Fairer Worlds on High

Revelation 21:9-27

We all know stories about transformation. When the ugly duckling was hatched, his family avoided him because he was different. They ill-treated him because he was ugly. But when spring came, he’d turned into a swan and lived with other swans. Cinderella was given her name because she was dirtied by the cinders and ashes in the kitchen. But she was transformed; changed and made beautiful for her prince. The Bible also speaks of that transformation. Today, we’re sinful, struggling, weak, and compromising - but Christ is changing his people by the washing of the Word. He will present his bride one day spotless before the presence of his glory. Similarly, our Lord himself was crucified. The Bible tells us that he was not beautiful. He was despised. At the cross, he was naked, whipped, bloody, bruised. He was buried and on the third day, he was resurrected. Triumphant. Powerful. Without weakness. And then he ascended to prepare heaven for us.

One day, we will be transformed. We will resurrect and be with him in heaven. We’re scrubbed clean - the cinders and ashes of sin will be washed away. We will be with the angels. And we will be with Christ, presented as a bride without spot. All of our spiritual adultery and idolatry will be things of the past. We will be in heaven - our home for eternity. So today, as we study about heaven, we’ll examine 2 propositions about it. Firstly, what’s beautiful about our eternal home. Secondly, what’s absent from our eternal home.

Firstly, what’s beautiful about our eternal home. In this passage, he describes the city in greater detail now. And it’s beautiful. We see her beautiful name. Verses 1-2 - “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” She is called the New Jerusalem and John was taken to see her by one of the 7 angels of the bowl judgments. Why? It’s for contrast. The last time an angel with the bowl judgments came to him was in Revelation 17; it was to show him the whore of Babylon. A woman in a city. This was a horrific disgusting creature. She was a harlot, unclean, part of the world system, drinking the blood of the martyrs. But now in Revelation 21, the angel showed John another woman in another city. The Bride of New Jerusalem. She was clean, part of God’s system and drinking the free living waters. Babylon - a nauseating, scary, frightful name. The New Jerusalem - a sweet, pleasant, beautiful name. It refers to all believers. The wife of the lamb. But why else is she referred to as a city? Sometimes the church is known as a body, flock, temple, branches, or family. But why city? In the Middle East, where most people were nomads, a city expressed community. So this bride, on her wedding, is a beautiful community of beautiful people.

Now see her beautiful description. From verse 11 onwards, we see how she was described. “Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” We see that her light or radiance was like a jasper, clear as crystal. We saw this in chapter 4, where God’s throne was shining with a light like jasper. But here, the city has this glory; it’s clothed with God’s glory. Remember in verse 2 - the church was adorned for her husband - and likely with this glory. She’s clothed with God’s glory. This is a picture of Ezekiel’s temple. There in Ezekiel 43:5 we’re told that God’s glory fills the temple. But only this temple is a city and a people. The city shimmers with glorious and radiant light. It means we are in the presence of God. When Adam and Eve sinned, they fell short of God’s glory and were naked. We in heaven will be clothed in white and God’s glory. This is what makes us beautiful - not our own works or natural beauty - but Christ’s. Our beauty there is earned by Christ. It's derived from him. We are the Lamb’s bride - he’s purchased us and washed us and beautified us.

Notice in verse 12 - the city has great and high walls, twelve gates with twelve angels, with names written on it - the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. What’s distinctive about this city was the walls and gates. In fact, for a city to be considered a complete city, it needed to have walls. Which is why Nehemiah took such great pains to build the city walls and gates. So from this description, we know that God’s church is God’s city. There’s no doubt. Nothing will jeopardize our intimacy with God in heaven. And notice the 12 gates with 12 angels with the names of the 12 tribes. 3 gates on each of the 4 cardinal sides, verse 13. Why angels? To guard. We are reminded of the angel that guarded the Garden of Eden - so no wicked person could enter. And verse 27 says nothing that defiles can enter the city. Why 12 gates from 4 directions? The city is welcoming of those who come from everywhere whose names are in the book of life. Jesus said in Luke 13:29 - “And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.” And it’s 12 gates with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, because in verse 14, we see that there are 12 foundations with 12 names of the Lamb’s apostles. 12 sections on a massive 12 layer foundation. What does this mean? 12 gates, 12 angels, 12 tribes, 12 foundations, 12 apostles; then in verses 15-16, the walls are 12,000 furlongs high, deep, and wide. Then in verse 17, the wall was 144 cubits thick. Then verse 19 - the 12 foundations were 12 precious stones; and verse 21 - the 12 gates were 12 pearls. What does this mean? It’s not a literal measurement - but conveying the meaning that this is the 144,000 believers - the whole old and new covenant communities. We will see Abraham and Moses, and compare ages with Methuselah; we will ask Paul about his thorn in the flesh and Eutychus about his fall. We will see Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley plowing the field together. We’ll all be Christian there. It’s a wonderful city.

