"And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth:
and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.
The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal."
(Revelation 21:16)
My last article was needfully focused upon where this fallen world is so fast and so frighteningly heading. (See https://watchman4wales.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-beginning-of-sorrows-prelude-to.html). My desire here is to show the unbelievably beautiful other side of the coin, so to speak: the incredible destination of all those who have sincerely accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and follow Him faithfully in spirit and in truth.
Once or twice, I've felt it relevant to reproduce here on this blog, articles that were first compiled for and published on my original website; I feel it is most opportune for one more such piece to re-appear here now. In undertaking a study on the subject of the New Jerusalem, some amazing things were impressed upon my understanding, if I might put it that way, things that I hope by sharing here may bless you my friends with as much of a sense of great hope and certainty as they do me, amidst a time of great and global foreboding as to what the future holds for all of humankind.
* * * * * * *
A HOUSE OF MANY MANSIONS
"In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you."
(The words of Jesus Christ, as recorded in John 14:2)
So what exactly is this "house" our Lord referred to, where a place is even now being prepared by Him for His people? Can one structure alone accommodate the many millions of individuals who together constitute the body and bride of Christ?
A wonderful confirmation of the validity of Jesus's statement comes in one particular verse in the Book of Revelation, a verse that when closely studied affirms not just the truly awesome capacity of this "house": in examining its basic geometric design, an astonishing and fundamental truth literally unfolds before our eyes!
THE NEW JERUSALEM
The Apostle John, "carried away in the spirit" while on Patmos, witnessed "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2). He made various observations concerning this structure; for the purposes of the study in hand, one key verse emerges:
"And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth:
and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.
The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal."
(Revelation 21:16)
This, then, is the "Father's house" which Jesus was referring to in His discourse with the disciples. The two particular features outlined here to take note of are:
1) It is in the form of a perfect cube.
2) Its dimensions are:
12,000 furlongs by 12,000 furlongs by 12,000 furlongs.
Let us deal with the second observation first! Out with the measuring tape!
12,000 furlongs translates into 1,500 miles, and the ground-plan of the New Jerusalem accordingly works out as covering an amazing TWO AND A QUARTER MILLION SQUARE MILES!
But having said that, the city is also 1.500 miles high!
This means that its cubic capacity works out at the staggering figure of:
3.375 billion cubic miles!!!
Consider. If every single inhabitant was to be allocated half a cubic mile each (how does that compare with your current house and garden?), then the New Jerusalem would house on this basis some 27 billion persons!
Given a quarter of a cubic mile each (more than ample for a personal mansion in its own parkland, wouldn't you say?), then the New Jerusalem would accommodate an almost unimaginable 216 billion people!
No-one knows exactly how many humans have ever lived on this planet. Estimates of earth's all-time population range from a low of around 45 billion to a high of around 125 billion, with many of the sounder estimates coming out at between 90 and 110 billion. A calculation based on 2002 figures arrived at a figure of 106 billion.
So even at a mere (!) quarter of a cubic mile each, the New Jerusalem would house every person who has ever existed twice over!
It can thus be clearly demonstrated that God has fully allowed for EVERYONE to inhabit His "house," this quite incredible foursquare city. We have the free will to decide whether or not we will live there ourselves; the tragic fact is that the many millions who reject God's plan of redemption through the Cross of Jesus Christ will never get to see "the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9). The Lord offers you one of His "many mansions" - no mortgage required! The decision is yours.
At this point it would be opportune to return to our first observation: the fact that the New Jerusalem is in the form of a perfect cube!
UNFOLDING THE FANTASTIC
To grasp the full significance of the actual shape of the New Jerusalem, it might be helpful to scale it down somewhat and view it as a simple cardboard box...
First, take your box...
Then, lift up the lid...
Pull down the front...
Drop down the base...
Finally, fold back both sides, to reveal...
The Cross!
In this very simple way, it can be vividly illustrated that the New Jerusalem is the ultimate abode of all those who are...
COMPLETELY COVERED BY THE CROSS!
"The house of the righteous shall stand."
(Proverbs 12:7)
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also."
(John 14:3)
Maranatha!
