OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY 6TH JULY 2026 TOPIC: WILL YOU BE THERE? MEMORIZE: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3 (KJV) BIBLE READING: REVELATION 21:1-27 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 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. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. MESSAGE: The first time I travelled to the United States of America was in the summer of 1979, and I had an experience that can be described as heavenly. I stayed in Tulsa, and in that city, the sun would still be up late into the evening. The streets were so clean that it felt like one could eat off them. The bathroom of my hotel room had three faucets: one for hot water, another for warm water, and the last for cold water. Also, the electricity never went out, and everything was just fantastic. After two weeks, I returned to Nigeria, and as the plane was about to land, I looked out of the window and noticed a stark difference between where I was coming from and where I was returning to, because in those days Nigeria was far less developed than it is now. Beloved, my experience in Tulsa, all those years ago, can in no way be compared to heaven. In heaven, there is no night at all because, in today's Bible reading, we are made to understand that "... the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Revelation 21:23). Heaven is a beautiful place that no one should miss, and I pray that you will not miss it, in Jesus' name. Heaven is God's promise to all believers. Jesus said in today's memory verse that where He is, we will also be. If you have given your life to Jesus and are following Him faithfully, you will end up where He is at the end of your earthly sojourn. When children go to school, they know that at the end of the school day, they will return home to their parents. Likewise, if God is truly your Father, you have an assurance that you will reign with Him in eternity after your sojourn here on earth. However, only those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus can be children of God, and only His children can spend eternity with Him in heaven. Beloved, are you sure of where you will spend eternity? If you want your stay in heaven to be guaranteed, you must not allow sin in your heart. You must be fully committed to Jesus Christ and do His will at all times. I have made up my mind to shun sin and be fully committed to Jesus Christ so I can spend my eternity with Him in heaven. Will I see you there? REFLECTION: Where will you spend eternity, Heaven or Hell? BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR PROVERBS 21 - 23 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 20 - I'M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY 1. I'm pressing on the upward way, New heights I'm gaining everyday; Still praying as I onward bound "Lord, plant my feet on higher ground." CHORUS: Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on Heaven's table-land; Where love, and joy, and light abound, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. 2. My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise, and fears dismay; though some may dwell where these abound, My constant aim is higher ground. CHORUS: 3. Beyond the mist I fain would rise, to rest beneath unclouded skies, above earth's turmoil peace is found By those who dwell on higher ground. CHORUS: 4. I long to scale the utmost height, Though rough the way, and hard the fight, My song, while climbing, shall resound Lord, lead me on to higher ground. CHORUS: 5. Lord, lead me up the mountain side I dare not climb without my Guide; And, heaven gained, I'll gaze around, With grateful heart from higher ground. CHORUS: PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL MONDAY, 6TH JULY, 2026 *WILL YOU BE THERE?* ‎ ‎✓Father, thank You for loving me and laying down Your life for me on the cross; thank You for the assurance of eternal life by Your resurrection from death. ‎✓Father, thank You for going to prepare a place for me in heaven; thank You for Your promise to come and take me to be where You are for Your promises are 'yea' and 'amen' ✓Father, thank You for giving me a picture of how heaven looks like; thank You for showing me the way to heaven, and the path to walk in. ‎ ‎✓Father, please establish me on the path of righteousness. Help me not to be carried away with the beauty of this world and lose heaven, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to diligently keep my heart from sin, and to guard my salvation jealously against the works of flesh, in Jesus' name ‎✓Father, please help me not to miss heaven, help me to walk in holiness and to follow You faithfully in all Your commands, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to reign with You in eternity after my sojourn here on earth; help me to be fully committed to You, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Lord Jesus, please help me to shun sin out of my mind and be fully committed to following You all the way to the very good end when You will appear in glory, in Jesus' name ‎ ‎✓Father, as many that are yet to become Your children, please touch their heart today and let them surrender their lives to You and receive the assurance of eternity with You, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, please help me to hunger and thirst after righteousness, to truly seek Your face so I can spend eternity in heaven and not in hell, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Keep him away from sin and be fully committed to following You all the way, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎✓Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎✓In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) ‎ #GodBlessOurNation *These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

Daily Bible Lesson. THE CITY OF GOD — BIGGER THAN NATIONS, TOO HOLY FOR SIN . A REAL CITY. A REAL HOME. A REAL CALL TO LIVE HEAVEN NOW. “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven…” — Revelation 21:2 The New Jerusalem is not a dream. Not religious imagination. Not comfort poetry. It is a real City— built by God, prepared for the redeemed, descending to the New Earth. “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” — Hebrews 11:10 Abraham lived in tents— but his heart was reaching for God’s City. He was not attached to earth’s fading kingdoms, because faith had shown him something better. EARTH’S CITIES FALL. GOD’S CITY STANDS FOREVER. --- ❶ HOW BIG IS THE CITY? “The city lieth foursquare… the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.” — Revelation 21:16 The New Jerusalem is measured as twelve thousand furlongs. Even the smaller understanding is overwhelming. If this means the whole circumference, the City would still be about the size of a great nation—larger than the Philippines, close to the size of Germany or Japan. But if this means each side, then the City would be about 1,500 miles long and 1,500 miles wide—around 19 times bigger than the Philippines, larger than many nations of earth. Let that burn into the heart: THE CITY OF GOD IS NOT A SMALL HEAVENLY VILLAGE. IT IS A KINGDOM CAPITAL— BIGGER THAN NATIONS, BUILT BY GOD, PREPARED FOR THE REDEEMED, AND TOO HOLY FOR SIN. No slums. No hospitals. No prisons. No cemeteries. No corruption. No darkness. No curse. “There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying…” — Revelation 21:4 Earth builds cities with graveyards beside them. God builds a City where death can never enter. HEAVEN HAS ROOM FOR EVERY REDEEMED SOUL—BUT NOT FOR ONE CHERISHED SIN. ❷ CAN ALL THE REDEEMED FIT THERE? Yes. Heaven has no crowding problem. God has room for every redeemed soul. “In my Father’s house are many mansions…” — John 14:2 Christ did not prepare an idea. He prepared a place. “A great multitude, which no man could number…” — Revelation 7:9 No saved soul will be rejected because the City is full. But hear this: THE CITY IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR ALL THE REDEEMED— BUT TOO HOLY FOR ONE CHERISHED SIN. In Noah’s day, the ark had room. But only those who entered were saved. “They went in… and the LORD shut him in.” — Genesis 7:16 The question was not, “Is there an ark?” The question was, “Have you entered?” So today, the question is not, “Is heaven real?” The question is, “Am I being prepared to live there?” --- ❸ CHRIST DIED FOR ALL — BUT ONLY THE SURRENDERED ENTER “For God so loved the world…”— John 3:16 Christ died for all. His blood is enough for every sinner. His mercy reaches every soul. But salvation offered must become salvation received. “As many as received him, to them gave he power…”— John 1:12 Christ does not save people in sin. He saves them from sin. “He shall save his people from their sins.” — Matthew 1:21 The gates are open to the redeemed— but closed against rebellion. “There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth…” — Revelation 21:27 No cherished sin enters. No proud heart enters. No secret rebellion enters. No soul clinging to darkness enters. Heaven is not for those who merely admire Christ. Heaven is for those who receive His life. “He that hath the Son hath life…”— 1 John 5:12 And where Christ’s life enters, love obeys. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15 “Blessed are they that do his commandments… that they may enter in through the gates into the city.”— Revelation 22:14 Obedience does not buy heaven. Christ paid the price. But obedience reveals who truly belongs to Christ. “Obedience is the fruit of faith.” — Steps to Christ, p. 61 The issue is not profession. It is possession. Do you only speak of Christ— or does Christ live in you? Do you only claim grace— or has grace broken sin’s power? “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” — Colossians 1:27 THE CROSS OPENED THE WAY. THE BLOOD CLEANSES THE SINNER. THE SPIRIT CHANGES THE HEART. THE LAMB MAKES THE UNWORTHY READY. Salvation is offered to all. But the City is entered only by those who receive Christ fully— His pardon, His power, His purity, His life. --- ❹ WHERE IS THE CITY? The New Jerusalem is now above. “Jerusalem which is above is free…” — Galatians 4:26 But after the thousand years, it descends to earth. “The holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven…”— Revelation 21:2 The Holy City descends; sin is destroyed; the earth is made new. — GC pp. 662–673 God will not abandon the world Satan ruined. He will cleanse it. Recreate it. Crown it with His throne. This earth saw Eden lost. This earth saw Calvary’s blood. This earth saw martyrs die. This earth saw Satan wound humanity. But this same earth will see God’s final triumph. WHERE SIN REIGNED, GOD WILL DWELL. WHERE DEATH RULED, LIFE WILL FLOW. WHERE SATAN WOUNDED, CHRIST WILL RESTORE. --- ❺ IS THE CITY THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE REDEEMED LIVE? The City is the capital of the New Earth. “The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it…”— Revelation 22:3 But the redeemed are not locked inside. They inherit the earth. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” — Matthew 5:5 They will build. Plant. Worship. Serve. Explore. Rejoice. “They shall build houses, and inhabit them…” — Isaiah 65:21 In the earth made new, the redeemed build, plant, and enjoy the work of their hands. — The Great Controversy, pp. 674–675 THE CITY IS THE CAPITAL. THE EARTH IS THE INHERITANCE. GOD IS THE GLORY OF BOTH. Heaven will not be boredom. It will be life without sin. Work without weariness. Love without selfishness. Worship without distraction. Joy without end. --- ❻ WHY PUT THE CITY ON EARTH? Because redemption is not escape. Redemption is restoration. “The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them…” — Revelation 21:3 God brings heaven down to the very world sin ruined. Eden lost becomes Eden restored. The curse is removed. The throne is established. The Lamb dwells with His people. “There shall be no more curse…” — Revelation 22:3 When Adam fell, paradise was lost. When Christ reigns, paradise is restored. SATAN DOES NOT KEEP THE BATTLEFIELD. CHRIST RECLAIMS IT. --- ❼ WHAT IS INSIDE THE CITY? The throne of God. The Lamb. The river of life. The tree of life. The gates of pearl. The streets of gold. No night. No curse. No death. “The glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”— Revelation 21:23 Gold is not heaven’s treasure. Mansions are not heaven’s joy. GOD HIMSELF IS THE GLORY OF THE CITY. To be in heaven is not merely to walk on gold. It is to live forever where God is loved, obeyed, worshiped, and seen face to face. “They shall see his face…”— Revelation 22:4 --- MAIN LESSONS ❶ STOP LIVING FOR A DYING WORLD. Money fades. Beauty fades. Power fades. Cities fall. Nations shake. God’s City stands forever. “Set your affection on things above…” — Colossians 3:2 Do not let temporary earth steal eternal heaven. --- ❷ HEAVEN IS REAL—PREPARE NOW. The City is ready. But is your heart ready? Heaven is not for proud religion. Not for secret rebellion. Not for sin-loving profession. It is for those washed by the Lamb. “Washed their robes… in the blood of the Lamb.” — Revelation 7:14 --- ❸ TRUE GRACE MAKES TRUE OBEDIENCE. Grace does not make sin safe. Grace makes sinners new. Grace does not excuse rebellion. Grace destroys it. “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts…” — Hebrews 8:10 Grace does not lower heaven’s standard. Grace lifts sinners into harmony with heaven. --- ❹ GOD WILL RESTORE EVERYTHING SIN BROKE. Every tear will end. Every grave will lose. Every wound will meet glory. “Behold, I make all things new.”— Revelation 21:5 The pain you surrender to Christ will not have the last word. --- ❺ IF WE WANT HEAVEN SOMEDAY, LET US MAKE A LITTLE HEAVEN HERE TODAY. This is where the message becomes personal. If we long to live in heaven someday, we must let heaven begin in us now. “The kingdom of God is within you.” — Luke 17:21 “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10 A home can become a little heaven when Christ rules it. A marriage can become a little heaven when love conquers pride. A family can become a little heaven when forgiveness replaces anger. A church can become a little heaven when truth is spoken in love. A workplace can feel a little heaven when honesty, kindness, and patience reveal Christ. Heaven is not only a place we are going to. Heaven is a spirit God wants to begin in us. “Heaven is to begin on this earth.” — The Desire of Ages, p. 331 “The religion of Christ will make the family life a happy one.”— The Adventist Home, p. 94 If we want to live where there is no hatred, let us stop feeding hatred now. If we want to live where there is no pride, let us humble ourselves now. If we want to live where there is no selfishness, let us learn self-denying love now. If we want to live where every heart obeys God, let us obey Him here. LET OUR HOMES PREACH HEAVEN. LET OUR WORDS TASTE OF HEAVEN. LET OUR KINDNESS REFLECT HEAVEN. LET OUR OBEDIENCE PROVE WE ARE PREPARING FOR HEAVEN. The City is not for those who merely talk about heaven. It is for those who let Christ form heaven’s character in them. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — John 13:35 If heaven is our destination, love must be our language now. --- FINAL MESSAGE The City of God is real. The gates are real. The judgment is real. The coming is real. The reward is real. The warning is real. One day, Christ will come. The graves will open. The saints will rise. The City will descend. Sin will burn. The earth will be made new. No more death. No more crying. No more hospitals. No more funerals. No more Satan. No more sin. Only God. Only life. Only holiness. Only home. THE CITY IS BIGGER THAN NATIONS— BUT ONLY THE SURRENDERED WILL ENTER. Do not trade eternal glory for temporary pleasure. Do not lose heaven while holding sin. Do not dream of the City while refusing the King. The ark door closed in Noah’s day. The door of mercy will not stay open forever. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still… and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”— Revelation 22:11 THE CITY IS READY. THE KING IS COMING. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER THERE IS ROOM. THE QUESTION IS: WILL YOU BE THERE? And if we truly want to be there someday— let us live today like citizens of that City. Let us make our homes little heavens. Let us make our words healing. Let us make our actions Christlike. Let us make our obedience loving. Let us make our lives a preview of the kingdom we are praying to enter. HEAVEN MUST NOT ONLY BE OUR HOPE FOR TOMORROW— IT MUST BE OUR CHARACTER TODAY.

