Rome and the false prophet are now cast into the lake of fire (19:20).  Satan too will face that fate (20:10), but for now he is bound for a period of time wherein he is limited in the evil that he will be able to do (20:1-3).  The Lord has also foretold of the final Judgment Day that will come wherein Rome, the false prophet, Satan, and all whose names are not in the book of life shall be cast into eternal damnation (20:14-15).  The church has overcome the battle Satan has waged on her through Rome.  Now the bride of Christ, the church, is going to be presented in a glorious state.  The persecution that brought death, sorrow, and pain by the beast is now over and will not affect Christians any longer.  The church is shown here to John as beautiful, majestic, and complete.

21:1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

• John sees a new heaven and a new earth with the former having passed away.  Isaiah said something similar twice in his writings that may help us in our study of this verse: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17).  “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain” (Isaiah 66:22).
• When Isaiah spoke of the new heaven and a new earth he was speaking of a new place for Judah, a rebuilt Jerusalem, when they came out of Babylonian captivity.  Ezekiel says this was a new heart and spirit for God’s people (Ezekiel 36:26-36).
• Peter later speaks of a new heaven and earth (II Peter 3:13).  This being when the earth is destroyed (II Peter 3:9-12).
• So, this verse could take on one of two meanings.  We could be talking about eternal life as our new heaven and new earth.  Or, we could be talking about the church in a new period without the persecution of Rome.  A time when the church is glorified and protected, much like Judah was post Babylonian captivity.
• Since there are two possible meanings we must allow the context to bare out the meaning of this part of verse one.
• What does it mean that there was no more sea?  It could mean the sea being a body of water was destroyed, or it could mean society.  If we are talking in this context about the destruction of the earth it could very well mean a body or bodies of water.  Let us remember that the sea in earlier chapters was a place where people died, not a body of water (16:3).  In fact, the sea was what Rome was raised up from (13:1).  The sea, if we continue in what has been set forth throughout previous chapters, would be society.  In fact, it was the people that helped Rome bring persecution upon the church.  If it is indeed society we know that particular society has now ended (Revelation 19:21).

• Ah, clarity now comes from this second verse.  There are undeniable truths presented here that show that we are not talking about heaven in this context, the end of the earth, or anything akin to it.  We are talking about the glorified church.  How can we know?
• Heaven does not come down from Heaven.  At the end of this life we will go up to Heaven, not wait for Heaven to descend to us (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).  When the end comes Christ will deliver UP his kingdom to the Father, not bring it down (I Corinthians 15:24).
• Secondly, what is the bride of Christ?  The church is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:32; cf. vs. 22-31).
• God has placed the church upon a spiritual mountain (Isaiah 2:2-3 and Micah 4:1-2).  The church is now glorified instead of petrified.  The church is prepared for her husband, which is Christ.  We will see the beauty of the church through this chapter and how God describes her adornment.
• In fact, we know that we are not talking about Heaven here because verse seven promises an inheritance yet to come.  Heaven is eternal.  There is no reward or punishment beyond the eternal reward or punishment.

• The church is the tabernacle, the dwelling place of God (I Corinthians 3:16-17 and I Timothy 3:15).
• The promise that God will dwell with us [the church], be our God, and that we will be His people is fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:33; cf. Hebrews 8:10-13).

• When Judah was defended by God the Lord said he had taken the tears from their eyes and swallowed up victory in death (Isaiah 25:8).  This was long before Christ came and died on the cross at Calvary, thus the meaning was that Judah should not suffer at the hands of her oppressors any longer.  The same is true in this context.  Christians would not have any more tears, sorrow, pain, or death at the hand of Rome.
• That time has ended.
• We should not dismiss that Heaven will be a place of eternal joy.  We know that eternity will be a place of comfort where there will be no tears or physical needs to suffer from (Revelation 7:13-17).

• John is told to write these things.  The saints need encouragement.  What the Lord says is true and He is faithful to His word (Hebrews 6:18 and Titus 1:2).

• It is done, or it is finish, supplies the finality of what the church has faced.  This is consistent with the book of Revelation.
• Jesus is the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8; 22:13).
• He gives the water of eternal life (John 4:13-14 and Revelation 22:17).

• Those who overcome, because time has not ended yet, have a reward awaiting them.  Eternity is yet to come.

• Those who follow in the path of the beast and all other sinners, shall have their fate sealed in eternal punishment along with the beast, false prophet, and Satan himself (Revelation 20:10; 13-15).

• One of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the last seven plaques (chapter 16), brings this vision to John.  This may be the same angel that showed John God’s judgment against the city of Rome (17:1).  What a contrast of messages this is for John to see from this angel of the Lord.
• The great city, holy Jerusalem, is the church (Hebrews 12:22-23).  Let us remember from verses one and two that we are talking about the bride of Christ, the church in this context.  What John will see is a figurative depiction of the church.  The church adorned [decorated as if with ornaments] as the bride of Christ (vs. 2).
• Again, we see the church coming down, not going up.  This is not Heaven (see notes on verse 2)!

• We begin talking of the church having the glory of God.
• We see the term “like”, signifying a simile.  This is how the context is portrayed.  This is not literal, it is figurative.  The beauty of the church is described through the image the Lord has in His eyes of His beautiful bride.
• For example, when I see Katrina coming down the stairs from above, she shines like a bright and beautiful star, with eyes of sapphire, and the walk of a princess.  She stands as a high wall, adorned in gold and valuable jewels.  On and on I could go using similar terms to describe the beauty of my wife (I can imagine the embarrassment I am causing her by writing this).  The Lord is describing His bride which appears beautiful to Him and He will use carnal terms to explain His image of His bride to us.
• The Lord would not reveal carnal pleasures to us from above as a description of Heaven, for He desires our thinking to be spiritual (Romans 8:6; 12:1-2, and I Corinthians 3:1).  He does not want our desire of Heaven to be a carnal lust.
• The shining of the bride of Christ is like a stone of jasper [precious stone of various colors (for some are purple, others blue, others green, and others the color of brass)].  The clear crystal appearance could very well speak towards the purity of the bride of Christ having no blemishes.

