Bible Readings for the Home Circle
The New Jerusalem.
HAS God prepared a dwelling-place for his people?
"But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly; Wherefore God
is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city."
Hebrews 11:16.
2. Where is this city? and what is it called?
"But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."
Galatians 4:26.
3. After sojourning in the land of promise as a stranger and a pilgrim, to what did Abraham look forward?
"For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
Hebrews 11:10.
4. When we embrace Christ, unto what do we come by faith?
"But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels."
Hebrews 12:22.
5. What did John see concerning this city?
"And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
Revelation 21:2.
6. Is this the city for which Abraham looked?
"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb."
Revelation 21:14.
Compare this with Hebrews 11:10.
7. What is the measurement of the city?
"And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth;
and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs."
Revelation 21:16.
The measure around it, as the words length and breadth imply, and as was
the early custom of measuring cities, was 12,000 furlongs, equal to 1,500
miles [2,410.8+ kilometers], or 375 miles [602.7 kilometers] on each side,
making a perfect square.
8. What is the bight of the wall?
"And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits."
Revelation 21:17.
144 cubits =216 feet [66 meters].
9. Of what material is the wall constructed?
"And the building of the wall of it was of jasper; and the city was pure gold,
like unto clear glass."
Revelation 21:18.
10. With what are the twelve foundations (or as some suppose, ornamental bases) of the wall adorned?
"And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of
precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the
third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth,
sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the
tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst."
Revelation 21:19, 20.
NOTE. — Prof. Stuart says of these stones that, in order and arrangement, they
are like the colors of the rainbow, only more complex, and much more brilliant.
There can be no question as to their extreme brilliancy; but with
reference to their arrangement, it has been suggested on good authority, that
whereas the high priest of the Israelites wore these twelve stones in his breastplate,
to represent the twelve tribes of Israel; and whereas the New Jerusalem
itself has twelve gates, each bearing the name of one of the twelve
tribes, designating the particular place each tribe occupies in the city, — that
these ornamental stones will be only on that part of the foundation where the
tribe is located, which the stone itself has ever represented. Another suggestion
is that these foundations are super-imposed horizontally one upon another,
in the form of terraces, each color extending continuously around the city, the
whole being arranged in steps from the ground to the wall.
11. Of what are the twelve gates composed?
"And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl;
and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."
Revelation 21:21.
12. What will be excluded from that city?
"And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination, or maketh a lie."
Revelation 21:27.
13. Who will be welcomed there?
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree
of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Revelation 22:14.
14. In what condition will those be who are permitted to dwell in the holy city?
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for
the former things are passed away."
Revelation 21:4
15. What is to be a prominent object in the city?
"And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall
be in it; and his servants shall serve him."
Revelation 22:3.
16. What will flow from under the throne of God?
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out
of the throne of God and of the Lamb."
Revelation 22:1.
The "water of life;" that is, containing a life-giving principle
in harmony with our condition of immortality.
17. What stands on either side of that river?
"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree
of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every
month; and the leaves of the tree, were for the healing of the nations."
Revelation 22:2.
NOTE. — "The tree of life." That which Adam lost through transgression is to
be restored to the redeemed, and will be enjoyed by them throughout the
never-ending cycles of eternity. Those who really keep God's commandments,
have the promise of a right to that life-giving tree.
Revelation 22:14.
THY walls are all of precious stone,
Most glorious to behold;
Thy gates are richly set with pearl,
Thy streets are paved with gold.
Thy garden and thy pleasant walks
My study long have been;
Such dazzling views, by human sight
Have never yet been seen.
Lord, help us by thy mighty grace
To keep in view the prize
Till thou dost come to take us home
To that blest paradise.