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"It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Rev. 21:12-14 NIV).
Today I received an email from a good friend who is moving West to a city where he and his wife will live in a "gated community." He says that when he "launches" to Heaven that he wants to be able to leave his wife in a secure situation. I applaud him for that. And I applaud God for creating for us a divine "gated community" in a place we call Heaven. There are twelve gates (remember, the wall runs 1,400 miles each way), spaced out as described in our text. Each of these gates are guarded by an angel. On each gate is inscribed the name of a tribe of Israel. (Which one is your favorite?) On each massive foundation stone (elaborately decorated with precious stones - vs. 19-20) you will find the name of an apostle (Which one is your favorite?). Heaven - the ultimate "gated community."
But there is more information about The Gated City. "The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl" (v. 21). Now that just blows my mind! My mother always wore a simple strand of pearls on Sunday morning. I loved to look at their luster. But here are massive gates - 12 of them - and each one made of a single pearl! Remember that the city is as high as it is wide and long (v. 16) - 1,400 miles! Only God could make a city like this! He must like pearls because they are mention in Rev. 17:4; 18:12; 18:16; and 21:21. Pearls are made through tribulation. Heaven is for those who have been born out of great tribulation (Rev. 7:14). Won't it be wonderful to visit each one of these gates, reach out and touch them, enjoy their beauty, think about the relevance of the name of Jacob's sons on each one? And then to meet them (and the apostles) in person? And our loved ones! "Dad! Mom! I'm so glad to see you again!" And of course the Lamb? Heaven! Don't miss it for the world!
Oh, one more thing! "On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there" (v. 25). As Charles Gabriel wrote in his great hymn "Where the Gates Swing Outward Never."
Hymn: "My loved ones are gathering yonder, My friends too are passing away, And soon I will join their bright number, and dwell in eternity's day; They're safe now in glory with Jesus, Their trials and battles are past, They overcame sin and the tempter, They've reached that fair city at last. In that bright city, pearly white city, I have a mansion, a harp, and a crown; Now I am watching, waiting, and longing, for the White City that's soon coming down!" (Arthur Ingler)
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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"It had a great, high wall...He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick...The wall was made of jasper...The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone...Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:12, 17, 18, 19, 27 NIV).
The footnote in the NIV states that 144 cubits is 200 feet (or 65 meters). That's how thick the wall of Heaven is. The Shining City is 12,000 stadia high, wide, and long. The footnote says that translates to 1,400 miles (about 2,200 kilometers). That's some wall for sure! But why a wall? The last verse in the chapter gives us the answer: so that nothing impure will ever enter. "Pure" is an operative word in this chapter: (vs. 18, 21). God does not want any form of impurity in His Holy City. "Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood" (Rev. 22:15). This is why personal purity, godliness and holiness is so important. "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).
I have not seen the Great Wall of China but because of John's vision I have been able to visualize the Great Wall of Heaven. The Great Wall of China can be breached but not so the Great Wall of Heaven. Our loved ones are safe in Heaven. We will be safe and secure when we join them there. Don't miss Heaven for the world!
Hymn: "There's a holy and beautiful city Whose builder and maker is God; John saw it descending from Heaven, When Patmos, in exile, he trod; Its high, massive wall is of jasper, The city itself is pure gold; and when my frail tent here is folded, mine eyes shall its glory behold...No sin is allowed in that city and nothing defiling or mean; no pain and no sickness can enter, no crepe on the doorknob is seen; Earth's sorrows and cares are forgotten, No tempter is there to annoy; No parting words ever are spoken, There's nothing to hurt or destroy" (Arthur Ingler).
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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"It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal" (Rev. 21:11 NIV).
When I was a student in Bible college (1964-1968) I conducted a student ministry at Promise City, Iowa. I would leave Ottumwa (home of my alma mater, Midwestern) early on Sunday, drive 60-some miles to Promise City, and preach for both the morning and evening service. By the time I returned to Ottumwa on Highway 63 in the evening it was dark. But I remember topping the crest of a hill overlooking Ottumwa and seeing the sparkling lights of the city. They sparkled like jewels in the night. The city was shining, even though it was night. I was almost home.
Can you see Heaven in the distance? It shines with the glory of God. It's brilliance is like that of sparkling jewels. As we will see later, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp" (v. 23). The presence of God and Christ are the source of light in the Shining City. There will be no night there, no darkness, no gloom, no cloudy days, no games will be called on account of rain. The glory of God is the cause of its brilliance. There is not a city in the world that can match the description found in our text. Even Paris or Rome has is grime and crime. Not so, Heaven. I would not miss Heaven for the world, would you?