A small group of men from the Elim Pentecostal Alliance, including the Jeffreys brothers and Darragh, traveled to the United States and Canada to observe the move of the Holy Spirit in those nations. While visiting the U.S., Jeffreys spent time at the five-thousand-seat Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, California, the central house of worship of the Foursquare Gospel Church, and met with Aimee Semple McPherson, who founded the denomination. Jeffreys was intrigued by her ministry and the dramatic way in which she presented the full gospel. After meeting her, his self-confidence as a revivalist seemed to increase. The days before Easter 1926, the Elim team was getting ready for a convention at Liverpool’s Surrey Tabernacle when Jeffreys received a surprise phone call from Aimee Semple McPherson. She told him that she was in France and wanted to travel to London to conduct a few meetings before going on to Palestine for ministry. The team was a little perplexed, but they invited her to participate at the Surrey Tabernacle meetings. She spent a few days ministering in London before she left for Palestine. On the way back from the Middle East, she planned to join Jeffreys for the Easter meetings. The reservation at Surrey Tabernacle was cancelled, and the meetings were rescheduled for Royal Albert Hall in London to accommodate the crowds that Aimee Semple McPherson was expected to draw. She preached on the night of Easter Sunday and the next day. The British press had been thrilled by the opportunity to cover the meetings led by this well-known, flamboyant American preacher. Yet the crowds in Great Britain did not really warm to her, perhaps because the stereotypically sedate British personality was not accustomed to her dramatic, boisterous mannerisms. Although Jeffreys was never directly involved with Aimee’s ministry, he did adopt the Foursquare designation, so that the Elim Pentecostal Alliance became the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance. - God’s General’s ( Healing Evangelists)

Late 1800s–Mid-1900s) From God's Generals (Vol. 1) and The Healing Evangelists: Maria Woodworth-Etter (1844–1924) — Early woman evangelist with signs and wonders. John Alexander Dowie (1847–1907) — Healing pioneer and founder of Zion, Illinois. Smith Wigglesworth (1859–1947) — Plumber-turned-"Apostle of Faith"; known for raising the dead. William J. Seymour (1870–1922) — Leader of the Azusa Street Revival (1906), birthing modern Pentecostalism. Aimee Semple McPherson (1890–1944) — Founder of the Foursquare Church; dramatic healing meetings. Kathryn Kuhlman (1907–1976) — "Woman who believed in miracles." Oral Roberts (1918–2009) — Pioneered TV healing evangelism and founded Oral Roberts University. Lester Sumrall (1915–1996) — Healing and deliverance minister. Charles and Frances Hunter ("Happy Hunters") — Mass miracle crusades. George Jeffreys (1889–1962) — British healing evangelist. A.A. Allen (1911–1970) — Miracle revivals. William Branham (1909–1965) — Controversial but highly influential in healing revivals. Missionaries & Other Movements (1700s–1900s) From God's Generals: The Missionaries and Movements of the Spirit: William Carey (1761–1834) — "Father of Modern Missions" to India. David Livingstone (1813–1873) — Explorer-missionary to Africa. Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) — Rescuer of children in India. Hudson Taylor (1832–1905) — China Inland Mission. Demos Shakarian (1913–1993) — Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship. David du Plessis (1905–1987) — Key in Charismatic Renewal. Reinhard Bonnke (1940–2015) — Massive African crusades (often included in modern lists). Modern/Contemporary God's Generals (Late 1900s–Present) Often added in teachings (not always in Liardon's core books): Billy Graham (1918–2018) — Evangelist to millions. Reinhard Bonnke (as above). Others like T.L. Osborn, Kenneth E. Hagin, Derek Prince, or African leaders (e.g., Benson Idahosa, TB Joshua in some regional lists). Common Lists of "God's Generals" Many believers compile personal or shar

Chapter 69 The New Jerusalem The eighth and final major section of Revelation deals with the New Jerusalem in Rev 21:9 to 22:5. The 4-2-1 principle applies to this part of Revelation as well. The first four describe the city and the conditions in the city: walls, dimensions, materials the city is constructed with, and the conditions in the city. The fifth and sixth describe the sources of water and food, and the climax, the seventh part, describes life on Earth and in the city in the forever after. In the introduction John is taken in vision onto a high mountain, and observes the city descend from heaven to Earth: Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; The city is called the bride of Christ. We have seen that the bride of Christ is the 144 000 (chapter 15). How can both the 144 000 and the city be the bride of Christ? The city will contain all the saved, not just the 144 000. Once God has created the New Earth, after the fires of hell have gone out, the saved will each have an estate outside of the city. The 144 000 will not have estates outside because they will live in the city with Christ, just like the Levites had no land but lived in the cities. With that in mind, the New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ because it will house the 144 000. The rest of the saved will gather in the city to worship every Sabbath and every new moon but will not have permanent housing in the city. We mentioned in the previous chapter that the New Jerusalem descends from heaven before the final judgement and hellfire. Hellfire will surround the city, but it will not be touched. Once the fires have gone out, God will created a new heaven and renew the Earth. The laws of decay that exist throughout the universe will be changed to a steady state existence, not an entropical one. The physics of the new heaven and Earth will be changed back to what it was before the fall. The city is absolutely beautiful. Jasper is a bright white gem. Revelation then goes on and describes the city, first the walls of the city: Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The city is square, and each of the four walls have three gates, and the names of the 12 tribes of Israel are written on the gates respectively. The city has twelve foundations and on these are the names of the 12 apostles. The leaders of the Old Testament and the New Testament feature on the foundations and gates. We will elaborate on this concept in the next chapter. The measurements of the city are described next: 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. What is the meaning of measuring? In Ezekiel chapters 40-42 the temple is measured in much detail to show the exiles in Babylon that the temple was to be literally restored. The measuring of the New Jerusalem is likewise to show that it is a real city where the saints will reside. The measurement of the temple in Rev 11 is to indicate the early Close of Probation where the 144 000 are sealed (chapter 7). The city is cubic. It has a length, breadth and height of 2 400 km (1 500 miles). It is massive. The amazing thing is its height. The tallest, gravity-defying buildings on Earth today are around 1 km high. The materials of the New Jerusalem will be super strong to stand 2 400 km tall and not crumble under the weight. The thickness of the walls of the city is about 50 meters. The materials the city is made of is described in the third section: 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 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. In the introduction the city is described as jasper. The walls are jasper, a white precious stone. The city is made of gold, including the streets. Gold is a beautiful metal, and chemically inert. The city is designed to last forever. The gold is transparent. That means we can see through the structures in the city. It reflects God’s character because God is transparent. He is what He says He is. He is the great I AM. Each of the foundations of the walls of the city are decorated with precious stones, one type of gem for each foundation. All the listed gems polarise light, giving it more beauty. That is why diamonds, for example, do not feature here because they do not polarise light. The gates are made of massive pearls, one pearl per gate. Pearls are made when a grain of sand gets into an oyster, or abalone. To neutralise the irritation of the sand grain, the abalone covers it with layers of a material that forms a pearl. Could it be that Christ made these twelve gates when He covered the blight of sin with His righteousness, making beautiful massive pearls. The fourth part describes conditions in the New Jerusalem: 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. We have already studied the fact that there is no temple in heaven, contrary to what some believe. The antitype to the temple on Earth is a sequence of events in salvation history, not a literal temple in heaven (chapter 11). Even though there will be a sun and moon in the New Earth, the city will not need their light because God is its light. There will be days and months because we will go to Jerusalem