Season 6 Podcast 37 Book of Revelation “Opening of the Seven Seals, Chapter 21:9-27 “The New Jerusalem Pt 2.”

Season 6 Podcast 37 Book of Revelation “Opening of the Seven Seals, Chapter 21:9-27 “The New Jerusalem Pt 2.”

In this Podcast we shall continue with the description of the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:9-10

“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.”

The plagues are over. There is a new heaven and a new earth. “The bride, the Lamb’s wife” is the church. They are the exalted saints who remained true while on earth. They are now in the Holy City Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”

The sight is too spectacular to fully imagine.

Revelation 21:11

“Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;”

The above image appears several times in the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 4:6

“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”

The crystal symbolizes knowledge. Notice that the four beasts are “full of eyes before and behind.” That symbolizes omniscience or knowledge of past, present, and future. 

Revelation 15:2

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”

Fire is a ubiquitous image in the Holy Bible and symbolizes both hell and heaven. In Revelation above it symbolizes heaven. It is also shown with the glory of God which is brighter than the sun. Fire represents purity.

“Baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Matthew 3:11)

“He is like a refiner’s fire,” (Malachi 3:2)

“His eyes were as a flame of fire.” (Revelation 1:14)

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11)

The Holy City, as earlier stated is compared to “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” which is the church. That image is strongly reinforced in the following verses.

Revelation 21: 12-13

"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. 

Those apostles and prophets came from the twelve tribes of Israel, which, of course included the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

They are to remind us of the twelve tribes of Israel. Christ himself descended from the house of David of the tribe of Judah. When Christ established his church, it is no accident that he called 12 Apostles.

Revelation 21:14

“And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Christ made it clear that the twelve apostles were the foundation of his church. In the words of Paul.

Ephesians 2:19-22

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.