The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

The New Jerusalem comes after this present heaven and earth are destroyed and the new heaven and earth are created. The New Jerusalem is not an earthly utopia in any way, shape, or form. However, the Holy Spirit is in us here on earth and is a foretaste of the life we have in the New Jerusalem, as quoted below. The promise given to us by the Holy Spirit in us is life in the New Jerusalem. We eagerly wait for being adopted into the New Jerusalem in our eternal and redeemed body.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Ephesians 1:13-14 and Romans 8:23

• New Heaven and new earth.
  • The earth, heaven, and oceans of this world completely disappear.
  • The New Jerusalem comes from God out of Heaven.
  • We will be with God in the New Jerusalem.
  • There is no more death and pain as the natural order of fallen humanity passes away.
• It is Done. The Overcomers Receive their Inheritance.
• Description of the New Jerusalem.
  • The Lamb’s bride and wife is the New Jerusalem.
  • The Holy Jerusalem has the glory of God and a startling light.
  • Very high wall with twelve gates representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
  • Twelve foundations representing the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
  • Measurement of the New Jerusalem is a square.
  • The street is pure gold and transparent like glass.
• Description of the Temple of the New Jerusalem.
  • The Lord God and the Lamb are the temple.
  • The glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is its light.
  • The nations who are saved walk in its light and the kings bring their glory into it.
  • The gates are always open and there is no night there.
  • Those whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are the only ones in the New Jerusalem.

New Heaven and new earth.
The earth, heaven, and oceans of this world completely disappear. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.” Revelation 21: 1 There is going to be a brand-new heaven and earth where we spend eternity. The heaven we see above us, the earth we see all around us, and the oceans of this present world will no longer exist.

Jesus Christ left this earth to prepare a place for us in Heaven, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3

The New Jerusalem comes from God out of Heaven. “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2 The New Jerusalem is not a remodeled form of this present world, it comes from God out of Heaven. It is made for Jesus Christ and those faithful to Him, like a bride made ready for her husband.

There are three heavens, one is the blue sky we see above us, the second is the blackness of space above the blue sky, and the third is above the blackness of space where the Kingdom of God is, as the Apostle Paul attested to, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.” 2 Corinthians 12:2 Paul is speaking of himself as the one caught up in the third Heaven.

We will be with God in the New Jerusalem. “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:3 When the New Jerusalem comes, that is God’s tabernacle which will be with everyone who receives His Son Jesus Christ. God will be among us, and we will be His people among the multitudes in Heaven.

Today, while on this earth, Jesus Christ has made us the temple of the Holy Spirit, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

There is no more death and pain as the natural order of fallen humanity passes away. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 The New Jerusalem is a place of eternal life and peace. There will be no more death, no sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. The natural way of fallen humanity on this present earth will have completely passed away, and we will be living in a brand-new eternal body.

Today, the Holy Spirit in us assures us of our new life in Heaven, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

“Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5

While on this earth, the Holy Spirit makes us new, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

It is Done. The overcomers receive their inheritance. “And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.” Revelation 21:6

The creation of the new heaven and earth, with the New Jerusalem, completes everything God has set out to do through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Alpha (the beginning of all things), and He is the Omega to finish all things. Through Him, all things were created from the beginning of Genesis 1:1 and through Him all things are finished with the creation of the new heaven and earth with the New Jerusalem. With the coming of the New Jerusalem He says, “It is done!” Anyone who thirsts for the eternal Water of Life can come to God through Jesus Christ to drink freely.

On this earth, Jesus Christ made it possible for us to drink freely of the Water of Life, which is a life lived in the Holy Spirit. When the Lord Jesus died on the Cross to atone for sin, the last words He spoke with His dying breath was, “It is finished!” He completed His task to remove the barrier between the human soul and the Spirit of God. By the remission of sin, He enabled us to be the temple of the Holy Spirit where the Water of Life flows freely within our soul. That is a foretaste and a downpayment of our inheritance in the New Jerusalem.

