Sermon Devotional: A Home Beyond Imagination
Sermon Title: A Home Beyond Imagination
Scripture: Revelation 21:9-27 (ESV)
In the first verses of Revelation 21 John sees “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (21:2). Then the angel invites John to witness more. “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb” (21:9). The holy city, the new Jerusalem, the bride are all the beloved redeemed people of God. The bride, the wife of the Lamb, are God’s people who are gathered in an indescribably magnificent place. The bride is radiant with the glory of God and shines “like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (21:11).
The number twelve represents the perfected people of God described in the Old Testament and the New. There are “twelve gates” guarded by “twelve angels” and the names of the OT “twelve tribes of Israel” are written on the twelve gates. The city has “twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (21:12-14). “Twelve pearls” stand at the entrance of the twelve gates while the twelve “foundations of the wall of the city were adorned” with twelve kinds of jewels (21:19-20). The dimensions of the holy city are precise and perfect. The city is as wide as it is high as it long—a perfect cube. And it is vast beyond all imagination!
But the most stunning description of the holy city is not what is present, but what is missing. In the culmination described in Revelation, the holy city has no temple. “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” (21:22). The Old Testament temple is a place of worship and a place of sacrifice. In the new Jerusalem there is no need for a temple because “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (21:3). The temple is where the people of God go to worship and praise the living God. In the holy city God will be in the midst of his people; he will be so close that he himself will “wipe away every tear” (21:4). The temple is also a place of sacrifice. Once Solomon completed the temple in Jerusalem, “the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices’” (2Chron 7:12). The sacrificial system that was established by God in the Old Testament atoned for the sins of a rebellious people. In Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, debts are paid and the people of God have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. In the holy city, the new Jerusalem, there is no need for a place of sacrifice. The time of sacrifice and atonement for sins is past.
Also missing from the holy city is any form of created light. “The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (21:23). John echoes Isaiah the prophet: “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the LORD will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end” (Is 60:19-20 NLT). The glory of God the Creator illuminates the holy city and the Lamb himself is the lamp who is forever “the light of the world” (Jn 8:12).
Finally, also missing from the holy city is anything evil. The twelve gates of the city are always open but there is no concern that any “unclean” thing or “anyone who does what is detestable or false” (21:27) might enter. Nothing unholy can be in God’s presence, but those whose names are “written in the Lamb’s book of life” are safe in his presence forever.
Consider—
╬ The new Jerusalem will be a place of love, safety, peace and belonging. These are fundamental to a life that is thriving—belovedness, a sense of safety, outer and inner peace, and confident belonging to a people and a place, a family and a home. If you are blessed with these now in this life, take notice, don’t take it for granted. Give thanks. Give thanks to God. And remember that the love you’ve received is the love you have to extend.
╬ If you feel that love, safety, peace, or belonging are missing from your life, this is indeed a grave deprivation. The Church of Jesus, the people of God who are all waiting for the consummation, desires to be Christ’s hands, feet, and heart for you. We do it imperfectly. Come, try again to speak your need and let us love you with the love of Jesus.
╬ “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.” We worship you through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 21:9-27 (ESV)
I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelation 21:22-23
In the first verses of Revelation 21 John sees “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (21:2). Then the angel invites John to witness more. “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb” (21:9). The holy city, the new Jerusalem, the bride are all the beloved redeemed people of God. The bride, the wife of the Lamb, are God’s people who are gathered in an indescribably magnificent place. The bride is radiant with the glory of God and shines “like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (21:11).
The number twelve represents the perfected people of God described in the Old Testament and the New. There are “twelve gates” guarded by “twelve angels” and the names of the OT “twelve tribes of Israel” are written on the twelve gates. The city has “twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (21:12-14). “Twelve pearls” stand at the entrance of the twelve gates while the twelve “foundations of the wall of the city were adorned” with twelve kinds of jewels (21:19-20). The dimensions of the holy city are precise and perfect. The city is as wide as it is high as it long—a perfect cube. And it is vast beyond all imagination!
But the most stunning description of the holy city is not what is present, but what is missing. In the culmination described in Revelation, the holy city has no temple. “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” (21:22). The Old Testament temple is a place of worship and a place of sacrifice. In the new Jerusalem there is no need for a temple because “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (21:3). The temple is where the people of God go to worship and praise the living God. In the holy city God will be in the midst of his people; he will be so close that he himself will “wipe away every tear” (21:4). The temple is also a place of sacrifice. Once Solomon completed the temple in Jerusalem, “the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices’” (2Chron 7:12). The sacrificial system that was established by God in the Old Testament atoned for the sins of a rebellious people. In Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, debts are paid and the people of God have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. In the holy city, the new Jerusalem, there is no need for a place of sacrifice. The time of sacrifice and atonement for sins is past.
Also missing from the holy city is any form of created light. “The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (21:23). John echoes Isaiah the prophet: “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the LORD will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end” (Is 60:19-20 NLT). The glory of God the Creator illuminates the holy city and the Lamb himself is the lamp who is forever “the light of the world” (Jn 8:12).
Finally, also missing from the holy city is anything evil. The twelve gates of the city are always open but there is no concern that any “unclean” thing or “anyone who does what is detestable or false” (21:27) might enter. Nothing unholy can be in God’s presence, but those whose names are “written in the Lamb’s book of life” are safe in his presence forever.
Consider—
╬ The new Jerusalem will be a place of love, safety, peace and belonging. These are fundamental to a life that is thriving—belovedness, a sense of safety, outer and inner peace, and confident belonging to a people and a place, a family and a home. If you are blessed with these now in this life, take notice, don’t take it for granted. Give thanks. Give thanks to God. And remember that the love you’ve received is the love you have to extend.
╬ If you feel that love, safety, peace, or belonging are missing from your life, this is indeed a grave deprivation. The Church of Jesus, the people of God who are all waiting for the consummation, desires to be Christ’s hands, feet, and heart for you. We do it imperfectly. Come, try again to speak your need and let us love you with the love of Jesus.
╬ “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.” We worship you through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.