**The New Jerusalem: A Vision of Glory**
The apostle John, exiled on the island of Patmos, had witnessed many wonders—terrifying beasts, cosmic battles, and the final triumph of the Lamb. But now, as the heavens opened once more, he beheld a sight so magnificent that his breath caught in his chest. An angel, radiant with divine glory, stood before him and spoke with a voice like rushing waters: *”Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”*
With that, the angel carried John away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain. As his spiritual eyes adjusted to the brilliance before him, the apostle gasped. Descending from heaven, like a bride adorned for her husband, was the Holy City—the New Jerusalem. It shone with the very glory of God, its radiance like a rare jewel, clear as crystal.
### **The Splendor of the City**
The city’s walls were massive, built of jasper, pure and gleaming. The foundations of the walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: the first layer jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. Each foundation stone bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate carved from a single, immense pearl. The streets of the city were pure gold, so transparent they seemed like glass. As John marveled, he realized—there was no temple in the city. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were its temple. The city had no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb was its lamp.
### **The River of Life and the Tree of Healing**
Then the angel showed John a river, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It coursed down the middle of the great street, and on either side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
John remembered the first garden, Eden, where Adam and Eve had been barred from the tree of life after their rebellion. But now, in this renewed creation, the curse was no more. The leaves brought healing, not because sickness remained, but because all things had been restored to perfect harmony.
### **The Reign of God and the Lamb**
The angel spoke again: *”No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.”*
Tears filled John’s eyes as he understood. No more pain. No more death. No more separation. The former things had passed away. The One seated on the throne had declared, *”Behold, I am making all things new.”*
### **The Invitation and the Warning**
The angel turned to John and said, *”These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants the things that must soon take place.”* Then the angel added, *”Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.”*
But outside the city lay all that was unclean—the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars. Their place was in the fiery lake of burning sulfur, which is the second death.
### **The Final Promise**
As the vision drew to a close, the voice of Jesus Himself resonated in John’s spirit: *”Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”*
John fell to his knees in worship, overwhelmed by the majesty of the revelation. The New Jerusalem was not merely a city of gold and jewels—it was the dwelling place of God with His people. The long story of redemption had reached its climax. The Lamb had conquered. The Bride was ready.
And soon, very soon, the King would return.
**Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.**
