WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday November 13, 2016
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A NEW JERUSALEM
(Spending eternity in GOD’s glory)
(Revelation 21:9-27)
In the biblical Greek,
there are two words that are used for “new”. One is “neos”, which describes
something that is a new version of something that already exists. The other
word for “new” is “kainos” (kahee-nos), and it describes something that is new
to existence, or is new to the world, the first of its kind anywhere in the
world.
In
Revelation 21, taking up at verse 9, the Apostle John says that one of the
seven angels who held the seven bowls, that contained the “seven last plagues” that
would soon be released upon the earth in the coming “Day of the LORD”, came and
carried him away in the “spirit”, “pneuma” in the Greek, which means that he
was “swept away in his rational mind only” (not physically), as if being
carried away on a great gust of wind. The angel said that he was going to carry
him to a high mountain where he could see the actual “Bride of CHRIST”, that
is, the “New Jerusalem”, which has become the “Church of CHRIST” in the New Heaven.
The angel also called the place where he was taking John, “the wife of
the LAMB”, a term that is sometimes alluded to by the writers of the New
Testament when referring to the Christian Church here on earth. When he and the
angel arrived there, John saw this magnificent “Holy City” (the New Jerusalem),
literally descending out of Heaven from GOD. In fact, John says that it was filled
with the glory of GOD, and it sparkled like a precious gem, that was crystal
clear like jasper.
Further
describing this magnificent place, in verses 10-14, John says that there were
walls around the city that were both, broad and high. The walls had a total of
twelve gates, three on each of its four sides (north, south, east, and west),
and the gates were guarded by 12 angels, one at each gate. Written on the
twelve gates were the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, one name on each
gate. The walls contained a total of twelve foundation stones, one on each
wall, that had the names of one of the twelve apostles of CHRIST inscribed on
each one of the stones.
The
angel, who talked with the Apostle John, had in his possession, a gold
measuring stick that he would use to measure the city (the New Jerusalem), its
gates, and its wall. When he measured he saw that it formed a perfect “cube”
that was 1400 miles long, 1400 miles wide, and 1400 miles high. He also
measured the thickness of each wall and found them to be 216 feet thick. The walls
themselves were made of jasper, and the city was made of pure gold that was
clear as glass, including the main street.
The
walls of the city were also built on foundation stones that were inlaid with
twelve gems, jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite,
beryl, topaz, chrysophase, jacinth, and amethyst. And finally, the twelve gates
were made of pearls, each gate from a single pearl!
In
verse 22 John reveals to us that there is no temple in this New Jerusalem. This
may come as a surprise when we consider how precious the temple is to the Jews
in the current Jerusalem here on earth. However, the apostle’s description of
the new city, as being in the shape of a cube 1400 miles in length, width, and
height suggests, quite literally, that it is itself a temple of extraordinary
proportions, with GOD and the LAMB (JESUS) eternally present within. Thus we
see clearly that the city doesn’t need a physical edifice, or building to make
a Church, because there, and even here and now, wherever JESUS is, there, the
Church is also. In fact, it is only the presence of CHRIST JESUS that makes any
human gathering a “Church”.
The
Scripture tells us here that there will also be no need for light (the sun,
moon, and stars) in the new city, because the glory of GOD will provide all the
illumination we’ll need, and JESUS also would serve as its lamps. In addition,
John describes a city whose gates will remain forever open because there will
be no night (the earthly temple doors were traditionally closed at 6 o’clock
P.M) , and everyone who is “saved” will walk in the light of this wonderful
city, and bring with them, the glory and honor that is uniquely their own, from
every nation on the old earth.
This
chapter ends with a stern warning however, that, those who refuse to
discontinue in the evilness of their ways, are forever barred from becoming
citizens of this great community of GOD. It is not “the repentant sinner”
(Those who give their life over to CHRIST), but rather, “the defiant sinner”
(those who refuse to give up sinful lifestyles) whose name will not be found in
the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who die a rebellious, defiant sinner will be
barred from entrance into the Kingdom of GOD.
And so it really doesn’t matter what we take
away from this prophetic and mysterious book of John’s revelations from CHRIST,
its central theme and focus of “repent before it is too late” will forever
remain consistent, as its message is passed on from generation to generation. In
fact, its lingering message is one that is crystal clear, and serves to remind
us that, in times of great conflict, GOD’s people must remain faithful, humble,
and patient to the end. The promise of victory, through CHRIST, over the forces
of the evil one, is something that is virtually assured in the final, highly
anticipated and upcoming “Day of the LORD”.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official
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