all of his glory. is there and there's no need of for the planets because the lamb is the light there will be this eternal display of the glory and majesty and brilliance about god.

paul says that god dwells in indescribable lights and will be there. it says in verse 11 having the glory of god, the lamb is all the glory in the manuals land belonged to see that lights of the glory of the lamb.

you say well it's very interesting john the what shall we do in heaven when a say in heaven, we shall be at home enjoying perfect communion and fellowship with all of the redeemed your follower of jesus christ understand this, that heaven is your home. paul says for the believer when we die.

it is absent from the body and it is at home with the lord. i love that jesus says in john 14, when he said he was going to leave his disciples. he says let not your heart be troubled you believe in god believe also in me. in my father's house are many mansions i go to prepare a place for you.

jesus describes heaven as the father's house is where god dwells as the father's house, and we know god is our father when we die. don't be afraid of its christ has conquered it, death has been swallowed up in victory. we go home and who doesn't want to go home a couple of weeks.

lord willing, i'll be going back to scotland for a couple weeks but normally i go back to scotland. i say i'm going home. i realize i've stayed in this country many years but have always looked as scotland is my home, but this time when i'm going back to scotland. i'm not saying i'm going home.

when i this because our home where we lived for many years has recently been sold.

my mother stayed in the home. i think for about 50 years or so. she is now in a nursing home, needing constant nursing care with a bit of dementia. and so my brothers and i have sold the home it's it's our home anytime. i went back to scotland. i knew that i would have a huge welcome in this house. why was my home. i do not have to ask permission. i my mother. i was always delighted to see me.

i knew what i was going to stay. i could almost predict what she was going to cook for me with interminable numbers of cups of tea that she would keep supplying me with. i was very comfortable there why i was at home. this is what i belong. my when i go back. yes, i'll be staying with one my brothers will be staying with some friends a run to the little cottage for we can study, but is not the same as it is not the same as staying with her brother as a friend is in your own home know where are we welcome so much know where do we feel so comfortable as in our own home and what makes a home a home you have a beautiful house it could be worth $2 million. it may be the best house in charlotte. this isn't necessarily home visits once a difference between artisanal is the people's and is the relationships that we enjoy our house is transformed into a home by those who are there by the relationships we develop within the home and in heaven. please understand this will be at home will be a home with all the family of god and the good news is we going to get on their perfectly. i realize now the relationships within the family within the christian family are not necessarily perfect, we can frustrate one another and argue with one another and disappoint one another, but there will be in the father's house and we will be at home you say will i fit in.

absolutely. i guarantee it for your follower of jesus christ, you will fit in perfectly.

when you arrive there you will feel as if you're being that all of your life you will have just as much right to be there is anyone else we have only one savior, washed by the same blood and well by the same spirit having the same father and we will be at home. i have to ask you over. do you know the way to this home a couple weeks two weeks tomorrow. lord willing, when i go to charlotte airport and got my ticket, i know what i'm going i'm going to scotland. but not only do i know when i'm going i know i'm going to get there with a flight from charlotte to jfk airport and from there, right in to scotland's capital city and wasn't it disappointing yesterday. the english got that goal. just the last minute, as we played them. i thought we would be the english for the first time, for many many years and just over time they got that whole usage on your mind be preaching. why would you mention, i have no idea what this on my mind. obviously i'm gonna fly right into edinburgh.

isn't it strange when you speak to people and you ask them when you die. are you going to go. do you want to go to heaven, they will say yes. almost invariably, i serenade this they're going to say yes when i die i want to go to heaven. they have the right destination, but they have no idea how they're going to get there.

could you imagine me just coming up at the airport in san juan going to scotland and someone saying how you got there and i have got no idea know i plans about the ticket. i know the time and was with a happen to know you going to get to heaven was only one way. jesus said that himself. i am the way, not only does he point away. not only does he tell us about the way he is the way because as the son of god, you came from heaven, from the father to live the sinless life, was crucified, died for your sins and mine was buried, and on the third day he arose and he ascended to the father's house, and the only way to get to heaven is by trusting jesus christ as your savior. here's the only way he's the only one who can take you from our to heaven. go your own way and you will miss the destination completely in the nonmedical chronicle cs lewis writes all aslan said lucy you tell us how to get into your country from our world. i shall be telling you all the times that aslan will not tell you how long or short, the way will be only that it lies across the river but do not fear that what i am the great bridge builder aslan and see us lose looses not only chronicles a symbol of christ, the wonderful for the lord jesus christ comes as the great bridge builder from a holy god to sinful people like you and me becomes becomes like because becomes a man perfect god and perfect man. the only mediator between god who is holy and man who is sinful is holy god is holy man.

