Revelation 20
“I go to prepare a place for you … I will come again and take you to Myself that where I am you may be also (John 14).” Those words of Jesus describing a place that’s rid of sorrow, evil, and death (the symbolic ‘sea’ of Rev. 21:1) is a perfect dwelling where we’ll live together with Him in divine union. It’s far better than Thomas More’s Utopia, nonetheless, a perfect world where everyone lives in a blessed community with authority and responsibilities (Luke 19:11-27 parable).
This restored community of faith-filled believers, the renewed Jerusalem, will be living in perfect peace and wholeness as it’s name implies: a city of peace. As John listened to The Voice of God he’s reassured that Immanuel, God with us, will be ever-present in the shekinah glory of the Holy of Holies pictured in the lower story Temple. The Father’s Voice instructed John to write it all down; His people will need to remember it. Knowing the Plan of Redemption was completed and His Nike church (conquerors) has inherited this eternal state is truly something to focus on in times of trial. It remains our hope today.
In verse 9 a familiar angel beckoned John to follow him and envision the Bride, the wife of the Lamb: the Church. Her glory, seen from a mountaintop, was as radiant as the facets of a reflecting diamond and other rare jewels. The description of this shining, heavenly community of believers is given in familiar 12’s: 12 pearly gates with 12 guardian angels, with engraved names of the 12 Jewish tribes, 12 foundational walls with engraved names of the 12 apostles. Point taken. Twelve is a Biblical number representing the authority of the Old and the New Testament saints combined.
The measurements continue with 12’s forming a perfect, divine cube similar to the lower story Holy of Holies; this upper story cube in the heavenly realm symbolizes God’s divine Presence that’s continually open to us. This utopian, glory-filled city of the Father and the Son produces it own supernatural light for the believing remnant of the nations and their glorious kingdoms who may enter when their names are found in that precious Book of Life. Isaiah was right when he prophesied (60:1-7, 19-22, 66:18-24) of the glory of that future Kingdom of God with Daniel confirming it (Dan. 2:44, 4:3, 6:26, 7:13-14).
As you go through trials and difficulties in this present-day life always remember these promises; they’re trustworthy and true. Augustine’s City of God and More’s Utopian city cannot be compared to the final Kingdom of God that Jesus constantly described in the gospels. We surely have victory already but not completely, not yet; that’s reserved for a future day when we experience the full meaning of a new creation in Christ:
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Cor. 5:17
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