every Sabbath and every New Moon, bringing honour to God and Christ for their great salvation. The universe will be cleansed of all evil, so there won’t be a need to shut the gates of the city. The fifth part shows us the river of life flowing from the throne of God in the city out into the countryside. The nations will quench their thirst from God’s water in the river: Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. The sixth part describes the tree of life that grows on both banks of the river of life, with its two trunks converging above the river. Every month of the year it will bear another fruit. Its leaves will also be edible and serve to heal the nations. What does that mean in a perfect world? We will probably all grow to the stature of Adam and Eve. We will probably also gradually become a homogeneous race without losing our personal identities. God made a variety of languages and races at the tower of Babel to disperse the rebellious people, but in heaven that will be gradually reversed. Only God knows what the heavenly human race will look like. I am sure it will be far superior to any race on Earth today: 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. The climax of this eighth and last main part of Revelation is the seventh subsection, and shows what life will be like into eternity: 3 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: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 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. God cursed the Earth when Adam and Eve sinned, and Adam was subjected to labour to produce food. This will be removed in heaven, and Edenic beauty and bounty will be restored. God moves His throne from heaven to the New Earth to live with us, and we will see Him face to face in His holiness. In the city where God and Christ are enthroned, there will be no darkness or night. The last part of verse 5 probably talks about the 144 000 who will also live in the city, and reign over the nations. Not everyone can reign, because you cannot have rulers without subjects. Whether we are part of the 144 000, reigning with Christ and God, or whether we have homes in the countryside, visiting the city on Sabbaths and New Moons, it does not matter. What does is living in Edenic beauty with all the saved and the Father and Son and all the angelic hosts forever. Make sure to secure that relationship which begins now. Eternal life begins now. Commit yourself as a child of God. This is His desire and He has engineered your salvation through His Son.

AMAZING FACTS BIBLE STUDY A/F # 4 Hello family, friends, and brothers and sisters in the Christ. This is Brother Johnny Gass. Welcome to Bible study. My hope is that you will share these studies on your timelines with everyone you know, family, friends, coworkers, fellow students, and neighbors. Share in hopes of winning souls to Christ for the expansion of the kingdom of God. Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Amazing Facts # 4 A Colossal City In Space Talk about a great city! New York, Tokyo, and London are nothing in comparison! Just wait until you grasp the amazing facts about this gigantic city that can travel through space. It's all fact, not science fiction! The information in this Study Guide will thrill your soul and give you hope for the future. 1. Who is the architect and builder of this space city? "Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:16. Answer: The Bible declares that God is building a great city for His people. And this city is as real and literal as any you have ever known. God is the architect and builder of the holy city. 2. Where is this amazing city that God is preparing? "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Revelation 21:2. "O Lord my God ... hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place." 1 Kings 8:28-30. Answer: This great city that is being constructed is, at this moment, in far outer space in God's dwelling place, which is called heaven. God's amazing city is located in heaven, His dwelling place. 3. How do the Scriptures describe this amazing space city? Answer: (A) SIZE "The city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs." Revelation 21:16. The city is perfectly square. Its perimeter is 12,000 furlongs, or 1,500 miles (a furlong is 1/8 mile). It is 375 miles long on each side. Notice the city's size compared to several states. (B) NAME The city is called "new Jerusalem" in Revelation 21:2. (C) WALLS "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits. ... And the building of the wall of it was of jasper." Revelation 21:17, 18. A wall 144 cubits, or 216 feet high (a cubit is 18 inches), surrounds the city. The wall is made of solid jasper, with radiance and beauty beyond description. Think of it! Nearly 20 stories high and solid jasper! The city's jasper walls are nearly 20 stories tall. (D) GATES "And had twelve gates ... On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates." And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl." Revelation 21:12, 13, 21. The city has 12 gates—three on each side—each one made of a single pearl. Each city gate is made of one solid pearl. (E) FOUNDATIONS "The wall of the city had twelve foundations ... garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst." Revelation 21:14-20. The city has 12 full, complete foundations—each one made of precious stone. Every color of the rainbow will be represented, so at a distance the city will no doubt appear to be resting upon a rainbow. (F) STREETS "The street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." Revelation 21:21. (G) APPEARANCE "The holy city, ... prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." "The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal [proportionate]." Revelation 21:2, 11, 16. The city, with all of its precious stones, gold, and shimmering beauty, will be lighted with the glory of God. In its breathtaking majesty and purity it is compared to "a bride adorned for her husband." 4. What phenomenal feature of this majestic city assures every citizen eternal vigor and youth? "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Revelation 22:2. "Take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever." Genesis 3:22. Answer: The tree of life, which bears 12 kinds of fruit (and is in the middle of the city--Revelation 2:7), brings unending life and youth to all who partake of it. Even its leaves will contain marvelous sustaining qualities. This tree will yield a new crop of fruit each month. Heaven's fantastic tree of life brings unending life and youth to all who eat of it. 5. Is it true that this amazing city will descend to this earth? "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:2. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5. "The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth." Proverbs 11:31. Answer: Yes, the majestic holy city will come down to this earth to become the capital of the earth made new. All the righteous will have a home in this city. The holy city will descend to earth and become its capital. 6. What will happen to sin and sinners? "All the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up." Malachi 4:1. "Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Revelation 20:9. "The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. "Ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet." Malachi 4:3. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. Answer: God will destroy all sin and sinners with fire. This fire will melt the earth and turn everything into ashes. Then God will make a perfect new earth, and the holy city will be its capital. Here the righteous will live in joy, peace, and holiness throughout eternity. God promises that sin will not rise up again. See Nahum 1:9. Sin and sinners will be eradicated by fire from God. 7. What refreshing, thrilling promises does God make to the people who enter His new kingdom? Answer: A. The Lord, in person, will live with them (Revelation 21:3)… In His new kingdom the Lord will personally live among His people. B. They will never become bored. There will be pleasures forevermore (Psalms 16:11). C. There will be no more death, pain, tears, sorrow, sickness, hospitals, operations, tragedy, disappointment, trouble, hunger, or thirst (Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 22:3; Isaiah 65:23; Revelation 7:16). D. They will not get tired (Isaiah 40:31). E. Every saved person will be physically whole in every way. The deaf will hear, the blind will see, the dumb will sing, and the lame will be able to run (Isaiah 35:5, 6; Philippians 3:21). F. Jealousy, fear, hatred, falsehood, envy, impurity, cynicism, filth, worry, and all evil will be forever shut out of God's kingdom (Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15). People will no longer be burdened with the worries and the cares that drive them to distraction. There will be no more nervous breakdowns. Time will become eternity, and the pressures and deadlines of earth will be gone forever. There will be no use for crutches and wheelchairs in heaven. 8. How will the new earth differ from our earth today? Answer: A. Vast seas as we know them today will be gone (Revelation 21:1). Today's mammoth oceans will not exist in God's new kingdom. The oceans and seas cover three-fourths of the earth's surface today. This will not be the case in God's new kingdom. The whole world will be one huge garden of unsurpassed beauty, interspersed with lakes, rivers, and mountains (Revelation 22:1; Acts 3:20, 21). B. The deserts will become gardens (Isaiah 35:1, 2). C. The animals will all be tame. None will prey upon others, and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25). Children will safely play with lions in the earth made new. D. There will be no more curse (Revelation 22:3). E. There will be no more violence of any kind (Isaiah 60:18). This precludes crime, storms, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, injury, etc. There will be no more natural disasters in the new earth. F. Nothing defiling will be found in the new earth (Revelation 21:27). There will be no cigarette butts, tobacco juice, drunkards, taverns, alcoholic beverages, brothels, lewd pictures, or any other wickedness or impurity of any kind. 9. Will there be children in God's kingdom? If so, will they grow up? "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof." Zechariah 8:5. "And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Malachi 4:2. Answer: Yes, there will be many boys and girls in the holy city (Isaiah 11:6-9), and these youngsters will grow up (Malachi 4:2). We have degenerated much in stature, intellect, and vitality since Adam, but all of this will be restored (Acts 3:20, 21). Children, playing together, will fill the streets of the new Jerusalem. 10. When reunited with loved ones in heaven, will the saved know each other? Then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12. Answer: The Bible clearly teaches that righteous loved ones who have died will be raised to join the righteous living in God's kingdom (Isaiah 26:19; Jeremiah 31:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). And the Scriptures also teach that people in God's new kingdom will know each other, just as people recognize each other on the earth today. 11. Will people in heaven be real, with flesh and bones? "Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." "And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them." "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and ... while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Luke 24:36-39, 41-43, 50, 51. "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. "The Lord Jesus Christ ... shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." Philippians 3:20, 21. Answer: After His resurrection, Jesus proved to His desciples that He was flesh and bones by having them feel Him and by eating food. This same Jesus of flesh and bones ascended to His Father and will come again to the earth. The righteous will be given bodies just like the body of Christ and will be real people with flesh and bones throughout eternity. The difference will be that the heavenly body will not be subject to death, decay, or deterioration. The teaching that the saved in heaven will be ghosts who float on mist clouds and do nothing but play harps has no foundation in the Scriptures. Jesus did not die on the cross to provide any such trivial and foolish future for those who accept His love and nobly follow His way of life. Most people have no interest in such an ethereal existence and, therefore, have little or no desire to enter God's heavenly kingdom--often preferring it only because they fear hell. If only all people everywhere could learn the truth about God's holy city and new earth, millions would begin to understand His love and would turn to Him with all their hearts. A person who misses out on God's kingdom has made the supreme blunder of a lifetime. In heaven real people will experience real joys. The fondest hopes of the human heart will be realized. 12. How will the righteous spend their time in the heavenly kingdom? "They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: ... mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isaiah 65:21, 22. Answer: The righteous will build their own homes in the new earth. (Each will also have a city mansion built by Christ--John 14:1-3.) They will plant vineyards and eat the fruit from them. The Bible is plain. Real people do real things in heaven, and they will thoroughly enjoy it all. Gardening in heaven will bring incredible joy and satisfaction. 13. In what other thrilling activities will the redeemed participate in? Answer: A. Sing and play heavenly music (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11; Psalms 87:7; Revelation 14:2, 3). B. Worship before God's throne every Sabbath (Isaiah 66:22, 23). C. Enjoy never-fading flowers and trees (Ezekiel 47:12; Isaiah 35:1, 2). D. Visit with loved ones, patriarchs, prophets, etc. Heaven will bring us the privilege of becoming friends with Bible patriarchs and prophets. (Matthew 8:11; Revelation 7:9-17). E. Study the animals of heaven (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25). F. Travel and explore without ever becoming weary (Isaiah 40:31). G. Listen to God sing (Zephaniah 3:17). H. Realize fondest ambitions (Psalms 37:3, 4; Isaiah 65:24). I. Greatest joy of all--the privilege of being like Jesus, traveling with Him, and seeing Him face to face (Revelation 14:4; 22:4; 21:3; 1 John 3:2). No human tongue can describe the glory and delight of the pure music of heaven. 14. Can feeble human language really describe the glories of the heavenly home? "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9. Answer: Not even in its wildest dreams can the heart of man begin to comprehend the marvels of God's eternal kingdom. All that Adam lost will be restored (Acts 3:20, 21). Heaven will be far more glorious and rewarding than anything we can possibly imagine. 15. Is this kingdom being prepared for me personally? "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17. "To an inheritance incorruptible ... reserved in heaven for you." 1 Peter 1:4. "I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2. Answer: It is prepared for you personally. The invitation from the Lord is to you personally. If rejected, friend, you will have no one to blame but yourself. Jesus is preparing heaven for you personally. You matter to Him. 16. How can I be assured of a place in that great and glorious kingdom? "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in." Revelation 3:20. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God." John 1:12. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. Answer: The Bible makes it plain. It is simple. Give your life to Christ for cleansing from sin. When you do this, He also gives you power to do His will and keep His commandments. This means, of course, that you will begin to live as Christ lived and will overcome all sin. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." Revelation 21:7. In short, a person is prepared for heaven when he has heaven in his heart. When Jesus lives in our hearts and abides in our homes, we are assured of a place in His heavenly kingdom. Thought Questions 1. How can heaven be a happy place when the saved think of loved ones who are lost? Revelation 21:4 The Bible says that God will "wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 21:4. Surrounded by the beauty and joys of the new earth, God's redeemed people will forget the tragedies and heartaches of the past; "the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Isaiah 65:17. 2. The Bible says, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 15:50. How, then, can the redeemed be flesh and bones? 1 Corinthians 15:50 Here the Bible uses the term "flesh" to describe the unconverted person. A similar thought is expressed in Romans 8:8, 9: "They that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." John 3:6 says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." The term "flesh" here again refers to the unconverted person, while the term "spirit" refers to the converted or "born again" person. So the Bible is simply saying in 1 Corinthians 15:50 that no one can enter God's kingdom unless conversion first takes place and flesh becomes spirit. Christ, in His resurrected body, declared that He was truly "flesh and bones." Luke 24:39. We shall have a body like His, according to Philippians 3:21. 3. Is the apostle Peter in charge of the gate of the holy city? Matthew 16:19 No! The Bible says in Revelation 21:12 that the new Jerusalem--the holy city of God--has 12 gates, and at the gates are 12 angels. No reference is made in the Bible to any of the apostles as guardians of the gates. 4. Is the holy city really big enough to hold all the saved people of all ages? Matthew 7:14 If the city were to be crowded and each saved person given only 100 square feet of ground space, there would be room for 39 billion people in the city, which is many times the present population of the world. Many statisticians believe that if all the people who have ever lived were saved, there would be plenty of room for them in the city. The Scriptures make it clear, however, that only a few will be saved (Matthew 7:14). So there will be more than enough room in the great city. 5. Sometimes I wonder if the reward is worth the sacrifice. It seems that Satan is about to overwhelm me at times. Does the Bible offer me any encouragement? Romans 8:18 Yes. In fact, the apostle Paul must have been thinking of someone like you when he wrote, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18. Just one glimpse of that eternal kingdom will cause the worst trials and persecutions of earth to pale into insignificance, and the redeemed will cry out: "Hallelujah, heaven is cheap enough!" 