Today we are going to look at – “THE BIBLICAL DESCRIPTION OF THIRD HEAVEN!” Third Heaven is a country with many cities (Heb. 11:10-16). Third Heaven has mansions where the Born-Again believers will dwell with Jesus forever (Jn. 14:2-3).
The most beautiful part was His assurance that He would return for them, and receive them unto Himself.
“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” (Rev. 22:3).
What is the throne of God like? Revelations 4:3-11 describes what the Throne of God is like.
The New Jerusalem is a city adorned with the most beautiful types of precious stones and jewels. Within this city, there is a great street made of gold. Notice that the Bible does not mention streets of gold. But it mentions the great street of that city as being of gold.
“The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass” (Rev. 21:18).
The New Jerusalem will give us more insight of what third Heaven is like: The New Jerusalem is a city adorned with the most beautiful types of precious stones and jewels.
Within this city, there is a great street made of gold. Note that the Bible does not mention streets of gold. But it mentions the great street of that city as being of gold.
“The wall is made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass” (Rev. 21:18). Not only is the street of this city made of gold, but the entire city is made of gold. This gold is as pure as transparent glass. Usually, when gold is mined, it is never found in this condition.
What else do we know about the Street in this city? The river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the street of the city.
On either side of the river is the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:1-2, NASU).
So, according to Apostle John’s revelation, not only is the street made of gold, but there is also a river of the water of life flowing through this city.
The water of the River of Life is as clear as crystal. Revelation 22 gives us a picture of this life-giving water that produces nourishment for the inhabitants of that city.
When we consider the quality of the design of this city, aside from its beauty, there is one thing that is evident. That is, the purity of this city.
“This city shines with the glory of God, and it’s brilliance is like that of a precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal” (Rev. 21:11).
The city wall is broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are written on the gates (Rev. 21:12). “The wall is made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass” “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass” (Rev. 21:18).
The beauty of this city is exactly the opposite of what the challenge of living in our present-day world is. This city is pure and will never be contaminated with the impurity of sin.
To describe this city further, Revelations 21:10-27 says:
1. It shines with the glory of God and sparkles like a precious stone - like jasper, as clear as crystal (Rev. 21:11).
2. The city wall is broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are written on the gates (Rev. 21:12).
3. There are three gates on each side - east, north, south, and west (Rev. 21:13).
4. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Rev. 21:14), the last of which is Matthias.
5. “…16 When the angel measured the city, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each, twelve thousand furlongs (1,500 miles). The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal” (Rev. 21:15-16),
6. Then the angel measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel) (Rev. 21:17),
7. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass (Rev. 21:18),
8. The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned (garnished) with all kinds of precious stones.
“The first foundation wall was made of 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” (Rev. 21:19-20).
9. The third Heaven has pearl gates and street of gold. “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” (Rev. 21:21).
10. In the third Heaven, there will be no sun or moon. “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light…” (Rev. 21:23-25).
11. We have the tree of Life in third Heaven. “In the middle of its streets, and on either side of the river, is the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22:2).
The fruit of the tree, which will line up the centre of Heaven’s golden street, will be continuously available in abundance. There will be no more searching for the cure of diseases known to man. Every ailment will be remedied by the leaves from the tree of life, and the nations will be healed once and for all.
“Him who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7).
12. The Light of God in the third Heaven. “…5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 22:4-5).
13. There is no temple therein. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it (Rev. 21:22).
14. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour into it (Rev. 21:24),
15. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there (Rev. 21:25),
16. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city (Rev. 21:26),
17. Who shall enter into this city? “…there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie (practices dishonesty): but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life” (Rev. 21:27, KJV).
18. The third Heaven is filled with Praise, Joy, and Peace. “Therefore, are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Rev. 7:15-17).
19. “And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 22:4-5). Forever and ever, we will rule and reign as joint heirs with Christ.
Here is the truth: We should live here on earth in preparation for living there with Jesus in Heaven.
“For our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our vile (lowly) bodies so that they will be like His glorious body” (Phil. 3:20-21).
Though in this physical body we fight with our sinful nature, we strive to live a life that is holy and filled with righteousness. We ought to prepare for our eternal home.
Apostle John says, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may go through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14).
You don’t wait to get there before living for Heaven. You should start living for Heaven right now – to love Jesus Christ, to honour Him with your life and please Him, to go to heaven and literally walk the street of gold.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:2-3).
He who testifies of these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).
Watch out for the next edition of the Good News from the Pulpit!
Your Friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG)
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