Week of September 20

Dorothy, the fictional character in the “Wizard of Oz,” wanted to get back to Kansas, but every real believer in Christ wants to live forever with Him in the New Jerusalem. We should be reminded that the first verse in the book of Revelation tells us that the rest of that account would be about God’s revelation to His church—a revelation about Jesus Christ (HCBC). John’s vision has unfolded throughout the book, but he now throws open wide the doors to the future and shows Jesus Christ, standing amid the churches, to “weary and persecuted” Christians. He is the one who takes us home! Let’s be encouraged today.

Kendell Easley writes that the city of Jerusalem reached the pinnacle of magnificence during the reign of Solomon (ca. 950 B.C.; HNTC). Solomon, the wise king, ruled as David’s son, and the temple stood as a testimony to Israel’s God. Jerusalem was the envy of the nations. This brief era passed, the kingdom was divided into two, the people practiced idolatry, and the temple was demolished and burned to the ground by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The temple was destroyed, but it lived on in the hearts of the people. John’s vision of a new Jerusalem in Revelation 21 surpasses anything that the old age could have imagined. 

John envisions the holy bride’s city in chapter 21. The old earth had been destroyed in chapter 16 and, at the beginning of the final judgment, the “earth and sky fled” from God’s presence (20:11). God raises a new heaven and earth following the horrible end to the previous earth. I find it difficult to wrap my mind around it, which is understandable, because it will surpass anything that we could ever imagine (e.g. life on earth without a sun, 21:13).

Images from Old Testament prophets. However, there are several things we can grasp with our minds and hearts. Multiple strands of Old Testament prophecy come together in John’s mind as he shows us the fulfillment of prophecies about the temple and Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 60, 65; Ezekiel 40-48). The church is called the bride (21:2). God provides those who are thirsty a drink from the spring of the water of life (21:6). The sea is gone, but the new Jerusalem is fed by the river of the water of life (22:1) and the “tree of life” (22:2). You may be wondering what these images mean and how they impact our lives today. We all long to live with the confidence and security of the end times in the present time!

Eternally secure in God’s presence. We know that this vision of a holy city where we and God will dwell resides in the hearts of all true believers (cf. Hebrews 11:10; 13:14). This new city which we see by faith will come as a gift from the Father (21:2, “coming down out of heaven”). The city is a “bride,” meaning we will enjoy a personal relationship with God. 

Unbroken fellowship. The image of marriage indicates that we will enjoy a unique communion with God and with others in this city. There will be no evil present, because the bride is pure and devoted to God. God’s dwelling with His people is a fulfillment of Leviticus 26:11-13 (EBC). This was a promise that the old Jerusalem forfeited because of its apostasy. We should also recall the loss of fellowship with God that was experienced in Genesis 3 (cf. Exodus 25:8; Ezekiel 37:26-27). In the new city, Christians will not only live as full citizens, but God’s residence will be there forever. All the brokenness of the previous life will be removed forever as we dwell in the Lord’s presence! Be encouraged by God’s promises today.

My family began a remarkable friendship with the Scroggins family in the 1960s. I’ll never forget the day when Ray and Peggy invited my family to drive north of Houston to a new area in Conroe, Texas. We arrived to find a beautiful, wooded lot with two signs nailed to a tree. One of the signs had “Scroggins” painted on it and the other one read, “Ashlock.” They indicated to us that their future home would always be our home, and this was the case for more than fifty years! Ray and Peggy were a constant source of encouragement and hope to me throughout their lifetimes. They kept their word and, as a result, I have always been at home with them. 

Here is the spiritual point. God has recorded the names of all true believers who will be residents in the New Jerusalem (21:27)! Your name is etched into the Book of Life, so keep the New Jerusalem in your heart every day. We will soon be home.

1. All of us will know the tragedy of breaking our commitments to God and suffering the loss of fellowship with Him. God, however, has made each one of us, who has received His grace, a bride in Christ. Our fellowship with Him is secure in and through Christ (1 Peter 1:3-5)! Thank Him for your new life in Christ.

2. Countless living souls walk inside the doors of our church facilities on the Lord’s Day with broken hearts and lives. Their vision of their certain glorious future, which should be clear, is instead clouded by smoke from the smoldering ashes of their present lives. Make Sunday worship so much about Jesus and the coming Holy City that nothing can obscure their view and hope in their eternal home.

3. For Families: Anthony DeStefano has written a lovely book for children about Heaven, God’s Home, based upon the Bible’s descriptions of life there with Him. Some afternoon, curl up in an easy chair and invite your young ones to watch this story, read by the author. Reassure your family that Heaven will be more wonderful than we could ever dream. God will be there, and nothing could possibly be better than that! Click here to watch and listen: A Travel Guide to Heaven for Kids

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

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