6. Will little babies who die be saved in God's kingdom? Matthew 2:16-18 We do not have a specific Bible answer to this question, but many choose to believe that infants will be saved on the basis of Matthew 2:16-18. There the Bible tells of wicked king Herod slaying all the male babies in Bethlehem who were two years old or younger. The Old Testament foretold this tragic, cruel incident, and God told the mothers to stop crying because their children would one day be restored to them. "Refrain thy voice from weeping, ... they [the slain children] shall come again from the land of the enemy. ... Thy children shall come again to their own border." Jeremiah 31:16, 17. This is an obvious reference to the resurrection. 7. Do I understand correctly that heaven, the home of the saved, will be right here on this earth? Revelation 21:2,3;22:1,3 That is correct. Although the holy city is now in God's dwelling place, He is going to move it to this earth. Sin and sinners will be destroyed with fire, and the earth will be made new and given to the righteous in all of its Edenic glory and beauty. The holy city will be the capital of the new earth, and God will move His throne here (Revelation 21:2, 3; 22:1, 3) and live with the righteous right here on this earth throughout eternity. And where the Lord abides, that is heaven. God's plan is to restore to man what Adam lost: the glories of a perfect life on a perfect planet. Satan and sin interrupted God's plan, but the plan will be carried out. We can all share in this new kingdom--and we must! It's too much to miss. 8. Why do so many teach and believe that the home of the saved is a misty place with ghostlike inhabitants who float on clouds and do nothing but play harps? John 8:44 This teaching originated with the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44). He is anxious to distort God's loving plan and present heaven as an unreal, "spooky" place so people will lose interest or become skeptical of God's Word altogether. Satan well knows that when men and women fully understand the Bible truth regarding the home of the saved, his power over them is broken, because they will begin making plans to enter that kingdom. This is why he works so hard to becloud the issue and spread falsehood regarding that heavenly home. To learn more about our lord Jesus christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church. Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741 Pastor; Greg Hudson Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

A/F # 4 Hello family, friends, and brothers and sisters in the Christ. This is Brother Johnny Gass. Welcome to Bible study. My hope is that you will share these studies on your timelines with everyone you know, family, friends, coworkers, fellow students, and neighbors. Share in hopes of winning souls to Christ for the expansion of the kingdom of God. Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Amazing Facts # 4 A Colossal City In Space Talk about a great city! New York, Tokyo, and London are nothing in comparison! Just wait until you grasp the amazing facts about this gigantic city that can travel through space. It's all fact, not science fiction! The information in this Study Guide will thrill your soul and give you hope for the future. 1. Who is the architect and builder of this space city? "Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:16. Answer: The Bible declares that God is building a great city for His people. And this city is as real and literal as any you have ever known. God is the architect and builder of the holy city. 2. Where is this amazing city that God is preparing? "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Revelation 21:2. "O Lord my God ... hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place." 1 Kings 8:28-30. Answer: This great city that is being constructed is, at this moment, in far outer space in God's dwelling place, which is called heaven. God's amazing city is located in heaven, His dwelling place. 3. How do the Scriptures describe this amazing space city? Answer: (A) SIZE "The city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs." Revelation 21:16. The city is perfectly square. Its perimeter is 12,000 furlongs, or 1,500 miles (a furlong is 1/8 mile). It is 375 miles long on each side. Notice the city's size compared to several states. (B) NAME The city is called "new Jerusalem" in Revelation 21:2. (C) WALLS "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits. ... And the building of the wall of it was of jasper." Revelation 21:17, 18. A wall 144 cubits, or 216 feet high (a cubit is 18 inches), surrounds the city. The wall is made of solid jasper, with radiance and beauty beyond description. Think of it! Nearly 20 stories high and solid jasper! The city's jasper walls are nearly 20 stories tall. (D) GATES "And had twelve gates ... On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates." And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl." Revelation 21:12, 13, 21. The city has 12 gates—three on each side—each one made of a single pearl. Each city gate is made of one solid pearl. (E) FOUNDATIONS "The wall of the city had twelve foundations ... garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst." Revelation 21:14-20. The city has 12 full, complete foundations—each one made of precious stone. Every color of the rainbow will be represented, so at a distance the city will no doubt appear to be resting upon a rainbow. (F) STREETS "The street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." Revelation 21:21. (G) APPEARANCE "The holy city, ... prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." "The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal [proportionate]." Revelation 21:2, 11, 16. The city, with all of its precious stones, gold, and shimmering beauty, will be lighted with the glory of God. In its breathtaking majesty and purity it is compared to "a bride adorned for her husband." 4. What phenomenal feature of this majestic city assures every citizen eternal vigor and youth? "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Revelation 22:2. "Take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever." Genesis 3:22. Answer: The tree of life, which bears 12 kinds of fruit (and is in the middle of the city--Revelation 2:7), brings unending life and youth to all who partake of it. Even its leaves will contain marvelous sustaining qualities. This tree will yield a new crop of fruit each month. Heaven's fantastic tree of life brings unending life and youth to all who eat of it. 5. Is it true that this amazing city will descend to this earth? "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:2. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5. "The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth." Proverbs 11:31. Answer: Yes, the majestic holy city will come down to this earth to become the capital of the earth made new. All the righteous will have a home in this city. The holy city will descend to earth and become its capital. 6. What will happen to sin and sinners? "All the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up." Malachi 4:1. "Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Revelation 20:9. "The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. "Ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet." Malachi 4:3. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. Answer: God will destroy all sin and sinners with fire. This fire will melt the earth and turn everything into ashes. Then God will make a perfect new earth, and the holy city will be its capital. Here the righteous will live in joy, peace, and holiness throughout eternity. God promises that sin will not rise up again. See Nahum 1:9. Sin and sinners will be eradicated by fire from God. 7. What refreshing, thrilling promises does God make to the people who enter His new kingdom? Answer: A. The Lord, in person, will live with them (Revelation 21:3)… In His new kingdom the Lord will personally live among His people. B. They will never become bored. There will be pleasures forevermore (Psalms 16:11). C. There will be no more death, pain, tears, sorrow, sickness, hospitals, operations, tragedy, disappointment, trouble, hunger, or thirst (Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 22:3; Isaiah 65:23; Revelation 7:16). D. They will not get tired (Isaiah 40:31). E. Every saved person will be physically whole in every way. The deaf will hear, the blind will see, the dumb will sing, and the lame will be able to run (Isaiah 35:5, 6; Philippians 3:21). F. Jealousy, fear, hatred, falsehood, envy, impurity, cynicism, filth, worry, and all evil will be forever shut out of God's kingdom (Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15). People will no longer be burdened with the worries and the cares that drive them to distraction. There will be no more nervous breakdowns. Time will become eternity, and the pressures and deadlines of earth will be gone forever. There will be no use for crutches and wheelchairs in heaven. 