Sunrays

The Glory and Beauty of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:9-22:5)

Jan 16, 2025 By: Elias Adamo Topic: Sermon Devotional Series: The Revelation of Jesus Christ Scripture: Rev. 21:9-22:5

When it comes to what life looks like in the new creation, people have many questions and speculations. We mostly try to think of heaven as the best of everything that we enjoy here on earth. But 1 Cor 2:9 tells us:  “.. no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”. So the best of what we have seen and experienced here cannot be compared to what God has prepared for us. Because, as Psalm 16:11 tells us: “in [his] presence there is fullness of joy; at [his] right hand are pleasures forevermore.”.  

Revelation 21 tells us, in figurative language, that the new Jerusalem will be magnificent in beauty and glory. It will not need the light from the sun or moon, “for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (v.23). We saw in verses 2 and 9, that the new Jerusalem is a reference to both the redeemed people of God, “the bride, the wife of the Lamb,” and the new earth where God will dwell with his people. 

In chapter 22:1-5, John gets a closer look at features inside the city. And what he describes sounds very much like the Garden of Eden, except much better. We will be perfect, never to sin again. We will behold God’s face and live in his presence for all eternity. We will have free access to the river of life, which flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, and the tree of life that will bear fruits in abundance.  We will be dwelling with all the saints from the beginning of time. This is the inheritance of all the redeemed, whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

In light of all the natural disasters and evil that we have seen take place in our country in the last 3 months, it is a great blessing to know that we have an inheritance “that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for [us]” (1 Peter 1:4); and that in the new Jerusalem, death, pain and suffering will be no more! “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”