Thursday, February 8, 2018

February 9, 2018

"The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life." Revelation 21:15-27

So we are finally catching a glimpse of Heaven via John's revelation as recorded in Scripture book by the same name!

It is amazing! In fact, it is too awesome to actually describe but too amazing to deny!

Heaven is only accessible to disciples of Jesus Christ who make disciples for Jesus Christ.

Today we learn that Heaven is of amazing dimensions!

While much of Heaven is described in subjective terms that stretch the imagination here John gives measurements than can be quantitatively understood. While everything else about Heaven is infinite this is the one thing that is definite!

John tells us Heaven is shaped like a cube 12,000 stadia wide, 12,000 stadia high and 12,000 stadia deep. In modern measurements that factors to 1,500 miles by 1,500 miles by 1,500 miles! That's large!

Is there a reason it is shaped like a cube?

I'm glad you asked! That is a great question! The reason it is shaped like a cube is because the area in the Tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies was shaped as a cube 15'x15'x15'! That was where the Ark of the Covenant resided and God's presence dwelt!

And in the Temple built by Solomon the Holy of Holies was also shaped as a cube!

So what does this tell us?

Another great question!

What happened in the Holy of Holies? An encounter with God's presence happened! In other words it was the place where high worship occurred!

So by revealing these dimensions John is not only revealing how huge Heaven will be but what will be going on there - WORSHIP!!! Heaven is designed to be a place where we will dwell in the presence of God enjoying communion and worship continually! Heaven will be filled with the Glory of God!

What else does this tell us about Heaven?

It testifies to the majesty of God that His presence can fill an area that vast! You can be at the center point of the cube or at any distant corner of the cube and it will make no difference in His presence!

I believe the vast dimensions of Heaven show us that God made Heaven large enough to have room for every person who ever lived. The Bible makes it plain that God was not willing any should miss Heaven and perish in Hell. I believe on the authority of Scripture that God designed Heaven to be big enough for EVERYONE! 

Tragically, not everyone will be there.

Will you?

Have you made sure your name is in the Book of Life?