1 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:11,000 Revelation chapter 21, verse 9 to 27. 2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:17,280 On Sunday we'll finish the Book of Revelation chapter 22. 3 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:23,400 So we got part way through. So we're continuing on in 4 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:28,640 Revelation 21 tonight it says and the title of tonight 5 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:34,560 actually is heaven the reality. You know, when you when you try 6 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,280 and explain something that doesn't exist, it's pretty hard, 7 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,560 isn't it? It's kind of like, well, you 8 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:45,400 know, I think it's kind of round or might be a bit long. 9 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,720 I'm not sure the colour because it doesn't exist. 10 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:51,600 When when something exists and you explain it, you give the 11 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,200 detail. Well, we get the detail tonight 12 00:00:54,200 --> 00:01:00,560 because heaven is the reality. Verse 9, then one of the seven 13 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,760 angels who had the seven bowls. So he he has two jobs. 14 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,720 He was pouring out bowl judgements during the 15 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:13,400 tribulation period. Seven years has passed, 1000 16 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,240 years has passed the millennial reign. 17 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,400 Now it's at the end of that God says I've got another job for 18 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,280 you. Show this to John. 19 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,720 So one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with 20 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,320 the seven last plagues, came to me and talked with me. 21 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:34,640 This is John saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the 22 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,280 Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the 23 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:44,200 spirit to a great and high mountain, showed me the great 24 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,240 city. Remember, the New Jerusalem is 25 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:48,880 called the Bride as well. Why? 26 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:53,080 Because the inhabitants we, we, we're the inhabitants of it. 27 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,280 It's where the bride lives. It's called the bride. 28 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,360 It's the new Jerusalem. But that's why the terminology 29 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,680 terminology is, is linked the same way. 30 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,920 I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. 31 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,800 He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, 32 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,600 showed me the great city of the holy Jerusalem. 33 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,320 This is the new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from 34 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:20,720 God. And so here is this, and we 35 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:26,680 often think of it as a, a round kind of like moon, like another 36 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:31,520 moon coming out of heaven and at about to lodge on land on Earth. 37 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,880 But it's not, it's not round like a moon at all, but it is 38 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,200 another satellite. In that sense. 39 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:44,440 It comes down like a satellite. And we know first of all that 40 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,720 Peter is not at the gate checking people as they come in 41 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,440 as always people say, well, I heard the one about Peter 42 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,600 Torkins. And so and so, you know, we 43 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:02,040 noticed, we saw also that when believers go to heaven and you 44 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,480 know, it's sad when many Australians, and I've done a lot 45 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,400 of funerals and many Australians, it just bites me 46 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,000 and I bite my tongue. I don't say anything. 47 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:13,200 And people say, well, so and so he's there. 48 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,600 Now he's an Angel, or now she's an Angel. 49 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,920 We don't become angels. When believers arrive in heaven, 50 00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:25,280 they do not become angels. Put on wings, strum, harps 51 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,040 around the clouds. No heaven. 52 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,640 The New Jerusalem is a real place, and we go there as real 53 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:38,000 people in real bodies. 1 Corinthians 15 change bodies. 54 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,040 We are able to recognise one another. 55 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,960 There was a song remember Will you see Me or Will you know me 56 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:47,240 in heaven? When? 57 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:48,520 Who was that? Eric Clapton. 58 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:55,960 His young little boy was being babysat and fell off a tall 59 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,200 building and died until he wrote this song. 60 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,920 It's heartbreaking. It's played at a lot of Funeral 61 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:03,480 services. Will you know me in heaven? 62 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,040 You know well, we will know one another in heaven. 63 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,560 We will be similar and the same When Jesus rose from the dead on 64 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,480 on the third day and then he appeared to his disciples, then 65 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:14,440 go. They didn't go. 66 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:17,240 Who are you? They didn't go. 67 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:18,519 You know, he said, hey, it's me. Look. 68 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:25,280 Oh yeah, it isn't. It's the Lord and the beautiful 69 00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:29,760 thing about heaven, this new Jerusalem, because it's a real 70 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:34,240 place. You'll feel like I'm, you know, 71 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,840 when you whenever you travel. And I don't like travelling at 72 00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:40,680 all. I think it's a it's not, not 73 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,640 what people say it is. There's something about coming 74 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,680 home. You come home, it's home. 75 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:51,320 It's real. In Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 8, 76 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaking of the faith of Abraham, the Romans chapter 4 77 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,400 tells us that Abraham is the father of our faith. 