A Portrait of the Heavenly City

Pastor Snook preaches from Revelation 21 and provides us a glimpse of what heaven will be like for those who are saved in Christ.

Imagine a place where pain, sorrow, and tears cease to exist—where sin is eradicated and death becomes a distant memory. This powerful exploration of Revelation 21 and 22 invites us into the breathtaking reality of New Jerusalem, the holy city of God. Far from being merely symbolic, this is a literal, physical city—a massive cube measuring 1,500 miles in every direction, adorned with foundations of precious stones, gates made of single pearls, and streets of transparent gold. What makes this city truly extraordinary isn't just its unimaginable beauty, but what it represents: God's ultimate dwelling place with His people for all eternity. The pearl gates themselves carry profound symbolism—formed through the irritation and wounding of an oyster, they remind us that our access to heaven comes only through the wounds of Christ on the cross. The river of life flowing from God's throne symbolizes the pleasure and prosperity that come from Him alone, not from the world's empty promises. 

Yet this sermon carries an urgent warning: entrance to this glorious city is reserved only for those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. We're challenged to examine whether we've truly received Christ as Savior, and to recognize that heaven isn't earned through good works but received through repentance and faith. As we contemplate this magnificent future home, we're called to be 'heavenly minded'—not as escapism, but as motivation to live with eternal perspective and share this hope with others who are still seeking their way home.