"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.... and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life." Revelation 21.
Many years ago when I was searching and seeking for the Truth, I began reading my Bible for the first time. I had heard my mother read it. I heard the liturgies and catechism, but never took the time to dig into the Bible. It was at that time that in my heart I knew I had to pursue something bigger. Although she was a devout Catholic, my mother encouraged me to start walking, searching, and digging into the pathways of God because she was searching also. I don't know why, but the first book I began reading seriously was the Book of Revelation. As I read through, I was more aware that my present state was condemned before God. As I read, I began to worry that I would never be able to be forgiven of my sins. But when I got toward the end, the last chapters of the Book of Revelation, especially chapters 21-22, I found hope! It captured my hungry and thirsty soul. I began wishing and hoping to go to that New Jerusalem, the holy city, where the bride, the wife of the Lamb was. She came down from heaven, having all the glory of God, brilliant like a valuable and precious stone. At that time, I thought this was a prophecy of something future, but as I have learned more of the language of the New Testament, I realize that this beautiful language is meant to describe the glory of the Lord's church today, " But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect." Hebrews 12:22-24
When I began reading the description of this New Jerusalem, this precious city, with all its majesty, splendor, and glory, I was speechless. Everything about this beautiful city was majestic. It was filled with all precious stones, the 24 pillars that were the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel. I was astounded when I kept reading that there was no temple but that our Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were its temple and we, His church, are God's building, the holy Tabernacle as described in Ephesians 2:18-22, "for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." In the kingdom parables of Jesus as recorded in Matthew chapters 13,18,22 and 25, the church is called the kingdom of heaven. The church is the heavenly city. It became more desirable and precious in my heart as I read that it had no need of the sun or moon to shine on it because the glory of God was enough to enlighten it, having our Lamb, Jesus as the main lamp. This lamp would make all peoples walk in His light bringing glory to it. Its gates will not be closed because they will be there to bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. I longed to enter the gates of this city!
As I finished reading chapters 21 and 22, I felt relief because there was hope for me, a sinner, to wash the clothes filled with all the dirt of sin, with the precious and powerful blood of the Lamb. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14. "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." Revelation 22:17. I was motivated to begin seeking diligently for the Truth in the Scriptures because I wanted to partake of this New Jerusalem, the holy city. I wanted to save my soul and be received by our Father and His Lamb into Their everlasting kingdom. I fell in love with it. These two chapters were my inspiration in seeking the Truth to set me free from sin. It took a while before I found the church of the Lamb. But God through His everlasting Grace put in my way someone who taught me the WAY. I sincerely think that those hearts that are sincerely and diligently seeking the LORD will find the Truth to set them free from sin. I was one of them! The Book of Revelation is very dear to my heart because it brought hope to my dying soul. Please, don't be afraid of this precious book. In spite of all of the speculation and error and difficult symbols, the message shines through to the humble seeker. It is a powerful message that gives hope to the dying and saves the soul. It is a great shout of victory.
May our Lord help all of those good and honest hearts who seek to find the heavenly city, the church of the Lamb.
Luci
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