78 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:03,040 That means he is the one who remember he first believed in 79 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,680 God by faith. He was kind of righteous by by 80 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,600 by faith. It says by faith Abraham obeyed 81 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,600 when he was called to go out to the place where he would receive 82 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,520 an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he 83 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:19,080 was going. He stepped out in faith. 84 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,320 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country. 85 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,960 Abraham never owned a home. He was always in a tent. 86 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:32,440 Remember that dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs 87 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,280 with him of the same promise, the same promise to dad. 88 00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:39,720 Why? For Abraham waited for the city, 89 00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:44,160 an actual city which has foundations. 90 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,800 Why would that? Why would Abraham speak about 91 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,360 foundations? Because the city has foundations 92 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:56,360 whose builder and maker is God. So Abraham and Hebrews Chapter 93 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:01,080 11 is Speaking of our home, the new Jerusalem. 94 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,080 John is on the island of Pat Moss. 95 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,120 He's in his late 90s. An Angel appears to him. 96 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:14,360 He's in a vision. John gets a tour guide of the 97 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:19,280 New Jerusalem by this Angel. He's taken to a high mountain on 98 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:26,480 the island of Patmos. And there John begins to write 99 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,840 down exactly what he sees with this city, the New Jerusalem. 100 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:38,400 The word city in relation to the New Jerusalem is mentioned 11 101 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,400 times here. So that we get to know we're not 102 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,800 talking about some sort of like gooey sort of thing or some sort 103 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,680 of like a pasture or, you know, think of a happy place. 104 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:53,160 It's, it's beyond that. This is this is tangible. 105 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,520 This is real. Foundations will read. 106 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:58,480 And I won't go and jump too far ahead. 107 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,840 But it's a city. It's not it's not heaven. 108 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:06,240 There's more of heaven and more of earth. 109 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:11,720 This is the city New Jerusalem. It's part of heaven, but it's 110 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:16,080 the new Jerusalem. And it says in verse 11, having 111 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,800 the glory of God, John sees the city. 112 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,520 It's dazzling. Her light was like a most 113 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,360 precious stone, John thinks, kind of like a like a Jasper 114 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:34,640 stone, clear as crystal. So John now attempts to describe 115 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:39,560 and write down what he sees, the glory and the wonder that glows 116 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,720 as he sees. And he attempts to describe to 117 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:47,440 you and I, the readers of Revelation, the new Jerusalem. 118 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,320 Firstly, the city has the glory of God in it. 119 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:58,680 That's why it's dazzling. God's glory radiates, radiates 120 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:03,720 throughout this city, and it dazzles in its illumination. 121 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:10,040 John says this the city, it glows like a precious stone. 122 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:14,760 It dazzles with the light. Now Jasper, clear as crystal, 123 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:19,120 indicates it's great beauty. However, it is evident that the 124 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:24,840 beauty of the stone John uses is beyond what we see in our Jasper 125 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,960 today because Jasper today is opaque, not clear. 126 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:35,080 So today John is describing the New Jerusalem, the city, as a 127 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:39,039 beautiful cut diamond. You know, you see diamonds and, 128 00:08:39,039 --> 00:08:41,240 and they, they just dazzle, you know? 129 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,960 Yeah. A diamond was a stone not known 130 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,560 in the 1st century. So John thinks of the stone that 131 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:51,280 was closest to the Jasper stone, but it's actually glowing, 132 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:56,400 radiant, just dazzling with all the chasms or the things that 133 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,560 that just fly off from a diamond. 134 00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:08,720 And in verse 12 it says also she had great and high wall with 12 135 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:14,640 gates. 12 is the number of government and 12 angels at the 136 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:22,760 gates and names written on them. The gates which are the names of 137 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:29,240 the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. 3 gates on the E, 3 138 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:34,280 gates on the N, 3 gates on the South, 3 gates on the West. 139 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,880 If you go back to the Exodus, you'll find out very interesting 140 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:44,120 how this lays out with how the tribes were also laid out during 141 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:49,840 that time in the Exodus. So this is the place, as John 142 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:55,200 describes it initially hit with gates and walls, angels and the 143 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,000 number of gates. This is the place that Jesus 144 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:05,560 said to his disciples, I go to prepare a place, an actual place 145 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,440 for you. And if I go and prepare a place 146 00:10:10,680 --> 00:10:14,880 for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. 147 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,400 That where I am, there you may be also. 148 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,640 That's what this is. This is where we're going. 