Sunday, October 14th, 2008 - AM - Life in New Jerusalem, Part Four (Rev. 22:1-5)
Life in New Jerusalem, Part Four
Introduction:
Revelation 22:1–5 KJV 1900
And he shewed 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, and yielded her fruit 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.
Quote - "The glorious fact is not that the past is sullied, dirty, or unclean, but that the future is unsullied." [Craig Brian Larson and Brian Lowery, 1001 Quotations That Connect: Timeless Wisdom for Preaching, Teaching, and Writing (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2009), 161.]
Illustration: Making Homemade Ice Cream
Main Thoughts: Focus on the hope that this description stirs in the heart of finding that city whose builder and Maker is God (Heb. 11:10). Draw the attention to the central focus of the city - The Lord, Lamb Temple, God's People becoming the Holy of Holies into Eternity
Sub-Intro: Whereas the devil had his seductive harlot city (Babylon the Great), the Lord has His beautiful virgin city (New Jerusalem).
Body:
I. New Jerusalem’s Descent (Rev. 21:9-14)
A. John' Invitation to Behold (Rev. 21:9)
B. John's Experience (Rev. 21:10-14)
1. The Brilliance of the City (Rev. 21:11)
2. The Bars (or Walls) of the City (Rev. 21:12-14)
a. The Twelve Foundations: The Twelve Apostles of the Lamb (vv. 12, 14)
b. The Twelve Gates of the City: The Twelve Sons of Israel (vv. 12-13)
II. New Jerusalem’s Description (Rev. 21:15-21)
A. The Broad Measurements of the City (Rev. 21:15-17)
1. The Structure Measured: The City, the Gates, and the Walls ( v. 15)
Note - This is a Protected City
2. The Size Measured: Perfectly Symmetrical (vv. 16-17)
B. The Beautiful Materials of the City (Rev. 21:18-21)
1. Jasper Walls & Clear Crystal City (v. 18)
2. Foundation Stones (vv. 19-20)
3. Gates of Pearl & Streets of Gold (v. 21)
III. New Jerusalem’s Delights (Rev. 21:22-22:5)
A. The Worship of the City (Rev. 21:22)
B. The Illumination of the City (Rev. 21:23)
C. The Enlightenment of the City (Rev. 21:24)
D. The Enterprise of the City (Rev. 21:25-26)
E. The Purity of the City (Rev. 21:27)
F. The Real Paradise City (Rev. 22:1-5)
Note - The River, Trees & Fruits of the City (Rev. 22:1-2)
1. The Waters of Life Flowing (v. 1)
Revelation 22:1 KJV 1900
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Note - Compare Ezekiel 47:1 and Zech. 14:8
Ezekiel 47:1 KJV 1900
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
Zechariah 14:8 KJV 1900
And it shall be in that day,
That living waters shall go out from Jerusalem;
Half of them toward the former sea,
And half of them toward the hinder sea:
In summer and in winter shall it be.
The source of all life comes from God (cf. Jn. 5:26) as this flowing river of life from His throne depicted. John recorded the Lord Jesus’ prediction of the giving of the Spirit of God, saying, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (Jn. 7:38-39). [Strouse, 961–962.]
2. The Tree of Life Healing (v. 2)
Revelation 22:2 KJV 1900
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, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Note - Paradise in Rev. 2:7 with the Tree of Life
Note - John also used "on either side" to describe the Lord crucified between two thieves (John 19:18)
Note - Regarding the Tree, see Ezek. 47:12
Ezekiel 47:12 KJV 1900
And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
Note - For the healing of the nations, two possibilities:
This prompts the question about “healing” in the perfect environment of the New Jerusalem in the New Heavens and Earth. This may mean that the scenario harked back to the Millennial saints who will need to eat of this tree for their physical well being (although cf. Ezk. 47:12). Or it may refer to the perpetual need for the resurrected saints to eat of the tree of life as a manifestation of faith and dependence upon Jehovah throughout eternity, just as Adam and Eve had the privilege of eating from the tree of life in the Garden to perpetuate their righteous position (cf. Rom. 1:17). [Strouse, 965–966.]
