WHAT HAS GOD PREPARED FOR HIS PEOPLE?

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

WHERE IS THIS CITY?

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2

WHAT HAS JESUS PREPARED FOR US IN THE CITY OF GOD?

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. John 14:2

HOW DID JOHN DESCRIBE THIS CITY?

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 show thee 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. Revelation 21:9-14

HOW LARGE IS THE NEW JERUSALEM?

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. Revelation 21:16

NOTE: The size of the city is said to be "twelve thousand furlongs." A furlong is 1/8 of a mile, thus making the city 1,500 miles in circumference or 375 miles long on each side. This would make the capital of the new earth cover an area as large as Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., and the western half of Ohio combined.

HOW HIGH ARE THE WALLS OF THIS CITY?

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. Revelation 21:17

NOTE: The walls of the city are 144 cubits high. A cubit can range anywhere from

18 to 21 inches. Taking the smaller figure of 18 inches would make these walls at least

216 feet high or about 20 stories.

WHAT ARE THE WALLS AND FOUNDATION MADE OF?

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

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; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. Revelation 21:18-20

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY THE STREETS AND GATES ARE?

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. Revelation 21:21

NOTE: As for a possible significance of these "Pearly Gates" one commentator has offered this suggestion: "Pearls are produced by suffering. When a grain of sand works its way into the oyster shell, there seems only one thing for that lowly creature to do. To deny the existence of the sand is futile, for it is there. To rebel is useless. So, slowly and patiently, the oyster begins to build layer upon layer of a plastic, milky substance which at last covers up the cutting edges of the sand, leaving a lovely coating all over, which hardens to become a beautiful pearl. Thus the trial is conquered and the misfortune turned to blessing. All who enter that fair city will pass through a gate of pearl, a symbol of suffering. By the abundant grace of God they have turned their trial into triumphs; every gnawing sin was covered with the righteousness of Christ.” Roy Allen Anderson, Unfolding the Revelation, p. 204

WHY WILL THERE BE NO TEMPLE THERE?

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Revelation 21:22

FROM WHERE DOES THE CITY RECEIVE ITS LIGHT?

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. Revelation 21:23

DOES THIS MEAN THERE WILL BE NO SUN OR MOON?

Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. Isaiah 30:26

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Isaiah 60:19, 20 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. Isaiah 24:23 WILL IT EVER BE DARK IN THE NEW JERUSALEM?

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Revelation 21:25

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:5

WHO ARE THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY?

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. Revelation 21:27

WHAT FLOWS FROM THE THRONE OF GOD?

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1

WHAT ITEM TAKEN FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN IS THERE?

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3:24

NOTE: This tree is said to bear 12 different types of fruit and to do so once every month. This gives an even further insight to the significance of Isaiah 66:22-23 that all of the redeemed will come together to worship God "from one new moon to another." Not only will there be the weekly Sabbath gathering for worship, but apparently there will be another special gathering once each month around the tree of life.

WILL THIS CITY ALWAYS REMAIN IN HEAVEN?

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CITY DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN?

And they the wicked 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. Revelation 20:9

HOW CONSUMING WILL THIS FIRE BE?

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 4:1-3

WHAT WILL GOD MAKE FROM THE ASHES OF THIS PLANET?

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:11-13

WHAT WILL THE NEW EARTH BE LIKE?

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. Isaiah 35:1

WILL THERE BE SICKNESS IN THE EARTH MADE NEW?

And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. Isaiah 33:24

WILL ANY SUFFER FROM DISABILITIES?

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart [deer], and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:5, 6

WILL THERE BE ANY DISHARMONY IN THE NEW EARTH?

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:6-9

WHAT SHALL WE HAVE IN ADDITION TO OUR CITY MANSION?

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. Isaiah 65:21-23

SHALL WE KNOW ONE ANOTHER THERE?

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

WHAT IS GOD’S PROMISE CONCERNING THE NEW EARTH?

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.

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.

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. Revelation 21:3-5

NOTE: Those who truly love Jesus will one day soon be able to walk with Him on golden streets, but in order to walk with Him there, we must first walk with Him here. The question He asks is: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). Is your life in agreement with the will of God? Remember, heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Won't you begin now to make preparation to become a part of God's eternal family? Heaven is a free gift and is based solely upon our response to God’s love and His will for our lives. If you are not standing fully on the side of Christ Jesus, don't you think it is time you changed sides?