Jehovah is There

“And I will make your battlements of ruby, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your borders of pleasant stones.” (Isaiah 54:12)

This is part of the eternal Covenant of Peace promised to Israel. When the Lord builds, it’s beautiful and precious, not ordinary or common. Isaiah is prophesying of the New Jerusalem.  In Revelation we get a glimpse of it through John’s vision. Its foundations, walls and gates are spectacular like nothing on earth. But Isaiah gives us a glimpse of the windows which was translated battlements in this translation, but in other translations are windows or pinnacles, and doors which have been called gates. The gates to the city are described in John, which is different from Isaiah’s gates. Isaiah is speaking about doors. “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high, mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God. And its light was like a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And it had a great and high wall, with twelve gates. And on the gates were twelve angels, and having names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel: From the east three gates, from the north three gates, from the south three gates, and from the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city and its gates and its wall. And the city lies four-square, and the length is as large as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand stadia. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. And the foundation of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city had been adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Respectively, each one of the gates was one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass. And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, even the Lamb. And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they might shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:10-23)

The image John describes is heavenly and holy. It’s like nothing that could ever be built on earth. It’s made with precious gems and stones. It’s created by the Father and the Lord’s glory fills it. The city will be called the Lord is there. “All around it shall be eighteen thousand cubits. And the name of the city from that day shall be JEHOVAH IS THERE.” (Ezekiel 48:35) The Lord is the Light of the world. And His light shines in the city so that it doesn’t need the sun, the moon or the stars. “The sun will no more be your light by day; nor the brightness of the moon give light to you; but Jehovah will be to you for everlasting light, and your God your glory. Your sun will no more go down, nor your moon withdraw; for Jehovah will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be ended.” (Isaiah 60:19-20)

Ezekiel had a vision of heaven with glorious stones, brightness and fire. “And from above the expanse that was over their heads was a likeness like a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne. And on the likeness of the throne was a likeness looking like a man on it from above. And I saw Him looking like the color of polished bronze, looking like fire all around within it. From the likeness of His loins even upward, and from the likeness of His loins even downward, I saw Him, looking like fire, and it had brightness all around. As the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain looks, so the brightness all around looked. This was how the likeness of the glory of Jehovah looked. And I saw. And I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” (Ezekiel 1:26-28)

The Lord will establish His heavenly kingdom in the city. And just as He is glorious, where He will be is glorious. No longer will we be limited to what we see because of our earthly limitations but will see and live in the fullness of His glory and beauty.