We also see its beautiful significance. What significance? In verse 15, the city was measured. It was foursquare. It was a cube - which has 12 edges. Length, width, and depth all 12,000 furlongs. This was a very big city. But it’s not literal. Remember, it’s the New Heaven and New Earth - it’s larger than anything we can imagine, if outer space is as large as it is now. But the cube shape is significant. Where else in the Bible do you find a cube structure? Yes, in the Holy of Holies. This was the dwelling place of God on earth. But with whom does God dwell then? 12,000 furlongs times 12,000 furlongs is 144,000. He dwells with his people, the New Jerusalem. And the thickness is 144 cubits, which is 12 times 12. Meaning, this city is the real Holy of Holies. God is there with all his people.

And John now describes its beautiful worth. With what was it constructed? Verse 18 says the walls were jasper - that was like crystal. The city was pure gold that was transparent like glass. Now, jasper on earth is a brown stone. Gold is not transparent. The point is to express value. Clear glass then was very rare. Gold was also very valuable. But the fact that God’s glory could pass through made these materials even more extraordinary. Then in verse 19 onwards we see many different stones. What's significant is that these stones were like the stones on the High Priest’s breastplate. They represented all the people of God. So these stones are symbolic of Christ’s people - you are living stones being built up a holy temple. You are precious in the sight of God.

And verse 21 speaks about the 12 gates being 12 pearls. And again, they can’t be literal. If the walls are so high - 2200 km high, the gates must also be huge. And if they were made of pearls, what kind of mollusks would’ve made them? Rather, a perfect pearl in the Roman world was worth more than gold. That’s why Jesus spoke of the pearl of great price. Meaning, this was a very valuable city, with streets of gold, walls of clear glass, on foundations of great worth. Dearly beloved, this is how God views us. Even the ugliest one here. The most sinful one here. The one who struggles the most but calls on the Lord Jesus. Even the one who feels so small here. Nothing you do is ever right. Nothing you do is ever good enough. You are valuable to our Savior. Therefore, you should be amazed at Christ’s great mercy to value you, and you must be amazed how valuable you really are to him. He died for you. And despite your ugliness, your cinders and ashes, he values you. He was made ugly for you. And that should cause us to press on in holiness! How ugly are you? Is it lust? Is it anger? Are you full of issues and complaints? Are you lonely and bitter? Are you a perpetually unhappy greedy person who covets what others have? Your ugliness will pass one day. Christ arose for you who believe. But in thankfulness, battle your sins now.

Why? Because there’s no sin one day. There will come a day when heaven will be so awesome that there are things missing from it. And what’s missing tells us about what’s present. Secondly, what’s absent from our eternal home. We see that there’s the absence of a temple. Verse 22 - “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” From describing the outside, John now describes the inside. But he focusses on what’s not there. There’s no temple. Why? Because the city itself is the temple. God and the Lamb are there. Cities in the past all had a temple. Athens had many, Ephesus had one to Diana, and of course Jerusalem had the temple to the living and true God. But here, there’s no temple. God's presence could not be contained. He was dwelling with all men there and the city was the people. The fact that there is no temple is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a wonderful thing - God is there. And furthermore, a temple means sacrifices. But there’s no more sacrifice. The sacrificed Lamb that's alive is already there. Remember the purpose of the temple. There was the courtyard with the brazen altar for people to sacrifice animals. The priests themselves had to offer sacrifices and thereafter to wash themselves with the bronze laver before going into the temple. After they went in, they could be in the half presence of God - under the light of the golden lampstand, by fellowshipping at the table of shewbread, and by praying at the golden altar of incense. But all before that great veil that separated the holy place from the cube shaped holy of holies. Only once a year, could the High Priest enter the cube to commune with God. But now the city was the cube. And God was there. That’s why there’s no need for a temple. It would be redundant.

And furthermore, Jesus foretold of the redundancy of the temple when he said the temple of his body would be raised again. And the new temple was the church - we are all living stones being built up a holy temple. We’re founded on the apostles and prophets, with Christ being the chief corner stone. And that’s why in heaven, we’re the city - the cube. God dwells with us. But in verse 22, God’s the temple, not the church. So is the church the temple of God or is God the temple? This is why we can't read this literally. John is simply saying that we are the city, and God dwells in us; but God is the temple, and we have intimate communion with him. He’s conflating all ideas into one. Like how can husband and wife, 2 flesh, be one? Church and God are one. What was lost in Eden is regained here infinite fold - God’s intimate presence with his people. We struggle now with communion with God, but it’ll be a hyper reality next time. Why? Precisely because there’s no temple - no veil, no sacrifice, no separation. That's why the Bible says - there’s fullness of joy at thy right hand and pleasures forevermore.

