Part 3: A Description
6. How does the Bible describe Zion?
a) The foundation is of precious stones-
“And the foundations of the wall of the city were 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 21:19-20
Note: While the percise identity of these stones is unclear we can get some idea of their color and beauty for we find in it shades of blue, green, yellow, red and violet.
b) There are gates made of pearls and streets of gold-
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” Revelation 21:21
Note: “Pure” gold is not yellow at all but clear. The yellow is caused by imperfections. There is no fire on earth hot enough to purify gold as pure as we shall see it in heaven.
c) There is a river of life
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1
d) There is a tree of life-
“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 For further study see Revelation 2:7.
e) It holds the glory of all nations-
“And 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….And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.” Revelation 21:24,26 For further study see Matthew 8:11.
f) The gates will never shut-
“Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.” Isaiah 60:11 For further study see Revelation 21:25.g) There is no night there-
“And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” Revelation 21:25 For further study see Revelation 22:5 and Revelation 21:23.
h) God is the light for the city-
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Revelation 21:23 For further study see Isaiah 60: 19-20.
i) There is no temple-
“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Revelation 21:22
Note: “With a temple is naturally associated the idea of sacrifices and mediatorial work, but when the city is located upon the new earth, there will be no such work to be performed. Sacrifices and offerings, and all mediatorial work based on them, will be forever past. Hence there will be no need of the outward symbol of such work. But the temple in old Jerusalem, besides being a place for sacrificial worship, was the beauty and glory of the place. As if to anticipate the question that might arise as to what would constitute the ornament and glory of the new city if there is to be no temple therein, the prophet answers, “The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” This is from Uriah Smith’s book titled Daniel and Revelation on Page 767.
7. What does the throne look like in Heaven?
“And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” Revelation 4:3-5 For further study see Ezekiel 1:26-28 and Revelation 15:2.
Note: The most wonderful things about heaven are not the pearly gates or the streets of gold. They are not the colorful foundation or the sparkling waters of life. Christ and His character is the glory of heaven. Christ’s character is reflected perfectly in each of His saints and is what will make heaven our home. My dear friends, will you feel at home in such a perfect place?