THE HOLY CITY
Today’s Reading: Revelation 21
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The city skyline of Toronto. There are many great cities on earth, but the city known as the New Jerusalem mentioned in today’s reading will be constructed in Heaven. There is no place on earth where it could settle down. Therefore, it must be a great satellite in stationary orbit above the earth; the closest point to it here on earth would be Jerusalem. I am a private pilot and on one occasion I was flying at the correct altitude past the Toronto shoreline when I looked up and there above me was a man working on the world’s highest free standing tower seen on the skyline above. It was unnerving to say the least. Just imagine how bewildering it will be when by God’s grace we first see the New Jerusalem.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ Day Unto Day devotional series)…
Suddenly, there is great excitement as the Lord declares, “I am making everything new!” The old heaven and earth give way to “a new heaven and a new earth” (verse 1). And, somehow suspended between the two, the “New Jerusalem” appears.
This new city is called “the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (verse 9). It has huge dimensions (a 1,400 mile cube! That’s 27,440,000 cubic miles!) and it is overwhelmingly beautiful (verses 11-21). It is always daytime there, and there’s no temple, for God and the Lamb are its Light and its Temple (verses 22-25).
The new Jerusalem, as mentioned above, is somehow “suspended” between the new heaven and the new earth, for the “nations…and the kings of the earth” have access to it – they “bring their splendor into it” (verse 24). These gentiles must be those from every nation (7:9 – including their leaders) who have embraced Christ and “whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (verse 27).
It’s an exciting prospect. Life will be made new. And we will be fit to live both in the new Jerusalem and on the new earth. There will be no more sin, no more sorrow, and no more pollution. In a very real sense, it will be “heaven on earth”.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, Your Word reveals that sin will not be present in the “New Jerusalem!” Thank You that John also wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “God be merciful to me a sinner” is a prayer that Jesus guaranteed makes me right before You! I pray this to You, O Lord! And I thank You that You allow a forgiven sinner to participate in Your ultimate and final victory over all evil. Through my Saviour and Lord I pray! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In yesterday’s reading I said that I would comment on the books other than the “Book of Life” which are also opened at the “Great White Throne” of judgment where all the dead of all time whose names are not in that “Book of Life” are arraigned (Revelation 20:12). I may be wrong but I believe that as well as a record of the “works” proving sins against God, the books of the Bible may be on display. There are many questions that I have for which I believe I will receive an answer someday. In the meantime, I’m so glad that I am not anyone’s judge. God is the only truly righteous and just Judge. I back off from judgment and leave it all totally with God.
Jim and Kathy wrote about the New Jerusalem being “somehow suspended between the new heaven and the new earth.” I suppose it will be like the moon, held in place by the earth’s gravity. On one occasion I calculated that if there was a floor upward every mile, there would be enough room for everyone who ever lived to have an acre each. That’s 1,400 to 1,500 miles high as well as almost 1,500 miles on each side.That’s the distance from London, England, to Moscow, Russia. Just imagine the challenge John had in describing what he saw. Like my Dad often said to me, “David, just wait and see for yourself.” By God’s grace I believe I’ll do just that!
Yours for complete confidence in humbly trusting in God!
David
P.S. Tomorrow’s reading is the final chapter in the Bible. I’m a little sad that we are through God’s books already. But I’m also very excited that we’ll start again June 3rd in Matthew then move to Genesis, and so on. Until then, God willing, I’ll direct our attention to portions of Scripture I have selected for extra emphasis. Please, please stay with me as faithful partners in consistently reading God’s Word. Ours is the only two-year reading program I’ve come across. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You, for your loyalty and support!!!