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” Revelation 21:7

Overcomers are everyone who set themselves apart from the ways of this world to live for God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we must overcome the thing which forms what we think, feel, do, and say because it enables the image of the beast to live and speak through people. By what they say and do, they mock belief in God, they mock the need for the remission of sin through Jesus, and they mock the Holy Spirit. They oppose the life of Holiness. They are conformed to the anti-Christian global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do. They dominate every city around the world. They are those living on the broad way of destruction and heading towards eternal hell. As overcomers, we are those living on the narrow way heading towards the New Jerusalem who live for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will inherit all things and be the children of God.

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

In today’s world, it is already necessary to be brave in living for the Holy Bible. Vicious attacks come from every sector of society, and all one has to do is make Biblical comments on social media pages to see that. They are extremely hostile to Christian beliefs, and they detest the scriptures of the Holy Bible. Those vicious comments are no doubt coming from people of society who are someone’s co-worker, someone’s manager, and people who dominate every sector of society. They also use churchy and humanitarian sounding words to imply that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are not necessary, but they are put-off and can become extremely defensive when called out for their blasphemy. Yes, we live in a world where Christian persecution is alive, and it will progress to become more severe in the days ahead.

Those who serve the global culture of the beast are living for the sorceries of the thing with power over physiology and will have their final end in the lake burning with fire and brimstone. They are murderers who cover their atrocities as wolves in sheep clothing. For example, they call the killing of the unborn, “Reproductive Rights”, and they murder souls through such things as promoting the LGBQT+ lifestyles through the “Respect for Marriage Act”. The silent killer of the psychotic “lamb” is unleashed in society, and it makes a thing of the “soft kill”. They are unbelieving, abominable, sexually immoral, murderers, liars, and afraid to stand for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Description of the New Jerusalem.
The Lamb’s bride and wife is the New Jerusalem. “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Revelation 21:9

The Seven Last Plagues are the very last things to happen on this planet before the return of Jesus Christ. At that time, the earth is totally destroyed by disease, violence, global warming, the loss of power of the beast’s power center (which is the loss of power of the global culture of the beast), the Batlle of Armageddon, and environmental disasters. The return of Jesus Christ is immediately after that which leads to the creation of the new heaven and earth with the New Jerusalem.

One of the angels of the Seven Plagues is now showing the Apostle John the new home of everyone who holds to the testimony of Jesus Christ. John is being shown the New Jerusalem, the bride who is the Lamb’s wife. Through all the affliction in this world, we can say, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

The Holy Jerusalem has the glory of God and a startling light. “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:10-11

The purity and Holiness of the New Jerusalem is hard like precious gems and filed with light in the sense that no sin can penetrate into the New Jerusalem.

The Apostle John uses the same words as Ezekiel to describe the Holy Jerusalem, but John clarifies that Ezekiel’s vision is of the New Jerusalem which comes from Heaven and having the glory of God. This is what Ezekiel saw through the Holy Spirit, “In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city.” Ezekiel 40:2-4 The Apostle John and Ezekiel are both seeing the New Jerusalem.

The vision Ezekiel saw of the third temple is within the New Jerusalem, not here on earth. Some people errantly talk about a third temple that they say is supposed to be built on this earth before the return of Jesus Christ, that is not Biblical. The third temple that Ezekiel saw in his vision is prophetic for the temple of the New Jerusalem within the new heaven and new earth.

Ezekiel’s vision of the third temple in Ezekiel 40 was in 572 BC, just a matter of years after the first temple was destroyed and before the second temple was built. The second temple built was nowhere near to the temple which Ezekiel saw in the vision. It wasn’t the temple of Ezekiel’s vision. The destruction of the second temple happened about 70 years after the birth of Jesus Christ in 70 AD. The third temple has not been built. The reason it won’t be built on this earth is because Ezekiel’s vision is prophetic of the temple within the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth. The symbolism of Ezekiel 47 makes that clear, which speaks of the eternal leaves of healing and the waters of life and healing, and so much more. Click here for a post on Ezekiel 47.

The third temple which Ezekiel saw is eternal within the New Jerusalem, not earthly. “He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death.” Ezekiel 43:7 Click here for a post on Ezekiel 43.

The New Jerusalem and the temple of God within the New Jerusalem is described in detail from Ezekiel 40 through 48. Click here for a table of contents to Ezekiel.

In the coming scripture verses, a description is given of the Temple of God within the New Jerusalem.

Very high wall with twelve gates representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel. “Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west…The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. ” Revelation 21:12-13, 21

The twelve gates being the Twelve Tribes of Israel is mentioned in Ezekiel 48:30-35.

When God builds a wall, it is built from His Holiness to keep sin and rebellion against Him out. The New Jerusalem has a great and high wall meaning there is no way into Heaven by climbing over the walls and no way for sin and rebellion to enter in. Here on earth, the Holiness of God is the same, and the Holy Spirit guides us to build that wall by separating ourselves from the ways of this world,

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. 

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

The wall of the New Jerusalem has twelve gates of pearl which we must go through to enter Heaven. The gates of pearl represent the Holiness of God, and no sin will enter through those gates. As sinners, we wonder who will be able to enter through those gates, who will be saved, and Jesus Christ tells us that with human efforts it is impossible but with God it is possible. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to forgive our sin, and through Jesus, God sees us as being washed in the blood He shed on the Cross. “…by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,” 1 Corinthians 1:30 Jesus is the Way, the Life, and the Truth, no one enters into the presence of God except through Him.

The gates have the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel written on them, which represents the faithful of Israel. To see a partial list of the faithful acts of the Israelites in the Old Testament read Hebrews 11. Through the Twelve Tribes, the “scarlet cord” was established to point to Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. As Believers, we enter through the gates of pearl because we acknowledge the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. We realize the Old Testament is pointing to the New Covenant made through Jesus Christ, which is, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.” Revelation 21:17 A one hundred and forty-four-cubit high wall is about seventy-two yards high. Two thousand years ago, a wall that high would be impossible to get over, symbolizing the impossibility of sin and rebellion entering into the New Jerusalem. I like to think of the wall as being the 144,000 faithful few who are the overcomers in this world. They will be entering through the gates of pearl. The faithful few build a wall against the ways of this world to hold to the testimony of Jesus Christ in the worst possible circumstances.

“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.“ Revelation 21:18. The wall is made of jasper, and the city of the New Jerusalem is pure gold like clear glass. The New Jerusalem is a very precious city of transparency. It is a place of perfect Holiness without sin where there is nothing to be hidden at all. As Christians living on this earth, we desire to be like Jesus who said, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.” John 18:20

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Those who live for the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and say cannot live in the transparent city of the New Jerusalem. That’s because they are allowing the image of the beast to live and speak through them, and they love the darkness and detest transparency. One example is calling the killing of the unborn “Reproductive Rights”, which is hardly transparent and very dark. They are conformed to the anti-Chrisitan global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do.

“The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.” Revelation 21:19-20

In Exodus 39:8-14, the stones used to represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel are about the same as the stones mentioned here for the Twelve Apostles. The stones of the twelve tribes include the jasper. sapphire, emerald, sardius, beryl, topaz, jacinth, amethyst, turquoise, diamond, agate, and onyx. This reminds me of how the Twelve Apostles are very similar to being the gates leading to Jesus Christ.  

In the next verse, we learn that the twelve foundations of the wall have the name of the Twelve Apostles written on them.

The picture below is an example of what the imagery of the foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem would be like. The wall is built on top of those colorful and precious foundations. I’m sure the colors in the picture are not 100% accurate and does not portray the beauty of what is being described in the verses above.

