Yes, we have changed chapters, but the theme remains the same, Heaven.

All 27 verses of Revelation 21 tell us, in every increasing specificity, about the thrilling traits of that City. But Revelation 22 adds even more detail!

Let’s listen to John tell us more: “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

In New Jerusalem, a River!

And it’s unpolluted, “pure” being in Greek “katharos,” physically clean! Actually, clean in every way!

Not a river of fire or mud … but “water!”

Water of “Life!” Reminds us of John 7:38, doesn’t it? Where Jesus said: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING water.”

The adjective “clear” translates “lampros,” our word “lamp,” literally meaning “giving light, lustrous, shining!” Once the King James Bible expresses this word as “gorgeous!”

“Proceeding out” has the idea of going from point “A” to point “B,” all the way through something! Our future Home, the Holy City … has but one Street, brilliant gold. And then one River, 100% pure and glistening! Constantly flowing too, no dry seasons there!

And the word “throne” simply means “seat,” where God rests! (I’m thinking of the Mercy Seat!) He does not sleep, no beds there. At least, no record of any.

One Throne, yet it’s occupancy is dual! “God” and The “Lamb.” We Trinitarians would say this is the Father and the Son! Yes, Jesus is the Lamb, John 1:29. John the Baptist, first time he ever saw our Lord, proclaimed: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Looks like everywhere God lives, there is a river flowing from His Presence. Remember Eden, the Garden there. “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.” Genesis 2:10

And Ezekiel says in the Millennium, such will be the case. “Afterward he (an angel) brought me again unto the door of the house (the House of God); and, behold, waters issued out (a river) from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.” Ezekiel 47:1

And now we’ve learned in New Jerusalem as well, for all eternity!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

No wonder Isaiah wrote: “For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her (Israel) like a river …” Isaiah 66:12

 

The City has 12 Gates!

None of which are closed, ever!

Plus, no darkness ever envelopes the special Place!

Not very favorable conditions for any kind of deceptive access to New Jerusalem! (Furthermore, there’s an angel posted at each Gate!)

Yet Revelation 21:27 still says: “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.”

Only saved people can go into Heaven, the eternal City. (Technically, I should say the New Heaven!) God has totally rebuilt His everlasting Abode!

No filth there! The word for “abomination” in Greek is awkwardly spelled “bdelugma” and means “stinking, detestable, repulsive.” Almost nauseating!

Nothing “plain” or “common” as well! The expression “any thing that defileth” uses the verb “koinoo,” anything “made average.” Actually, “ordinary,” not sanctified! Belonging to the crowds, the non-redeemed crowds! Not having been consecrated! EVERYTHING ENTERING THERE WILL BE SPECIAL, OR NOT ADMITTED AT ALL! Listen to Zeachariah (14:20) talk about the “gear” men put on “horses” during the Millennium. “In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.” Everything, in other words, is made holy! Godly frying pans!

And of course … no lies … in God’s Revelation 21 City! The noun is “pseudos,” and explains itself. (A “psuedomyn” is a name some author takes other than his own! A false identity!) Only truth where the Lord of Truth lives!

This too. Access is granted only to those who are “written” in a Special Book! “Grapho” in Greek can mean “described” or “engraved” …  as well as merely recorded by pencil or pen! Notice … it here does not say their NAMES are written there, but THEY are written there! Isaiah graphically puts it this way, with God talking: “Behold, I have graven thee (His people) upon the palms of my hands.” This Prophet too wrote with a City in the back of his mind, Isaiah 49:16.

Our Text for today, again: “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.”

The word “Lamb” is a diminutive noun specially meaning “little lamb!” A term of endearment as well as a grammatically precise designation! God’s Darling Lamb! Jesus Christ our Lord!

By the way, back to “are written” … a construction (a “perfect participle”) that suggests ongoing action! People’s names (presumably through the Tribulation and Millennium too) were STILL being written in that amazing Book of Life! Oh, how God loves to save the lost!

Normally now, having reached the end of a Chapter of Scripture … our series of studies would have concluded. But in this case we need to continue into Revelation 22 … for just a few more days. The first five verses there clearly “link” to the continuing description of this City (a Place we’ve grown to love more than ever)!

So, Monday morning we shall reverently tread into that final paragraph!

Something about a River!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

We’ve reached the “penultimate” verse in Revelation 21. The word means “near the last,” better yet, “last but one.” We say “next to last!” And it links to its predecessors, especially the two previous verses.

Here it is: “And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.” Revelation 21:26, bringing such into the City, New Jerusalem. The noun “nations” is spelled “ethnos” in Greek, ethnic entities. Peoples (plural on purpose) of various backgrounds, with amazing cultural varieties.

And these “nations” have access to New Jerusalem, our eternal Home?

Yes.

Now the context. “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. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.” Revelation 21:24-26

Although I cannot fully explain this (even to my own satisfaction) … there apparently live on the “new earth” some people. I think they are humans who will have survived the coming Judgment at the end of the Millennium … and who were given (eternal) life on the new earth, based on their faith in the Lord and their rejection of the Devil’s final allurement, one more rebellion (just another attempt to overthrow God) … a demonic thrust against the Almighty. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive THE NATIONS which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And THEY went up on the breadth of the earth, and COMPASSED THE CAMP OF THE SAINTS about, and THE BELOVED CITY: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the DEVIL that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10, when EVERYBODY undoubtedly did NOT follow the Devil! It’s these who stayed true to Jesus (having been King of the Earth for those thousand years) who will (I believe) live on the “new earth” and have access and egress to the Eternal City!

