Paul's Passing Thoughts

In Hebrews 11:8-10, we read the following:

 

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”

 

Abraham knew the promised land was just a pre-fillment of a better promise from God, so he lived there “as” an alien would. As Christians, what are we ultimately looking for in God’s plan for the end times? This may surprise you, but it’s not the rapture. We read the following in 1Peter 3:13;

 

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

 

Both Peter and Abraham pointed to a singular promise. Abraham called it a city, Peter called it a “new heavens and new earth.” Peter also said to live in this present age as “sojourners and pilgrims [1Peter 2:11].”

 

Now we read the following in Revelation 21:1,2;

 

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

 

There it is. Two men who lived 4000 years apart looking for the same city, a city built by God. People ask, “what will Heaven be like?” Really, it’s the wrong question. The right question that can be answered within the confines of God’s revelation to us is “what will God’s city be like?” Revelation 21continues in verse 3:

 

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

 

Furthermore, Revelation 21: 22 says the following;

 

“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”

 

“Noooooowwwwww wait a minute here Paul, that’s clearly all allegory!” Oh really? You sure about that? Let me give my literal understanding of this passage and then we will consider an allegorical approach:

 

1] There is going to be a “new” heavens [plural] and “new” earth [singular]. This city built by God comes down from Heaven and is on earth. Weird, but that’s what it says.

 

2] This is when all sin and all suffering is forever eliminated: “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[vs 4].” This is opposed to the previous age of the Millennial Kingdom that will be bliss compared to this age, but will be occupied with mortals. That is why Christ will have to rule it with a “rod of iron.” The second coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation Period [which precedes the Millennial Kingdom] and the putting down of the rebellion at the end of the earthly, 1000 year rein of Christ from David’s throne [the Millennial Kingdom] are clearly two separate events [compare 20:7-1 and 19:11-16].

 

3] Verses 10-14 of chapter 21 give an overview of the city and then 21:15-22:1-5 give the specific details, a strange grammatical structure for an allegorical approach. It is called the holy city of Jerusalem and comes “down” to earth “out” of Heaven “from” God. So in other words, it’s already up there and the Holy Spirit goes out of his way to make it clear that God is coming down from Heaven to dwell with mankind. The Holy Spirit states it three different ways: Down to earth, out of Heaven, and from God. It’s deliberately redundant so nobody misses the point.

 

The angel takes the author, the Apostle John, on a great high mountain to get a big picture of the city coming down from heaven. It has the glory of God and the brilliance of many jewels, a great high wall, and 12 gates guarded by angels. The gates also have the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. John also specifies that there are 3 gates on each of the 4 sides. So far, the city is named “holy Jerusalem” and we have 12 gates named after the 12 tribes of Israel, not a pretty picture for reformed theologians.

 

Also, apart from the wall being very high, it has 12 foundations underneath it and each one has the name of either one, or all twelve Apostles.

 

Starting in verse 15, we begin to get some of the details from an angel who’s doing the measurements.

 

4] The city is 1,380 miles high, 1,380 miles wide, and 1,380 miles long.

 

5] The wall is measured in cubits, an ancient measurement from a man’s elbow to the tip of his middle finger. John mentions that it is the same for angels as it is for man, indicating a strong resemblance in build between the two and clarification concerning the fact that the cubit would be the same. Again, why would that be important in regard to allegory? But I digress, 144 cubits is about 2,500 feet or about the same height as a 250 story building. Ever been to the Sears building in Chicago? More than twice that high. Any questions? This is probably not including the 12 foundations underneath the walls.

 

6] The wall and foundations are built with several kinds of rare stones which are named specifically. The wall is of one kind of jewel but the foundation is of various sorts of brilliant, colorful stones.

 

7] The street [singular as well as interesting] and buildings of the city are built of pure gold which is also transparent like glass. Nothing in that city needs to be covered up. One will be able to see all of the activity from one end of the city to the other.

 

8] Each gate is cut from a solid pearl and the gates remain open at all times.

 

9] There is no temple in the city. The temple is God and Christ. Neither is there any night. The light of the new heavens and new earth is supplied by the glory of God and the Lamb.

 

10] There will be kings and nations that will bring honor and glory into the city. All subjects are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

 

11] Moving into chapter 22, there is a river of life flowing from God’s throne through the middle of the one street and it is some pretty good look’in water.

 

12] Somehow, the tree of life is on both sides of the river that flows through the middle of the one street in this 2 million square miles of city. The tree has 12 different types of fruit.

 

Seriously, if that’s all allegory, what would it mean? The theologians of our day cannot even articulate

what our role is in the sanctification process and how it’s experienced, much less all of that. Besides, what are you going to do with the tree of life spoken of in 22:2,3? If that’s not allegory, why would the rest, being in the same context, ie, the city, be allegory? If the tree here is allegory, what about the tree in the garden?, is that allegory? Why would a tree in a garden be any more or less allegorical than a tree in a city? And if it is, then what was the real sin that Adam and Eve committed? And if it wasn’t as stated, ie, eating from the tree, why wouldn’t God plainly state what the sin was?, especially since he specifically ask Adam later if that’s what he did! Did God ask Adam an allegorical question concerning his allegorical sin?

 

In our present day, I sense a great disconnect in the understanding of how end times truth empowers us for sanctified living. The Scriptures allude to this often, and I must confess, I am seeking for God to open my eyes more to the understanding of it. If ALL scripture is “profitable” to equip for every good work, then there must be a vital connection between end times knowledge and sanctification that pleases God. Some estimate that eschatology is 25% of scripture. Is today’s church only utilizing three fourths of the Bible to equip the saints? Paul said he did not fail to teach the “whole counsel of God.”

 

Where is our earnest expectation of a sudden and unexpected return of Christ? The Apostles and Christ

seem to emphasize such a mentality. Is our focus on a city built by God, or a house built by Drees in the suburbs?

 

The other night, I was watching a cable network show called “Gangland.” As I watched, the show seemed to glorify gangs while presenting a hopeless picture in regard to controlling them. As the show continued to delve deeper and deeper into their evil and proud exploits, I thought about that city where evil will be vanguished. Perhaps gang members need to hear more about that glorious city lit by the glory of the Lamb as compared to the city they live in and the difference in fate regarding the dwellers thereof.

 

Jesus also says there will be no more suffering in that city. Are these some pieces that may lead to understanding? Is the answer our focus and a willingness to confront evil and embrace suffering? Does that enhance our earnest expectation for the city built by God? I think that’s some of it. I also believe this: How the story of redemptive history ends is objective and not open to nebulous endeavors, for our wonderful lord spoke these words to John in regard to the truth about his city: “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” [Revelation 21:5]

 

paul