he is the only bridge builder. no one else can take is the way the truth and the life. this is why paul says that our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a savior. yes, a british citizen yes americans as an. but more important, i'm a citizen of heaven and because of that we are to always turn to look out for our savior, the lord jesus christ.

on the start. we don't quite fit in doing your living for christ. you know it's tough going sometimes to stand up for tri-city escrow in your office in your bank and your family and people can mop you and ridicule you. and it's tough sometimes we we don't quite fit into this world where strangers and pilgrims.

the bible says.

but soon the fight.

the race journey will be over and will be a home eternally at home.

jc ryle says no were tossed upon a stormy sea, then we shall be safe and harbor. now we have to apply when so then we shall reap the harvest. now we have the labor, but then the wages now, we have the bento but then the victory and reward. now we must needs bear the cross, then we shall receive the carbon, no were journeying through the wilderness. but then we shall be at home at home forever with the lord. and when jesus comes one of the wonderful things is going to be is that we're going to be united with all of the redeemed. yes, the dead in christ will rise first. paul says but we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them a tremendous reunion you like family reunions, i hope the families are perfect. i hope you enjoy five reunions. i do great time together.

one of the things i anticipate going back to scotland to be with my brothers and some friends that have known most of my life and to be so comfortable with the meaning of the it's been a long time, possibly since we got together know what we are.

this is wonderful where where where brothers whether naturally or brothers in christ, a joyful reunion but we know each other in heaven. of course were going of new change glorified spiritual bodies by their new glorified body will of a continuing identity with our present bodies. scripture speaks of the redemption of the body, not redemption from the body and we will be like christ's resurrection body who says paul will transform our lowly body into his glorious body and these new bodies will not be subject to decay or disease or death. god is the god of the living. of course we'll see what other course will recognize each other will be much smarter and have in them we are here. of course, just as one of the great joys on their's fellowship with her brothers and sisters in christ is not the case. i hope hope you enjoy christian volume. can you imagine that being multiplied as the were infinitely with all of the redeemed, we shall have this wonderful redemption is read together will sing the praises of the one who loved us and gave himself for us all those saved by grace will be safely in the father's house.

the circle will not be broken will be at home eternally at home joyfully at home perfectly at home when my father died years ago we sang this is mr. drawing the graveside and organizing, but here the words fallen asleep lying address tranquil and deep safe on his breast life's journey or heavens portal past pilgrim no more safe home at last safe room last no more to fear no more to die shared every tiered breathe every sigh also was born. all trials past know more tomorrow. safe won't last safe moment last if a loved one is that we all relative's husband or wife, mother, father, child).

mourn for them. the followers of jesus christ.

they are safe going home going ahead of us.

we're not there yet. but in heaven. in this new jerusalem. we shall be at home and will enjoy perfect communion and fellowship with all of the redeemed and of course in heaven we will worship the lamb and we will see his face. chapter 22 verse one just gets better and better business. the angel showed me that a vote of the water of life, brightest crystal, flowing from the throne of god and of the lamb through the middle of the street of the city abundance of god's provision of the living water. also, neither side of the tree. the tree of life started on either side of the river. the tree of life with his 12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nation's no longer will there be anything accursed no curse in heaven, but the throne of god and of the mind will be in it, and his servants will worship him as we were going to worship the lamb. my nose is verse four.

they will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads and night will be no more.

they will need no line total & for the lord god will be the light, and they will reign forever and ever. we will see his face. no living person has seen god in the fullness of his glory is invisible. he dwells in unapproachable light. heaven is for the throne of god is without lamb are verse one member in chapter 4. john has his vision and he sees through a door into heaven sees the throne of god symbolizing god's sovereign to the place of worship, and with joy and with gladness we we will worship god sent psalm 16 verse 11 in your presence there is fullness of joy at your right hand are pleasures forever more. we anticipate some of that joiners don't way, but you can't say that i can't say here and now there is fullness of joy we capture joy sometimes and then it seems to go at your right hand are pleasures forever on ending pleasure on ending fullness of joy as we worship the lamb with all of the redeemed. heaven is the presence of god and we will worship the infinite is inexhaustible.

