Revelation 21:9-16

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues (afflictions, calamities) came and spoke to me. He said, Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.

10 Then in the Spirit He conveyed me away to a vast and lofty mountain and exhibited to me the holy (hallowed, consecrated) city of Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God,

The city New Jerusalem is not Jesus’ Bride, we are. John can see us because this is where we will be, in the New Jerusalem, Ephesians 5:31-32.

11 Clothed in God's glory [in all its splendor and radiance]. The luster of it resembled a rare and most precious jewel, like jasper, shining clear as crystal.

12 It had a massive and high wall with twelve [large] gates, and at the gates [there were stationed] twelve angels, and [on the gates] the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were written:

13On the east side three gates, on the north side three gates, on the south side three gates, and on the west side three gates.

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation [stones], and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And he who spoke to me had a golden measuring reed (rod) to measure the city and its gates and its wall.

16 The city lies in a square, its length being the same as its width. And he measured the city with his reed--12,000 stadia (about 1,500 miles); its length and width and height are the same.

We are shown that the walls of the city are 1,500 miles high. That means that there is no lack of atmosphere for us! Everything has become new, even the limitations of outer space has been changed.  

Think of why our Father has made so many planets and universes? Then ask yourself why are we told that the walls of the New Jerusalem are 1,500 miles high? I believe that it is because that all of the guests that we are told are able to attend the Wedding Feast, or spend eternity with us, will continue to have children. People say that there is no marriage in eternity, but when Jesus told us that in Matthew 22, He only said there was no marriage for those who are raised up from the dead. Jesus never said that there would be no marriage for those who are living when our Father returns. We are told repeatedly that the nations come in to the New Jerusalem, Micah 4:2, Revelation 15:4, and Revelation 21:26. So there is going to be a ton of people left and they will continue to have children. There will be no more death, so this earth is just not big enough to sustain all of them. That makes eternity so exciting for me because I think that it would get pretty boring if there were only a few of us there and nothing ever changed. But I honestly believe that there will be new life all of the time and new experiences.

Revelation 21:1-3

1 THEN I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth, for the former sky and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea. 

There are many in religion who teach that the Lake of Fire is the earth and Heaven being burned up. But remember that the anti-christ and the false prophet were cast into the Lake of Fire a thousand years before this is all happening here in Chapter 21 of Revelation! So the Lake of Fire has to be another thing that exists in another place. 

2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband; 

3 Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.

We are shown here that we are forever with our Father and that He is forever with us. The Truth is that He has always been with us, so it must just become clear to all that He is, Colossians 1:16. We have been empowered with the Holy Spirit to know this now, but many don’t know this Truth, so this is when it becomes clear to all, Micah 4:2. 

Notice that we are told that the abode of God is now with men! Jesus does not tell John the abode of our Father is with only saved men, or only His children, or only righteous men. The Voice clearly tells us men, all men! Don’t add to or take away from what Jesus shows us here. We will see why this is so important later in this Chapter.

Verse 3 ties right in with Jesus’ parable of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Matthew  22:11-12. Our Father is the King in Jesus’ parable and He returns to live with the people. 

I want you to remember what John taught us about the Bride of Christ. When this is all happening, we are no longer men. 

Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. 1 John 3:2

Just as Jesus is no longer a man, neither will we be. There will be men when our Father reveals Himself completely. Just as Jesus told us that there are guests at the Wedding Feast.  

Revelation 20:9-12

9 And they swarmed up over the broad plain of the earth and encircled the fortress (camp) of God's people (the saints) and the beloved city; but fire descended from heaven and consumed them. [II Kings 1:10-12; Ezek. 38:2, 22.] 

10 Then the devil who had led them astray [deceiving and seducing them] was hurled into the fiery lake of burning brimstone, where the beast and false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (through the ages of the ages). 

The devil is thrown into the Lake of Fire where the anti-christ and false prophet are. Notice that only these three are mentioned as suffering and being tormented forever and ever. Keep this in mind as we study on. 

11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One Who was seated upon it, from Whose presence and from the sight of Whose face earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 

12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books. 

The dead are raised back to life here to be judged. Think about it, not just those who died before and during the Great Tribulation are raised here, but those who lived and died during the 1,000 year reign of Christ, are also raised back to life. Death will not have been thrown into the Lake of Fire during the Millennial Reign of Christ. All of the dead will be raised and judged. If it was a given that all would be judged guilty of Hell, then why have the Books opened. Why raise these people, only to throw them back to the Lake of Fire?

These verses tie right in with Jesus’ parable of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Matthew 22. In Jesus’ parable He tells us something very interesting and it is this: when our Father comes to the earth, which is happening here in Revelation 20, He only finds one man not worthy to stay, Matthew 22:11-13. Ask yourself this question, why did Jesus only tell us one man wasn’t allowed to stay, if it were true that all of the dead who are raised will be found guilty of Hell? Jesus tells us that both the good and bad are here when our Father returns, Matthew 22:10. Yet Jesus tells us that only one is not allowed to stay? 

Grace tells us that people are judged innocent, regardless of what they have done. Grace is all free and it is all undeserved. Jesus has been given all flesh and He tells us that He will not lose any that He has been given, except one, Judas, John 17:12. People will be judged, but not to see if they will be thrown into Hell or not, but to see where they stand in eternity. There will be those who were first now and they will be judged to be last for eternity. There will be those who were last, that will be judged to be first, Mark 10:31. Read Micah Chapter 4 and you will see that there will be nations of people who finally come to understand that Jesus is Lord. Jesus wins and He wins huge! Not everyone is a Bride of Christ, there are many guests of ours at the Wedding celebration. Matthew 22:10.