Revelation

To see what God Himself has built for our eternal home would change the direction of modern conversation. But we rarely study, speak, or sing of the glory of our eternal home. This is the bride of Christ (v2) of which we are now being prepared for Him to receive (Eph 5:25-27, Mt 25:1-13). John sees the new Jerusalem come down out of heaven. This is the third city of the same name. The original city of King David is known as the holy city throughout Scripture and had been destroyed some 20 years before John wrote the book of Revelation. The rebuilt city where Christ rules during the Millenium is the second Jerusalem. And this city, separate from heaven, as the capital of heaven, built by God Himself, will be the third Jerusalem. God will dwell here among men (v3), and as all the old is passed away (v4), all that is made new (v5) will leave the redeemed in Christ to inherit from the spring of the water of life (v6) as Sons of God (v7). The revelation of the dimensions of the new Jerusalem is so remarkable that it requires a world-scale map to appreciate. Described as a translucent (v18) cube (v16), God's glory will illuminate the city with dimensions spanning over 1,300 miles in length, width, and height (v16), with walls 216 feet thick. The twelve gates (v21) will be so unimaginably magnificent that the 12 singular pearls of which they are made are likewise 1,300 miles in height. As there will no longer be any seas (v1), we can ponder the origin of these pearls until we receive our perfected bodies in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." - Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17–20).
"I Jesus" (v16), appearing only here in Scripture, establishes the final invitation. Only the Eternal God can declare the seemingly paradoxical statement that summarizes the biblical teaching of His two natures: "I am the root and the descendant of David" (v16). Only by being both God and man can Jesus be both David's ancestor and his descendant. The urgency and the blessings of this revelation are emphasized in the thrice-repeated declaration of God "I am coming quickly" (vv7,12,20). Even as an epilogue, herein is a final appeal to the sinner and a command to the redeemed - prepare (you) the way for the soon-coming Christ. The words of the book of Revelation are to be understood and preached. This, too, is the command: "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near" (v10).