Revelation 21:9-27

(Revelation 21:9-27)

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,  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:  On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 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, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;  The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 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. 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. 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.  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.

 

In the biblical record, when people come into contact with punishment from God, judgment, disaster, etc., people generally think only of fear and trembling. These attitudes and thoughts have a profound effect on the life of faith. This attitude, despite the necessity to live a right and holy life, leads to a life of faith with negative motives for avoiding the terrible judgment.

 

So, sometimes the life of faith is burdensome, and there is a lot of dismissal for taking something that one can enjoy. This is because people think that life of faith is a series of hardships, difficult, difficult, fearful, wrongful, and catastrophic. However, contrary to the thoughts of people who misunderstand the life of faith, it is not the life of faith that they are obsessed with the law and live in fear and burden.


The Lord said in Matthew 11:28-29.『Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 』
The Bible says that if you wear the Lord's yoke and learn well, your heart will rest and your faith life will be light. And you will live a life full of gratitude, joy and happiness. Revelation's words about the end are written to give hope and vitality and hope to life, not threats and fears.
So, it should be noted that the record of the end does not focus on judgment and punishment, but on the new heavens and the new earth. This is because the book of Revelation applies to all people, but especially to the suffering Saints.

 

The book of Revelation describes the new heaven and earth, the eternal dwellings of the saints, as if the beauty and appearance of heaven were decorated with precious stones. It also suggests the qualifications of those who can enter here. Heaven is a glorious and blessed country that cannot be described in human language. It is a place of eternal life, joy, and rest. There is no sin and evil, no pain, suffering, and hard work. It is the place where the Lord Jesus washes away all the tears in our eyes and gives eternal happiness and joy.

The holy city, New Jerusalem, points to heaven, the new home of the saved saints. Such a new Jerusalem expressed that the preparation was as if the bride had dressed up for her husband. Heaven is where God is. It is a promise that people who have kept the word of God's covenant will be given the grace to become God's people. God's new covenant is a promise that the dead with Jesus Christ will become one with God in Christ. The kingdom of God is where pain and tears have disappeared.


『And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 』This means that Christ will comfort, eradicate, and ultimately win the tribulation, persecution, and suffering that the Saints who live by obeying the gospel of Christ on earth will suffer. At the time of the Revelation, the situation of the Early Church was very harsh for the Saints. There were many Christians who died keeping their faith in severe persecution. Even in these circumstances, it was because of Heavenly Father's promises to them that they did not change their faith.

 

In addition, the kingdom of God is decorated with various beautiful gems. Jewel symbolizes suffering. Because jewelry is born in suffering. So, heaven is a place where there are no blemishes, no evil, no dark nights, the light of the eternal glory of God, and no lack. Heaven is the place where repentants and believers enter. 『And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15). The kingdom of heaven is where the "persecuted for righteousness" enters. The Bible says that these people cannot enter heaven. 『Fearers, unbelievers, wicked people, murderers, hangers, drinkers (shamans), idolaters, lying people, those who are deceived, those who do detestable things”

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