The Twelve Gates Of The Holy City
Chapter Three
(The First Heaven and the First Earth Have Passed Away)
Revelation 21:1 says:
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea."
We see here the passing away of the heaven and the earth. I see this as the passing away of the old spiritual and natural order. Heb 12:25-29 says:
"See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."
There is a shaking in the heavenlies. Paul said in Eph 6:12:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
And in Eph 1:3:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
Through out the book of Ephesians the Church is spoken of as being in the heavenly places. It is not a natural land it is a spiritual land. It is not a natural warfare it is a spiritual warfare. It is not fought with natural weapons it is fought with spiritual weapons. If my inheritance is in the heavenlies and if my enemies are in the heavenlies then one of us is going to have to leave.
God told Joshua to go in and take the Promised Land and that there were giants and walled cities that would have to be overcome. He also told him to be strong and courageous. He knew that there were fights that had to be fought because he knew that in order for them to possess the land they would have to drive the enemy out.
In Revelation 12 there comes out of a woman (the Church) a man-child who was destined to rule the world with a rod of iron. He is the over comer of chapter two. This ministry arises and ultimately does what Jesus began to do. Jesus destroyed the power of the devil and this ministry is going to punish him.
The principle in Revelation 12 is that there is war in heaven when the saints of God begin to blind the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly realm and loosen the spirit of grace.
Whenever there is war in heaven there is a shaking that takes place here on earth. The only reason why there is an unprecedented rise of wickedness and sin is because the enemy is being shaken out of the heavenlies. Jesus said in Luke 10:19-20:
"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
There is a shaking taking place here that produces the result of Revelation 21 where John saw a new heaven and a new earth. The result of a new order in the spirit is a new earth because the spirit world effects the natural world. To say this another way, John got in the Spirit on the Lord's day and he saw a new heaven and a new earth. Your old concept of heaven and earth will pass away. A new concept or a new way of thinking will be yours because you dared to have your mind renewed.
If you get in the Spirit on the Lord's Day you too will see a new heaven and a new earth because your old concept of heaven an earth will pass away. A new way of thinking will be yours because you dared to have your mind renewed. If you will allow your mind to be shaken by the revelation of God's Word the enemy will be shaken out of your mind and out of your land. What produced the new heaven and the new earth? The shaking of God's word as a result His Word again becomes flesh in us.
Revelation 18:11 is speaking about the passing away of Babylon and the Jezebel spirit. It says:
"The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more--cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men."
And again in Revelation 18:14:
"They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.'"
This is a part of the passing away of heaven and earth, the passing away of Babylon, the harlot, Jezebel. She is spoken of in chapter two and again in chapter fourteen where the 144,000 began to speak the Word against her to bring her down just as Elijah prophesied the death of Jezebel would occur. In chapter eighteen we see her complete destruction. You talk about heaven on earth! What would it be like if every cult, every ism and every tradition of men were no more?
The term `passed away' in Rev 21:1 is the same term used by Paul in I Cor 5:17 when he said:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation (new heaven and a new earth) the old (old heaven and old earth) has passed away. This is exactly what Rev 21 is talking about. The old things, that which is from the beginning, original, primeval, old, ancient, used of men, things, times, conditions are passed away. All these things I have spoken of are become new!
The New English Bible translates this as, "When anyone is united to Christ there is a new world, the old order is gone and a new order is already begun." In Rev 21:1 there is a death or a passing away of an old way of thinking and everything that old way of thinking has produced has died with it. How would you like to live in a world where the mind of Christ prevailed? This has been God's intention from the beginning.
Revelation 21 goes on to say, ".....and there was no longer any sea." The word `sea' and used in scripture represents the turbulent masses of humanity. As used here it means that there was no longer any turbulence among the people. Instead of unrest there was peace.
What is now causing all of this unrest and turbulence and violence in the earth? The old order! The harlot church, especially in this age has been a factor in every war that has been fought for example: What about the war that has been going on in Northern Ireland. It is an unholy war and has nothing whatsoever to do with Jesus. Yet, the world looks at that mess as a representation of Christianity.