Hymn: "In heaven, no drooping, nor pining, No wishing for elsewhere to be, God's light is forever there shining, How beautiful heaven must be" (Mrs. A. S. Bridgewater)
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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"Then one of the seven angels...came to me...saying, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.' 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, having the glory of God" (Rev. 21:9, 10 NKJV).
Are you ready for a "sneak peek" of Heaven? Are you excited about this "coming attraction"? John was so bless to be "carried away" to a vantage point where he could behold the great city and give us a detailed description. The first thing we notice about it is that the great city was full of "the glory of God." the Greek word for "glory" is doxa, from which we get "doxology." It means "dignity, honor, praise, worship, glory." In Rev. 15:8 John described worship in heaven. "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power..." This scene is reminiscent of Isaiah's vision. "I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple...And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke" (Isa. 6:1, 4). The seraphim has been singing, "The whole earth is full of His glory" (v. 3).
Heaven will be filled with the glory of God. Our sufferings here cannot compare with that glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18). Glory is not just for God; it is for us as well. When Jesus comes again to take us with Him to Heaven, He is coming "to be glorified in His saints" (2 Thess. 1:10). We shall be like Him and we shall share in His glory - the glory of God which is in Heaven!
Hymn: "We will glorify the King of kings, we will glorify the Lamb; we will glorify the Lord of lords, Who is the great I AM" (Twila Paris).
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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In 1912 a man named James Rowe sat down and wrote a beautiful poem about Heaven that was set to music in the same year by Samuel W. Beazley, "Home of the Soul." I used to hear this song sung at camp meetings and it still bless me, even though the words are now nearly 100 years old.
If for the prize we have striven, after our labors are o'er.
Rest to our souls will be given, On the eternal shore.
Yes, a sweet rest is remaining for the true children of God,
Where there will be no complaining, never a chastening rod.
Soon, the bright homeland adorning, we shall behold the glad dawn;
Lean on the Lord till the morning, trust till the night is gone.
Refrain:
Home of the soul, blessed kingdom of light, free from all care, and where falleth no night. Oft in the storm we are sighing for Thee, beautiful home of the ransomed beside the crystal sea.
Words like these come from two sources: Scripture and the longing in the heart of man for a "bright homeland." The ancients "declare plainly that they seek a homeland...a better, that is, a heavenly country" (Heb. 11:15, 16 NKJV). And, "there remains a rest for the people of God" (Heb. 4:9 NKJV). And of course, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them" (Rev. 21:3 NIV).
Prayer: Loving Lord, we thank You for that "beautiful home of the ransomed beside the crystal sea."
Next week we will begin a journey through Revelation 21 & 22.
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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The apostle Paul draws a contrast for us in 2 Corinthians 5:6. "So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord" (NKJV). Think about it. We are at home in the body. You say, "That sounds good." Well, it can be. It is, in fact. But think of it like Paul does. As long as we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. Now, is that good? No, it is not. So Paul goes on to say, "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord" (v. 8).
During the Civil War a general walked from camp fire to camp fire one evening telling his troops, "Boys, don't drive your tent stakes too deep because we're moving on in morning!" That's good advice for us too. We are going to switch homes some day. Right now we are at home in the body - maybe too much so? But when we become "absent from the body" (i.e., when we die) we will be "present with the Lord" (i.e, at home with Him in Heaven). So, "don't drive your tent stakes too deep because we're moving on in the morning!"
Hymn: "When all my labors and trials are o'er, and I am safe on that beautiful shore, just to be near the dear Lord I adore will through the ages be glory for me" (Charles H. Gabriel).
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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"...because man goeth to his long home..." (Ecc. 12:5 KJV).
I remember one of my professors in Bible college pointing this verse out to me many years ago. The phrase "man's long home" has stuck with me ever since. Here is how it reads in the NKJV: "For man goes to his eternal home." The NIV translates it nearly the same.The context is a man who has grown old and is nearing death. I think of my own father, just a few months ago now, who died on April 25 at the age of 93. Dad has gone to his "long home" - his "eternal home." And for that I am thankful, even though I miss him so.
No home on this earth has been, is or ever will be a "long home" - an "eternal home." Everything here is terminal. Everything there is eternal. Once you get to Heaven you are there forever and ever and ever. You will never want to leave. You will not even think about leaving and moving on to somewhere else. You will be content as never before. Nail it to the wall of your heavenly mansion: "Home, Eternal Home."
How many times have you heard a loved one say, "I just want to go home." They are not talking about the home of their youth, or some former home. They are thinking and dreaming and talking and longing for their "long home." How good of God to prepare for us a home in Glory. It will be the most comfortable home you have ever lived in. You can settle down in it forever and ever and ever! No house payments. No repairs. No eviction notices. No "eminent domain" kicking you out. No thieves breaking in. Just home, home eternal, home sweet home!
