A Study of Eschatology

Revelation 21 - 22

Well now, we have arrived – in Heaven... what's it like? Heaven is a real place, realizing a real faith and living in a real eternity. Hebrews 11:13-16

In our conscious and unconscious state of being we often find ourselves wistfully looking for the return of God. Not that He has gone away in the sense of being on vacation or a long journey. But that He would return and bring with Him the Earth and Creation as it was in the beginning. The unbelieving and the denying experience this too but dismiss these thoughts as foolishness. 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 but for those of us who are saved we know that God does not leave, nor does He forget or give up on this world. Revelation 1:8 and Revelation 21:6.

Following the thoughts of Dr. David Jeremiah we can see that the New Jerusalem is not heaven, but that it is the capital city of Heaven. We might recall that there are twelve gates all made of pearls. Not a multitude of pearls... twelve gates; twelve pearls. Can we imagine the size of those oysters? Well, I am certain that nothing is to hard for God and He does not have to use an oyster to make a pearl that large. Revelation 21:2 is a good verse on this subject. The city has only one builder and maker, His name is God. Hebrews 11:10 Also this is a city where overcoming faith dwells as pointed out in Revelation 3:12, note the faithful church of this chapter.

It is the city where God dwells, it is a city where the faith of man causes construction to begin. Every soul that is saved adds another abode to the ever increasing Jerusalem. John 14:2-3.

you may pick any city that you have been to or live in and say that it is the most beautiful city you've ever seen and the city may be very beautiful or peaceful. It also may have many great characteristics but there is no city on this planet, including Vatican City that is “Holy”. In the New Jerusalem, there will be nothing in it that is unholy. This will be because Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and all of those who have faith in Him will in Him have received Grace (the fulfillment of the Law) in Him, Galatians 2:20.

In the New Jerusalem there will be shades of gold in that the entire city will be made of pure gold like glass glistens and the streets of transparent gold. It will be a city of two major colors, gold and white. Saints dress in the righteous clothing of spiritual works, the pearl gates and the pure gold construction of God Himself. All of this will be complete and eternal. There will be no ongoing construction sites, no new roads to put in and no traffic jams, no rush hour and no time clocks to punch. 1 Corinthians 13:12.

The LAMB THAT IS THE LIGHT: The beauty of the city will be enhanced by the presence of LAMB. We know Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. When we see Him in the capacity we see our part of His suffering. A debt that He has paid in full. John 1:29, now here in Revelation 21:11 and we see the eternal results of His victory. 1 Corinthians 2:9 When sin is completely removed, pure LIGHT, perfect LIGHT, holy LIGHT is present. So much is the victory of sin, that there will never be a need for God to create a sun or moon, nor will there ever be a need for anyone to make an artificial light. No more electric bills, street lights, head lights; etc; etc; etc.

The River and the Tree of Life: We have had discussion in the past about the location of the Throne of God. Most likely it is in the New Jerusalem, but it would not need to be. But for sure it's location is surrounded by beautiful country, of rivers of water and trees bearing life. Revelation 22:1-2.

We will know the way to the Throne, there is only one river in heaven as far as we know so all one would need to do to get to the Throne and the Tree of Life would be to follow the road. We will take a look at an Old Testament Psalm 46:4 that makes reference to this river.

Also the Greek text for the word “tree” is not singular, it is plural, so we can gather the thought that there is more than one tree. The tree called the Tree of Life will produce new Fruit each month. But note here in Revelation 22:2 in the middle of the verse the words “each tree” Yielding it's fruit each month. So there a many trees!

The Final two chapters of the Bible: As we are seeing, eternity will present a life different then the one we now live. Our food will be to sustain us as now, but it will be a vegetarian diet, we may eat one certain fruit for the whole month, then eat from another Tree of Life the following month and so on. This tells us that there are months in heaven also. We will not eat alone, and we will not have to prepare the food. Thus there will be plenty of time for fellowship, characterized by; laughter and no tears of mourning, singing without verses about death, contentment without any thought of unrest. Joy without the thought of something ill or bad happening tomorrow. Best of all, Jesus will be there and the Oneness of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will be present in Him. As we will have been glorified to His heavenly likeness, He also will exalted to His position before. Wisdom, has a few words to say to us about what it is like to be with Jesus as He works. Proverbs 8:22-35, but note the warning of verse 36.

What about Children in Heaven: From the entire book of Revelation we could learn little about children. Most of us have, or know of some close relative that has lost a child, or maybe they have an adult who lives with the mind of child. So the question usually comes up in these final chapters of Revelation; What about those children who have died without understanding the gospel of God.

When we studied Revelation 14:6 we looked at the gospel as described from this verse. The gospel is everlasting. The truth that there has never been a time on earth that the gospel of Jesus Christ was not available to any human being. We utilized Psalm 19:1-6 as God's presentation of the gospel through Creation. Also we saw in Romans 1:20 that mankind is without an excuse. But, in all of this we fail to see what happens to children and those who never gain a mind of understanding.

All children are the reproduction of human life, born of a father and mother and to be offered as a gift, back to God. Ezekiel 16:20-21. In the context of this passage we see that God claims the children as His whether we officially give them to Him or not, therefore they are His children. His personal possession.

While these small humans grow they are called innocent ones, Jeremiah 2:34 and Jeremiah 19:4. Most of the innocent ones reach an age of accountability between the ages of 4 through 8. This is when they can understand that they are accountable to God for willful and premeditated sin. In other words; all of the threats of hell in the bible are written for people who have knowingly and willfully sinned. A person does not sin against another human being. Human to human we do wrong toward them. Human to God we do sin toward Him. Psalm 51:4 and 2 Samuel 12:13. So, it is the lifestyle choices we make as accountable people who willfully reject the prodding of the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin. John 16:8-11. Those who do not understand this prodding as a child or those without the capacity of accountability are the innocent ones.