Agape Christian Center
The City of God
Sunday morning service
Locations & Times
Agape Christian Center
321 N Penelope St, Belton, TX 76513, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Revelation 21:10 (KJV)
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
1. Somewhere in the discant cosmos is an ancient city:
a. the holy (New) Jerusalem
b. and somehow, God is going to move he whole city to earth
2. But as for now, this city in heaven, the City of God is on a mountain.
a. so we see that heaven has mountains
Rev 21:10-11 (MSG)
10 He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, 11 resplendent in the bright glory of God.
3. Here we have the revelation that the city is a series of mountains starting with low foothills just inside the walls.
a. it ascends to an elevation of 1500 miles to the highest peak where heavenly temple is
b. hen it rests upon the earth, the highest peak will have reached outer space
4. From a distance, the City of God would appear triangular or pyramid like.
a. hence, Mt. Zion, the dwelling place of God
5. This may explain why the fallen watchers built pyramids all over the world as a model of their former dwelling place.
a. that’s another teaching for another time
Revelation 21:11 (KJV)
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
6. The city is alive with colors.
a. and it has been reported by those who went there and came back that the colors themselves are alive
7. So God’s glory is a living spectrum since He is the Light
Revelation 21:12 (KJV)
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
8. Around the city is a great wall guarded by 12 angels.
9. Why would the heavenly city need walls?
Isaiah 14:13 (KJV)
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
10. Because Lucifer endeavored to invade heaven and dethrone God.
a. notice that he is trying to get to the top of the mountain
Revelation 12:7 (MSG)
War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back,
11. So the walls are to protect the city from this angelic warfare.
12. Why are they walls, great and high?
Revelation 10:1 (KJV)
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
13. Here we see another mighty angel.
Revelation 10:2 (KJV)
And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
14. Is this saying he was a giant sized angel to have one foot on the sea and one foot on the earth?
15. If so, we now see why the New Jerusalem has large walls.
a. because not all angels are man sized , both good and bad
b. and we also see where mankind got the idea for building walls as well
Revelation 21:12 (NLT)
The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.
16. Each gate is named after a patriarch from the Old Testament.
Revelation 21:13 (KJV)
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
17. Three gates on each side.
Revelation 21:14 (KJV)
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
18. God is honoring the ones who were foundational to His plans.
Rev. 21:15 (NLT)
The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
19. For some reason, God wants us to know how large the city is.
Revelation 21:16 (KJV)
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.
20. We are introduced to a measurement called furlongs.
a. twelve thousand furlongs equals 1500 miles square, not square miles
a. some translations say this is 1400 miles square
Rev. 21:16 (NLT)
When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, it was in the form of a cube, for its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.
21. This shows us that God’s Word is infallible but men are not.
a. the bottom line, the city is bigger than a bread box
Rev 21:16 (MSG)
16 The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: twelve thousand stadia, its length, width, and height all equal.
22. So we see it is a perfect square at it’s base.
23. If we take the 1500 translation, then we see:
a. that this equals to 2,250,000 (two million, two hundred and fifty thousand) square miles per level
b. with the number of levels being unknown
c. the distance to the moon is only 225,622 miles away
d. that’s around times the distance to the moon
24. So that means it is:
a. 1500 miles from North - southb. 1500 miles from east to west
c. and 1500 miles high
25. To you and I, that would be the distance from
a. Phoenix Arizona to Richmond Virginiab. Canada to Mexico
Revelation 21:17 (KJV)
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
26. Again we face a little difference in translation.
a. 144 cubits would be translated to about 300 feet
b. which would roughly be equivalent to a 22 story building laid sideways
Rev. 21:17 (NLT)
Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (the angel used a standard human measure).
27. This version translates it into 216 feet.
Rev 21:18-20 (MSG)
18 The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. 19 The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
28. We also see a blending of the colors like that of a rainbow
Revelation 21:21 (KJV)
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.