149 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:27,520 It has high walls, 12 gates, 12 angels. 150 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,120 The gates are each inscribed with the name. 151 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:37,600 Notice the 12 tribes of Israel. Now at this moment we look at 152 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:42,120 our world. We see that everyone is against 153 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:49,280 Israel, even Australia, at least the government of Australia, 34% 154 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:54,960 voted in our current government. Satan and this fallen world 155 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,720 since the book of Genesis, the beginning, Genesis 3 has 156 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:06,120 continually tried to eliminate, not just move on, not just 157 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,920 shift, but to eliminate another word, annihilate. 158 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,360 We're talking earlier. Some of you talk about the book 159 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,880 of Esther. There we go back. 160 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:22,280 Hitler's final solution was not just to move the Jews, it was to 161 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:27,240 annihilate them. Eliminate Hamas, the PLO, 162 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:34,520 Hezbollah. Their catch cries are still the 163 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:37,280 elimination. They're not interested in two 164 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:42,680 states. Now our Prime Minister seems to 165 00:11:42,680 --> 00:11:48,840 think that it's OK, and I find that weird because the land that 166 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:53,200 the world says is occupied by Israel is actually Judea and 167 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,640 Samaria. God gave it to Israel, so you 168 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:58,840 can't occupy that which is yours. 169 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:03,600 Secondly, Can you imagine another country, say the United 170 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:08,960 States saying to Australia, you know what, across the shore, 171 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:14,560 Indonesia, 199 million Muslims, people struggling, they don't 172 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:20,240 have enough room. WA should be part of Indonesia, 173 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:24,680 as is half of New Guinea. And that should make it right. 174 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:29,040 You guys need to give over the land that you're occupying. 175 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:34,760 You go, yeah, sure. And that's, that's the the 176 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:40,440 narrative currently of our government saying to a country, 177 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,040 you need to surrender up your part. 178 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:50,040 Secondly, to be a two part place, you're going to allow 179 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:53,720 those who want you eliminated next door. 180 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,760 It's just it's well, it's beyond foolish, It's satanic. 181 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:05,000 That's what it is. So Satan, this fallen world has 182 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,800 continually tried to eliminate from the face of the earth the 183 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,800 nation and people of Israel, not just move them on, not just 184 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:18,960 shift them, not just change the way that what they do, eliminate 185 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:23,040 them, annihilate them. But we see here, and this is 186 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:28,240 what I love about the Bible, especially the end of the Bible, 187 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,760 we see here that all their wicked and foolish attempts will 188 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:38,760 come to nothing and instead God gives the 12 tribes, the people 189 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:42,760 of Israel, a place of honour in the New Jerusalem in 190 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,760 recognition. They are His chosen people. 191 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,720 They always will be. God's Old Testament covenant 192 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,400 stands the test of time and it will stand. 193 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,840 Politicians and governments in the UN can say all that they 194 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,800 like, but in Genesis chapter 12, God said this. 195 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:05,440 I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your 196 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,600 name great, and you shall be a blessing. 197 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,880 I will bless those who bless you. 198 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:16,040 I will curse him who curses you, and in you all the families of 199 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:20,960 the earth shall be blessed. Genesis 17, verse 7, God said to 200 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:24,480 Abraham, and I will establish my covenant. 201 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:29,360 This is my agreement. Abraham, it's all God between me 202 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:34,320 and you and your descendants after you in their generations. 203 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,280 Just so we know, it's still Israel. 204 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,600 So people say, Oh well, no, Israel's finished and they have 205 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,760 this replacement theology now. It's the church. 206 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,760 The church has taken the spot of Israel. 207 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,800 No, it hasn't. The Bible, God doesn't break his 208 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:54,880 covenants and your descendants after you in their generations 209 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,360 for an everlasting covenant. How long, devil lasting? 210 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,800 I think that's forever, isn't it? 211 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:05,680 To be God to you and your descendants after you. 212 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,080 He just says it again, just by the way, and all those that 213 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,600 follow after you. So now verse 14, the wall of the 214 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:16,040 city had 12 foundations, and on them were the names of the 12 215 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:19,600 apostles. So the gates are named the 12 216 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,800 tribes. Now the walls, the foundations 217 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:27,280 12 have the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb. 218 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:33,160 And he who talked with me had a gold Reed to measure the city. 219 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,040 He went down to Bunnings and said, I'll have a gold Reed, 220 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,360 just slide rule and I'm going to measure the city. 221 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,720 It's gates and it's walled. Why are we told this? 222 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:44,200 You know, why are we told this? And he had a measuring thing and 223 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,000 he was going to go down and why, why? 224 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,200 Who's interested in that? Because God's trying to let you 225 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:54,320 know this is real. This is not just some cloud, 226 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,160 some, some, you know, some stuff in the heaven. 