Amen! We thank You, Lord God, our Saviour and King for reigning over us and Holy Spirit for living in us. We place our trust in You and gain our hope from You. In Jesus’ mighty Name, we pray. Amen. May you be blessed, today, fellow saints in the Lord.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Give Me Faith | Acoustic | Elevation Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNwt7LQiYck
Give Me Faith
Elevation Worship
I need you to soften my heart
And break me apart
I need you to open my eyes
And see that you’re shaping my life
And all I am
I surrender
Give me faith to trust what you say
That you’re good and your love is great
I’m broken inside, I give you my life
I need you to soften my heart
And break me apart
I need you to pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me
And all I am
I surrender
Give me faith to trust what you say
That you’re good and your love is great
I’m broken inside I give you my life
I may be weak
Your spirit’s strong in me
My flesh may fail
But my God you never will
I may be weak
Your spirit’s strong in me
My flesh may fail
But my God you never will
Give me faith
To trust what you say
That you’re good and your love is great
I’m broken inside, I give you my life.
AMEN, the LORD never fails
Amen
Amen to your prayer Beverlee Kay.
Thank you for sharing Hebrews 11 : V 1.
It is one of my favorite bible verses.
Remembering everyone in prayer, God Bless.
So excited to have my name in the book of Life and praying for many, many more names to be entered before Jesus’ return.
A friend sent me this amazing video of a devout Christian…praying for her safety.:
https://youtu.be/RVozY8L14rs
So happy this blog is continuing.
Henri Nouwen noted: “The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to his followers, is the great gift of God. Without the Spirit of Jesus we can do nothing, but in and through his Spirit we can live free, joyful, and courageous lives. . . . We cannot create peace and joy, but the Spirit of Christ can fill us with a peace and joy that is not of this world.
Blessings on all followers of our heavenly Father.
Amen
Amen Lynda D
I have been so blessed this morning reading the verses and also the Cantelons and David’s remarks. Tears of happiness for us but also tears of sadness when I think of all our unsaved loved ones. God is totally in control so I put my trust in Him and I know He hears our prayer.
It was wonderful seeing Anne Mainse on Huntley Street last night. What amazing beautiful lady, she is looking great and it was good to hear how the Lord brought her through her cancer op and treatments. He gave her the gift of journaling and now her book has been published.
Isn’t HE totally amazing, where would we all be without Him.
Hope you all have a good day, we are getting much needed rain. Blessings to all,Eleanor M.
Just watched Ann. Praise God for her healing journey. I was at Wesley Acres last summer when she announced her diagnosis to everyone there. So thankful; always in our prayers. Thank You Lord for being with Ann and for her inspiration to others.
Dear Lord God, thank You for so much. You are so good in every way, even for giving us people to look up to, people who radiate with God’s Spirit and Word. Your people truly are the light of the world. Bless and strengthen, comfort and guide all Your children, Lord, and help each one show Your light to those around them. Thank You for all Your gospel workers, Lord. Help each one in their work today, and may that work be used to enrich Your Kingdom, in Jesus’s name, amen
Amen
Amen to your prayer Rob
Such fascinating read, today! Like David, I have many questions. My mind cannot comprehend all the beauty and wonder that God has in store for His children. I believe God is looking forward to the time when He will “make His home with His children “. He is a relational God and longs to live among us. I pray that many more souls will be able to “enter in” and live with Him forever.
I’m glad there’s room enough for all, as David calculated. Lol
Wishing all of you a blessed day!
Amen
Beautiful blog and posts and exhortations today. Like your poem Beverlee. Thank you. Had a mighty thunderstorm, wind and rain last night! Thunderings are mentioned five times in Revelation! Feel sad and need to pray for Hong Kong. There are some wonderful Christians there and so many young people. May the Lord continue to bless Ann and her new adventure! Have a good day saints. After this rain will have to check on the fiddleheads again, a Maritime thing!
I can’t wait to start the bible again! I’m so glad Ron and Ann are continuing to post it for us. THANK YOU!
Walking with you faithfully, tomorrow, and continuing fir another two years. Thank you Crossroads for the amazing work you are performing. To bring better understanding for our most important walk with the Lord. Father bless the Crossroads Ministry in Jesus name amen.
I did not hear Ann’s testimony; I pray for continued \victory in JESUS OUR LORD!!
Thank Mainse family for this blog, looking to its continued poating