Daily Devotion of Revelation 21

Daily Nugget:
The Word of God started with a book of new beginnings — Genesis. It ends with an end to the old, sin-stained earth and a new beginning for a new world, in this chapter.

The first earth will be “passed away” (vs. 1). Details in II Peter 3:10 tells us that the old earth and its contents will perish by fervent heat (Also: Mat. 24:35, Is. 65:17, Dan. 2:44). The earth will still exist (vs. 24), as the redeemed and restored Israel will dwell on it. They will have a new beginning on the new earth, without the plague that ruined the first earth — sin!

A new home for the saved will descend from Heaven (vs. 2). It will be the New Jerusalem and will be the habitation of those who trusted Christ as Saviour (vs. 7). Jesus promised He would go and get our eternal Home ready (Mat. 14:2-3), and He will keep His word.

Our new home will most likely be shaped like a cube. Each side and its height will be 12,000 furlongs (vs. 16). With a furlong being about 555 feet, the holy city will be 1,300 miles on each side. M. R. DeHaan calculated it will contain about 1,875,000 cubic miles; quite enough space to contain the mansions Jesus promised to all that call on His name for salvation. It will also be visited by those that occupy the new earth (vs. 24).

This new city will be more ornate than any of us can imagine. Its foundation will be garnished by precious stones (vss. 19-20). The surrounding wall, containing 12 gates, will be constructed of jasper (vs. 18). The city will be constructed of gold. Roadways will be paved of gold, so pure that it will appear like glass. Gates will be constructed of pearl (vs. 21).

There will be no need for the sun or moon anymore, as the glory of God will be the only light it will need (vs. 23). Another item will also not be necessary: a place of worship. God and His Son will be there so there will be no need to go to a place to worship them indirectly. They will be there (vss. 3, 7, 22) in person!

There in the New Jerusalem will dwell man and His God forever!. There will be no tears, death, sorrow, crying, or pain because those things will be destroyed as was the old earth (vs. 4). Probably the most exciting thing that will also not be there will be the monster that was responsible for the demise of the first earth — sin. Sin will be purged and barred (vs. 27) from ever entering the new, perfect city God has prepared for all those that have come to Him by means of salvation.

This earth has so much sorrow and heartache for all. Sin has changed God’s original intent to what is happening on earth today. One day, the damage done to this world will be forgotten. There will be a new earth and a new Home for all the righteous that have ever lived. Are you absolutely, positively sure you are trusting in what Christ has done for you, so you will one day dwell in the marvelous City God has prepared for His own?

Today’s Thought: There no place like Home!

Today’s Reading: Revelation 21
1 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.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the 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 burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 ¶ 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 hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 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:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 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, chrysolite; 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.
22 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 honour 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 honour 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. (KJV)