Revelation 21:9-21 ; Psalm 63

Rev. 21:9-21
We are continuing with John's vision of heaven. In fact, it came down out of heaven from God so it is apparently what God Himself wants us to know about heaven.

• It shone with the glory of God.
• Its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
• It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
• The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
• John was able to measure the city. It is equal on all sides--perhaps in the shape of a cube. The measurements are unfamiliar to us. The following quotation comes from Warren Wiersbe's book, Be Victorious, p. 149. "The measurements are staggering! If we take a cubit as 18 inches, then the city walls are 216 feet high! If a furlong is taken as 600 feet (measures differed in ancient days), the city would be about 1500 miles square! This is about three-fourths the size of the United States. And there will be plenty of room for everyone!"
• The wall was made of jasper.
• The city was made of pure gold, as pure as glass.
• The foundations were decorated with every kind of precious stone.
• The 12 gates were 12 pearls--each made of a single pearl.
• The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

Psalm 63
Do we earnestly seek the Lord, like David did? Do we long for His presence as we would long for water in a desert? When we do, like David, we will

• See God's power and glory. v 2
• Realize that His love is better than life. v 3
• Our lips will glorify Him. v 3
• We will praise Him as long as we live. v 4
• Our souls will be satisfied. v 5
• We will praise Him in song. v 5
• We will think of Him when we are wakeful at night. v 6
• We will know that He is there to help and protect us. vv 7-8
• We will rejoice in God, and we will praise Him! v 11

For our meditation:  "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands."