Cambridge Church of Seventh-day Adventists, Medford MA

A Colossal City In Space

Talk about a city! New York and London are as nothing in comparison to the gigantic city Jesus will bring back to the new Earth. For true information that will thrill and cheer you, keep reading.

1. Who is the architect and builder of this space city? The Bible declares that God is building a great city for His people. And this city is as real and literal as any you have ever known. Answer: "Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their

God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:16.

2. Where is this amazing city that God is preparing? This great city that is being constructed is, at this moment, in far outer space in God's dwelling place, which is called heaven. Answer: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." Revelation 21:2. "O Lord my God ... hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place." 1 Kings 8:28-30.

3. How do the Scriptures describe this amazing space city? (A) SIZE -"The city lieth four square, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs." Revelation 21:16. The city is perfectly square. Its perimeter is 12,000 furlongs, or 1,500 miles (a furlong is 1/8 mile). It is 375 miles long on each side. (B) NAME -The city is called "new Jerusalem" in Revelation 21:2. (C) WALLS -"And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits. ... And the building of the wall of it was of jasper." Revelation 21:17, 18. A wall 144 cubits, or 216 fe

et high (a cubit is 18 inches), surrounds the city. The wall is made of solid jasper, with radiance and beauty beyond description. Think of it! Nearly 20 stories high and solid jasper! (D) GATES -"And had twelve gates ... On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates." And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl." Revelation 21:12, 13, 21. The city has 12 gates-three on each side-each one made of a single pearl. (E) FOUNDATIONS -"The wall of the city had twelve foundations ... garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst." Revelation 21:14-20. The city has 12 full, complete foundations-each one made of precious stone. Every color of the rainbow will be represented, so at a distance the city will no doubt appear to be resting upon a rainbow. (F) STREETS -"The street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." Revelation 21:21. (G) APPEARANCE -"The holy city, ... prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." "The length and breadth and height of it are equal [proportionate]." Revelation 21:2, 11, 16. The city, with all of its precious stones, gold, and shimmering beauty, will be lighted with the glory of God. In its breathtaking majesty and purity, it is compared to "a bride adorned for her husband." Answer:

4. What phenomenal feature of this majestic city assures every citizen eternal vigor and youth? The tree of life, which bears 12 kinds of fruit (and is in the middle of the city-Revelation 2:7), brings unending life and youth to all who partake of it. Even its leaves will contain marvelous sustaining qualities. This tree will yield a new crop of fruit each month. Answer: "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Revelation 22:2. "Take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." Genesis 3:22.

5. Is it true that this amazing city will descend to this earth? Yes, the majestic holy city will come down to this earth to become the capital of the earth made new. All the righteous will have a home in this city. Answer: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:2. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5. "The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth." Proverbs 11:31.

6. What will happen to sin and sinners? God will destroy all sin and sinners with fire. This fire will melt the earth and turn everything into ashes. Then God will make a perfect new earth, and the holy city will be its capital. Here the righteous will live in joy, peace, and holiness throughout eternity. God promises that sin will not rise up again. See Nahum 1:9. (The full information on hell will be given in Study Guide 11.) Answer: "All the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up." Malachi 4:1. "Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Revelation 20:9. "The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. "Ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet." Malachi 4:3. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13.

7. What refreshing, thrilling promises does God make to the people who enter His new kingdom? A. The Lord, in person, will live with them (Revelation 21:3).B. They will never become bored. There will be pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).C.There will be no more death, pain, tears, sorrow, sickness, hospitals, operations, tragedy, disappointment, trouble, hunger, or thirst (Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 22:3; Isaiah 65:23; Revelation 7:16).D. They will not get tired (Isaiah 40:31).E. Every saved person will be physically whole in every way. The deaf will hear, the blind will see, the dumb will sing, and the lame will be able to run (Isaiah 35:5, 6; Philippians 3:21).F. Jealousy, fear, hatred, falsehood, envy, impurity, cynicism, filth, worry, and all evil will be forever shut out of God's kingdom (Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15). People will no longer be burdened with the worries and cares that drive them to distraction. There will be no more nervous breakdowns. Time will become eternity, and the pressures and deadlines of earth will be gone forever. Answer: