启示录21 将来的荣耀圣城
 
GK611晨祷生命读经
13.03.2026 
主讲：陈炎明牧师


引言：引言：很多新加坡年轻夫妻会去HDB参观BTO预购组屋的预览图！

一、将来的永生新天地（启21:1）

1.新天新地的出现（V1）
 “新”不是完全重新创造，而是更新、转化、进入荣耀状态。就像我们在基督里，成为新造的人。就像是复活身体，不是换一个人、而是被完全更新了。因此，当世界被彻底更新，罪与咒诅完全消失时，一个新世界就不再有不安与分离的愁烦问题了。

2.圣城新耶路撒冷（V2）
这城不是人所建造，是全能的神最智慧的预备。被形容为装饰整齐的新妇，这是神子民成为荣耀的城。新耶路撒冷被称为新妇，是要说明：永恒国度的本质不是一座城市，而是神与祂子民之间完全相爱、完全联合、完全荣耀的关系。

3.神要与人同住啊（V3-4）
神与人同住，这是救恩的核心。“神的帐幕在人间。”从神本来的心意就是要与人同在；因为罪而离开了神，但是最终神要与人同住。四个“不再”：不再有死亡、不再有悲哀、不再有哭号、不再有疼痛。因为旧的世界完全会过去了，负面的情绪和不好的影响源都没有了；剩下的全是美好的啊！

要活在神的同在中，不让暂时的痛苦与环境定义你的人生。以永恒的盼望作人生的选择，把爱与光带给身边的人。

二、坐在宝座者的宣告（21:5-8）
这里有三个重要宣告：

1.神使万物更新（v5）
这经文宣告神对历史最终的主权与应许：祂不是只修补旧的世界，而是要彻底更新万有，使一切进入荣耀与完全。神吩咐约翰写下来，是要强调这应许绝对可信、必定成就，成为我们在动荡与苦难中坚定的盼望与安慰。

2.阿拉法俄梅戛（v6）
祂是历史的起点与终点，一切都在祂掌管之中。同时祂应许把生命的活水白白赐给属灵干渴的人，表明永恒的生命与满足不是靠人的功劳，而是神恩典的赏赐，只要愿意来到祂面前就能得着。

3.两种人的结局（v7-8）
两种不同的永恒结局：凡在信心中忠心跟随主、胜过罪恶与试探的人，将承受神所预备的一切福分，与神建立永远亲密的父子关系；但那些拒绝真理、持续活在罪中的人，最终要面对神公义的审判，进入与神永远隔绝的结局。这提醒信徒要持守信仰、活出圣洁，因为人生的选择关乎永恒的归宿。得胜者承受产业、作神儿子。拒绝神的人只有死路一条：丢在火湖里。这是神所定的永恒结局。

三、新耶路撒冷的荣耀（启21:9-21）

1.从天而降的圣城（v9-10）
这城是代表羔羊的妻子、不就是基督的教会、是蒙爱的圣徒吗？这是新郎耶稣基督，与新妇教会的“婚房/居所”不是吗？（好比新加坡的“BTO”）

2.是神荣耀的光辉（v11）
这里描绘新耶路撒冷最核心的特征，就是充满神的荣耀与同在。城的光辉是最珍贵的宝石、明亮如水晶，象征神的圣洁、纯净与荣耀完全彰显，使整个永恒国度被祂的光照亮。这提醒我们，最终的盼望不是外在的华美，而是活在神荣耀的光中，与祂永远相交。

3.十二支派与使徒（v12-14）
城墙的十二个门和十二根根基，都写着十二支派与十二使徒的名，很显然这说法把旧约和新约都贯穿在一起。而且这些文字除了希伯来文之外，不可能用任何其他语文。因为这是神给祂所造的亚当、夏娃，以致后来的希伯来民族都一路使用至今的语言。因此，全人类与以色列是直接关联的。

4.最荣耀的立方城（v15-17）
新耶路撒冷到底有多大？2400公里立方体。如果用地理位置来做个概念想象，就好比长度是新加坡到香港、阔度是新加坡到印度边界、高度远超过飞机可飞行的高度之200倍。原来离地球100公里已经来到太空的分界线。你可以想象这是人所无法想象的巨大空间啊！这就是我们将来要与主同住同作王的地方。

5.是价值连城之城（v18-21）
“价值连城”这句成语是用来形容非常珍贵的东西，其典故关系到古代秦始皇想用15座城来换取这一块碧玉···。可见这块碧玉有多美啊！原来将来的圣城的墙壁都是碧玉，整座城市是精金，比纯金还纯才是精，所以说如同明净的玻璃。再加上十二根基的珠宝、十二个门是十二颗珍珠！这是无价中的无价、真正的“天价”啊！

四、神与羔羊就是一切（启21:22-27）

这段经文说明在新天新地中，神与羔羊亲自成为人永远敬拜与同在的中心，因此不再需要圣殿，也不再需要日月的光，因为神的荣耀就是永恒的光。万民在这光中生活，将一切荣耀归给神；那里没有黑夜与危险，充满平安与圣洁。唯有名字记在羔羊生命册上、被救赎洁净的人，才能进入这荣耀之城。

总结：救赎的终极使命

救恩历史的终极目标不是天堂的享乐。而是神与人永远同住。
我们的人生目标是永恒、苦难不是结局；神正在预备荣耀的未来。
圣洁生活是为永恒作准备，见证这伟大的救恩是我们活着之时的大使命！


  

Revelation 21: The Glorious Holy City to Come
GK611 Morning Devotion
13.03.2026
Speaker: Rev David Tan 


 Introduction: Many young married couples in Singapore like to visit the HDB BTO (Build-To-Order) showrooms to look at the preview models of their future flats!