Romans 1:17 KJV 1900
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
G. The Polity of the City (Rev. 22:3-4)
Revelation 22:3 KJV 1900
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:
1. The Curse Gone (v. 3a)
2. The Chief Presiding (v. 3b)
3. The City Servants (v. 4)
Revelation 22:4 KJV 1900
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Note - Not just floating around on clouds plucking harps! Serving our God and King with meaningful labor, getting it right throughout eternity
H. The Power of the City (Rev. 22:5)
Revelation 22:5 KJV 1900
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.
Note - Close Inclusio from Rev. 21:23 - light of the city
1. No More Night (v. 5a)
2. The Lamb-light (v. 5b)
Note - See John 1:9
John 1:9 KJV 1900
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
3. The Eternal Kingdom (v. 5c)
Of further significance is the profound statement, and they shall reign for ever and ever. The they clearly refers to “his servants” in verse 3. These again likely are the redeemed of the ages who with Christ will rule and reign in the eternal kingdom. See also Daniel 7:27, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:4. Also, the parables of our Lord regarding positions of authority in the kingdom (Luke 19:12-26 and Matthew 25:14-28) very well may find their ultimate application here. The greater truth is that those in this life who have faithfully served Jesus Christ will in that day be rewarded with positions of rank and authority in His eternal kingdom. We, in that day, will rule and reign with him. The subjects of such rule evidently will be the reconstituted human race on the new earth. [David H. Sorenson, Understanding the Bible, An Independent Baptist Commentary - Hebrews through Revelation, vol. 11, Understanding the Bible, An Independent Baptist Commentary (Northstar Ministries, 2007), 562.]
Application:
The New Jerusalem, which is the place that the Lord has prepared (cf. Jn. 14:2-3), and is in existence now (cf. Heb. 12:22-24), will be the heavenly home for His Bride throughout the Millennium and eternity (cf. Rev. 21:10 and 2, respectively). It will be a glorious place with the brilliance of His golden glory shining through the radiant splendor of multi-colored precious stones of “the holy city.” However, the beauty of the everlasting Holiest of Holies will be secondary to the intimate presence of the Triune God, and the privilege of serving Him forever. The New Jerusalem will be a perfect place for perfected saints to serve perfectly the perfect God forever! [Strouse, 972–973.]
Conclusion:
There's a light at the end of the road
Follow the Light through the night; the journey home may seem long, but it is navigable by the light of the Lord
Illustration - Hymn: "My Saviour First of All"
HEAVEN
Almost every Crosby text—including those she contributed to Sunday school hymnals—anticipated heaven. Her lyrics moved toward heaven as the pilgrim’s true home filled with joy and rest, heaven as the place where loved ones met again to part no more, and heaven as the place where the believer would see Christ face-to-face. No subject prompted Crosby to clearer language than this, expressed frequently in words that intimate Bunyan’s pilgrim:
Through the gates to the city in a robe of spotless white
He will lead me where no tears shall ever fall;
In the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight,
But I long to see my Saviour first of all.
I shall know Him; I shall know Him
And redeemed by His side I shall stand.
I shall know Him; I shall know Him
By the print of the nails in His hand.
This anticipation of sight especially punctuated the blind Crosby’s lyrics about heaven: “And I shall see Him face to face”; “Oh, the soul thrilling rapture when I view His blessed face, and the luster of His kindly beaming eye”; “We shall see Him by and by, hallelujah to His name!”; “I know I shall see in His beauty the King in whose law I delight.” Crosby’s many songs about seeing Christ made this expectation a central part of the evangelical hope. (Another blind hymn writer, Helen Lemuel, authored another favorite evangelical hymn about sight—“Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.”) [Edith L. Blumhofer, Her Heart Can See: The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby, ed. Mark A. Noll, Nathan O. Hatch, and Allen C. Guelzo, Library of Religious Biography (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005), 276–277.]