• The bride of Christ is a protected city with the angels as her guard against spiritual invasion.  They would assure that the only entrants would be those who are properly clothed (Matthew 22:2-14 and Galatians 3:27).
• The twelve gates would signify that those who make their calling an election sure will have an entrance supplied abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:10-11).

• Four directions of openings would suggest to us that the kingdom of God is open for citizens to come from all directions (Matthew 24:14).

• Again, we know we are talking about the church because the Apostles are part of the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:19-20).

• The angel that spoke with Paul could measure the entrance and protection of the bride of Christ.  The results of his measurements will follow in our context.

• Eight furlongs equal one mile.  Thus, we are talking of a measurement of 1500 miles.  This is a 1500 mile four cornered city that is equal in length, height, and breadth.  The kingdom of the Lord is not small.  The saved from generations past and those to come make up the bride of Christ.
• Some who would stack these numbers to be a measurement of Heaven have missed that Heaven is not a carnal location (I Corinthians 15:45-50).  For those who claim Palestine will be the city of Heaven literally, the measurement here would dispose of that idea if all were literal.

• The angel is using calculations of man, or measurements that man would use.
• We see the number one hundred and forty four.  If literal, the walls would be about eight foot walls.
• One hundred and forty four is twelve multiplied by itself, therefore signifying the complete protection of the bride of Christ.

• The wall was as jasper and the city was of gold likened unto clear glass.  Gold is opaque.  How is the city gold and clear at the same time?  Hint - we are not talking about literal things.
• The wall protecting the body of Christ is like a precious stone of jasper.  Jasper is a precious stone of various colors (for some are purple, others blue, others green, and others the color of brass).
• The city being like gold would show the beauty and value of the bride of Christ.  We understand the value of Gold.  The bride of Christ is arrayed as such.  While gold however, the bride of Christ is like clear glass.  There are no spots as the blood of Christ has cleansed those who make up His body (Revelation 1:5).

• For the third time we see a comparison to jasper (vs. 11, 18, and now).  The foundation of the church is Christ and the Apostles (Ephesians 2:19-20).
• The precious stones that show the beauty of the foundation of the church are:
• Jasper is a precious stone of various colors (for some are purple, others blue, others green, and others the color of brass).
• Sapphire which is a gem variety of corundum in transparent or translucent crystals of a color other than red; especially: one of a transparent rich blue.
• Chalcedony is a precious stone of misty grey color, clouded with blue, yellow, or purple.
• Emerald is a transparent precious stone noted especially for its light green color.
• Sardonyx is a precious stone marked by the red colors of the carnelian (sard) and the white of the onyx.
• Sardius is a precious stone of which there are two types, the former is called a carnelian (because flesh colored) and the latter a sard.
• Chrysolite is a precious stone of golden color.
• Beryl is a precious stone of a pale green color.
• Topaz is a greenish yellow precious stone.
• Chrysoprasus is a stone of green colour, inclined to that of gold.
• Jacinth or hyacinth, the name of a flower, also of a precious stone of the same colour, a dark blue verging on black.
• Amethyst is a precious stone of a violet and purple color.

• The twelve gates are described as pearls (see notes on verse 12).
• The streets of gold are so pure that they appear as transparent (see notes on verse 18).

• While heaven has a temple (Revelation 7:14-15); the bride of Christ, the church, is God’s temple (I Timothy 3:15 and Revelation 3:12).

• We sing how there is “no night there” based upon this verse in regards to Heaven.  Surely, where God is there will be no darkness.  God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (I John 1:5).  Thus, saying we are talking about the church does not change the beautiful thoughts of Heaven we have through the Scriptures.  After all, the church will be raised up and handed over to the Father in the final day (I Corinthians 15:24).
• The church is not a place of spiritual darkness because we walk in the light (I John 1:7).  This does not occur in Heaven alone.
• The gates will not be shut by day and there is no night.  Thus, the gates are always pen in God’s holy city, the church.  This permits freedom in coming (Acts 2:41) and going (I Corinthians 10:12).  Entrance and departure are a choice and the open gates are not a weakness in defense.

• The glory and honor of all nations will make up the body of Christ.  The Gospel is taught throughout the whole world (Matthew 28:19), and those who obey it are of many nations.

• We conclude this chapter with a verse that some could find confusing in light of our context.  One might wonder if we are now talking about Heaven since no one that defileth, worketh abominations, or makes a lie can enter.  One might wonder how one’s name can be in the Lamb’s book of life prior to being added to the body of Christ, the church.  The point is this, the saved make up the church.  One is converted and THEN added to the body of Christ (Acts 2:47).  The lost are not saved, their names are not in the book of life, and they cannot be added to the church.
• The Lamb’s book of life contains the names of those who are saved.  Once in the Lamb’s book of life you can be removed (Revelation 22:19).  What does that prove?  It proves that the Lamb’s book of life is made up of the saved who can fall away and not those who are already in Heaven.  Further evidence that we are talking of the church and not Heaven.
• This verse is similar to what our Lord said while on earth: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [restricted] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

We Will Conclude our Study of Revelation in Next Week’s Bulletin…