I recently moved from a small town in Kentucky (probably less than 3,000 population) to a city in Michigan; that was big change for one from such a small Kentucky town.  A lot of adjustments had to be made to function here and habits rearranged.  We really don't like changes in our lives, even if they are for our good.  But there is a pending move to a City that will bring changes like I've never known before that I am actually looking forward to and it is probably not too far into the future, according to the signs along the way. 

We, as Christians, have in view a City that will surpass everything we could imagine or hope for.  We don't know the whole story, but we have a first-hand account of some of the things we can expect.  It's found in the Bible in the book of Revelation.  While exiled on a desolate island, John saw it in vision and recorded it for our benefit.

“And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven…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” (Revelation 21:2, 10).

John must have been overwhelmed with what he saw!  He said it had the “glory of God.”  The light was like a precious stone clear as crystal; then he went on to describe the physical attributes.

"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...And the wall of the city had twelve foundations" (Revelation 21:10, 14).

I am a curious sort and like to know details, so the city’s description intrigued me.  In the past when I heard teaching on the city, the picture was left with me as “layer upon layer” of twelve foundations, compacted as one, of precious stones as recorded in Revelation 21.  A former pastor,  Rev. J. B. Youngblood, deleted that picture and snapped another. 

But first let’s look at some other facts about the City.  It “came down from God out of Heaven.”  My first thought was, “Wonder what kind of materials God used since he didn’t go to a building supply house on earth for His materials or consult with the local union for laborers?”  The building materials would have to be “heaven-made (created).”  John had to describe what he saw with terms he understood and that other earthlings would comprehend who read his report, so he used terms that are known to us here on earth.

He said the City “lieth four square, and the length is as large as the breadth…and [the] height of it are equal” (Revelation 21:16). The City is a cube, 1,500 miles (12,000 furlongs) each way, width, length, height.  This was where Rev. Youngblood got my full attention.  What was being measured in height?  It is doubtful that God was just measuring the air.  There was a measurable structure reaching "12,000 furlongs" upward.  Webster defines a furlong as one-eighth of a mile.  That's 1,500 miles "up" as well as width and length.  What was “up there”? 

Rev. Youngblood began to fill us in on what he saw when he read John's description.  He said this:  There are twelve levels of the city reaching upward (measurable), each having a foundation; each foundation bearing the name of an apostle (verse 14).  One level has as its foundation jasper, others of sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, crysoslite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprasus, jacinth and amethyst (verse 19).

Considering what the angel explained to John that this City, constructed in Heaven by God that reached upward in height to 1,500 miles and appeared to be “storied” into twelve levels and spanned 1,500 miles in width and 1,500 miles in length, its population capacity would be in the billions, according to one source!

 And Joseph A. Seiss said, "This city has a capacity for more people than could be born on this earth in 10,000 years; for it is estimated that every human being from Adam until now if they were all saved, would hardly fill one corner of the enormous structure"  (Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2005-2006).  I am not able to even comprehend that data!

Each of the city's twelve gates is a pearl; the streets are of gold transparent as glass.  No artificial light is needed, no sun or moon because “the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23).

There is a river of “pure” water, something that isn’t always available on earth now.  It is purified at the Throne of God from which it flows.  On each side of the River of Life are growing ever-bearing trees which produce fruit year round and leaves for healing.  (Revelation 22:1, 2).

Here is the best part—the throne “of God and of the Lamb” is at the head of the River, facing us! and His name is on our foreheads!!  His birth mark is on us!  His Copyright, the Maker's signature, gives Him exclusive right to us.  Only those whose names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life can have this God-given privilege and be "copyrighted" by our Maker.  No one, not even the devil, can override His Makrer's Mark on those He redeemed (at Calvary).

Wow!  What a City!

What a Citizenship!

I realize that my concept is an imperfect description of the magnificent city, but the awesome splendor and glory of the city are not the construction materials, as fabulous as they are, nor the structure itself.  The essence is "of God and of the Lamb" who reside there.

The Glory of the City is somewhat veiled to us now with our limited vision which sees only “through a glass darkly,” but the ‘preview’ we are given in God’s Word is mind-boggling.  Aren’t you excited about the soon-coming clear, full reality?  Don’t you want to be a part of this Kingdom that has such a City as its capitol and the Lord on its throne?   "...Make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King" (Psalm 98:6).  "The Lord reigneth..." (Psalm 97:1).

You can be a part of this Kingdom!  Everyone is invited.  The “Good News” is that when you repent of your sins, allow Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life (become “born again”), God becomes your Father—and He’s the Head of this Empire!  Your name is written in His new-birth record book—The “Lamb’s Book of Life.”  How about that!  You are an heir of God!  And it keeps getting better!

If you haven’t made this decision yet, don’t put it off!  That City may “come down from God out of Heaven” just any day now!  You will not be a part of it if the recording angel can’t find your name in God’s Record of New Births.  You will be considered to be an alien, not a citizen.

Are you a Citizen?!  Are you known in God's Bureau of Vital Statistics (Revelation 20:12)?

If you aren’t and are not sure what to do about this, contact us for suggestions.

~~~Delores~~~

"...Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

 (More on the Glory of God)

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