Hymn: "O Beulah land, sweet Beulah land, as on thy highest mount I stand, I look away across the sea, where mansions are prepared for me, and view the shining glory shore, my heaven, my home forevermore!" (Edgar Page Stites).
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines brighter unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18 NKJV).
Paths start somewhere and they lead to somewhere else. If you get off the path you may become lost. So the writer reminds us about "the path of the just." We got on that path because Someone justified us from our sins. He intends for us to stay on that path. It is not a dark path either. It is like the shining sun and it shines brighter to the perfect day. That day is when we will all reach out eternal destination - Heaven! If you stay on the path, you can't miss it!
John J. Lawrence said, "All trails of God lead home." Notice: All trails of GOD. The devil's trails lead somewhere else. The world's trails lead somewhere else. But God's trails will lead us home - all the way home to Heaven! (See Matthew 7:13, 14).
God's Trails Lead Home (by John R. Clements)
God's trails lead home,
To home beyond the blue,
To yon fair land
Where all is real and true.
God's trails lead home,
The home of endless day,
The land of peace
Whose sun shines on for aye.
God's trails lead home
To where our loved ones dwell,
Where Jesus reigns
And heavenly anthems swell.
God's trails lead home,
The home of timeless years,
The land of love,
Where all unknown are tears.
Prayer: Loving Father, in Jesus' name, we thank You for making us just and setting us on the path that leads to Heaven. Keep us on the straight and narrow path that leads to everlasting life.
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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The other day I was leafing through the bound volume of the 1953 weekly journal, Voice of Evangelism. In the April 17 issue I found this dandy, "Heaven is Our Home."
At our best estate, we are only pilgrims and strangers here. Heaven is our home! Death will never knock at the door of that mansion, and in all that country there is not a single grave. How glad parents are in holiday times to gather their children home again! But I have noticed that there is almost always a son or a daughter absent - absent from home, perhaps absent from country, perhaps absent from the world. Oh, how glad our heavenly Father will be when He gets all His children home with Him in Heaven! And how delightful it will be for brothers and sisters to meet after long separation! Once they parted at the door of the tomb; now they meet at the door of immortality. Once there, let earthly sorrows howl like storms and roll like seas. Home! Let thrones crumble and empires wither. Home! Let the world die in earthquake struggle and be buried . Home! Let everlasting ages roll irresistible sweep. Home! No sorrow, no crying, no tears, no death. Home, sweet home - home, beautiful home! Home everlasting, home with each other, home with God!
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:3, 4 NKJV).
Hymn: Walking along the road one day, I heard a voice so sweetly say, 'A place up in Heaven I am building thee, a beautiful, beautiful home.' Home, sweet home, Home, sweet home. Where I'll never roam; I see the light of that city so bright, My home, sweet home!"
(N. R. Vandall)
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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"Then I heard a great voice from the throne crying: 'See! The home of God is with men, and he will live among them. They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them..." (Rev. 21:3, The New Testament in Modern English, J. B. Phillips).
In verse one John talked about what he saw (the new Jerusalem). Now he writes about what he heard (the abode, or dwelling place, of God). We have already seen that Heaven is the home of God (Deut. 26:15; 1 Kings 8:30; 2 Chron. 30:27; Isa. 66:1 et al). But now we see that Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, the Redeemer of Man, the Sustainer of Life, is willing to share His home in Heaven with us. Not only does He live within us (Isa. 57:15; John 14:23) but He will live among us in Heaven. I can't think of any world ruler who would allow that to happen, can you? The White House is sometimes called "the peoples' house" but that is only true during visiting hours. Then, unless you have been invited to stay overnight, you are out of there. Not so with God. Not so with Heaven.
The Amplified New Testament says, "The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them, and they shall be His people and God shall personally be with them and be their God." President Teddy Roosevelt was a rugged individualist who loved the great outdoors. I imagine it was a real thrill when friends of the president went "tenting" with him on some of his outdoor excursions. But that pales in comparison with "tenting" with God. He is saying, in essence, "My home is your home. Make yourself at home." He will no doubt visit every mansion in heaven. A knock is heard at the door. "Will you see who that is, dear?" "It's God Himself who has come to see us!" Unlike Adam and Eve in the Garden, we will not scurry to hide or be overcome with fear. For "the home of God is with men." How wonderful is that? In our homes on earth we may have verses from God on our walls, but in Heaven we will have visits from God in our homes!
Hymn/Prayer: "Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last, Till safe in glory my anchor is cast; Through endless ages, ever to be, Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee" (Mrs. C. H. Morris).
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| Posted by Victor Knowles at | | | |
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