FBC Marshallville
August 2, 2026 Clay Burdette
  • There's A Land That Is Fairer Than Day
  • Ring The Bells Of Heaven
  • When We All Get To Heaven

  • The Beauty of Heaven

    Bible Passage: Revelation 21:9–21

    Big Idea: Anticipation of heaven calls us to reorient our lives toward what truly matters—relationships, faith, and living for God's glory, as we look forward to the fulfillment of His promises.
    People have different appetites for food, for art, for emotional support.
    When I first went on vacations with my family it was all about playing with my brother.
    We endured long, long, long awaited sunsets in the mountains.
    We looked for bears and skunks.
    But then as we grew older, Henry went to work and I had to endure vacations with my parents.
    So my appetite in vacation turned to places to read or something where I could entertain myself.
    We all have stories like that where our appetites have changed.
    So we have different appetites or different things appeal to us.
    This passage of scripture will appeal to the person who longs for the best of everything especially aesthetics.
    This passage reveals the profound truth of heaven as God's ultimate habitation with humanity.
    There is the complete absence of suffering and death.
    Heaven is transformed by divine glory into a city unmatched in beauty.
    As we study this passage, think of the beautiful description of the Garden of Eden compared with the beauty of Heaven.
    Revelation 21:9–21 NASB 95
    9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
    Pray

    1. Behold the Bride

    Compare Rev 21:9
    Revelation 21:9 NASB 95
    9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
    to Rev 17:1
    Revelation 17:1 NASB 95
    1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
    Look at the similarities
    One of the 7 angels who had the 7 bowls
    Each time the angel came and spoke to John.
    Look at the difference
    21:9, I will show you the bride
    17:1 I will show you the judgment of the great harlot.
    But let’s not stop there. Compare Rev 21:10-11
    Revelation 21:10–11 NASB 95
    10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
    to Rev 17:3
    Revelation 17:3 NASB 95
    3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
    Similarities
    He carried me away in the Spirit
    And that is where the similarities end
    Differences
    21:10 To a great and High mountain
    17:3 into a wilderness
    21:10 Showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, having the glory of God.
    17:3 I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
    Why do I mention this?
    Because Rev 21:9 seems to want to make us remember what was said and done in chapter 17 by the same or similar angel.
    Revelation 21:9 NASB 95
    9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
    Why do we need to know this information?
    Could it be that God is telling us that judgment and mercy are both necessary in our lives.
    The job of the angels with the bowls in 17 is judgment
    Whereas in 21 it’s mercy.
    Are judgment and mercy similar?
    When you and I are judged for our sin, is that judgment a form of mercy?
    Which is more merciful, for God to give us over to our sinful ways, or to pursue us with judgment to try and get us to return to Him?
    Out in the wilderness, John saw judgment come upon a wicked harlot.
    Up on the Mountain top, John saw the beauty of heaven and His mercy for forgiveness that comes with the glory of the Lord.
    Though we may face judgment for sin while here on earth, God has granted forgiveness for those who love Him with our whole heart.
    So we, in the mercy of God, must live to reflect the majesty of the one true God.
    And the picture drawn for us in this passage should motivate us because of the assurance of God’s eternal promises.

    2. Gates of Grace

    Revelation 21:12–13 NASB 95
    12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west.
    Notice the gates were guarded by an angel for each gate. 12 angels in all.
    The gates were named after each of the 12 tribes of Israel.
    This wall was not for protection because the enemy had been destroyed.
    The gates never closed so why put so much importance upon them?
    It seems to me that the wall around the new Jerusalem is speaking of the salvation of Jesus.
    The 12 tribes of Israel is the reason we have the law and the need to fulfill that law.
    God used those tribes to reveal the need for a Savior
    So through the tribe of Judah came the Savior, Jesus.
    When we couple the gates with the foundation of 21:14
    Revelation 21:14 NASB 95
    14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
    Now notice the the foundation of the wall representing salvation are stones named after the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.
    The nation of Israel is the gate-keeper, Jesus.
    The apostles are the foundation-the good news of Jesus.
    This is a beautiful picture of our need for a Savior provided by God through the Nation Israel who fulfilled the law given to Israel.
    So the new Jerusalem is our prize.
    Our hope is a beautiful new world through our faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ.

    3. Measured to Perfection

    Revelation 21:15–17 NASB 95
    15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.
    As we read these scriptures what are we to make of them?
    The angel has a gold measuring rod
    He uses it to measure the city.
    We find the city is a cube 1500 miles wide, long and high.
    He also measures the wall and finds it to be 216 feet or 72 yards.
    A magnificent wall
    But rather small or insignificant in contrast to a 1500 mile high city.
    If we look back at the temple in Jerusalem we will see that the Holy of Holies was also a cube 1 Kings 6:16-20
    As we will see next week, there is good reason to believe this city is the new Holy of Holies.
    God is in charge and He knows exactly what we are to gather from this passage.
    We certainly see God is both merciful and yet His wrath is real.
    We cannot know for sure what these words mean today but realize we are blessed for reading them.
    We are blessed when we study the word of God.
    When we pause to allow the HS to fill us with His wisdom we honor our Heavenly Father.

    4. Streets of Splendor

    Revelation 21:18–21 NASB 95
    18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
    So the city is noted for its streets of splendor
    Walls of Jasper
    The city was pure gold so pure it was like clear glass.
    The foundation stones adorned with precious stones.
    The gates are made of huge Pearls
    And even the streets are of pure gold like transparent glass.
    It is hard to imagine a city built of materials we would never “waste” as building materials.
    But consider what we use these precious materials for.
    Gold-a wedding ring to represent our unending love for each other.
    Diamond to illustrate the seriousness of your devotion to the marriage relationship.
    Regardless of your appetite I believe heaven will fulfill it.

    What does all this Mean?

    You’ve seen or heard me explain the beauty of Heaven.
    This passage inspires believers to live in anticipation of heaven.
    It guides us through our present difficulties by offering hope and assurance.
    It calls us to reflect on our priorities, reminding us to invest in eternal treasures rather than temporary pursuits,
    Thus affecting our daily choices and interactions with others.

    Conclusion

    Is there a longing to be in the place called heaven?
    This passage may fulfill your appetite for things of beauty and precious stones.
    Maybe it brings assurance to us that we are on the correct path because both the OT Patriarchs and the NT apostles represent the salvation necessary for entry into the city.
    If you were called home today would this city be your home?
    Or would the horrible lake of fire be your home?
    Today make certain heaven is your home by surrendering your all today.
    Join us as we March to Zion

    524 Marching to Zion

    1.          Come, we that love the Lord, And let our joys be known; Join in a song with sweet accord, Join in a song with sweet accord And thus surround the throne, And thus surround the throne.
    Refrain: We're marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; We're marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.
    2.          Let those refuse to sing Who never knew our God; But children of the heav'nly King, But children of the heav'nly King May speak their joys abroad, May speak their joys abroad. (Refrain)
    3.          The hill of Zion yields A thousand sacred sweets, Before we reach the heav'nly fields, Before we reach the heav'nly fields, Or walk the golden streets, Or walk the golden streets. (Refrain)
    4.          Then let our songs abound, And ev'ry tear be dry; We're marching thro' Immanuel's ground, We're marching thro' Immanuel's ground, To fairer worlds on high, To fairer worlds on high. (Refrain)
    Refrain: We're marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; We're marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.

      • Revelation 21:9–21NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 21:9NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 17:1NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 21:10–11NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 17:3NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 21:9NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 21:12–13NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 21:14NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 21:15–17NASB95PARA

      • Revelation 21:18–21NASB95PARA

  • We're Marching To Zion
  • Praise God From Whom All Blessing Flow
FBC Marshallville
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