Christian Living

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"Now class, your weekend homework assignment; please give me a complete essay assessment of the New Jerusalem using the book of Revelation as a basis of study, including Scripture references and other Bible cross-references as a back-up to Revelation."  

"Oh, do I see a hand raised in the back?" I asked.

"Is this homework assignment a little much for a weekend project, professor? You see, our school has a basketball game on Saturday with our cross-state arch-rival Bible college team. As you know, we have not beaten them in three years," piped up one student. "And this is our year, professor, as we have a good chance of winning against them with "Hot Shot Roy."

"Well, not really, my lad, not for a third year Bible seminary student such as yourself, I feel you all can work in this project challenge," I responded.

As I pulled into my garage at the end of the day, this bright young man's question haunted me. Maybe I was too hard on them, I thought. Well, if they don't complete this project, I won't go so hard on them. I, too,  will be at that all-important Saturday game, pulling for our school team.

Anyway, I'll just sit here a minute, and have a glass of cool punch as I get my breath. Then it happened; another of my weird dreams. I've been have a lot of them lately. Just what's the message this time, I wonder?

I suddenly found myself walking down a dark pathway. As I walked, it seemed like forever, I suddenly came across the most brilliant radiant sight. It was a large gate, appearing out of nowhere and standing directly in front of me. It was not your ordinary gate, but one seemingly reaching into the sky, taking on the appearance of shining, pure gold. Posted on this gate was a sign which read Heaven's Portal.   Being of an inquisitive mind, I knew I wanted to go in through this gate. But how could I?

Then, as if by some divine measure, I noticed an unusual character standing by the gate of this city. He was dressed from head to foot in a long, flowing, pure white robe which shone brightly.  Around his midriff was a gold belt containing a single, large, golden key.  As if reading my mind, yet without saying a word, he took my hand, unlocked the gate and escorted me inside.

I've never seen anything like it.  It was an instant miracle, a city coming down out of heaven from God Himself. It's like the very glory of God, in all its brilliance.  It had the appearance of a very costly stone of crystal-clear jasper.   

It seemed to be a well-built, perfectly placed cube of enormous dimensions. The area was so large, I couldn't begin see the end of the width, or the breath or even the height of the structure.

Immediately, once inside this facility, this unusual character finally decided to speak. "Please remove your shoes, for we have entered Heaven's Portal," he announced.

"So, who dwells here?" I asked.

His answer was, "All the redeemed. Our heavenly Father, God is the main occupant. However, it is not occupied as of yet."

"You see, this is the New Jerusalem, the celestial city of Mount Zion. It's the eternal home of the resurrected, the capitol city of the New Heaven and the New Earth," he explained.   

"So, just what are the dimensions of this great new city?" I wondered.

Again, as if reading my mind, he continued. "This city is laid out as a square, with its length, its width and height being an equal of 1,500 miles each."  

"And based on 5,280 feet per mile, and the city reaching 1,500 miles into the air, that would equate to about 7,920,000 feet. So, you can just imagine how many stories high it will be," he went on.  "Each of the walls of the city measures seventy-two yards, according to human measurements."

Once again he took my hand and we started our tour of the celestial city.  "Wow, this city must be made of pure gold, like glass," I commented, reflecting on the heavenly glow.

"Yes, it is and its walls are of jasper. Its streets are made of solid pure gold, much like a polished mirror. And did you happen to see the names of the twelve apostles on the twelve foundation stones?" he continued his description. "Did you see the twelve gates, all made of pure pearl, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel? The foundation is made by God Himself, consisting of twelve precious stones engraved with the names of the twelve apostles."

"Do you see the River of Life flowing down the middle of the street? This is a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God. And here on either side of the River of Life grows the tree of Life which produces twelve fruits every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations," he concluded.

"I still have a few questions, please, sir. This city has no temple, and no churches," I pointed out.

"Not to worry, my child, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple," he replied.

"What about the lighting system?" I queried.

"Also, not to worry," he answered. "That is covered, as well. The city's light is from God and the Lamb for there is no night here," he concluded.

Then suddenly, as we appeared to be wrapping up our tour of this marvelous city, my strange escort disappeared, and so did the amazing city, that seemed to be hanging from the sky. All was instantly wiped from my sight.

And in like manner, this entire scenario of the New Jerusalem was immediately replaced by my easy chair, along with my table and cool glass of punch. This had to be another of my weird dreams as here I was safely sitting there. I was still dressed but plum tuckered out, as if I had been on an extended hike.

But why me? Why this make believe tour of Heaven? And who was this strange character speaking the English language.  

At that very moment, I happened to look over and lo and behold my study Bible was lying there on the table. Wondering how it got there, I picked it up to find that it was open to a particular Scripture passage, (Revelation 1:1-2)

"Oh yes, I get it now. It all goes back to my doubting my pastor's last Sunday's sermon on Heaven and the New Jerusalem," I thought.

I can still hear his concluding statement last Sunday, "Heaven is not going to another place. It's simply going to another realm for those of us  who have entered into a new life." (Philippians 3:20)

I hope it's not too late to call my pastor and apologize for my remarks last Sunday after the close of church. Pastor, pastor, please pick up the phone. I must talk with you, please, please! It's urgent!

Author's Postscript

Are you ready for that new Holy City? Are your bags packed, your closets empted, your pictures taken from the walls and boxed and your furniture prepared to move? And is the mover scheduled?

Having grown up as a Salvation Army Officer's (preacher's kid), I have many mixed emotions about moving. There were all the new school environments, and that of making new playmate friends,

 Transferring from city to city was a way of life for our family. You see, up to my fifth grade, I had attended a different school, in a different city each year of my young life. One school would hold me back, as not being qualified, while another school would move me up, for being over-qualified.

Well, one of these days soon, those of us who have put our faith in the things of God's kingdom, will be moving for the very last time in our lives. We will be called to God's final resting place called Heaven, that glorious place God has prepared for us.

Sad to say, there will be denial for those who have failed to respond to the free grace found in the gospel. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  If you have not accepted God's plan for your life and received forgiveness for your sin, when the time comes, you will be denied entrance into Heaven and into the New Jerusalem. Have you made your reservation? I pray that you have. (Revelation 22:17)

RELATED BIBLE  STUDY - PLEASE READ

The New Jerusalem -  (Revelation 21:2)

The Rapture - (I Corinthians 15:51-54) ( I Thessalonians 4:15-17

The Tribulation - (Revelation 6:11) (Revelation 13:1-10) (Revelation 20:4-6)

The Battle of Armageddon - (Revelation 19:17-21)

John's Vision Of The New Jerusalem - (Revelation 21:2)

The Old Earth Will Be Gone - (Revelation 22:3)

The City's Residents Will Have No More Tears - (Revelation 21:4)

The City's Residents Promise- (Revelation 21:6-7)

The Place For The Unbelieving- (Revelation 21:8)

The City's Residents Will Be The Father, The Lamb, And The Redeemed - (Revelation 21:3) (Revelation 21:22)

The City Is A Place Of Unimagined Blessing - (Revelation 22:3)

The City Is A Perfect Cube - (Revelation 21:15-16)

The City's Walls - (Revelation 21:17-18):

The City Walls Foundation, Decorated With Every Kind of Precious Stone, Bearing The Names of the Twelve Apostles - (Revelation 21:14, 19-20)

The City's Twelve Gates Of Pearl, Bearing Names of Twelve Tribes Of Israel - (Revelation 21:12,21)

The City's Lighting- (Revelation 21:23) (Revelation 22:5)

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