They Looked For A City

Sermon Notes
Book of Revelation is the playground of conspiracy theorists and sensationalists, but it is a book with a promise of great blessing if we take the time to study it. It is a picture book and not a puzzle book.
Rev. 21:23 introduces us the the New Jerusalem, and the picture being painted here is about the character of the place and its population—the Bride of Christ, New Jerusalem the city. It depicts the beauty, the purity, the permanence of that City ready for her Groom. We cannot sin and spoil heaven like Adam and Eve did in the garden, because the New Jerusalem is built on Christ’s righteousness, which cannot be overcome. John 10:28 shows us that no one can snatch us out of His hand.
Twelve (12), which appears six times in this passage, is the number of the people of God, not all the nation of Israel, but the remnant, not the visible organized church but the true believers—saints of both the Old and new Testaments—the faithful ones of the Lord.
The three gates in every direction show that people from all directions can come in. The gospel message is open to all the world, having been preached by the apostles, who are the foundation of the city Rev 21:14.
The City is laid out as a square; what is the significance? In the OT tabernacle, the only place that is perfectly square is the Holy of Holies. This symbolizes now the Sovereign God of glory being amongst His people in the New City.
The material of the walls of the City are precious stones. These are the faithful people of God who are precious to Him. The breastplate of the OT high priest was studded with precious stones, representing the precious people of God. The Lord says in Zech 2:8, “Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye . . .” The chosen ones are precious because they belong to His Son and are redeemed by Him.
The city has no need of the Sun is because the glory of God, who is openly and gloriously present among them, will outshine everything. There will be nothing to distract us from beholding His glory. The Lamb is the lamp.
The River of the water of life, citing Genesis, is the River that will serve the needs of God’s people who will lack nothing. The river in the centre points to the fact that the river of life is accessible everywhere in the city.
The Tree (singular) of life on either side of the river is the symbol of being in eternal fellowship with our Saviour and Creator. The likemindedness that the citizens have is akin to that in the Trinity. John 17:21-23.
This is the life that we should be aiming for in the here and now. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1
We desire a better country, an eternal one, to which the momentary excitements of this life will never measure up.
Set your minds on the things above. Look up. The Lamb is coming soon.