And this too …

They (these nations and their kings) will WORSHIP THE LORD JESUS when they come! “And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.”

Apparently giving gifts to the Saviour!

I suspect it’s the “Kings” of these nations (their leaders) who bring the said “glory and honor!”

If I am anywhere near right … all eternity will roll … with Jesus (well, The “Trinity”) being the Center of attention, from both heaven and earth … for evermore!

I love the sound of that, don’t you?

Talk about “united nations!”

Talk about world peace!

Talk about every knee bowing and every tongue confessing!

The Time has come!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

We learned earlier this week (in our journey through Revelation 21) that the City known as New Jerusalem will need no “light,” neither sun nor moon! Because JESUS is the Light thereof, His Radiance and His Glory!

Today’s verse adds one more facet of truth to that grand fact. “And the gates of it (this City) shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” Revelation 21:25

Those Gates, remember?

Twelve of them!

Each being a huge Pearl!

Here’s the Scripture: “It 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 twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several (individual) gate was of one pearl.“

And these majestic Gates will never be shut? That’s exactly what we’re being told today. This is unprecedented, as far as City life was concerned!

Truly, the main purpose of gates in those ancient days was “protection.” To keep enemies and predators away … especially at night, in the dark! You don’t shut a gate in the daytime! “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.”

Then, WHY have these gates in the first place?

They apparently exist to deliver a message!

They do not function in any pragmatic way, obviously.

And I believe the message is this: something about those Pearls!

Which are emblematic of: Beauty and Value out of suffering, suffering on the part of an innocent party! I’m thinking of our Saviour on the Cross of Calvary!

Out of an oyster’s side comes the pearl. Out of Adam’s side came Eve. Out of Jesus’ (pierced) side came Blood and Water, in reality the possibility for the existence of the very Bride of Christ! The Church!

Never shut, these gates!

The City always accessible!

Never any danger!

Never an emergency demanding security measures!

Perfect Safety!

Oh yes, “There shall be no night there.”

Reminds me of what Jesus said back in John 3:19. “That light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

No darkness, then (one would assume) no need of sleep!

Eternal Rest!

Bodies that do not tire!

The more we learn about this future City … the lovelier it sounds!

Tomorrow (our upcoming lesson) being no exception!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s Bible Study Verse adds a lot to our Revelation 21 discussion. And its impact is repeated just two verses later, as well. Let me show you what I mean. “And the NATIONS of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it (the City): and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it (New Jerusalem).”

What nations?

I believe here we must remember that not only is there a freshly created New Jerusalem (along with the “new heavens,” according to Second Peter 3:13. “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for NEW HEAVENS and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”) but also a freshly created “new earth!” (Let your mind go back to Revelation 21:1. “And I (John) 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.” )

Then too, we must believe that when John observed New Jerusalem (the City) “coming down from God out of Heaven” … that the greatest Metropolis of all time was coming toward the “new earth.” I suspect the two locales will be near each other. Maybe with the New Jerusalem “suspended” in mid-air somewhere above the new earth. (If that’s hard for you to accept, “suspended,” go out and look at the Moon or the Sun for a second. They too are “suspended” in space. In fact, a helicopter (man-made) can “hover” pretty well, too!

If I am anywhere near right, that new earth will undoubtedly NOT be unpopulated!

I believe “saved” Israel just may dwell on the “new earth,” while the “saved” of our age (the Church Age or the Dispensation of Grace) will live in the New City, New Jerusalem. My proof, among several texts: “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOR EVER.” God talking to Abraham thousands of years ago, four millennia at least, Genesis 13:15.

Again Moses via the Word of God to Caleb: “And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s FOR EVER, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.”

What else can “for ever” mean, than eternally?

Then remember that during the Millennium people (children) will be born to the earth’s population. Those who were among the “sheep nations” of the Matthew 25 judgment. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Then seven verses later: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” The “criteria” for this Judgment … how these people, these nations, treated Israel in her greatest Hour of need! “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren (Jews), ye have done it unto me.” Jesus teaching in Matthew 25:40.

These “sheep” enter the Millennial Kingdom of God, of Jesus, here on earth! (Still the “old earth,” this “present” globe on which we live. Yes, during the Millennium children will be born, many living (apparently) to be hundreds of years old! As in pre-Flood days, Noah’s era. Someone dying at 100 years of age, will be considered merely a “child!” Isaiah 65:20 hints: “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the CHILD shall die an HUNDRED YEARS OLD.”

I am just saying, probably very awkwardly, that these earth inhabiters (God lovers, redeemed Jews and some Gentile peoples who loved and cared for Israel) will live on the millennial earth, then …

At the end of the Millennium … “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10, where the rebellious (devil followers) will then be judged at the Great White Throne.

But what about those who did not “fall” for the Devil’s lies?

They, still a multitude, of necessity must enter the “new earth” as citizens!

AND IT IS THESE NATIONS WHO WILL BE ENTERING THE NEW JERUSALEM! GOING BACK NOW (FINALLY) TO TODAY’S VERSE! “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.”

Multitudes (saved people, mind you) coming to Town … walking in the light of the City (New Jerusalem) and bringing inside (to Jesus the Lamb of God) “glory” and “honour,” in other words “worshipping our dear Savior!”

Yes, Revelation 21:24 will be fulfilled, LITERALLY, in those amazing days yet ahead.

More about this day after tomorrow.

All I can say is “Wow!”

Better yet, “Praise the Lord.” Even better than that maybe: “He doeth all things well.” Mark 7:37, the crowds speaking of Jesus! “And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell