What Is Heaven? Part 2 (Revelation 21:9-22:5)
GIST: In Heaven, we will both experience and be defined by holiness, safety, and life.
Today, we’re continuing our discussion of Revelation 21. As we near the end of this amazing book, we’re given a picture of Heaven. However, as we looked at it last week, we noticed this picture is more about who we will be and what we will experience than a physical description. We’ll see that even more today.
In fact, what we see in this description is yet another contrasting image. I want to point that out before we get any further into the text because it seems every time I study this letter, I notice more instances like this. You’re probably tired of me saying that this isn’t meant to be read as a linear recording of future events but pictures that point —again and again from varying perspectives —to the kinds of things that will happen and the truth that will continue to be true from Jesus’ ascension into Heaven until His triumphant return. But… I’m going to point one more out.
Look at how this passage starts: “9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God…”
Now, look at how chapter 17 starts: “1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk." 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.”
Notice the similarities? There are more. We’re first given a picture of what our lives are like when they are controlled by sin. We’re serving a counterfeit god, and everything is a mess. This prostitute is bought into sin so wholeheartedly she’s been marked as belonging to it (remember her forehead tattoo?). As a result, she’s surrounded by self-destruction. This section then endss with John bowing down to an angel and being reminded to worship God alone, and the voice of God declaring this is trustworthy and true.
In this section, we are given a picture of the Bride of Christ, the Church, those who belong wholeheartedly to Him. They’re marked too, as His! Guess what happens at the end of the section (which we’ll get to, maybe, next week)? John bows down to an angel, is reminded to worship God alone, and the voice of God declares all this is trustworthy and true!
So, if this is a contrast, what is happening in the middle? We’re given a picture of what surrounds the lives of those who belong to Jesus. This, most fully realized in Heaven, is a picture of what will now define our lives. There’s a lot in this, and I am indebted to the teaching of Kevin DeYoung for pointing out much of this out to me; however, today I want us to consider just three points. Here’s our gist: In Heaven, we will both experience and be defined by holiness, safety, and life.
Since this is a substantially longer passage this morning, we’re going to read them as we come to them rather than as one big chunk. Since the descriptions of holiness and safety are intertwined, I’m also going to skip around a bit to keep the images together (just in case it looked like I was skipping over stuff ☺️). Let’s dive in!
I. Holiness
“9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.”
So from the beginning of this picture, we see the church, the Bride of Christ, being described using “city language”, and from the outset of that description we’re described as having the glory of God. This idea is continued throughout this entire passage because so much of the pictures being applied to the Church (radiant, Jasper, crystal clear) have elsewhere been used to describe God. This isn’t because we are becoming little gods, but rather that in Heaven, His transformative grace is completed. Here, those who belong to Jesus are being transformed into His image. We, though imperfectly, are meant to reflect Him to the world. In Heaven, our reflection of Jesus will be complete.
“18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
Here, we have the same kinds of pictures. Heaven will be spectacular because God’s glory will flood everything. In fact, when we look at the “safety” portion, we’re going to see a set of measurements…which we’ll talk about when we get there. In that, we’ll see Heaven described as a cube (holy cube?). That made me think of a Borg Cube from Star Trek ☺️, but more spiritual minds have pointed out that there is only one other cube described in the Bible: the holy of holies. This was the place only the high priest had access to. It was the most intimate place you could meet with God. Now, we’re described using the same language!
Keeping with that same vein of description, we’re given these 12 stones —which I struggle to pronounce. The commentaries I’ve studied were all quick to point out that these mirrored those used in the breastplate of the high priest. Again, we have temple imagery, but we’re also told there is no temple? Why? Because we’re in God’s presence directly. It’s the same reason there is no need for a sun, because we’re surrounded by the light of the world.
The images of gates being made from a single massive pearl and streets of solid gold echo the same thoughts, as well. Everything in Heaven reflects the exuberant glory of God —and that includes us.
The end of chapter 21 reminds us why: “26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
All Good, No Bad. As Jesus burns away all that is not love, Heaven is God’s people transformed and untainted.
II. Safety
“12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed-- 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement.”
Here we see some of our 12s. Specifically, 12 Gates & 12 Foundations. These 12 have become familiar throughout the letter and have been used to represent the whole church. We see that pictured here clearly. The gates are the twelve tribes and the foundation is the twelve disciples. The way in and the very foundation of Heaven is the salvation of Jesus outlined throughout all Scripture.
So, what does this have to do with safety? Well, we have this picture of super high walls and gates. That in itself carries the connotation of security. We also have a picture of all this being measured. The measurements aren’t meant to be taken literally. It’s a picture of Heaven as expansive and all encompassing [about 1,400 miles (stadia) and about 200 feet (cubits)]. But this lines up with several other “measurement” passages in Scripture. Measurement is done to show what belongs to whoever owns whatever is being measured. If you remember back in chapter 11, John is told to measure the temple of God, but not to measure the court outside the temple because that’s where people will be trampled. It’s the paradox of the Christian life: we belong to Jesus and as such are firmly in His arms, but we will encounter persecution from this world because it is not our home.
What do we not see in this measurement? Any room for trampling. We belong. We’re safe. That’s it. And the picture keeps going too→
“24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there.”
The gates are always open! We live in a world of locked doors. Though there are those who rebel against it, contemporary logic tells us locked is safe because outside is unpredictable. Our homes, our cars, our classrooms, our phones, our computers… our hearts. We’ve seen devastation reinforced so often it’s easy to believe we’re only safe when closed in— even if that security still feels feeble at best. But… fear isn’t forever.
As I studied this chapter this week, this particular verse struck me the most. Why are the gates of Heaven never locked? There is absolutely nothing to fear. All sorrow is gone. All danger is destroyed. Jesus has come victorious over sin and death. All that remains is love because “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
This future awaits those who trust Him, and this reality can shape how you face fear today. I know closing the door feels safe, but this picture points to the true foundation of courage. Will you open your heart to the unshakable security of His salvation?
Heaven is where we will fully experience and be defined by holiness, safety, and →
III. Life
I’ll be brief on this one, but look at how chapter 22 starts: “1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. 4 They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”
Heaven is alive! Look at all the imagery here. There’s a river. Ancient civilizations were built up around flowing rivers. They were the lifesource that led to their flourishing. There is a tree of life. Doesn’t this ring of the garden of Eden, the picture of paradise before the fall? And what is happening? It’s producing 12 kinds of fruit. The fruit of belonging to Jesus, being the Church will be continually produced! The nations have been healed. Remember the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14? “ If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” In Heaven, we’ll see that healing completed. There will be true spiritual life here because there is no curse. Sin has been defeated. Instead, we will look upon His face, and be marked as His! There is no darkness here; only marvelous light.
Again, it’s not a sterile white room. It’s abundant life! Let’s hit a few quick→
TAKEAWAYS
1. Holiness: Are you drawing near to Him now? In Heaven, we will be defined by His glory. Are we pursuing that now?
2. Safety: Are you resting in His provision? This world is so unstable. These past few weeks for me have reminded me very vividly, yet again, of my lack of control. How can we face this life with anything akin to hope, with anything close to a sense of security? Remember, God hasn’t stopped being sovereign, and He is actively bringing an end to all fear.
3. Life: Are you living with a contagious vibrancy while actively pointing others to His eternal life? Are you living for Jesus?
