The New
Jerusalem
What was one of
Christ’s parting promises to His
disciples?
“In my
Father’s house are many rooms;
if were not so, I would have told
you, I am going there to prepare a
place for you.” John 14:2.
What does Paul say
God has prepared for His people?
“Instead, they
were looking for a better country
– a heavenly one. Therefore God
is not ashamed to be called their
God, for he has prepared a city
for them.” Hebrews 11:16.
Where is this city,
and what is it called?
“But the
Jerusalem that is above is free,
and she is our mother.”
Galatians 4:26.
For what did
Abraham look?
“For he was
looking forward to the city with
foundations, whose architect and
builder is God.” Hebrews 11:10.
What assurance has
God given to believers?
“Instead, they
were longing for a better country
– a heavenly one. Therefore God
is not ashamed to be called their
God, for he has prepared a city for
them.” Hebrews 11:16.
Saint
John Describes The City
“I saw the
Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride beautifully
dressed for her husband.”
Revelation 21:2.
How
many foundations have this city?
“The wall of the
city had twelve foundations,
and on them were the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
Verse 14.
What
is the measurement of the city?
“The city was
laid out like a square, as long as it
was wide. He measured the city with
the rod and found it to be 12,000
stadia in length, and as wide and
high as it is long.”
Verse 16. [12,000
stadia equal 1,400 miles or about
2,200 kilometers]
What
is the height of the wall?
“He measured its
wall and it was 144 cubits thick,
by man’s measurement, which the
angel was using.” Verse 17.
Note – One
hundred and forty-four cubits are
estimated at 216 feet in our measure.
Of
what material is the wall
constructed?
“The wall was
made of jasper, and the city of
pure gold, as pure as glass.”
Verse 18.
With
what are the twelve foundations
adorned?
“The foundations
of the city walls were decorated with
every kind of precious stone. The
first foundation was jasper,
the second sapphire, the third
chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian,
the seventh chrysolite, the
eighth beryl, the ninth topaz,
the tenth chrysoprase, the
eleventh jacinth, and the
twelfth amethyst. Verses
19,20. (See Exodus 28:15-21; Isaiah
54: 11,12.)
Of
what are the twelve gates composed?
“The twelve gates
were twelve pearls, each gate
made of a single pearl. The great
street of the city was of pure gold,
like transparent glass.”
Revelation 21:21.
What
is written on the twelve gates?
“On the gates
were written the names of the twelve
tribes of Israel.” Verse 12.
Of
what does John say the streets of the
city are composed?
“The great street
of the city was pure gold,
like transparent glass.” Verse
21.
Why will the city
have no need of the sun or moon?
“The city does
not need the sun or the moon to shine
on it, for the glory of God gives
it its light, and the Lamp its lamp.
The nations will walk by its light,
and the kings of the earth will bring
their splendor into it.” Verses
23,24. (See Revelation 22:5; Isaiah
60:19,20.)
Why
are the gates not to be closed?
“On no day will
its gates ever be shut, for there
will be no night there.”
Revelation 21:25.
Who,
May, and Who May Not, Enter
What will be
excluded from this city?
“Nothing impure
will ever enter it, now will
anyone that does what is shameful or
deceitful, but only those whose
names are written in the Lamb’s
book of life.” Verse 27.
Who
will be permitted to enter it?
“Blessed
are those who wash their robes,
that they may have the right to the
tree of life and may go through the
gates of the city.” Revelation
22:14.
Note – The late
English and American revisions render
this. “Blessed are they that
wash their robes,” ect. The
result is the same, for those who
wash their robes cease to sin, and
hence do God’s commandments.
When this city becomes
the metropolis of the new earth, what
will be the condition of God’s
people?
“He will wipe
away every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain, for the
old order of things has passed
away.” Revelation 21:4.
Everlasting
Life and Glorious Privilege
What will flow
through the city?
“Then the angel
showed me the river of the water
of life, as clear as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of
the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1.
What
stands on either side of the river?
“Down the middle
of the great street of the city. On
each side of the river stood the
tree of life, bearing twelve
crops of fruit, yielding its fruit
every month. And the leaves of the
trees are for the healing of the
nations.” Verse 2.
Note –
The tree of life, which Adam lost
through transgression, is to be
restored by Christ. Access to this is
one of the promises to the overcomer.
(Revelation 2:7.) Its bearing twelve
kinds of fruit, a new kind each
month, suggests a reason why in the
new earth “from one new moon to
another,” as well as “from
one Sabbath to another,” all
flesh is to come before God to
worship, as stated in Isaiah
66:22,23.