Twelve foundations representing the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb. “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:14

The mission of the Twelve Apostles was so extremely important here on earth that their names are written on the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth. The Apostles are those who established the foundations of Christianity during the short time that they were on this earth. They caused the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ all around the world. They are the Twelve who shared the testimony of Jesus from a very tiny seed, starting with just a few believers, and blossomed into a huge and mighty tree with many branches.

The Twelve Apostles made it possible to establish the New Testament and to reveal the “scarlet cord” in the Old Testament. They showed us how the “scarlet cord” points to Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Lamb of God, and the One sent to atone for sin. Because of the foundations established by the Twelve Apostles, the foundation we have in Jesus Christ is established. Because of them, the New Jerusalem will be filled with those who came to God through Jesus Christ. The Twelve Apostles are truly the foundations of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth.

There are five Apostles which we do not hear anything from after the ascension of Jesus Christ after His death and resurrection. We know they were all together for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:1-5. All except for Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him with a kiss. “When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.” Acts 1:13 During that time, Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot as an Apostle, but we don’t hear about the acts he did to build the foundation of Christianity. Neither do we hear about the acts of Andrew, Bartholemew, Simeon, nor Thomas. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit came to those Twelve Apostles soon after that, and then to whoever receives Jesus Christ.

Even though we don’t hear about what five of the Apostles did to build the foundation of Christianity, their work is so important that even their name is written on the foundations of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth. As followers of Jesus Christ, lets never underestimate the unnoticed work we do for Him, our reward is great in Heaven. The other seven Apostles we know something about, Peter and James worked together in Acts until James the “Great” was murdered by a king (Acts 12:1-4) and James is known to be the brother of John (the “Sons of Thunder”). James the “Less” wrote the book of James and is known to be the earthly brother of Jesus. Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew, and John wrote the Gospel of John, the book of the Revelation, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. John is also mentioned in Acts 8:14 working with Peter. Jude wrote the book of Jude. Phillip was working as one of the seven head waiters in the food industry (Acts 6:1-7) and is mentioned in the whole chapter of Acts 8. Phillip also had four daughters who prophesied, Acts 21:8-9.

Paul is often called an Apostle and often referred to as the Apostle Paul. However, there are only twelve names on the foundations of the New Jerusalem, and he would not be included among the twelve in the above paragraph. He did an astounding amount of work to build Christianity and is also the same one who did an astounding amount of work to destroy Christianity before his conversion. This is a reminder that we cannot depend on the work we do to win favor in the eyes of God nor to exclude us from the mercy and grace of God.

Paul magnified his ministry when he called himself the Apostle to the Gentiles, “For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,” Romans 11:13 In Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, he did not consider himself inferior to the Twelve Apostles, “For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.” 2 Corinthians 11:5-6

Measurement of the New Jerusalem is a square. “And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.” Revelation 21:1

Two thousand years ago, the measurements described in the verse above would be astounding. A furlong is about 1/8 of a mile, so 12,000 furlongs is about 1500 miles. That is the total of all four walls, which would be 375 miles long for each wall. 375 miles squared is 140, 625 miles, which is how much space would be in the New Jerusalem. All of the State of Israel is 8019 square miles and all of Jerusalem is 49 square miles. The people 2000 years ago wouldn’t even be able to imagine the New Jerusalem being 140,625 square miles.

The Holy Spirit gives the square measurement of the New Jerusalem to speak to us today. He is telling us that the room in the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth is bigger than we could ever imagine. The New Jerusalem is big enough to give every person a home who has ever been faithful to God and His Son Jesus Christ from the very beginning of time.

The street is pure gold and transparent like glass. “And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:21b.

The street of the New Jerusalem is going to be beautiful gold and completely transparent. There’s only one street going through the city, so we are all sure to be on the right path. While on this earth, the Holy Spirit wants us to stay on the straight street as we walk towards the New Jerusalem, “He led them also by a straight way,
To go to an inhabited city.” Psalm 107:7

Today, there are billions of streets in the world, and they all lead to a different place. The straight and narrow street leading to Jesus Christ is found by few, and it is a road of transparency and Holiness. All the world follows after the thing which forms what they think, feel, do and say, and it leads people onto the broad street leading to destruction, spiritual darkness, and wickedness.