Furthermore, there’s the absence of light. Verse 23 - “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Verse 23 says there is no need of sun or moon - no created light. Why? Because God’s glory brightens heaven. The Lamb is the light. Now what does this mean? We know there's no sea - meaning no evil. So what does sun and moon mean? And how can there be a sun and moon inside a city? What's the meaning here? Listen to what Isaiah 24:23 says about the final judgment - “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” Even the sun and moon will be humbled by the greater light of God. But it’s the implication of this light. Verse 24 describes the consequence. We see that the nations will walk in the light. All nations will be there. John can see. We’re not uniform there. We are one human race, but from every color, language, nation. There’ll be every shade of brown in heaven. The sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite all remain as such. All our distinctiveness will remain. Males will be males, females will be females. Jesus redeemed the church from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. The gospel will succeed in bringing in all people. The work of missionaries will be successful. Jon and Bak in the Philippines, the outreaches in Papua by the Canadian Reformed Church, our Outreach Sunday School - all will bring forth fruits in God’s time. Those who are in the book of life will be there. Hudson Taylor’s converts will be there.

Verse 23 says there is no need of sun or moon - no created light. Why? Because God’s glory brightens heaven. The Lamb is the light. Now what does this mean? We know there's no sea - meaning no evil. So what does sun and moon mean? And how can there be a sun and moon inside a city? What's the meaning here? Listen to what Isaiah 24:23 says about the final judgment - “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” Even the sun and moon will be humbled by the greater light of God. But it’s the implication of this light. Verse 24 describes the consequence. We see that the nations will walk in the light. All nations will be there. John can see. We’re not uniform there. We are one human race, but from every color, language, nation. There’ll be every shade of brown in heaven. The sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite all remain as such. All our distinctiveness will remain. Males will be males, females will be females. Jesus redeemed the church from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. The gospel will succeed in bringing in all people. The work of missionaries will be successful. Jon and Bak in the Philippines, the outreaches in Papua by the Canadian Reformed Church, our Outreach Sunday School - all will bring forth fruits in God’s time. Those who are in the book of life will be there. Hudson Taylor’s converts will be there.

There is no sun and moon because they’re redundant. God’s light permeates all things, and all of God’s different people will be there. That's why there’s also an absence of darkness. Verse 25 says - "And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” There’s no night, so that’s why the gates will never shut. They’re always open because it’s always day. Now, is this all telling us that there’s no night time? It’s not a 24 hour day? Then how does the tree of life have its respiration at night if it's always doing photosynthesis? The significance must not be lost on us. In ancient times, the gates of cities would be closed at night time. This was to protect the city from intruders. But we know there are no enemies in heaven because they’ve been cast into the lake of fire. So what’s the point of saying that the gates are open because there’s no night? The point is this - there’s a continual stream coming in. Verse 26 - the gates will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. This is the same idea as in verse 24 - the nations will walk into the light of the city, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory. Meaning, in heaven, God’s people will be glorious. We will always be glorifying God with what we do. We will be working. Our work will be glorious - it will produce the finest things in heaven. We will have the finest fellowship. No conflict - only exciting conversations. No blaming in heaven. Only praising. There, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do - we’d be doing it to the glory of God.

And lastly, there’s the absence of sin. Verse 27 says that nothing that defiles or no abomination shall enter the city. Now, these two words were used to describe Babylon. Revelation 17:4 describe her as the source of filthiness and abomination. Her people worship money, false doctrine, and self. But Christ’s people reject these things. They serve God not mammon. They love the truth, not falsehood. They deny self. And now, in heaven, they always love God. They always love their fellow man. We know what it’s like to struggle with lust, with rage and anger, with bitterness, with wanting to win every argument - but in heaven there’s none of that. No temple because there’s no barrier to God. No light, because we’re walking the light of God. No darkness, because we’re glorifying God with our daily work. No sin, no sin! Every thought, action, and word will be always perfectly good.

Today, Christian, you can’t live this life. But in Christ, you catch a glimpse of it if you surrender. Some of you are trying to live your best life now, but your best life is in heaven. You want everything now, but you’ll get far better in heaven. Why did Christ resurrect? So that we’d have new lives. So what must you do? “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Those of you who are struggling with your faith, you’ve not confessed your faith, you still want what this life is offering, you’re not living the Christian life - you have it all wrong. You’re settling for dung. You’re eating pig’s food. You regard pig’s food as the marriage supper. But you’re followers of the Lamb. Return to him. He has opened the way for you to be with God in fairer worlds on high. Come. And you will one day, because of his Resurrection, be resurrected to this kind of life. Let your hearts be comforted and challenged by these words.

1. What’s Beautiful About Our Eternal Home

                A. Its beautiful name 

                B. Its beautiful description

                C. Its beautiful significance 

                D. Its beautiful worth

2. What’s Absent from Our Eternal Home

                A. The absence of a temple

                B. The absence of light

                C. The absence of darkness

                D. The absence of sin

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