Thurs.’s Devo - The Glorious City

Read: Malachi 1:1-2:17; Revelation 21:1-27; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 31:10-24 Malachi was the last prophet to prophecy before the long years of what became known as the Dark Ages when God didn’t speak. God began by telling his people that he had always loved them even though they questioned his love for them. God explained how he loved Jacob but rejected Esau. Esau rejected God when he despised his birthright and only wanted the blessing. He didn’t want to do what it took to be the first born so God cursed his descendants and they would be called “The People with Whom the Lord Is Forever Angry.” Their land would be known as “The Land of Wickedness.” God spoke to the priests and rebuked them for showing contempt for his name. They offered defiled sacrifices on his altar. They gave the Lord animals that were blind and crippled and diseased. God’s name was honored, but not by his people. It was honored by people of other nations. God commended the Levites who did honor God’s name and reverence his laws. They faithfully taught the people God’s ways and walked in them. The priests had wandered from the way and caused others to stumble with them. The men of Judah had been unfaithful to the Lord by marrying women who worshipped idols. Others of the men had not been faithful to their wives. They put their wives away without even legally divorcing them so they could be free to marry another. God explained that he brings people together to have godly children. God gave two things that wearied him. The first was that the people said that those who did evil were good in God’s sight and he was pleased with them. This was wrong. The other was that they cried out for justice when they had no desire for true justice. In Revelation, John was shown the new heaven and the new earth. The new Jerusalem came down from heaven and a shout was heard saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them , and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” God proclaimed that the old was over and it was time to receive their inheritance and his blessings. Those who had continued to do evil on the earth would meet their fate in the Lake of Fire. This was the second death - eternal death. One of the angels who held the seven bowls of wrath came to show John the Bride. It was the new city of Jerusalem. It was a perfect square: 1,400 miles each way. The walls were 216 feet thick. The walls were made of jasper and the city was pure gold. There were 12 gates made of pearl, guarded by 12 angels and the names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on the gates. The foundation for the wall was built on twelve inlaid stones. The different stones stood for the 12 apostles of the Lamb. The streets were made of pure gold, clear as glass. (Gold at it most pure state is clear like crystal.) There was no temple because the Lord and the Lamb were the Temple. The only people who will be able to enter the city would be those who bring glory and honor to God and those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Lord, this is all too wonderful to comprehend but we put our hope and trust in You and believe what your Word says. You have never lied or not kept your promise. We believe!