2-26-2014 Vol. 7 Part 51 Book of Revelation (Revelation 22:3-10)

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2-26-2014 Vol. 7 Part 51 Book of Revelation

Psalms 119:100-109 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your judgments. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

Father God, help us to place our faith in Jesus and why He had to die on the Cross for us. Help us not to be like the scribes and Pharisees that placed their faith in customs and religion. Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Revelation 22:3-10 NKJV

The last two lessons have been refreshing to study about Heaven and what it will be like. This Tribulation time period is one that we don’t want to live through. It will be the worst time on earth that has ever been or ever will be. I thank Jesus daily for dying for my sins and saving me. He has given me the assurance that I’m saved many times just as the Bible states. Many people say they don’t want to give up their lifestyle and ask Jesus into their heart, but those that do and are truly saved realize their old lifestyles were offending God and separated them from God and they were bound for the Lake of Fire. Those that have been awaken by being Born Again make claims they want nothing to do of their old lifestyle because they have found peace in Jesus Christ even though they viewed themselves as a good person before being saved.

We don’t know when the Rapture will happen, it could happen any time. Even the Apostle Paul looked for the Rapture during his time, (1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.) so it could happen tomorrow and that is why we need to be ready. It will happen as quick as a blink of an eye and those not saved will be left behind. There won’t be time to repent and ask Jesus into their heart then, it will be too late. Those that know the message of the Cross, and haven’t repented, will not have another chance. A great delusion will be place upon them to believe a lie. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,  10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,  12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Please ponder this book of Revelation and all that it states, and make a decision today to accept Jesus as your Saviour.

3  And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

And there shall be no more curse; This curse is referring back to the beginning of time when Adam and Eve committed the first sin against God. (See Genesis 3:14-19) After the heaven and earth are renewed and the New Jerusalem is set in place this curse will be erased from the human race and creation.

But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him; As God had fellowship with Adam and Eve before their fall into sin, so the Lord will again be with His servants eternally. He will walk among them and in turn, His servants will fully worship and serve Him. Genesis 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

4  They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

They shall see His face; Every true believer longs to see the face of Jesus their Saviour. (1 Corinthians 13:12 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.) This is something Moses nor any other human being was allowed to do in the OT, to see the face of God lest they die. Exodus 33:20 But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." Won’t it be great to walk with Jesus and see His face one day? What a glorious thought! Now that is something to shout about!!!!!!

And His name shall be on their foreheads; Just as Satan claims souls with his name on their forehead, (Revelation 13:16-17 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,  17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.) God also claims his children with His name on their foreheads. (Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.  Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.) These are ID marks we as human beings cannot see, but can be seen in the spiritual world. What mark do you have on your forehead?

5  There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Jesus is the light of the world and anyone that follows Him will live in light here and for eternity. John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." The glory of God illuminates the inside of the New Jerusalem, but outside the walls day and night will still exist. This will be for eternity.

6  Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

This angel that is showing these things to John states these things are faithful and true meaning they will come into being. If it is stated in God’s Word these events will come to pass it will happen. When, we don’t know, but it says, “shortly take place” meaning at any time. The next verse also states this and this is Jesus making this claim this time.

7  "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

This is the Blessed Hope, meaning the return of Jesus. The book of Revelation is a book that all should know and study just like the rest of the Bible because it is a book about the future and what is to come. We need to know the prophecies of this book, believe them, and be ready for the return of Jesus our Saviour by keeping His words of the Bible.

8  Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

9  Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

Why did John fall down and worship? Was he faint hearted? Was he overwhelmed at what he heard and saw? I think the latter is the case here. What would we do if we were in John’s shoes? We would be in awe and possibly fall down to worship also not thinking about what we are doing. After all what he is experiencing is beyond comprehension. This is the second time John fell down in worship. Revelation 19:10 Did you notice what the angel said to him? He said to worship God not a fellow brethren, or fellow servant, or a fellow believer. It is pretty clear here we are to worship God and only God, not God’s saints, manmade saints, or brothers and sisters in Christ. This angel ought to know being an angelic servant of God, right? The Ten Commandments also tell us that, but we humans think we are smarter than God and concoct strange notions about who and what to worship, which is idolatry in God’s eyes. Jesus tell us in Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' Exodus 20:3-6 "You shall have no other gods before Me.  4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;  5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,  6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

10 And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

Do you have any idea why John was told not to seal up the words of the book of Revelation? It is because God wants us to know what is coming so that we will repent and prepare ourselves for his return. Daniel was commanded to seal up his vision (Daniel 12:4-12), because his message was not for his time period but for the end of the Church Age. But the book of Revelation was a message for John's time, and for us living today.

