The City
January 05|The Dwelling Place Series
January 05|The Dwelling Place Series
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… Revelation 21:2
Read: Revelation 21:1-23
Listen: Revelation 21
“What does heaven look like?” People often create a visual picture of heaven they’ve seen in paintings, movies and even cartoons. But Jesus gives John a better vision than winged angels with halos sitting on clouds playing harps. John’s revelation of God’s city reveals a future and hope to early Christians who were heavily persecuted.
Jesus shows John an actual physical city to sit on a completely recreated and restored earth. John has difficulty putting its profound beauty into words. The walls are pure gold and jasper, decorated with every kind of precious stone. This cube shape is approximately 1,400 miles high and wide. The picture John relates is that this city is the holy of holies and the throne of God!
This city reveals a future and hope for us too. There is no sin. We are perfectly safe there. Everyone trusts and cares about each other. Even better, “God’s dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them” (Revelation 21:3b). We will experience the nearness of God in complete fullness without barriers. Seeing God’s face, having total unity and nearness with him, will fill our hearts with joy like nothing we’ve experienced before.
Think about what God’s city means to you personally. Journal what you look forward to, and thank God for giving us this future and hope in such detail.
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse!
PSALMS 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.