Jesus said in John 18:36:
"My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
If the Catholics have to fight for their position and the Protestants have to defend theirs, then they both are wrong. This world is restless because she has never seen the City of God! When this City, this people are manifest, there will be no more sea and the turbulence will be gone. The corporate Body of Christ will say, "Peace! Be still! And all the world will marvel in that they do not just see one son, but many and the troubled sea of humanity will settle down and be calm.
Isaiah 57:20 says:
"But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud."
There will be no more trouble, no more curse, no more rain, and no more sorrow.
Revelation 21:20 says:
"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband."
First of all, notice that the City is Holy, meaning it has the nature of God. In Matt 5:14 Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A City set on a high hill that cannot be hid." Heb 11:10 says, "For he (Abraham) was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Jesus said, "I will build My Church!"
Heb 11:15 says, "If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a City for them.
The word `prepared' stresses an internal preparation or an inward adorning. This again indicates that it is not natural but spiritual. This word is used in Rev 21:2 also:
"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband."
This word `prepared' is used in Rev 19:7 and translated `has made':
"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."
The word `prepared' is the Greek word No 2090. hetoimazo, het-oy-mad'-zo; from G2092; to prepare:--prepare, provide, make ready. Comp. G2680. II Tim 2:20-21 says:
"In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."
In Rev 21:2: says:
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
The phrase `adorned for her husband' means to arrange in divine order. There are many ministries which must be put in divine order and there are many church governments which must be put in divine order. This is something that can not take place over night.
In Matt 25:7 Jesus said:
"Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps."
The word `trimmed' used here, and the word `adorned' in Rev 21:2 are from the same Greek word No 2885. kosmeo, kos-meh'-o; from G2889; to put in proper order, i.e. decorate (lit. or fig.); spec. to snuff (a wick):--adorn, garnish, trim.
There has been a lot of emphasis on preparing, even in the harlot system, however there is one difference. All of the virgins trimmed their lamps but five of them forget something. They forgot the thing that makes the lamps burn. OIL! There are many churches that know the divine order, but where is the divine oil (the anointing of the Holy Spirit)?
In Revelation 21:19 it says:
" The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone."
The Greek word for `decorated' and `adorned' is the same word.
Revelation 21:3 says:
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."
John 1:14 says, "And the Word become flesh and dwelt among us."
If God is going to live or dwell among us, then, where are we going to be when He dwells with us? Rev 5:10 says:
"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
Does a king reign? Yes!!! What does he sit on? A THRONE!!! Rev 7:15 says, "Therefore, they are before the throne of God." Someone says, "Yes! But that is in heaven!" If that is true, then please explain this to me. Rev 1:15 goes on to say, "And serve Him day and night in His temple." What determines day and night? The sun rises and it is day, the sunsets and it is night. How can I be before His throne if it is in heaven where there is no night? The only place there is day and night is here on earth. He shall dwell among us! This doesn't say that we will dwell with Him!
This question was asked in Rev 7:13:
"Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?"
The question was answered in Rev 7:14:
"These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Immediately, the natural mind will conclude that when I come out of tribulation, I will immediately fly off to be with the Lord. But, I can be delivered out of something without moving an inch. The truth of the matter is that the 144 that were sealed, or brought into immunity, were the ones that brought in the harvest here and in chapter 14. They brought them out of great tribulation into this immunity.
There are valid ministries in the Body of Christ who are doing that right now. If you will walk in what this ministry is saying, you will be delivered. If you don't, you won't! If you want to make it hard on yourself, just ignore the ministry.
I know that I am tearing down a lot of your theology. Why not just let it go! It hasn't done anything for you! Let it pass away! I know that God has said He is going to have a meeting in the air, I understand that the meaning of that word `meet' means a welcoming committee, also it means to meet a dignitary and welcome Him. When Jesus appears in the air, we will welcome Him to this earth.
There is a ministry and a message in the earth right now that is teaching God's people how to be overcomers and how to be delivered out of these things NOW to such a point that it does not have control over you anymore. To where it does not dominate you and control you’re thinking. We have not arrived yet, but by faith we will and of a truth I am pressing toward it.
Eliljah prophesied the death of Jezebel and every time we speak life to the Bride we are speaking death to the harlot. Paul said in 2 Cor 2:16 :
"To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?"
Revelation 21:4 says:
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
The old order of things has passed away. The old way of doing things have passed away behold all things have become new.