8. How will the new earth differ from our earth today? Answer: A. Vast seas as we know them today will be gone (Revelation 21:1). Today's mammoth oceans will not exist in God's new kingdom. The oceans and seas cover three-fourths of the earth's surface today. This will not be the case in God's new kingdom. The whole world will be one huge garden of unsurpassed beauty, interspersed with lakes, rivers, and mountains (Revelation 22:1; Acts 3:20, 21). B. The deserts will become gardens (Isaiah 35:1, 2). C. The animals will all be tame. None will prey upon others, and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25). Children will safely play with lions in the earth made new. D. There will be no more curse (Revelation 22:3). E. There will be no more violence of any kind (Isaiah 60:18). This precludes crime, storms, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, injury, etc. There will be no more natural disasters in the new earth. F. Nothing defiling will be found in the new earth (Revelation 21:27). There will be no cigarette butts, tobacco juice, drunkards, taverns, alcoholic beverages, brothels, lewd pictures, or any other wickedness or impurity of any kind. 9. Will there be children in God's kingdom? If so, will they grow up? "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof." Zechariah 8:5. "And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Malachi 4:2. Answer: Yes, there will be many boys and girls in the holy city (Isaiah 11:6-9), and these youngsters will grow up (Malachi 4:2). We have degenerated much in stature, intellect, and vitality since Adam, but all of this will be restored (Acts 3:20, 21). Children, playing together, will fill the streets of the new Jerusalem. 10. When reunited with loved ones in heaven, will the saved know each other? Then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12. Answer: The Bible clearly teaches that righteous loved ones who have died will be raised to join the righteous living in God's kingdom (Isaiah 26:19; Jeremiah 31:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). And the Scriptures also teach that people in God's new kingdom will know each other, just as people recognize each other on the earth today. 11. Will people in heaven be real, with flesh and bones? "Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." "And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them." "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and ... while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Luke 24:36-39, 41-43, 50, 51. "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. "The Lord Jesus Christ ... shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." Philippians 3:20, 21. Answer: After His resurrection, Jesus proved to His desciples that He was flesh and bones by having them feel Him and by eating food. This same Jesus of flesh and bones ascended to His Father and will come again to the earth. The righteous will be given bodies just like the body of Christ and will be real people with flesh and bones throughout eternity. The difference will be that the heavenly body will not be subject to death, decay, or deterioration. The teaching that the saved in heaven will be ghosts who float on mist clouds and do nothing but play harps has no foundation in the Scriptures. Jesus did not die on the cross to provide any such trivial and foolish future for those who accept His love and nobly follow His way of life. Most people have no interest in such an ethereal existence and, therefore, have little or no desire to enter God's heavenly kingdom--often preferring it only because they fear hell. If only all people everywhere could learn the truth about God's holy city and new earth, millions would begin to understand His love and would turn to Him with all their hearts. A person who misses out on God's kingdom has made the supreme blunder of a lifetime. In heaven real people will experience real joys. The fondest hopes of the human heart will be realized. 12. How will the righteous spend their time in the heavenly kingdom? "They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: ... mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Isaiah 65:21, 22. Answer: The righteous will build their own homes in the new earth. (Each will also have a city mansion built by Christ--John 14:1-3.) They will plant vineyards and eat the fruit from them. The Bible is plain. Real people do real things in heaven, and they will thoroughly enjoy it all. Gardening in heaven will bring incredible joy and satisfaction. 13. In what other thrilling activities will the redeemed participate in? Answer: A. Sing and play heavenly music (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11; Psalms 87:7; Revelation 14:2, 3). B. Worship before God's throne every Sabbath (Isaiah 66:22, 23). C. Enjoy never-fading flowers and trees (Ezekiel 47:12; Isaiah 35:1, 2). D. Visit with loved ones, patriarchs, prophets, etc. Heaven will bring us the privilege of becoming friends with Bible patriarchs and prophets. (Matthew 8:11; Revelation 7:9-17). E. Study the animals of heaven (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25). F. Travel and explore without ever becoming weary (Isaiah 40:31). G. Listen to God sing (Zephaniah 3:17). H. Realize fondest ambitions (Psalms 37:3, 4; Isaiah 65:24). I. Greatest joy of all--the privilege of being like Jesus, traveling with Him, and seeing Him face to face (Revelation 14:4; 22:4; 21:3; 1 John 3:2). No human tongue can describe the glory and delight of the pure music of heaven. 14. Can feeble human language really describe the glories of the heavenly home? "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9. Answer: Not even in its wildest dreams can the heart of man begin to comprehend the marvels of God's eternal kingdom. All that Adam lost will be restored (Acts 3:20, 21). Heaven will be far more glorious and rewarding than anything we can possibly imagine. 15. Is this kingdom being prepared for me personally? "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17. "To an inheritance incorruptible ... reserved in heaven for you." 1 Peter 1:4. "I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2. Answer: It is prepared for you personally. The invitation from the Lord is to you personally. If rejected, friend, you will have no one to blame but yourself. Jesus is preparing heaven for you personally. You matter to Him. 16. How can I be assured of a place in that great and glorious kingdom? "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in." Revelation 3:20. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God." John 1:12. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. Answer: The Bible makes it plain. It is simple. Give your life to Christ for cleansing from sin. When you do this, He also gives you power to do His will and keep His commandments. This means, of course, that you will begin to live as Christ lived and will overcome all sin. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." Revelation 21:7. In short, a person is prepared for heaven when he has heaven in his heart. When Jesus lives in our hearts and abides in our homes, we are assured of a place in His heavenly kingdom. Thought Questions 1. How can heaven be a happy place when the saved think of loved ones who are lost? Revelation 21:4 The Bible says that God will "wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 21:4. Surrounded by the beauty and joys of the new earth, God's redeemed people will forget the tragedies and heartaches of the past; "the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Isaiah 65:17. 2. The Bible says, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 15:50. How, then, can the redeemed be flesh and bones? 1 Corinthians 15:50 Here the Bible uses the term "flesh" to describe the unconverted person. A similar thought is expressed in Romans 8:8, 9: "They that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." John 3:6 says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." The term "flesh" here again refers to the unconverted person, while the term "spirit" refers to the converted or "born again" person. So the Bible is simply saying in 1 Corinthians 15:50 that no one can enter God's kingdom unless conversion first takes place and flesh becomes spirit. Christ, in His resurrected body, declared that He was truly "flesh and bones." Luke 24:39. We shall have a body like His, according to Philippians 3:21. 3. Is the apostle Peter in charge of the gate of the holy city? Matthew 16:19 No! The Bible says in Revelation 21:12 that the new Jerusalem--the holy city of God--has 12 gates, and at the gates are 12 angels. No reference is made in the Bible to any of the apostles as guardians of the gates. 