227 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:01,600 This is a real place, real walls, real gates, real 228 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,320 foundations. But why are there gates in the 229 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:05,920 New Jerusalem? That's a good question. 230 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:09,480 Because gates were always in the cities built, so they opened 231 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:11,880 during the day and then closed at the night to stop all the 232 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,240 enemies and, you know, wild animals coming in. 233 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,200 People could live safe. Well, firstly, these gates, 234 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:19,720 we're told she'll never be closed. 235 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:24,400 And that tells us of the safety and security that once was an 236 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,880 issue in a fallen world that no longer exists. 237 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,560 Aren't you looking to a place where you are safe? 238 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:38,320 The gates speak of how we also, as the citizens of the New 239 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:43,720 Jerusalem, will go in and out. Why are we going to go in? 240 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:48,120 Because we're not just going to. The other day is hanging around 241 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,600 the water fountain drinking everlasting water. 242 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:55,480 No, no, we go in and out because we're we're busy. 243 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,120 We're going out to the new earth. 244 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,120 We're going out to the new heavens and, and, and going out 245 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,599 to other parts of the universe that have been created, but 246 00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:07,319 especially to the new world that's been created, new 247 00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:10,359 heavens, new earth, looking, working, serving. 248 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,200 Because Jesus said right at the beginning, he said, I am the 249 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,800 door. If anyone enters by me, you'll 250 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,000 be saved. We'll go in and out and find 251 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,680 pastor. So we're going to, we're going 252 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:25,760 to be in the New Jerusalem, but not just parked there. 253 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:27,079 Oh, and we're stuck in this place. 254 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,160 We're going to be going in and out, in and out. 255 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:34,920 I love that verse 14 reminds us that the New Testament church 256 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,040 has been built on the foundation of the apostles. 257 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,640 A lot of churches say, you know what, we've had this. 258 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,720 There's a new thing that God's doing. 259 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,720 No, he's not. No, he's not. 260 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,880 If it's new, it's not true. If it's true, it's not new. 261 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:56,400 In Ephesians chapter 2, verse 20, it says having been built on 262 00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:00,560 the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ 263 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,920 himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole 264 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,720 building it's talking about, the church being fit together, grows 265 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,440 into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built 266 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,320 together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 267 00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:19,160 Beware of the new stuff. No, you don't need the new 268 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,320 stuff. You need to know the true stuff. 269 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:28,600 The walls have 12 foundations inscribed with the names of the 270 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,640 12 apostles. Verse 16. 271 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:34,320 The city is laid out as a square. 272 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:42,600 Its length is as great as its breadth and its height. 273 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:49,440 And he measured the city with the Reed 12,000 furlongs. 274 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,120 And usually we've only heard furlongs when we you go to the 275 00:18:52,120 --> 00:18:56,600 horse races. It's length, breadth and height, 276 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,200 just so we know are equal. It's a cube. 277 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:07,400 Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits, according to the measure 278 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:13,080 of a man that is of an Angel. So the New Jerusalem is a city 279 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:25,080 that's an enormous cube. It is 2414 kilometres cubed. 280 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,400 That is the distance from Canada to Mexico. 281 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:33,600 This is just the city. It's 3/4 of the United States. 282 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:37,800 That's just New Jerusalem. The ground level alone. 283 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:41,160 Remember, it's length, breadth and height are all the same. 284 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:51,760 The ground level alone, just the bottom floor, will be 5,179,976 285 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:59,560 square kilometres alone. It's 40 times larger than 286 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:04,000 England. It's 10 times as big as France. 287 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:11,920 That's just the ground level. It's 600,000 storeys high. 288 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:14,880 That's going to be a pretty good lift, isn't it? 289 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:23,520 Top 4, 600,000 stories. Now the wall that's around the 290 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:28,960 city is 65 metres. Now this Chapel is 9 metres. 