29. Here we are introduced to a new type of alloy unknown to man as of yet.
a. gold like unto glass (transparent)
Rev. 21:22 (NLT)
No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
30. It was no longer required to go to a building to talk about God, now you go to God and talk to Him.
31. Just like Jesus did before, He became what was celebrated.
a. Israel celebrated the feasts
b. Jesus became the feasts
Revelation 21:23 (KJV)
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.
32. No created source of light will be needed in the city itself.
a. the glory of God the father will illuminate the city and Jesus will be our light
Revelation 21:1 (KJV)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
33. But there will be light from the sun and stars on the earth for those living outside of the city.
Revelation 21:24 (KJV)
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.
34. These are for the survivors of the tribulation period.
Rev. 21:25 (NLT)
Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night.
35. Since there will be no more enemy to deal with, there will be no need to close the gates.
Revelation 21:26 (KJV)
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
36. Nations will make it through the tribulation period and into eternity.
a. these are some of the ones you and I will be kings and priests over
Revelation 21:27 (KJV)
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
37. Here is an interesting verse to dissect.
38. We are told that no one who is defiled, works abominations and liars, all characteristics of satan, will not be allowed in the city.
a. does that mean those people living outside the city may still be sinning
b. or is it making it obvious that these types of people have been dealt with and it is just a policy of the New Jerusalem
c. because this shows restricted / privileged access only
39. Allow me to give you some nuggets concerning heaven. In heaven;
a. there are horses because Jesus and His saints is returning with them.
b. there are books in heaven.....The lambs Book of Life, the Book of Works and Deeds, the Book of Recorded Conversations ( Mal. 3 )
c. there are the finest of antique furniture in heaven.....lamp stand, table of shewbread
d. a river in heaven flowing out of God’s throne down the mountain
e. trees and fruit in heaven
f. unusual beings in heaven.....4 faced creatures, zoe / living creatures
(Ezekiel), seraphim, cherubim and other different angelic beings
g. two men, Enoch and Elijah who have lived in heaven for several thousand years now without ever having experienced physical death
Hebrews 12:1 (MSG)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?...
40. In heaven, there are a number of people waiting to be reunited with us.
a. heaven is more anxious to be with us than we are to be with them
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
1. Somewhere in the discant cosmos is an ancient city:
a. the holy (New) Jerusalem
b. and somehow, God is going to move he whole city to earth
2. But as for now, this city in heaven, the City of God is on a mountain.
a. so we see that heaven has mountains
Rev 21:10-11 (MSG)
10 He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, 11 resplendent in the bright glory of God.
3. Here we have the revelation that the city is a series of mountains starting with low foothills just inside the walls.
a. it ascends to an elevation of 1500 miles to the highest peak where heavenly temple is
b. hen it rests upon the earth, the highest peak will have reached outer space
4. From a distance, the City of God would appear triangular or pyramid like.
a. hence, Mt. Zion, the dwelling place of God
5. This may explain why the fallen watchers built pyramids all over the world as a model of their former dwelling place.
a. that’s another teaching for another time
Revelation 21:11 (KJV)
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
6. The city is alive with colors.
a. and it has been reported by those who went there and came back that the colors themselves are alive
7. So God’s glory is a living spectrum since He is the Light
Revelation 21:12 (KJV)
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
8. Around the city is a great wall guarded by 12 angels.
9. Why would the heavenly city need walls?
Isaiah 14:13 (KJV)
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
10. Because Lucifer endeavored to invade heaven and dethrone God.
a. notice that he is trying to get to the top of the mountain
Revelation 12:7 (MSG)
War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back,
11. So the walls are to protect the city from this angelic warfare.
12. Why are they walls, great and high?
Revelation 10:1 (KJV)
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
13. Here we see another mighty angel.
Revelation 10:2 (KJV)
And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
14. Is this saying he was a giant sized angel to have one foot on the sea and one foot on the earth?
15. If so, we now see why the New Jerusalem has large walls.
a. because not all angels are man sized , both good and bad
b. and we also see where mankind got the idea for building walls as well
Revelation 21:12 (NLT)
The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.