god forever will see and know god the pure in heart shall see god.

the scripture says, and in the new jerusalem. we will see god in the shining glory next to the glorious lights the light of the sun and the light of the moon are mere flickering candles.

heaven is where god fully and perfectly suppresses himself.

heaven is where the glory of god shines in his brilliant fullness. it's a lamp is the lamb was into isaiah as he writes in isaiah 60 verse 19 in the sun shall be no more. your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light. the lord will be your everlasting light, and your god will be your glory, your son shall no more go down know your moon withdraw itself for the lord will be your everlasting light in your days of mourning shall be in the darkness everlasting light in the morning know that no curse. one commentator writes that this capital city, new jerusalem, is pictured as a huge, flawless diamond reflecting the brilliant blazing glory of god and even in heaven will not be able to fully to comprehend the glory and majesty and splendor of the infinite god, but we shall see his face, some 17 verse 15 as for me, i shall bow hold your face in righteousness when i awake i shall be satisfied with your likeness will see him face-to-face.

the one who redeemed us by his grace and for all of eternity. we shall be in the presence of god. now we see the motor directly, but then face to face. john says we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is now though, we were saved by his grace in the supernatural process of sanctification were becoming more and more like god's son but then we shall be glorified and we shall be perfectly conformed to the image of his son. god guarantees those whom he justifies. he glorifies in romans eight and we shall glorify god and enjoy him forever and ever. and what was lost in adam is more than regained in christ.

paradise lost is not paradise regained you say well we would be bored and having them and i enjoyed worship this morning that i don't ever want to worship all the time. bored in heaven emphatically notes paul says in ephesians 2 verse seven that in the coming ages. the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us will be shown in christ jesus you haven't seen anything yet you think you know about god's grace gilligan you know about his beauty. you are taste of the wonder of god. you understand something of the joy of being a follower of christ.

you understand something of the incredible experience of worshiping god as we capture at times like this, as we worship him. can you imagine when we will see his face, imagined, and seeing the glory of god displayed in being part of the huge new jerusalem and be able to go into explore the new heaven and the new hardware. it is indescribably beautiful, but it is perfect weather is no evil weathers, no lands, no suffering, no curse, no decay, no disappointment, no tragedy, no bereavement forever with the lord is god's grace is not what grace is this that god not only saves us that god in his grace takes us into his own home. the father's house into his own presence, so that we will see him face-to-face and we will serve him and marvelous, although it will be to have fellowship with all of the redeemed in this perfect communion, how much more to look on the face of the lamb. worship him and praise him and love him and serve him for the countless ages of eternity.

what a day.

glorious day that will be life and art is like a flower which moms and quickly weathers is like a vapor. jim says that appears and then quickly vanishes soon all of us will be an eternity. after ask you what your destination was only two heaven or hell. salvation is offered freely to you today christ offers your salvation. he offers your cleansing says that if you trust him and you look to christ who died on the cross for your sins he will save you and he will claim you so that you and i new creation and so that you will be dressed with the righteousness of christ and therefore fits to enter then to the new jerusalem and in the darkness and hopelessness of death is glorious light shines that there is a man a unique man the lord from heaven who comes to our world conquers the enemy of that and offers us eternal life. thomas watson says eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset. that's good be wonderful to be in heaven is no night. the sun never goes down. but he says eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sun rise. could you imagine being in a place of darkness forever. there is no sunrise. there is no hope that cell and heaven that is eternal life in hell. there's eternal darkness.

what would be for you eternal day or eternal night trust chrysler send as we close in great these verses from revelation 21 and 22 read them with me thoughtfully and the city has no need of sun read it with me okay with god to revelation 21 verse 23 that area. let's read it together and the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it for the glory of god gives it light and a slam the lab. no longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of god and of the lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him they will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads and night will be no more.

they will need no light of lamb or son, for the lord god will be the light, and they will reign forever and ever.

amen