August 17, 2008
“The New Jerusalem”
Revelation 21:9-27
What we have in this passage before us today is a description, not of Heaven or even of the New Earth, but rather we have here a picture of the Church, the Bride of Christ, and the New Jerusalem. This is a symbolic description of us, in our glorified state.
I. God often uses symbolism to describe His people –
1. In Psalm 1 the godly person is described as a tree – Psalm 1:3
2. Jesus describes Himself as bread, light, a door – John 6:35; John 8:12; John 10:7
3. The church is often referred to as the Temple of God’s Spirit – 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21-22
4. As believers we are described as parts of that Living Temple – 1 Peter 2:1-7; Revelation 3:12
II. Here we the Bride of Christ, are described not just as the Temple, but as the entire city of God, the New Jerusalem –
Here we consider the details:
1. The New Jerusalem is a Heavenly City, God is the maker of it - :10; Psalm 100:2
2. The glory of God is it’s possession, her light was like a jasper stone which may be many different colors, yet clear as crystal … probably symbolic of the fact God is glorified through a variety of personalities - :11; Ephesians 2:10
3. The gates have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on them, representing the believers from the OT who looked forward to Christ’s coming - :12-13
4. Note the City walls had twelve foundations, with the names of Christ’s apostles on them - :14; Ephesians 2:19-22
5. The City is measured:
A. It’s length is as great as its height showing it’s perfection, its length, breathe and height our equal - :15 - 16
B. It’s measurements are multiples of twelve, 12,000, 144,000, numbers symbolic of God’s people - :16-17
6. The city walls are jasper, the city itself is pure gold - :18; Job 23:10; 1 Peter 1:3-9
7. The foundations of the wall are adorned with all sorts of precious stones, again I believe symbolic of the people of God - :19-20
A. Jasper – many colored
B. Sapphire – dark blue
C. Chalcedony
D. Emerald - green
E. Sardonyx –flesh color
F. Sardius – bright red
G. Chysolite – golden yellow
H. Beryl - aqua
I. Topaz – transparent yellow
J. Chysoprase – a pale golden color
K. Jacinth - violet
L. Amethyst - purple
8. Each gate was a pearl and the streets were gold - :21 (Fire and suffering)
III. God and Christ are the Glory, Light and Life of this place - :22-27
1. No Temple
2. No need for the sun or moon
3. Open gates
4. Nothing that defiles
IV. This should excite and motivate us in our Christian walks – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
