My dear readers,

(Extracts from “HEAVEN – a place, a city, a home” by E M Bounds in RPG December 1991, Edited by Dr SH Tow)

1. HEAVEN IS THE HOLY “CITY” (Revelation 4:1-6)

No city on earth is holy, for the whole world is under the power and dominion of Satan, the prince of this world. Only God's City is holy. Isaiah was given a vision of the Lord of Heaven, sitting upon His throne, high and lifted up. And the seraphims which serve Him cried one to another, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory" (Is 6:3).

In Heaven, God reigns in absolute holiness. Heaven reflects His purity and holiness: hence it is the Holy “City.” Nothing which defiles or corrupts can gain an entrance there. Only those who are holy and righteous may enter in. The angel of the Apocalypse said to John the Apostle(Rev 22:14). These are they who have obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have been washed in His blood (Rev 7:14).

Many churches today preach another gospel. The World Council of Churches at its 7th World Assembly in Canberra (February 1991) declared that all faiths are acceptable with God. Such false teaching will lead many astray. We must believe only what God tells us in His Word. Not all faiths will lead to God and Heaven. Only those who come to Jesus for cleansing, and are made holy, will gain admission to the Holy “City.” These have their names written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev 21:27). But the fearful, and the unbelieving (Rev 21:8), and any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie shall be allowed into the Holy “City” (Rev 21:27). And whosoever is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15).

THOUGHT: The Holy “City” is for holy people.
PRAYER: Lord, purify me, and make me holy.

2. HEAVEN IS A “CITY” OF LIFE (John 10:1-10)

Heaven is a “City” of life, life of a different kind: life which knows no ending, life beyond the reach of death. It is life from God the source and giver of life. It is life beyond the reach of age and decay, of sickness and ill health. It is eternal life. Eternal life is unrestricted by time and circumstances, untouched by the corruption of earth.

Heaven's scenery is absolutely unblemished; the landscape is not marred by tombstones and cemeteries. The songs of Heaven are ever joyous and delightful. Requiems and mournful dirges are never heard, and graves have never been dug there. Life in Heaven is glorious beyond imagination. It is unspoilt by sorrow, pain, and tears: God has wiped these away.

Life in Heaven is one unbroken harmony of unity and togetherness. Earth is plagued by discord, and separation. Heaven knows no parting. It is the "Beloved City", the “city” of lovely and loving people in whose hearts is no ill will or hatred. In Heaven friends and loved ones find sweet reunion in a permanent Home. Centuries have come and gone since weary pilgrims of earth found welcome rest in the beloved “City.”

Heaven is a “City” of Love: it is filled with God's love, pure selfless divine love. None ever departs to go out of the “City”: God's love binds all in one. This love makes life in the “City” pleasant beyond words, for God Himself is the life. In Heaven we live life in its fulness, with unbounded vigour and supreme joy. This is God's plan and intention for His people. He conceived its matchless design; His Son paid the price for us; the Spirit effects the transaction of this amazing gift, that the redeemed of God may enter into the “City.”

THOUGHT: In Heaven we have life unending at its abundant best.
PRAYER: Lord keep me faithful and fit for the “City” of Life.

3. HEAVEN HAS THE NEW JERUSALEM (Psalm 122)

On earth no city is quite like Jerusalem, the Holy City to Jews, Muslims and Christians. Jerusalem is the centre of Jewish hopes. Over the centuries the hearts of the Jews were there. Over nearly 2,000 years of the diaspora (worldwide dispersion), they never forgot their beloved city. In exile they sang no songs but dirges and mournful psalms. At prayer their windows were opened toward Jerusalem. "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning ... if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy" (Ps 137:5-6).

As the earthly Jerusalem is to the Jews, so is the Heavenly Jerusalem to the people of God - only more! Heaven ought to be far, far more precious to us who are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom. With intense desire may we long for Heaven. "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven" (2 Cor 5:2). "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come" (Heb 13:14). As strangers and pilgrims on earth we look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Heb 11:13,10).

By faith, our looking and seeking will not be in vain. God is even now making ready the New Jerusalem, "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev 21:2). It will be a city which hath foundations, steadfast, secure, and firmly established - our Everlasting City. It will be the Capital of the King. All power and authority, majesty and dominion, magnificence and splendour, will be concentrated in the New Jerusalem. There will be the throne of God, the 24 elders, and the angelic hosts: and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000, and thousands of thousands (Rev 5:6-11). There shall we gather in holy worship: worship of God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in the New Jerusalem.

QUESTION: Will you be there? If not, where?
PRAYER: Lord, may I be ever ready for the New Jerusalem.

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Dr SH Tow, Founding Pastor