Revelation - Week 38

Day 1

READ 

Revelation 21:12-14 

12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

The mention of the twelve tribes of Israel and their arrangement around the city is a reminder of how God arranged them around the tabernacle in the Old Testament. This is a reference to Israel. The city had twelve foundation stones “and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” This is a reference to the Church, of which the apostles were its foundation. 

REFLECT 

Consider that God remembers believing Israelites as well as believing Gentiles during the Church age. God does not forget anyone. 

RESPOND 

For a reminder of the arrangement of Israelites around the tabernacle, read Numbers 2:1-2, 32-34. Read Acts 2:42 that tells of believers being dependent on the apostles’ teaching. Their teaching is recorded in the Bible you can read today.

Day 2

READ 

Revelation 21:15-17 

15 The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. 17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). 

These dimensions of the city have caused much speculation. We will never fully understand heaven until we get there. Until then we can be content knowing God has prepared a perfect place for us—and enough room for every believer. Rather than being concerned about what we do not fully know about eternity, let us be content to know Jesus has gone to prepare a perfect place for every believer. 

REFLECT 

Are you content to leave all the unanswered questions about eternity with Jesus? The main concern Jesus had when He lived among men was to warn them to avoid hell, the lake of fire. 

RESPOND 

Be reminded of what Jesus is doing for believers by reading John 14:1-3. Whatever place He is preparing will be perfect because He is perfect. For those who have had loved ones pass away who were believers in Jesus, it is comforting to realize they are in a perfect place because they are with Jesus. 

Day 3

READ 

Revelation 21:18-20 

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: 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. 

John continues to describe the city. There is uncertainty about the stones but no uncertainty about God preparing a beautiful place for all those in eternity with Him. This also reveals that God is a God of beauty. Even nature that He has created shows us that today. All believers will be awestruck with the beauty God has prepared for them in the heavenly city.  

REFLECT 

Do you look forward to being with God in eternity? Doing so will help you to endure the trials of this life. 

RESPOND 

We can appreciate beauty in this life, but read Proverbs 31:29-31 to see what really counts with God.  

Day 4

READ 

Revelation 21:21-27 

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

In the Old Testament God’s presence was evident in the tabernacle and later the temple (see 1 Chronicles 6:31-32). In the New Testament, every believer is a temple of God (see 1 Corinthians 6:18-20). In eternity there will be no need for any temple because “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” The gates of the city are made of pearls and they will never be closed. God is light so there will be no night there. Only those will be there “whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” 

REFLECT 

Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? The only way this is possible is by trusting in Jesus as your Savior. 

RESPOND 

Read 2 Corinthians 6:2 that reminds everyone that the present time is the time to trust in Jesus as Savior. Tomorrow may be eternally too late. No one has the guarantee of being alive tomorrow, and Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that after death comes judgment. There is no second chance after death. 

Day 5

READ 

Revelation 22:1-2 

1 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. 

This passage reveals the beauty of the New Jerusalem. It also reveals God will provide abundantly for all of the inhabitants. The Garden of Eden had its rivers (see Genesis 2:10-14), but nothing like what God will provide in the future. It should be comforting for every believer to know God will make all things beautiful in eternity. 

REFLECT 

What eternity will be like for believers is beyond imagination, but each one can be thankful that God has such a perfect, beautiful plan for the future. 

RESPOND 

Read Romans 5:1-2 that reveals believers will one day share in God’s glory. Share your appreciation of this with a fellow believer.