Transparency is a word thrown around in this “utopian” world we live in, but the cities in which we live are far from being transparent and far from being “golden.” But the Holy City is 100% transparent and golden.

Description of the Temple of the New Jerusalem.
The Lord God and the Lamb are the temple. “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Revelation 21:22

There is no temple in the New Jerusalem because God and the Lamb are the temple. While we live on this earth, the Holy Spirit is preparing us for life in the New Jerusalem. As followers of Jesus Christ, we do not view manmade buildings as the Church, we view our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 47 describes the temple of the New Jerusalem as well as being a description of the soul as the temple of God.

As quoted below, God does not live in manmade temples, not on this earth and certainly not in the new heaven and new earth,

the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?

Acts 7:48-50

The only temple of God on this earth, before we reach the New Jerusalem, is our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit,

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 

1 Corinthians 6:19

For those who allow their body to be the home of the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and say, they do not have a pass into the New Jerusalem where the Almighty God and Jesus Christ are the temple. They have polluted the temple of God, their body, by allowing the image of the beast to live and speak through them by forming their thoughts and feelings. They are conformed to the anti-Christian global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do. They dominate the manmade churches of today and the light of the Gospel of Christ no longer shines in those Sunday buildings.

The glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is its light. “No need for the sun and moon. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” Revelation 21:22-23

God and His Son are self-sustaining, they do not need to depend on anything for their existence. They do not need the sun nor the moon to keep them alive. In the new heaven and earth, within the New Jerusalem, the glory of God illuminates it and the Lamb is the light.

Today, as we live on this earth, we live by the illumination God gave to us through Jesus Christ who is the Light of world. We see our way past carnal instincts of the beastly nature, we see our way past fleshly desires of the beastly nature, we see our way past the fleshly desires of the beastly nature, and we see our way past the mark of the beast and the image of the beast. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and as Christians we allow His light to shine in us.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 8:12 and Matthew 5:14-16

The nations who are saved walk in its light and the kings bring their glory into it. “And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.” Revelation 21:24

The nations of those who are saved will walk in the illumination of God and the Light of the Lamb within the New Jerusalem. The nations in Heaven includes every single person from the beginning of time who has ever believed God, lived for Jesus Christ, and embraced the holy Spirit. The kings of the earth are those leaders who are saved and leading the faithful of Jesus Christ forward.

For leaders of nations to bring honor to another country is a sign of perfect peace and unity. That would have huge meaning 2000 years ago because it would mean Jerusalem would have no more enemies. Not only would Israel be free from enemies, but other nations would bring their glory and honor to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit uses that description to describe the New Jerusalem in the New Heaven ad new earth.

The gates are always open and there is no night there. “Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. ” Revelation 21:25-26

The gates of the New Jerusalem will always be open, and visibility will be 100% every hour of the day. 2000 years ago, the gates of cities were bolted shut in the darkness of night. That’s because enemy forces would come in the cover of night to bust down the gates and overthrow the city. The Holy Spirit is describing to us the perfect state of peace and security within the New Jerusalem by telling us about the eternally open gates where there is always light.

As a 1959 Baby Boomer, I remember keeping doors of homes wide open and car doors unlocked and windows rolled down. I also remember when doors to homes and cars had to start being locked. I lived in that transition from when the Light of Jesus Christ shined in the world and when everything went dark concerning the testimony of Jesus.

Those whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are the only ones in the New Jerusalem. “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27

Those who detest Holiness, shut-off the Light of Jesus Christ, detest the goodness of God, and ridicule the presence of the Holy Spirit will not be in the New Jerusalem. They love the darkness more than light because what they do is evil. They are those who live by the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and say as it enables the image of the beast to live and speak through them. They are conformed to their place within the anti-Christian global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things….who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 

being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 1:18, 22-23, 25, 28-32

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1