291 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:31,720 So the wall is 65 metres. You go, Well, that's pretty 292 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,000 tall. No, not when you compare it to 293 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,920 the city. It's really like a retaining 294 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:41,240 wall around this massive, massive city. 295 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:45,680 And compared to the height of the city, the New Jerusalem, as 296 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,960 I said, is a perfect cube. And it's interesting that in 297 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:53,280 Solomon's temple, when Solomon built the temple, that the Holy 298 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:57,280 of Holies was also a perfect cube. 299 00:20:58,080 --> 00:20:59,960 Why? That's where God dwelt. 300 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,280 New Jerusalem is a perfect cube because it's where God dwells, 301 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,920 where you and I, you and I will live in the largest Holy of 302 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,440 Holies, in the presence of the Lord. 303 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,920 Verse 18. The construction of its wall was 304 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,440 of Jasper. The city was pure gold, like 305 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,800 clear glass. The foundations of the wall of 306 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,840 the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. 307 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,920 The first foundation was Jasper, the second Sapphire, the third 308 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:32,120 Chalcedonia, the 4th Emerald, the 5th Sardonics, the 6th 309 00:21:32,120 --> 00:21:36,600 Sardius, the 7th Crystalite, the 8th Barrel, the 9th Topaz, the 310 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:41,080 10th Christoph Praise, the 11th Jacenth and the 12th Amethyst. 311 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,520 You know, it's dazzling. But you see, here's the deal. 312 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,160 People go, you know, we're not interested. 313 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:52,320 We're going to go there. It's kind of like, it's nice, 314 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:58,520 but why are we there? And people go, well, Streets of 315 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:00,320 Paper, we're not going to go Wow, Wow, Wow. 316 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:05,000 No, I don't. At least I don't think I am. 317 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:10,360 My Wow will be the Lord. That's the Lord because his 318 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:17,200 light dazzles everything. The 12 gates were 12 pearls. 319 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:22,880 Now we're told this. Each individual gate was of 1 320 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,200 pill. That's a big poocher. 321 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:32,840 And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent 322 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,440 glass. It's funny because people will 323 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:41,040 lose their their faith, they will walk out on God because of 324 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:45,160 the treasures of this world and in heaven you walk on those 325 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:50,520 things. Now verse 22, I saw no temple in 326 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:55,200 it for the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are a temple. 327 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,600 So why is there no temple? There's your answer. 328 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,520 Why does it say this to the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are 329 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,000 its temple. The city had no need of the sun 330 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,520 or of the moon to shine in it. Now we can be picky here. 331 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:13,920 We could say, well, appearing by context here doesn't mean that 332 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,600 there's no sun or no moon. It's still there. 333 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,680 But the glory of God illumines that. 334 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,160 Their lights colour. You don't even notice. 335 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:32,480 For the glory of God illuminated the Lamb is its light. 336 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:39,520 Now speaks of the nations of the earth, and the nations of those 337 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,360 who were saved shall walk in its light. 338 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,480 Notice the interaction here. The kings of the earth bring 339 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:53,600 their glory and honour into it. It's gates shall not be shut at 340 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,280 all by day, while there'll be no night there, he says. 341 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,400 And they, they shall bring the glory and the honour of the 342 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,320 nations into it. Says there's there's this 343 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,960 interaction between the New Jerusalem, the church and and 344 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:15,440 the earth, those on the earth. But there shall be by no means 345 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:21,520 into it anything that defiles or causes an abomination. 346 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,640 Remember we learned on Sunday, abomination was any wicked 347 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:29,360 thought, deed, action, anything or a lie. 348 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:35,760 Only the truth, but only those who are written in the Lamb's 349 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,120 Book of Life will be in the New Jerusalem. 350 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,520 There'll be no temple in the New Jerusalem, since God himself 351 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,080 will be the temple. Remember back it says, and I 352 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,720 will dwell with you. I will Tabernacle with you. 353 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,520 I'll be your God and you will be my people. 354 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,480 Remember, we've gone through all the stages of the the tent of 355 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,760 meeting in Solomon's Temple. Then so on and so on and so 356 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:05,360 forth. But now we are immersed in the 357 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:08,440 glory and the wonder. One day a year, remember, the 358 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,440 high priest could go into the Holy of Holies only after the 359 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,960 Lamb had been slaughtered, covered with blood, shed the 360 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,360 blood. A rope was tying around his leg, 361 00:25:16,360 --> 00:25:19,240 bells around his gown, and the outside. 362 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:20,880 The other priests heard the bell, stopped. 363 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:22,920 They would drag out the dead body of the high priest. 