16. Each gate is named after a patriarch from the Old Testament.
Revelation 21:13 (KJV)
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
17. Three gates on each side.
Revelation 21:14 (KJV)
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
18. God is honoring the ones who were foundational to His plans.
Rev. 21:15 (NLT)
The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
19. For some reason, God wants us to know how large the city is.
Revelation 21:16 (KJV)
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.
20. We are introduced to a measurement called furlongs.
a. twelve thousand furlongs equals 1500 miles square, not square miles
a. some translations say this is 1400 miles square
Rev. 21:16 (NLT)
When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, it was in the form of a cube, for its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.
21. This shows us that God’s Word is infallible but men are not.
a. the bottom line, the city is bigger than a bread box
Rev 21:16 (MSG)
16 The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: twelve thousand stadia, its length, width, and height all equal.
22. So we see it is a perfect square at it’s base.
23. If we take the 1500 translation, then we see:
a. that this equals to 2,250,000 (two million, two hundred and fifty thousand) square miles per level
b. with the number of levels being unknown
c. the distance to the moon is only 225,622 miles away
d. that’s around times the distance to the moon
24. So that means it is:
a. 1500 miles from North - southb. 1500 miles from east to west
c. and 1500 miles high
25. To you and I, that would be the distance from
a. Phoenix Arizona to Richmond Virginiab. Canada to Mexico
Revelation 21:17 (KJV)
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
26. Again we face a little difference in translation.
a. 144 cubits would be translated to about 300 feet
b. which would roughly be equivalent to a 22 story building laid sideways
Rev. 21:17 (NLT)
Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (the angel used a standard human measure).
27. This version translates it into 216 feet.
Rev 21:18-20 (MSG)
18 The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. 19 The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
28. We also see a blending of the colors like that of a rainbow
Revelation 21:21 (KJV)
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.
29. Here we are introduced to a new type of alloy unknown to man as of yet.
a. gold like unto glass (transparent)
Rev. 21:22 (NLT)
No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
30. It was no longer required to go to a building to talk about God, now you go to God and talk to Him.
31. Just like Jesus did before, He became what was celebrated.
a. Israel celebrated the feasts
b. Jesus became the feasts
Revelation 21:23 (KJV)
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.
32. No created source of light will be needed in the city itself.
a. the glory of God the father will illuminate the city and Jesus will be our light
Revelation 21:1 (KJV)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
33. But there will be light from the sun and stars on the earth for those living outside of the city.
Revelation 21:24 (KJV)
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.
34. These are for the survivors of the tribulation period.
Rev. 21:25 (NLT)
Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night.
35. Since there will be no more enemy to deal with, there will be no need to close the gates.
Revelation 21:26 (KJV)
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
36. Nations will make it through the tribulation period and into eternity.
a. these are some of the ones you and I will be kings and priests over
Revelation 21:27 (KJV)
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
37. Here is an interesting verse to dissect.
38. We are told that no one who is defiled, works abominations and liars, all characteristics of satan, will not be allowed in the city.
a. does that mean those people living outside the city may still be sinning
b. or is it making it obvious that these types of people have been dealt with and it is just a policy of the New Jerusalem
c. because this shows restricted / privileged access only
39. Allow me to give you some nuggets concerning heaven. In heaven;
a. there are horses because Jesus and His saints is returning with them.
b. there are books in heaven.....The lambs Book of Life, the Book of Works and Deeds, the Book of Recorded Conversations ( Mal. 3 )
c. there are the finest of antique furniture in heaven.....lamp stand, table of shewbread
d. a river in heaven flowing out of God’s throne down the mountain
e. trees and fruit in heaven
f. unusual beings in heaven.....4 faced creatures, zoe / living creatures
(Ezekiel), seraphim, cherubim and other different angelic beings
g. two men, Enoch and Elijah who have lived in heaven for several thousand years now without ever having experienced physical death
Hebrews 12:1 (MSG)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?...
40. In heaven, there are a number of people waiting to be reunited with us.
a. heaven is more anxious to be with us than we are to be with them