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All Things New
Chapter Eleven
All Things New
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Chapter 21 of Revelation is all about the new. John beholds a new Jerusalem, coming down from a new heaven, and settling upon a new earth. Doesn't get much newer than that. And by the way, there is no more sea. The first 8 verses are all about the new. The remaining 19 verses are a detailed description of the dazzling new Jerusalem. And from our perspective...of greatly increased knowledge...what follows is completely mind-shattering engineering.
To begin with, the four-square city is 1,363 miles cubed. Nevermind the length or width. Airliners cruise at 4-11 miles up. The International Space Station orbits @215 miles up. Outer space begins @430 miles up. The new Jerusalem extends upward some 1,363 miles. Through all of the Spheres and Pauses; the sheer size of this new structure, turns the earth into a virtual lollipop.
The city construction materials are equally amazing. An oyster takes up to 20 years to make a beautiful pearl. Each of the monstrous 12 gates to new Jerusalem, are carved from a single...enormous...pearl. It seems that either we have shrunk, or oysters are massive in heaven.
The twelve jewels that make up the twelve wall foundations, are a bible study all their own. Pure gold streets like transparent glass, is another. These things defy our known laws of physics and science. The changes to the earth's biosphere by having "no more sea", are too extensive to calculate. Add to this, that there is also "no more night"; and science as we learned it on earth, has been turned on its head.
There is also the age-old question, of which twelve apostles names are written in the twelve wall foundation jewels. Eleven are generally without dispute. The twelfth would appear to be either Matthias or Paul. Matthias was picked by drawing lots, before the Holy Ghost was poured out. Paul was chosen by Jesus, leaving behind the inspired writings to prove it. But each man will decide for himself what the twelfth name is.
Perhaps the most curious of all; is not the 260 foot high wall that surrounds new Jerusalem, but what lies outside the wall. After the thundering storm of Revelation has passed, there are still nations and their kings afoot.
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.
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