4. Is the holy city really big enough to hold all the saved people of all ages? Matthew 7:14 If the city were to be crowded and each saved person given only 100 square feet of ground space, there would be room for 39 billion people in the city, which is many times the present population of the world. Many statisticians believe that if all the people who have ever lived were saved, there would be plenty of room for them in the city. The Scriptures make it clear, however, that only a few will be saved (Matthew 7:14). So there will be more than enough room in the great city. 5. Sometimes I wonder if the reward is worth the sacrifice. It seems that Satan is about to overwhelm me at times. Does the Bible offer me any encouragement? Romans 8:18 Yes. In fact, the apostle Paul must have been thinking of someone like you when he wrote, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18. Just one glimpse of that eternal kingdom will cause the worst trials and persecutions of earth to pale into insignificance, and the redeemed will cry out: "Hallelujah, heaven is cheap enough!" 6. Will little babies who die be saved in God's kingdom? Matthew 2:16-18 We do not have a specific Bible answer to this question, but many choose to believe that infants will be saved on the basis of Matthew 2:16-18. There the Bible tells of wicked king Herod slaying all the male babies in Bethlehem who were two years old or younger. The Old Testament foretold this tragic, cruel incident, and God told the mothers to stop crying because their children would one day be restored to them. "Refrain thy voice from weeping, ... they [the slain children] shall come again from the land of the enemy. ... Thy children shall come again to their own border." Jeremiah 31:16, 17. This is an obvious reference to the resurrection. 7. Do I understand correctly that heaven, the home of the saved, will be right here on this earth? Revelation 21:2,3;22:1,3 That is correct. Although the holy city is now in God's dwelling place, He is going to move it to this earth. Sin and sinners will be destroyed with fire, and the earth will be made new and given to the righteous in all of its Edenic glory and beauty. The holy city will be the capital of the new earth, and God will move His throne here (Revelation 21:2, 3; 22:1, 3) and live with the righteous right here on this earth throughout eternity. And where the Lord abides, that is heaven. God's plan is to restore to man what Adam lost: the glories of a perfect life on a perfect planet. Satan and sin interrupted God's plan, but the plan will be carried out. We can all share in this new kingdom--and we must! It's too much to miss. 8. Why do so many teach and believe that the home of the saved is a misty place with ghostlike inhabitants who float on clouds and do nothing but play harps? John 8:44 This teaching originated with the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44). He is anxious to distort God's loving plan and present heaven as an unreal, "spooky" place so people will lose interest or become skeptical of God's Word altogether. Satan well knows that when men and women fully understand the Bible truth regarding the home of the saved, his power over them is broken, because they will begin making plans to enter that kingdom. This is why he works so hard to becloud the issue and spread falsehood regarding that heavenly home. To learn more about our lord Jesus christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church. Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741 Pastor; Greg Hudson Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

The Jeffreys Brothers in UK “George Jeffreys traveled with Stephen as his music director. Then he discovered that he was anointed with the same remarkable strength and power as his brother. However, there was a difference in their personalities. Stephen was exuberant, joyful, and a singing person, while George was sober, dark, and handsome. George raised up Foursquare churches, while Stephen raised up dozens of Assemblies of God churches. There was no animosity or fighting — it just became two different highways for their lives. George Jeffreys had a deep voice. He held meetings in the Royal Albert Hall in London, seating ten thousand or more people. It was jam packed, and hundreds could not be seated. I watched George Jeffreys in the Royal Albert Hall. His eyes were like fire. He could see that mighty congregation of more than ten thousand at one time. He knew their needs, and when he prayed, miracles happened — not as great as when his brother, Stephen, prayed possibly, but wonderful healings took place.” _ Lester Sumrall in “Pioneers of Faith”. #georgejeffreys #stephenjeffreys (pic: George is on the left and Stephen on the right). #GodsGenerals

THE RIGHT SONG. I have found that when musicians really flow with the Spirit, it will cause the anointing to come on me stronger to stand in the office of the prophet. I know what the Scripture means when it said the minstrel played and the hand of the Lord moved. There have been times when I have gotten the right kind of music, and I have moved over into the prophet's office and have ministered for as long as three hours. Prophecy just flowed out of me. I can't minister that way every time—even though I do minister in a certain measure of anointing—for there are measures of anointing. In 1958, I was the main speaker at a convention being held in Kansas by the Foursquare denomination. One night the spirit of the prophet moved upon me. I can't bring it on myself, but I can yield to it when it comes, and music helps. They had an orchestra there made up of people who had come from different churches. I said to them, "The anointing of the prophet is coming on me! Play something." They began to play "Preach the Word," a song written by Aimee Semple McPherson. The anointing came on me and I ministered under it from 9 o'clock until midnight—three hours. Oh, what a service! I got caught up in the glory. Half the time I couldn't see. It was as if there were a hazy cloud over the whole room. I don't know to this day what I did or said. I just remember when the anointing came and when it lifted. If they had played the wrong song, they would have killed the whole thing. You see, it's necessary that singers and musicians be in tune with the Spirit of God as much as the minister is. If they're not, everybody would be better off if there were no musicians participating in the service! (That's the reason I don't want anykind of singing sometimes.) Other things affect the anointing as well. Often the spirit of the prophet will begin to move on me and something kills it. I think it's because of the environment, or maybe because of certain people present. After all, Elisha said, "If it weren't for Jehoshaphat, I wouldn't look your way, as far as you other two kings are concerned." And because they were present in their backslidden condition, Elisha needed a little help. "Bring me a minstrel...," he said. Kenneth Hagin ( Understanding the Anointing ) - Spiritual Notes

The Altar of Sacrifice Scripture: “And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.” — Exodus 27:1 (KJV) Reflection When God instructed Moses to build the altar, every measurement, material, and detail had spiritual significance. The altar was central to Israel’s worship because it was the place where sacrifices were made and sins were atoned for. It stood as a reminder that access to God required a price, and that forgiveness was never cheap. Made of shittim wood – a durable wood resistant to decay, reminding us of the incorruptible nature of Christ. He is the altar and the sacrifice that never decays or fades. Five cubits long and broad – five in Scripture often points to grace. The altar was wide enough for all, pointing to the sufficiency of God’s grace that covers every sinner who comes by faith. Foursquare – perfectly balanced and equal on all sides, showing the fairness and justice of God. No one approaches God on different terms; all must come the same way—through the sacrifice He has provided. Three cubits high – three often represents divine completeness and resurrection. It points us forward to Christ who rose on the third day, completing our salvation. The altar, though physical in the Old Testament, foreshadows the cross of Jesus Christ. Just as every Israelite had to approach the altar with a sacrifice, we too must come to the cross with repentance and faith. The altar was not designed for decoration but for death—the death of the sacrifice that would bring life to the worshipper. Application Have I come to the altar of Christ, laying down my sins and receiving His forgiveness? Am I daily offering myself as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), placing my desires, pride, and ambitions on His altar? Do I recognize that the altar is not just about receiving forgiveness, but also about surrendering fully to God’s will? Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for the altar of old that pointed to the cross of Christ. Thank You that through His sacrifice I find grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Teach me to daily bring my life to Your altar, not withholding anything, but offering myself fully to You. May my life be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen. #TheAltar