364 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:32,880 Now we're in the presence of the Lord, we worship God face to 365 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,440 face. That's why there's no, there's 366 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,640 no temple. We're, we're, we're, we're, 367 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:39,560 we're in the glory and wonder of God. 368 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:45,800 Verse 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk 369 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,960 in its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their 370 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:53,360 glory and honour into it. The word nations there 371 00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:59,760 translates also in the Hebrew or in the Greek to peoples and the 372 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:06,960 peoples we will have one language instead of the now 6500 373 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:10,120 spoken today. You see, you remember God is is 374 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:14,680 turning back recreating. Remember we had one language at 375 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:16,360 the beginning. And then the man said, well, 376 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:18,640 let's Genesis 11, let's middle tower. 377 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,440 Let's let's stay here. We're not going to go out and 378 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:25,280 you know, let's just do our own thing and God came down, said 379 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:29,040 no, that's not good battle. Confusion came. 380 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,560 Well, that's all over now. We'll speak with one language. 381 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:37,880 It's going to be Australian. I can sure going out to Saint 382 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:40,640 Peter and Daniel and you walk up there. 383 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:45,760 Peter, good day, I'm Noah, good day. 384 00:26:46,120 --> 00:26:51,600 How are you good mate? And so that's just my thing on 385 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:58,080 the language that we'll speak. Nothing evil, wicked or 386 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:00,080 untruthful will be in the New Jerusalem. 387 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,680 This is our hearts desire. This is what sits on us when 388 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:05,160 we're going through terrible times. 389 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,880 You're sitting in a an intensive care unit waiting room and 390 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,240 you're there and things of tragedies happen. 391 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:18,400 You've lost a loved one. Bad news has come and you just 392 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:20,880 wish you a way. You wish this had never 393 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:26,960 happened. You see heaven, heaven is far 394 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:30,320 more. It's going to be absolutely 395 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:35,320 amazing. That's why we'll have a greater 396 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:39,040 capacity, new body to to speak and express ourselves. 397 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:45,360 We're so limited at this moment, but only in this New Jerusalem, 398 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:53,200 only people allowed in. The only citizens who will live 399 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,600 in the New Jerusalem are those whose names are written in the 400 00:27:56,600 --> 00:28:01,080 Lamb's Book of Life. You have to ask yourself, is my 401 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,960 name in the Lamb's Book of Life? Well, how do I know that? 402 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,160 How do I know it's not in there? How do I know? 403 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:10,280 Well, simple, receive Jesus Christ, confess your sins, 404 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:14,960 realise you're a Sinner, believe that Jesus died on the cross for 405 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,880 you, that God sent his Son for God so loved the world that he 406 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:20,680 gave his only begotten Son, That whosoever believes in him should 407 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:23,000 not perish but have an everlasting life. 408 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,560 That we are all sinners. We need saving. 409 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:30,040 The Saviour came, receive him as your Lord and Saviour and then 410 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:34,000 you'll realise and you'll know and your name will be in the 411 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:38,560 Lamb's book of life. It's the biggest decision that 412 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:43,240 anyone could ever make. In Psalm 16, as we close verse 413 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:50,480 11, the psalmist wrote, you will show me the the path of life. 414 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:56,400 And here's the wonder in your presence where we'll be in the 415 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:01,240 New Jerusalem is fullness of joy. 416 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:07,240 You know, some people have lived sad, battered lives upon this 417 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:10,880 planet. Well, in the New Jerusalem, 418 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:15,720 you'll experience the fullness of joy. 419 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:20,360 No more tears. And then it says at your right 420 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:23,560 hand are pleasures. But they don't just stop there. 421 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:25,360 And your right hand are pleasures. 422 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,680 It says at your right hand are pleasures. 423 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,120 How long? Forever More. 424 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,240 That's why eternity is just staggering. 425 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,640 That's why when a believer goes and when a believer knows my 426 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:43,640 body is finished. I know my time is short. 427 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,360 I'm coming to the end. You're on your deathbed. 428 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:53,600 Ha, these thoughts you're, you're, it's like boarding a 429 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:55,520 plane first class for the first time. 430 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,120 You go into a place that and it's all expenses paid. 431 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,240 You just can't wait to get there. 432 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:05,760 You can't wait to get there. You see, we have this hope. 433 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:11,560 We look forward to him to return, but what we have to is 434 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:15,280 we have to get as many people to join us on that journey. 435 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,000 That's why we're here. That's why you don't get saved 436 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:21,320 and then God just takes you home. 437 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:26,440 You're here for a purpose. You're the only Christian in 438 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:29,880 your family. Maybe not even children are 439 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:31,560 believers. Maybe your grandfather's not a 440 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:33,840 believer. Maybe you work colleague. 441 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:42,240 You're here on a mission, and the mission is to get as many 442 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:46,320 people to join you to the New Jerusalem.