Scripture: Song of Solomon 4:1-4, 7

C.I.: Like “…streets of gold and gates of pearl,” Is My Beloved!

In a series on Heaven & Hell – somewhere along the way you will expect to hear about streets of God!
For we believe this is a picture of heaven – where God will display His love for us – in the future!
But when we understand what is being taught – we will rejoice as we see – its truly God’s love for us TODAY!

I. The “Heavenly” Picture of a Beautiful Bride (Revelation chapter 21)

A. Understanding Apocalyptic Literature

1. The Book of Revelation (indeed, all apocalyptic literature) is a book that uses pictures to tell a story.
a. (1:1), “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to is bond-servants, things which must shortly take place; - and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John.” “Communicated” = signified, i.e. sign-ified (transmitted His message via signs!)
b. For some of the “signs” (pictures in the book) – Jesus provides us with their interpretation;
1) (Rev. 1:12, 16), “And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. – And having tuned I saw 7 golden lampstands … And in His right hand He held 7 stars….”
2) (Rev. 1:20), “As for the mystery of the 7 strars you saw in My r. hand, and the 7 golden lamp-stands; the 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches, & the 7 lampstands are the 7 churches.”
c. Other signs and symbols are more obscure, e.g., Symbolism of Numbers: (Give examples).

2. There is a very good reason for the Book of Revelation being placed at the end of our Bibles…
a. Most of the signs and symbols are drawn – from 65 books of the Bible, which precede it!
b. Like a grand tapestry – the best way to look at the pictures is at a distance. – If we try to look at the pictures by examining each thread – we will lose the message God is seeking to communicate.

B. God’s Beautiful Bride (Revelation 21)

1. The divine origin…
a. (21:1-2), “I saw a new heaven & a new earth; - for the first heaven & the first earth passed away. – And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, - made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.” – this city is or divine origin, “coming down out of heaven…”
1) As mentioned – God expects His hearers to have read what went before – and understand.
2) (Isa. 65:17-18),“For behold, I create new… - and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind, - Be glad & rejoice forever in what I create; - for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and I create her people a joy.”
3) Notice – He doesn’t create Jerus. – He creates Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy!
4) So the “new heaven…” – is NOT Jer.! – It is a new state of affairs concerning God’s people!

b. God’s people in the 1st century are being persecuted by Rome. – In the Book of Revelation – God is encouraging them to remain faithful – for a new state of affairs “must shortly take place” 1:1.

c. The Identity of the “City / Bride” (vs. 9-10)
1) (21:9-10), “And one of the angels spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ – And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great high mountain, - and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.”
2) God often uses mixed figures to of 1 thing - (Quote Eph. 2:19-22), “So then you are….”
(i) So how does God view Christians? As a bride? As a city? (YES!)
(ii) God considers Xn - to be His bride – (Eph. 5:31-32) & His city – (Heb. 12:22).

2. God’s Glorious “City”
a. Her foundations - (Rev. 21:11-14), “Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal clear jasper. – It had a great high wall, with 12 gates, & at the gates were 12 angels; - & the names written on them were the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. – There were 3 gates on the east, N., S., W. – the wall of the city had 12 foundation stones –on them were the 12 names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.” - “12” = All of God’s people - in the O.T. & N.T. (cf. Eph. 2:20).

b. Her Dimensions - (Rev. 21:16-17), “The city was laid out as a square, - and its length is as great as its width; and he measured the city 1,500 miles [12,000 stadia]; its length & width & height are equal. – and He measured its wall, 72 yards [144 cubits], according to human measurements….”
1) If we are to understand this literally – then we have something that looks like a “Borg ship!”
2) But God is going to great lengths – to show us that this city – represents all of His people!!

c. How precious she is in God’s sight - (Quote Rev. 21:18-21)
1) “The material of the wall was jasper. – and the city was pure gold, - like clear glass. - The foundation stones of the city were adorned w/every kind of precious stone. – The 1st foundation stone is jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst. – 12 gates were 12 pearls – each gate was a single pearl. – And the street of the city was pure gold, - like transparent glass.”
2) This is the same kind of language as is found in our “Scripture Reading” – (S. of Sol. 4:1-4).
3) ILLUST.: “Chris, you are more lovely to me than the most beautiful flower in our garden…”
4) No Xn should ever hang their head – or feel unimportant – FOR THIS IS HOW GOD SEE YOU!

d. God’s glory is seen in her midst
1) (Rev. 21:22-23), “And I saw no temple in it, - for the Lord God, - the Almighty, - and the Lamb are its temple.” - God promised to be amongst us - (Matt. 1:23; 28:20; there is no temple among us – for we are His temple - I Cor. 3:16).
2) Thus, His glory should be seen by everyone - (Rev. 21:22-23), “The city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine upon it - for the glory of God has illumined it, - and its lamp is the Lamb. – And the nations shall walk by its light.”
(i) Xns are called – to be a light unto the world - (Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:15), “But prove…
(ii) God doesn’t want “Secret Agent Xns” – Only the “Radically Saved” can nations see!!!

e. His divine invitation to all!
1) (Rev. 21:25-27), “And in the daytime (for there shall be no night there) – its gates shall never be closed; - and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; - and nothing unclean – and no one who practices abomination and lying, - shall ever come into it, - but only those whose names have been written in the Book of Life.”
2) God offers an invitation to all – But He qualifies the entrance requirements – in two ways…
(i) You must renounce in your life the practice of sin – (Luke 13:3)
(ii) You must be willing to be saved to have your name enrolled in His book – (Jn. 3:3, 5)!
3) God adores His people – if you are a Christian, rejoice in His love.
4) If you are not yet a Christian – then come to Him – and be embraced by His LOVE!!!