The Holy City of New Jerusalem Part 2
Published 1:20 pm Thursday, March 13, 2014
I said last week that I do not pretend to know all the Bible teaches about heaven and the Holy City of New Jerusalem; but I have studied over forty years. I have studied behind some great men that I believe God gave special incite to the Scriptures so they might teach others. Two men especially and some of the information I will share today are from their research. They are Dr. M. R. DeHaan and Dr. David Jeremiah.
“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. (2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”. (Revelation 21:1-2).
Revelation Chapter 21 gives us a description of this city. We should just take what the Bible says and not try to spiritualize it. I know it is hard to imagine the beauty of this city. Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 2:9 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”.
It is a “Holy City”. Wycliffe describes the city as “A holy city will be one in which no lie will be uttered in all of eternity, no evil word will ever be spoken, no shady business deals will ever be discussed, no unclean picture will ever be seen, no corruption of life will ever be manifest. It will be holy because everyone in it will be holy.”
Revelation 21:12 & 21 gives us a description of what we refer to as the pearly gates. Rev. 21:21 says “The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl.” Revelation 21:19-20 tells us the foundation is of precious stones such as: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardis, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst. What a sight this will be. Revelation 21:21 tells us “The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass”. It is hard for us to perceive what John saw as transparent gold, but remember we will be in our glorified body and we will see what John saw. The light for the city will be the light of the Lamb of God. Rev. 21:11. God has prepared a place for us to live throughout all of eternity. Some one said “we might be more earthly good if we were more heavenly minded”! Revelation 22:1-2 tells us of the river of life, clear as crystal; proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb, and on either side of the river was the Tree of Life, which gives twelve fruits yielding its fruit each month.
The New Jerusalem will be the home of all who accept Christ, children who died before the age of accountability, those not mentally capable of believing in Christ. Words cannot describe its glory. It is sad to think that many will be denied entrance to this city. Revelation 21:8 says “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Verse 21 says “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Don’t miss heaven because of unbelief. Jesus died that we might live.
Hugh G. Sherrill
ems-hugh43@comcast.net
Pastor Philippi Baptist Church
1444 SE County Road 18 Lake City, FLBy Hugh G. Sherrill
ems-hugh43@comcast.net
