Feature Article

Bible Study: Streets of Gold Gates of Pearl

It's hard to envision, but one day we’ll live in a flawless city made of jewels.

In Touch Magazine staff March 30, 2020

Drive through the neighborhoods of almost any city on earth, rich or poor, and you’ll see evidence of the inhabitants trying to improve their environment. Patched potholes, street sweepers, fresh whitewash. In this world, we’re in a constant battle against decay and have to fight nuisances such as road damage and peeling paint. But in the next, God will dazzle us with a glorious, perfect city beyond our wildest imagination.

READ

Revelation 21:1-27

BACKGROUND

The apostle John has been granted a vision of the future. He sees the earth as it will be, made new and perfect for Jesus’ post-apocalyptic reign.

REFLECT

The new earth described by John is actually our future home. While we haven’t been given all the details about the renewal of the planet and Christ’s millennial kingdom, we do know that after our current globe’s final days, Jesus will bring all believers to live with Him here in a perfect new world.

It’s hard to imagine the earth as we know it “passing away” (Revelation 21:1) and being replaced by an entirely new, or renewed (Revelation 21:5), planet. What does Revelation 21:1-4 tell you about how that new earth will differ from this one?
Revelation 21:10-21 contains a stunning description of the New Jerusalem, God’s city on the new earth. Try sketching the city—in color!—to grasp how dazzling His design is. New Jerusalem will be made of things we don’t consider construction material. What does the use of gold, pearls, and precious stones indicate about God’s wealth and sense of beauty? How would you explain what seems like overwhelming extravagance?
The appearance of a city can tell us a lot about its inhabitants. God, who does all things perfectly, has designed a place of light and brilliant color for His people. So how do you think God views you in eternity? Try to describe a person you’d like to see walking on streets of golden glass and through gates of shining pearl. Since your coming to faith in Jesus, how has He changed you in that direction?

CONTINUING THE STORY

God, who does all things perfectly, has designed a place of light and brilliant color for His people.

Revelation describes New Jerusalem physically, but most clues about its inhabitants occur elsewhere in Scripture.

Jesus tells John those who “overcome” will inherit this new earth (Revelation 21:7). But in the Sermon on the Mount, He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5 ESV). Strong’s Concordance says the Greek word for “meek” is praotés, which means “the right blend of force and gentleness.” In other words, to be meek is not to be weak but to show bridled strength—like a powerful horse controlled by a bit. How does that change your understanding of what it means to be a Christian? If you wanted to grow in this area, where would you become more forceful? More gentle? Would you like to pray now for God’s guidance in achieving that balance?
Considering the definition of “meekness,” why might “being meek” and “overcoming” be linked in God’s eyes?
Picture New Jerusalem again. How might “meekness” be part of God’s magnificent holy city? In what way do you think it could differ from the “force and gentleness” we must exercise on today’s earth?

REFLECT

We are being conformed to Christ’s likeness.

After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus explained His actions (John 13:4-5; John 13:12-17). If meekness is bridled strength, what part of Himself was Christ “bridling”? How might He be calling you to do something similar?
The One with “nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58) will return as King of Kings (Revelation 19:16)—and dwell with us in a glorious city made of gold and jewels.

To be meek is not to be weak but to show bridled strength—like a powerful horse controlled by a bit.

GOING FURTHER

Consider how this study applies to your life.

The English word wait, in its origins hundreds of years ago, carried a rather negative connotation. It usually meant either to lurk in hopes of ambushing someone or to linger watchfully, expecting to be ambushed! Back then, such experiences were a common part of life. Waiting is a prominent idea in the Gospels, too, but it’s much more hopeful. When Jesus told His followers to rejoice in persecution (Matt. 5:12) or store up treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:20), He was telling them a better life awaited them in eternity. Focusing on His promises makes it easier to endure challenges on earth. It’s hard to think of any other reason why He gave us, through John’s revelation, such an astonishing and vivid description of the New Jerusalem, our future inheritance.

What trial or temptation is causing you the most difficulty in living a Christian life right now? Imagine Jesus showing you the heavenly city, as He showed John. Does that make it easier to “set your mind on the things above” (Col. 3:2)?
Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth, implying His people don’t insist on seizing as much as possible now but will be infinitely rewarded later. Are there rights you’ve been insisting on that you could defer in favor of others, just as He did when He knelt to wash the disciples’ feet?
In John 13:12-17, when Jesus models this example of humility, He gives us instructions to follow suit. Setting aside our rights or rank to serve each other is followed by God’s blessing—and an eternity of honor in His golden, holy city.

Illustration by Adam Cruft

1 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.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 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,

4 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."

5 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."

6 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.

7 ``He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

8 ``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."

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, ``Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.

12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.

13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall.

16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal.

17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.

18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;

20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;

26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;

27 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.