Heavenly City's Golden Design

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

(Revelation 21:10-18)

Regarding the construction of the city itself, we are given little information. In the above passage, the Apostle John tells us that the city is made of pure gold. However, this is not a gold we can imagine in this life, for he describes it as being clear as crystal. This passage indicates that every residence in the city will be constructed from the same material. Beyond this, we have no details about what each residence will look like. However, by considering the creation of mankind, we can gain some insight. Although God has made all people similar so that they are recognized as human, He has made each one distinct, with no two people looking exactly alike. Applying this concept to the residences in heaven, each residence will be similar yet unique, meaning no two residences will look identical. As we examine the design of the city in this section, we see that the street of the city begins at the edge of the sea of glass and extends outward in an ever-widening circle until it reaches the city walls. Therefore, it can be deduced that the residences will be located adjacent to the street, spreading from the centre to the outskirts of the city. One thing is clear regarding the residences of the saints: those considered great in the kingdom will have residences closest to the throne, while those considered least in the kingdom will have residences farthest from the throne, along the city walls. On more than one occasion, our Lord, commenting on the hierarchy in the kingdom of God, said that many who are first in this life will be last in the age to come, and many who are last in this life will be first in the age to come (Mark 10:31). To provide perspective, for those placed last in the age to come, their residences will be approximately 1,200 kilometres from the throne of God. Those considered great in the kingdom of God are those who are servants of all in this life (Mark 9:35).

And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

(Luke 22:29-30)

Regarding what each residence will be like, the Bible provides almost no information. However, in the above passage, our Lord offers some insight. He speaks of the twelve apostles of the Lamb eating and drinking with Him at His table. Scripture mentions our Lord’s palace in the New Jerusalem (Psalm 45:8, 15). From this passage, we can see that the Lord’s palace will have sections where He will eat and drink with the saints He invites to share a meal at His table, including areas in the palace gardens. Naturally, there will also be a section in His palace where these meals are prepared. Angels will both prepare and serve the meals at our Lord’s table. From this, we can deduce that the residences of the saints will also have dining rooms where they can invite fellow saints to share meals. Additionally, their residences will have facilities in their gardens for sharing meals and a type of kitchen where meals will be prepared. Just as angels minister to the Lord, they will also minister to the saints by preparing their meals. We know this because Scripture reveals that angels are sent to minister to those who are heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). We also know angels minister in this way to the saints, as they did for our Lord on earth (Matthew 4:11) and for Elijah the prophet (1 Kings 19:5-7).

For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

(Psalms 132:13-16)

Regarding the foods the saints will eat in the New Jerusalem, we have already noted that the nations of the earth will supply her with the first fruits of their produce. In the above passage of Scripture, God confirms that He will abundantly supply the provisions of the New Jerusalem.

Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"--knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

(John 21:9-13)

 The question arises: how will food be prepared in the heavenly city? In the above passage of Scripture, our Lord Jesus provides insight into this area. We see that He simply spoke the fire of coals, fish, and bread into being, and both He and the disciples ate breakfast together.

All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad. Kings' daughters are among Your honourable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir. Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father's house; so the King will greatly desire your beauty; because He is your Lord, worship Him. And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; the rich among the people will seek your favour. The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colours; the virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; they shall enter the King's palace.

(Psalms 45:8-15)

As already mentioned, the above Psalm describes our Lord, His palace, and the bride of Christ in the heavenly Jerusalem. This passage notes that all of our Lord’s garments are scented with myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Clearly, our Lord has more than one garment. Therefore, we can deduce that His palace has a room where His garments are kept and scented by the angels who minister to Him. The same passage describes the bride of Christ being brought to Him in robes of many colours. Thus, it is likely that the saints will have various robes of different colours, kept in a room for changing, and these garments will also be scented by angels who prepare them. The comparable room in this life would be a bedroom where most people keep their clothes. However, in the age to come, these rooms will not include beds, as the saints will never sleep. Three other rooms common in this life—bathrooms, toilets, and entertainment rooms—will also be absent. Bathrooms will be unnecessary because the saints, living in a perfect environment, will never perspire. Toilets will not be needed because their resurrected bodies will lack stomachs (1 Corinthians 6:13). Although the saints will partake of natural foods during meals, that food will simply dematerialize within their resurrected bodies. Finally, entertainment rooms will be absent because, as in heaven currently, there will be no television, computers, or internet in the New Jerusalem.

Michael E.B. Maher

The End of the Age

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