We can see that what is mentioned in Revelation chapter 13 is happening quickly. The world’s condition, including the pandemic, is setting the scene for the prophecies in the Bible. Your cellular phone also reminds you that the beast will control the world in the future.
Revelation 13:5-6 reads, “And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.”
This passage tells us the deep relationship between the beast and Satan. Satan utters blasphemous words against God’s name and His dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Satan and the evil spirits work together to influence this world. Satan wants to insult God, blaspheme Him and His dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. He has been working really hard to cause many believers not to desire things in heaven, even to a point that they think heaven is boring and monotonous. This causes them not to look forward to going to heaven. But Abraham and the old saints desired a better country, a heavenly one.
Satan’s scheme is to hinder us from knowing God’s will and the place He is preparing for us; God is the designer and builder of the city, the conclusion of God’s will. Conclusion does not mean it’s the end; rather, it will continue to grow in beauty and glory. If you don’t know what kind of city it is, or whether it is real or not, you won’t desire it. It is hard for us to desire something that is not real or something that we are not sure of. We need the Lord to open our spiritual eyes, so that we can see what He has prepared for those whom He loves. It is beyond what we can imagine or describe. The garden of Eden is far from comparison.
Satan also blasphemes against those who dwell in heaven. Hebrews chapter 12 talks about the church in heaven. The firstborn who passed away are there. Therefore, it is very important for us to understand New Jerusalem, because it is our eternal home! For those who want to immigrate to other countries, will they not learn about the condition of the place they are going to? Where should we invest our life?
Hebrews chapter 12 is very precious. It helps us to see clearly that New Jerusalem is a real city. If the city was the church, how could the spirits of the righteous, the festal gathering of innumerable angels and others be there? Hebrews chapter 12 tells us that it is the destination of our life journey. Where will the Lord receive us when we finish our life journey? New Jerusalem. New Jerusalem is also the destination of our spirits, because there is the gathering of the Father, the Lord, the Holy Spirit and the church. Church gathering allows us to experience God’s presence together. Nothing is more precious than this final destination; nothing could be higher than the infinite God.
The Book of Hebrews is a conclusion of many things. The early chapters talk about the Lord becoming a man, a priest who endured great pains and what He accomplished. He brought us back to God, to experience and enjoy Him. We also love Him more and more and live with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10 reads, “Who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him.”
Satan causes many to be unclear about what will happen in the future, though the Bible has told us a lot. He also shakes our belief so that we don’t desire the future, and are unable to enjoy it and exercise faith. Therefore, we need to be sure about the truth. This passage in Hebrews is very precious. It helps us to mind the things that are above. What it tells us about the things in heaven is very precious. It helps us to behold and see God’s love. What He prepares for us demonstrates His love toward us.
Some misinterpret Revelation chapter 13, saying that it is only symbolic or it represents the church. They ought to reconsider it carefully before the Lord. When we say this is a real city, we are not neglecting its meaning. In fact, this city carries more meaning than any other representations or symbols. The heavens declare the glory of God. The new heavens and new earth declare more of God’s glory. More so, this city, New Jerusalem declares the glory of God. No other substances will be more meaningful than this. While we believe and claim that it is a real city, it by no means undermines the precious symbolic meanings it bears. Similarly, we believe many symbolic meanings in the Bible. But if we said this city was merely a symbolic expression and not a real city, we would be mistaken.