Good morning,
The earth as we know it is uninhabited. The saved are in heaven and the lost have been judged and have been cast into the lake of fire. God is ready to restore earth to its perfection at the time of creation. He purges it with fire to remove all imperfections created as a result of the fall. (2 Peter 3:10-13)
Then we are introduced to the new heaven and new earth in Revelation 21. This will be our study this week.
Precious jewels of the new Jerusalem (21:18-21)
“And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
The effect of the precious stones is a magnificent city of brilliant gold adorned with gems of every color.
The Lamb is… (21:22-27)
“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
There is no temple in the city, since the Father and the Son will be present in their fullest manifestation. Its light will be provided by the Shekinah glory of God and of Christ. The glory of God in the New Jerusalem will light the earth.
This is our eternal home.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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