| A VIEW OF HEAVEN PART 2 We are looking at the view of heaven as given to us in Revelation, chapters 21 and 22. We begin this week in Revelation 21:19. “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third chalcedony; the fourth an emerald; the fifth sardonyx; the sixth , sardis; the seventh chrysolyte; the eighth beryl; the nineth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.” To some, these passages are difficult to understand because it's hard to correlate the minerals named in the text with those identified by minerologists today. The names of precious stones were used loosely in ancient times. We do know that on the breastplate of the high priest Aaron, according to Exodus 28, were twelve precious stones. There seems to be some connection between the twelve foundation stones in the new Jerusalem and the stones in Aaron’s breastplate, but they are not named in the same order. Again, the thought is perfect beauty. Imagine a place where precious stones are found in such abundance. Nothing like this is known on earth; but the beauty of heaven, the eternal home that God has prepared for those who love Him, is greater than anything this world can understand. “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass” (21:21). It has been suggested by some that the gates are pearl because the pearl is the only precious stone that is made through suffering of a creature. Perhaps this may be reading too much symbolism into the text, but it is true that we enter the heavenly city through suffering, not only the suffering of Christ, but our own suffering. This is the theme throughout the book of Revelation. Imagine a pearl that is so gargantuan in size that a hole has to be cut through it to enter something else. The use of the singular here (“the street”) gives us the impression that there is only one street in heaven, but perhaps the word is used in the generic sense. “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 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” (21:22-23). Christ is often referred to as the Lamb in many parts of Revelation, as it is here. Isaiah 60 provides a background for what is said here. Isaiah 60:19-20 reads, “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. The sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” There is no need for any kind of light. God Himself will illuminate heaven, and the Lamb will be the Lamp. Christ will be the center of everything in heaven. All glory will be ascribed to Him. “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it” (21:24-26). We find in Isaiah 60:3-5 some similarity with what John is recording here. If you try to imagine these things literally, you will have a problem here because the New Testament seems to be picturing nations outside the wall; but the symbolism is borrowed from an earthly situation. The point of the nations coming in and bringing their glory is not that nations as we know them will continue to exist in heaven but that all of the redeemed of all the nations will be able to enter there. There’ll be no night there because of perpetual light; the gate will never be closed; heaven will be safe forever. In addition to the perfect access, perfect strength, perfect protection, there will be perfect salvation. We see also that some will be excluded in verse 27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” (22:1-5). In these verses the thought of two Old Testament passages is combined. The picture of the garden of Eden -- the original paradise where there was a river which flowed to become four rivers and also the tree of life. Man was forbidden to eat from the tree of life, and his way was barred from paradise by the angel with the flaming sword. The other picture is found in Ezekiel 47 where Ezekiel the prophet pictures a river that flows out from under the altar, comes out of the temple, makes its way down into the Arabah, the channel that carries the Jordan’s waters, and finally comes all the way down to the Dead Sea. John is definitely using both the Eden symbolism and the symbolism of Ezekiel 47. The healing of the nations means that all the wounds that this world has inflicted will be taken away, and mankind will be safe in the hands of God. This is a beautiful view of heaven, but there is more. This is discussed in other articles in this link. Bill Young |
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