I. The New Eternal Heaven and Earth (21:1)

1. The Appearance of the New Heaven and New Earth(V1)
“New” does not mean completely created again from nothing, but renewed, transformed and brought into a state of glory.
Just as we become new creations in Christ, it is like the resurrected body—not a different person, but the same person fully renewed.
Therefore, when the world is completely renewed with sin and curse removed entirely, the new world will no longer have anxiety, separation, or sorrow.

2. The Holy City, New Jerusalem (V2)
This city is not built by human hands; it is the wisest preparation of the Almighty God.
It is described as a bride beautifully dressed, showing that God’s people themselves become the glorious city. The new Jerusalem is called the bride to emphasize that the essence of the eternal kingdom is not merely a city, but the perfect relationship between God and His people—a relationship of complete love, perfect union and full glory.

3. God Will Dwell With His People (V3–4)
God dwelling with humanity is the core of salvation.
“God’s dwelling place is now among the people.”
From the beginning, God’s intention was to dwell with mankind. Because of sin, humanity was separated from Him, but in the end God will once again dwell with His people.
There are four “no more”: No more death, No more mourning, No more crying, No more pain.

The old world will pass away entirely. All sources of negative emotions and suffering will be gone. What remains will be only goodness and beauty.

Application: Live in the presence of God. Do not allow temporary suffering or circumstances to define your life. Make life choices based on eternal hope ; give love and light to those around you.

II. The Declaration of the One Seated on the Throne (21:5–8)
Here are three important declarations:

1. God Makes All Things New (V5)
This verse proclaims God’s ultimate sovereignty and promise over history. He is not merely repairing the old world—He will renew all things completely, bringing everything into glory and perfection.

God commanded John to write this down to emphasize that this promise is absolutely trustworthy and will surely come to pass, being our hope and comfort in times of turmoil and suffering.

2. The Alpha and the Omega(V6)
He is the beginning and the end of history. Everything is under His authority.
At the same time, He promises to give the water of life freely to those who are spiritually thirsty. This shows that eternal life and true satisfaction are not earned by human effort, but are gifts of God’s grace to anyone who is willing to come to Him.

3. The Destiny of Two Kinds of People(V7–8)
There are two eternal outcomes:
Those who faithfully follow the Lord in faith and overcome sin and temptation will inherit all the blessings prepared by God and enjoy an eternal father–child relationship with Him.

But those who reject the truth and continue living in sin will ultimately face God’s righteous judgment and eternal separation from Him.

This reminds believers to hold firmly to their faith and live holy lives, because our choices in life determine our eternal destiny.
The overcomers inherit the kingdom and become God’s children.
Those who reject God face destruction in the lake of fire.
This is the eternal conclusion established by God.

III. The Glory of New Jerusalem (21:9–21)

1. The Holy City Descending from Heaven(V9–10)
This city represents the Bride of the Lamb, which is the church of Christ—the beloved saints.
Is this not the “marriage home” of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and His Bride, the church?
(Somewhat like Singapore’s “BTO housing”, prepared in advance!)

2. The Radiance of God’s Glory (V11)
The most central characteristic of New Jerusalem is that it is filled with the glory and presence of God.

The city shines like the most precious jewel, clear as crystal, symbolizing God’s holiness, purity, and glory fully revealed, illuminating the entire eternal kingdom.

This reminds us that our ultimate hope is not outward splendor, but living in the light of God’s glory and enjoying eternal fellowship with Him.

3. The Twelve Tribes and the Apostles (V12–14)
The twelve gates of the city wall and the twelve foundations bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.
This clearly shows that the Old Testament and the New Testament are united together in God’s redemptive plan.

4. The Most Glorious Cubic City (V15–17)
How large is New Jerusalem?
It is about 2,400 km in length, width, and height, forming a perfect cube.
To imagine it geographically:
Its length would be roughly like the distance from Singapore to Hong Kong.
Its width like the distance from Singapore to the border of India.

Its height would be about 200 times higher than the altitude airplanes normally fly.
In fact, the boundary of outer space is only about 100 km above the earth.
This is a vast space beyond our imagination —the place where we will dwell and reign with the Lord in the future.

5. A City of Priceless Value (V18–21)
The Chinese idiom “worth a city” (价值连城) describes something extremely precious. It comes from a story in which Qin Shi Huang once wanted to exchange fifteen cities for a piece of jade.
This shows how valuable that jade was. Yet the future holy city is even more magnificent:
The walls are made of jasper、The entire city is pure gold, clearer than glass、The twelve foundations are adorned with precious stones、The twelve gates are twelve pearls、This is value beyond value—the true “heavenly price.

IV. God and the Lamb Are Everything (21:22–27)

This passage explains that in the new heaven and new earth, God and the Lamb themselves become the center of eternal worship and fellowship.

Therefore: There is no need for a temple, No need for the sun or moon because God’s glory is the eternal light. All nations will live in this light and bring their glory to God. There will be no night, no danger only peace and holiness. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, those who have been redeemed and purified, will enter this glorious city.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Purpose of Redemption

The final goal of the history of salvation is not merely the enjoyment of heaven, but God dwelling with humanity forever. Our life’s goal is eternity. Suffering is not the end.
God is preparing a glorious future. Living a holy life is preparation for eternity, and bearing witness to this great salvation is the great mission of our lives while we are still alive.