Read: Revelation 21:9-22:5
Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. (v. 9)
John sees a sparkling, jeweled crystal cube. The angel says it’s the Bride, the Church descending from God. Her people are born of God. She is set down on the new earth, her eternal home. Heaven! Each element named in the city has symbolic importance.
Why is the Church a cube 1400 miles in each direction? She is perfect and has room for all who believe. Why transparent gold walls? To expose God’s glory. Why are the Apostles’ names on the foundation stones? Doctrine matters—the Church is built on the foundation of the apostles. Why zillions of multi- colored gems? We’ll all sparkle like stars forever (Dan. 12:3). Why three gates on each side? Converts come from east, west, south and north. Why angel guards? So that nothing impure may enter. Why gates of pearl? Our entry cost Jesus all he had (Matt. 13:45-46). Why show the names of the 12 tribes? This fulfills God’s promises to Abraham (Rom. 4:13; Heb. 11:10).
Why is there a golden avenue from each gate to the throne? Access to God is precious! Why a river from the throne along each street and a park with medicinal fruit trees? God gives life and healing to the nations through believers. Why no temple? All of life is sacred. Why no light? There is no night. The city is the ideal that the Church is becoming. The King sees her as already beautiful! On our new earth “we will see his face!” —Ruth Siemens
As you pray, thank God for the beauty of his presence, now and in our eternal future.
About the Author
Ruth Siemens was a campus minister with IVCF/IFES, then started Global Opportunities to prepare professionals to work and witness in secular employment abroad.