It looks like one more lesson to conclude this fantastic book of Revelation. There are 10 verses left and there is no way I can squeeze them in this lesson and do them justice. So we will finish next week. God Bless!

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,

unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/

Bill Wiesbrock     https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn

Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!

“Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner.  I confess my sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness of all of my sins.  I believe that only you can forgive sin.  I commit my life to you and ask you to come into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life.  I believe that you died to set me free from my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.”  I believe this and have faith you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”  (John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)

2-19-2014 Vol. 7 Part 50 Book of Revelation (Revelation 21:21-27; 22:1-2)

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2-19-2014 Vol. 7 Part 50 Book of Revelation 

Psalms 119:90-99 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life. I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.

Father God, help us to control our tongues. James 1:26 If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Revelation 21:21-27; 22:1-2 NKJV

Last week we studied about the size of the New Jerusalem, the composition of the foundation, names on the gates, the light coming from within, etc. This week we will step inside the New Jerusalem and see what the inside looks like. I would venture to say it would take our breath away if we could see the inside personally right now. So let your imagination go with this lesson.

Though the Gate

Art used; by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site, http://revelationillustrated.com.

21  The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl; Okay, now I’m wondering how large those oysters were? Maybe God just made those pearls so big to remind us of all the wounds, pain, and suffering Jesus endured for us sinners? Pearls are white and pure like Jesus, and Jesus Christ is the one and only door we have to enter through, to reside in God’s paradise, Heaven. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

W. A. Criswell has pointed out that pearls are formed in oysters as a result of a wound, and that we'll be reminded as we go in and out of the gates of pearl that we are there only because of the wounds of Christ."

W. A. Criswell, Exposiiorv Sermons on Revelation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969), 130.

And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass; Heaven's streets of gold are also part of folklore to many. Gold is very fitting to make streets out of in God’s kingdom. Gold has been around forever and is a precious metal that holds its value; read Exodus Chapters 25 & 26. It is something that will not perish, just like Jesus. When we put our trust and faith in Jesus we can always count on him being there for us, so it is only fitting to have streets of gold in heaven. It will be solid streets to walk on just like Jesus is our solid rock to anchor to. Gold as we know it is not transparent, but in John’s description “pure gold, like transparent glass” would be very fitting for Heaven. Heaven will be holy, pure, and spotless. What John saw was streets of transparent gold. Will they look that same way to us when we see them?

22  But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

In the OT the temple held the Holy of Holies in the center where God would reside. This was the center where God's presence was among his people, and was the primary place of worship. In the New Jerusalem Jesus is the temple and will be in the center. We will have a personal relationship with Him, and no need of a temple in the new city because God's presence will be everywhere.

23  The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

This verse is speaking of the city not the new heaven and earth. Within the city there will be no need of the sun or moon to illuminate it. The purity of God will shine forth in all its glory. God will be the light in the New Jerusalem. Light represents what is good, pure, true, holy, and reliable. Darkness represents what is sinful and evil. God's glory illuminates the city meaning the city will be enveloped by him, who is perfectly holy and true. Light is also related to truth in that it exposes whatever exists. Just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, so sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy God. The city will be completely without sin and evil. We will be able to worship God throughout the city; nothing will hinder us from being with him.

Imagine approaching the city from a distance, a city of gold, a twelve-layer foundation of precious stones, gates of pearl, streets of gold, fully illu­minated from within by the glory of God. What an awesome sight it would be. No wonder Paul wrote, 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: "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." I believe we should all be more heavenly minded, not less. God has prepared an unbelievable place in which we will live for eternity, yet we rarely talk about it; and most Christians know little about it at all. Did you know about what the new Heaven will be like? Have you ever talked to your spouse about how grand it will be? Have you ever read and explained the description to your children? What a grand topic it would be at the supper table!

24  And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light; This phrase should have been translated, “and the nations shall walk by means of its light”. God will be ruling so they will be walking according to His Kingship. All will be saved at this point in time.

The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it; This phrase tells us there will be nations on earth outside the City. What this consists of we do not know, except that they will give God glory and honor because He will be their King.

25  Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

As mentioned before there is no night in the New Jerusalem, but outside the city there will be. Why do you suppose the pearly gates will be left open day and night? It is because there will be no sin on earth at that time. Satan and all of his followers along with all individuals that did not accept Jesus as their Saviour will be in the Lake of Fire for eternity. There will be no need of a sentry at the gate to keep out the evil. Everything will be restored as God originally intended.

26  And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

What is this glory and honor? It is the righteousness of God. It will be the way life will be according to God’s precepts. All will be in perfect harmony according to God’s plan and not man. The curse that God placed on this earth at the fall of Adam and Eve will be gone. Genesis 3:14-19 So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.  15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."  16 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you."  17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.  18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.  19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."

27  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.

This verse refers to anything common, meaning that nothing will be found in that blessed abode which is unholy or sinful. It will be a pure world. Acts 10:14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."  2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

What Peter is referring to here is “common or unclean”, was his Jewish religious beliefs and all the laws they tried to abide by that they devised. The majority of their cultural rules were devise by man and not God and they placed their faith in laws and not in Jesus and His death and resurrection.

Revelation 22:1  And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

This also calls to mind the "living water" Jesus said would flow from the heart of those who believe in Him. John 7:38 NKJV He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." Anyone that believes will have a river of living water flowing from their heart, in essence the Holy Spirit. The inside of the New Jerusalem will be something impossible to comprehend in its glory while we are on earth. But it will be the future home of every person who is and has been a Born Again believer, children who have died without the chance to believe, and those not mentally capable of believing the Gospel will reside there. The cube-city will be large enough to sustain all those millions of people at a level of glory and satisfaction far beyond anything ever experienced on earth. It will be beautiful, radiant, and words fail us to describe its glory. Jesus states in John 4:14 NKJV but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

This river of water/life is God’s “grace,” his “spirit,” and what every soul yearns for. The soul by nature is like a desert, or like a traveler wandering through a desert. It is thirsting for happiness, and seeking it everywhere, and cannot find it. It looks in all directions and tries all objects, but in vain. Nothing meets its desires. Although a sinner seeks joy in wealth and pleasures, yet he is not satisfied. He still thirsts for more, and continues to seek happiness in some new enjoyment. The love and grace of Jesus is like cold water is to a thirsty traveler. An unfailing fountain pours out from God when they believe. They will never thirst again by accepting Jesus into their heart to rule and reign.

2    In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

There is a river flowing through the street in the middle of the New Jerusalem from the throne of God. On both sides of this river are trees of life growing. There are twelve trees of life which will bear twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit twelve months of every year. Did you notice “12” God’s ordinance of government? These have to be the same or similar as the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9), and we will eat from them freely, which raises the issue of eating in heaven. I believe we will eat freely, as much as we want, with­out any of the negative ramifications of our earthly appetites. Our appetites in heaven will be redeemed along with the rest of us, so our perspective on food will be much different.

The leaves of the trees are for "the healing of the nations." "Healing" is the Greek word for therapy; so this healing is not the healing of diseases and the like, because Revelation 21:4 states diseases will be a thing of the past, but healing in a therapeutic sense: growing in our sense of fulfillment, pleasure, and joy at being in the presence of God.

Mathew Henry puts it this way: “The trees of life are fed by the pure waters of the river that comes from the throne of God. The presence of God in heaven, is the health and happiness of the saints. This tree was an emblem of Christ, and of all the blessings of his salvation; and the leaves for the healing of the nations, mean that his favour and presence supply all good to the inhabitants of that blessed world.”

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,

unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/

Bill Wiesbrock     https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn

Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!

“Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner.  I confess my sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness of all of my sins.  I believe that only you can forgive sin.  I commit my life to you and ask you to come into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life.  I believe that you died to set me free from my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.”  I believe this and have faith you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”  (John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)

2-5-2014 Vol. 7 Part 48 Book of Revelation (Revelation 21:9-20)

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2-5-2014 Vol. 7 Part 48 Book of Revelation

Psalms 119:80-89 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed. My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, "When will You comfort me?" For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes. How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law. All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me! They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts. Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Father God, we thank you for your mercy. Guide us in all we do and bless us with your Grace. Your mercy endures forever. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!

Revelation 21:9-20 NKJV

Last week we studied the return of Jesus and His Saints on white horses. The rest of this chapter is about the New Jerusalem, its dimensions, its construction, and a glimpse of the inside. Everything about the New Jerusalem is of a grand nature and one of beauty that we cannot comprehend. To live in the New Jerusalem is a goal every individual here on earth should be living for, not the things of earth that only gives us temporary happiness. This reward for a Christian will last for eternity, which is also difficult for our human minds to comprehend, at least for me it is. Eternity!!!!!!

9  Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."

One of the Angels that had one of the seven bowls of wrath showed John the scarlet-clad harlot, the great and guilty Babylon and now is going to show John the New Jerusalem. What a huge contrast from sin and ugliness to purity and beauty.

The bride as described in earlier lessons pertains to every Born Again person from Abel to the last saved person of the Great Tribulation time frame. Some believe it is a particular church or religion that is the bride which is a false teaching, because if that were true then why was the Apostle Paul commissioned to preach to the Gentiles? Why were there thousands saved at gatherings that listened to the Apostles preach? Salvation is for all who will come to the Lord with an open and contrite heart. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

The lamb is of course referring to Jesus and the sacrifice on the Cross for us. If we believe and place our faith in Jesus by means of Him being the perfect sacrifice, He will cover us with His shed blood, and God the Father will then only see the blood of His Son and not our sinful flesh. With the covering of this blood we are justified and accepted into God’s family. It is like joining an organization and receiving a membership card. The animal sacrifices of the OT were only a temporary cleansing that had to be repeated many times because the blood was not of a perfect and pure origin.

10  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain; This angel didn’t actually take John to a high mountain, the word spirit signifies this is a vision and the view was one that appeared from a high vantage point, thus like a high mountain.

And showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God; The New Jerusalem descends out of Heaven after the cleansing of the old heaven and earth. Everything will be refreshed and made new so that it will be acceptable to God to set up His new Kingdom here on earth where Jesus will rule among His believers. Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

11  having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

The New Jerusalem is pure in nature and is illuminated with the presence of God, therefore there is no need for light within. The view will be magnificent with rays of light coming forth from within. We have all seen beams of light coming down from the sun from time to time and this is what it will be like, but the beams shining from the New Jerusalem will be crystal white and bright because of God’s purity. A jasper stone is a gem of crystal nature, but also of various colors or appears to be various colors. A diamond is a clear crystal that will reflect light in such a way, at times it may appear to be colored. With the construction material that will be described in upcoming verses, the light coming from the New Jerusalem will most likely be reflected and appear to be various colors, but the radiance shining forth from God’s presences is a pure white light.

12  Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

13  three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

This great city has God’s government written all over it. Twelve signifies God’s government and it will be His government that will rule. An angel sentry of the Lord posted at every gate. Each gate will have a name of one of Israel’s tribes, which signifies the importance of God’s chosen people to Him and the covenant God made between Abraham and Himself. Will the descendants of the twelve tribes enter through the gate of their tribe? I would venture to say yes and Ezekiel even tells us what name is on each gate. Ezekiel 48:30-35 "These are the exits of the city. On the north side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits  31 (the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel), the three gates northward: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi;  32 on the east side, four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan;  33 on the south side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun;  34 on the west side, four thousand five hundred cubits with their three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali.  35 All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE. What about us the Gentiles? What gate will those of us that are grafted to the vine enter? That is a very good question and I don’t have an answer for you, but I do know this we will be welcomed!

14  Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Here again twelve foundations, and on each layer a name of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. The apostle’s that built on the foundation of the Cross by being obedient to God, going out to all nations, and preaching the Gospel. They are the foundation of Christianity and boldly went where no man had gone before. As a Gentile I’m glad they did. With this verse I leave you with this to ponder. Are the names on the foundations, of the twelve original apostles, the twelve with the replacement for Judas being man appointed Matthias, or Paul appointed by Jesus? Acts 1:26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

15  And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16  The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

17  Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

Angel with Measuring Rod

Art used; by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site, http://revelationillustrated.com.

A cubit is equal to a distance from the joint of the elbow to the tip of the middle finger about 18 inches, (.5 m) but its precise length varied.

A furlong is about 660 feet (201 m).

The city's measurements are symbolic of a place that will hold all God's people, God’s prescribed number of perfect government. These measurements are all multiples of 12, the number for God's people: There were 12 tribes in Israel, and 12 apostles who started the church. The walls are 144 (12 x 12) cubits (216 feet) thick. There are 12 layers in the walls, and 12 gates in the city; and the length, width, and height are all the same, 12,000 furlongs (1,500 miles). That means it covers more than 2,250,000 square miles of land area. It would cover an area in the United States from the Atlantic Ocean coastal line and westward to Colorado and from the furthest part of Maine to the furthest part of Florida. The New Jerusalem is a perfect cube, the same shape as the Most Holy Place in the Temple (1 Kings 6:20). These measurements illustrate that this new home will be perfect for us.

A single city that large, and remember, it is a cube, so it extends upward as far as it does outward, is literally difficult to comprehend. But the same God who spoke the planets into existence will have no trouble building and deploying a city that large onto planet earth. Because the city is a cube, it must have "floors" inside it that extend upwards. Someone has calculated that there could be room for as many as 600 floors within the cube. If each of those 600 floors covers the same 2,250,000 plus square miles as the bottom floor, that produces 1.2 billion square miles of "living area" within the cube. If you're wondering about transportation inside such a structure, remember that our glorified bodies will be different than what we have now. The Lord Jesus simply appeared in a room with the disciples after His resurrection, unhindered by physical barriers, will the residents just think about where they want to go and presto they are there???

18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

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,

20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

Many people spiritualize, these elements of the city. They simply can't imagine anything like what John describes could possibly exist. Here is the way I see it, if God created the universe and all living things within it Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-4, then he can create a New Jerusalem with the described foundation and the other descriptions listed. I believe God created heaven and earth and will create a New Jerusalem. Being built of gold and a foundation of nonperishable stones, the New Jerusalem will last for eternity. What a sight this New Jerusalem will be. It will be awesome! Can you imagine what it will look like with God’s radiance beaming off of those precious stones, I can’t?

Next week we will take a look inside the city.

Foundations of the City

Art used; by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site, http://revelationillustrated.com.

·         Jasper - opaque, cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, usually colored red.

·         Sapphire - a clear, fairly pure form of the mineral corundum that is usually blue but may be any color except red.

·         Chalcedony - a microcrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, often milky or grayish.

·         Emerald - a rare variety of beryl that is colored a deep clear green by chromium and valued as a gem.

·         Sardonyx - a species of the carnelian combining the sard and the onyx, having three layers of opaque spots or stripes on a transparent red basis. Like the sardine, it is a variety of the chalcedony.

·         Sardius - the precious stone, thought to have been a ruby.

·         Chrysolite - an olive-green mineral of the olivine group, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.

·         Beryl - a white, blue, yellow, green, or pink mineral, found in coarse granites and igneous rocks.

·         Topaz - a white or colourless mineral often tinted by impurities, found in cavities in igneous rocks and in quartz veins. It is used as a gemstone.

·         Chrysoprase - a green variety of chalcedony, sometimes used as a gem.

·         Jacinth - an ancient blue gem

·         Amethyst – a purple or violet quartz, used as a gem.

Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,

unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

http://jesus-christ-spiritual-food.blogspot.com/

Bill Wiesbrock     https://www.facebook.com/bill.wiesbrock?ref=tn_tnmn

Sinners Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!

“Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner.  I confess my sins to you; I am sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness of all of my sins.  I believe that only you can forgive sin.  I commit my life to you and ask you to come into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life.  I believe that you died to set me free from my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my Savior.”  I believe this and have faith you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”  (John 3:16,17; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10) (Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-7)