THE CITY OF NO MORE
For ages, saints have turned to Revelation 21 and 22 to renew their hopes of heaven. Some read where the “holy city” is coming “down from God out of heaven” in Revelation 21:2, and conclude that the city cannot be heaven if it is coming out of heaven. By that logic, this would be a city without God, because it is “coming down
from God,” but the next verse says, “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” (Rev. 21:3). If the city can come “down from God” and yet be the city where God will dwell with men, then it can come “out of heaven” and still be the heaven where men will dwell with God. It is a matter of perspective.
The expression, “coming down from God out of heaven” identifies neither its destiny nor its direction, but its source. Heaven is the source of all of John’s visions. In this vision, the city that came “down from God out of heaven” was not on its way to earth, because “the first earth and the first heaven passed away” (Rev. 21:1), indeed, “the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them” (Rev. 20:11). Considered in the larger context of Revelation, I am convinced this is a vision of the church overcoming its impending trials, but consistent with the exaggerated language of Revelation, the glory of this victorious church is described in terms of its eternal glory. That makes this a picture of heaven.
This “holy city” is the desire of our hope, in part, because of things that will not be there. Heaven has been called, “The City of No More.” Revelation 21:1 says, “there was no more sea.” Some identify the sea in Revelation as the source of trouble for the church, and indeed the beast rose up “out of the sea” (Rev. 13:1). Others suggest that the sea is for separation, and because Revelation 21:3 tells of God with men, and therefore “no more sea” means no more separation from God. Either way, this is where I want to go. Revelation 21:4 tells us there will be no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain; “for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:8 says, “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.” I once asked my grandmother what she was looking forward to in heaven. She said, “Everything everyone tells you will be the truth.” She was right about that, because there will be no liars in heaven.
Revelation 21:22 says there will be no temple in that city; “I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” According to Revelation 21:23 there will be no need for the sun and no need for the moon; “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.” The gates of old earthly cities were shut at night for security. We still shut and lock the doors of our homes, but in this city, “The gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there” (Rev. 21:25). Revelation 21:27 says, “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.” Revelation 22:3 assures us, “there shall be no more curse.” Revelation 22:5 further affirms, “There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light.” That sounds like heaven to me!
Finally, Revelation 22:14-15 says, “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. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Where the King James Version says “Blessed are they that do his commandments,” the American Standard Version says, “Blessed are they that wash their robes.” The difference is in the ancient Greek manuscripts, but either way, we wash our robes when we do his commandments. Revelation 1:5 says that Jesus “washed us from our sins in his own blood.” Revelation 7:14 says, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” According to Acts 22:16, the blood of Christ washes away our sins when we are baptized, “calling on the name of the Lord,” and according to 1 John 1:7, his blood keeps us washed as we “walk in the light.” Make sure your name is “written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). Make sure you “do his commandments” (Rev. 22:14), and when we all get to heaven we “shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). wmhboyd@aol.com 647 Finger Bluff Road Morrison, TN 3735
Bill Boyd
from God,” but the next verse says, “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” (Rev. 21:3). If the city can come “down from God” and yet be the city where God will dwell with men, then it can come “out of heaven” and still be the heaven where men will dwell with God. It is a matter of perspective.
The expression, “coming down from God out of heaven” identifies neither its destiny nor its direction, but its source. Heaven is the source of all of John’s visions. In this vision, the city that came “down from God out of heaven” was not on its way to earth, because “the first earth and the first heaven passed away” (Rev. 21:1), indeed, “the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them” (Rev. 20:11). Considered in the larger context of Revelation, I am convinced this is a vision of the church overcoming its impending trials, but consistent with the exaggerated language of Revelation, the glory of this victorious church is described in terms of its eternal glory. That makes this a picture of heaven.
This “holy city” is the desire of our hope, in part, because of things that will not be there. Heaven has been called, “The City of No More.” Revelation 21:1 says, “there was no more sea.” Some identify the sea in Revelation as the source of trouble for the church, and indeed the beast rose up “out of the sea” (Rev. 13:1). Others suggest that the sea is for separation, and because Revelation 21:3 tells of God with men, and therefore “no more sea” means no more separation from God. Either way, this is where I want to go. Revelation 21:4 tells us there will be no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain; “for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:8 says, “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.” I once asked my grandmother what she was looking forward to in heaven. She said, “Everything everyone tells you will be the truth.” She was right about that, because there will be no liars in heaven.
Revelation 21:22 says there will be no temple in that city; “I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” According to Revelation 21:23 there will be no need for the sun and no need for the moon; “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.” The gates of old earthly cities were shut at night for security. We still shut and lock the doors of our homes, but in this city, “The gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there” (Rev. 21:25). Revelation 21:27 says, “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.” Revelation 22:3 assures us, “there shall be no more curse.” Revelation 22:5 further affirms, “There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light.” That sounds like heaven to me!
Finally, Revelation 22:14-15 says, “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. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Where the King James Version says “Blessed are they that do his commandments,” the American Standard Version says, “Blessed are they that wash their robes.” The difference is in the ancient Greek manuscripts, but either way, we wash our robes when we do his commandments. Revelation 1:5 says that Jesus “washed us from our sins in his own blood.” Revelation 7:14 says, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” According to Acts 22:16, the blood of Christ washes away our sins when we are baptized, “calling on the name of the Lord,” and according to 1 John 1:7, his blood keeps us washed as we “walk in the light.” Make sure your name is “written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). Make sure you “do his commandments” (Rev. 22:14), and when we all get to heaven we “shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). wmhboyd@aol.com 647 Finger Bluff Road Morrison, TN 3735
Bill Boyd
posted by Believer | 6:15 AM
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