After
all the events of the tribulation period, the millennial reign of
Jesus and the “Great
White Throne”
judgment, John the apostle wrote, “And
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John
saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” John
added how God will wipe away all tears and allow no more death,
sorrow, crying or pain”, and He is to make “all things new”. He
also gave a warning to those who are “fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in
the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death”,
and he continued, “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
here, I will show your the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me
away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that
great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Having the glory of God: and her light was
like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as
crystal. 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. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations,
and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb”,
and
in
Revelation chapter twenty-one and verse fifteen John shares how, “he
that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city”
where
we read:
And
he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city,
and
the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
The
verse reads, “And
he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, ...”
John began with the words, “and
he that talked with me”
which refers to “and the certain one of the seven angels who had
the seven vials who conversed with John” “had
a golden reed”
or “held, owned and possess a staff or rod that was made of gold”
“to
measure”
which means “to meet out or judge by rule or standard the space or
distance of” “the
city”
or “the dwelling place which descended from heaven”. John noticed
the “angel”
who was directing his attention toward this beautiful city held in
his hand a “measuring rod” that was made of “gold”
with
which he was to “mark off the city's distance and span”.
The
verse continues, “... and
the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.”
John added the words, “and
the gates thereof”
which means “and the vestibules and portals within the city walls”,
“and
the wall thereof”
which means “and the wall around the city”. The “golden
measuring rod” was also to be used to measure the
“gates and wall”
of the “heavenly city”.
When
we consider John's words in this verse, we notice the specificity of
God to “measure” this “city”. The “angel”
who spoke to John was equipped with a “measuring stick” so he
could mark of the distance and space which was occupied by this
“city”. God has given the readers of this book a look into
His divine methods, and those who are wise will look closely into
that which the “angel” discloses about this “city,
it's gates and it's wall”. This is only a glimpse of how detail
oriented God is toward not only this “city”, but also to
those who shall see it one day. God desires for every person to join
in relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and those who do
shall not only see the “measurements” of this city, but they
shall enjoy the venue of living and dwelling within it.
Next
time
John shares how, “the
city lies foursquare”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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