Greetings again my Brethren. Okay more this month on places where the word of God may be received. Last month we looked at a glamorous place, a place where we all desire to aspire too spend some quiet time with the LORD, a dungeon. Not much singing, but a whole lot of shouting going on in a dungeon. So, this month we will look at the other end of the spectrum the king’s palace. Now, I find it interesting to know a dungeon is in the palace. In the palace we can be in the throne room where the kings rules and reigns, the dining room where the king eats and entertains his guests, the bed room where the king sleeps, or like last week as we saw the king can decree we go to the dungeon. At the center of these rooms is the desire of the king. You know when we think of a palace we always think of maybe the Disneyland palace in California and Florida or my favorite Schloss the Neuschwanstein (German for castle) which was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, in Fusion, Germany. When we lived in Germany (1996 – 2003) we must have visited the Neuschwanstein at least 15+ times. Every time we would host people from the States they would say, “have you ever been to the Disneyland castle?” And we would say, “well not recently (it is about 3 1/2 hours from Stuttgart) would you like to go?” “Oh yes,” they would say, “it is very beautiful castle.” which it is. Probably the most beautiful in this world, but did you know King Ludwig II never sat as king on his throne in the castle. Before it was completed they found him and his doctor floating face down in the lake behind the castle. The throne room floor had individual tile mosaic scenes and the countless tapestries adoring the walls costing the sight of hundreds of ladies. The last time we were there we saw a bus load of Japanese tourist off load from a German touring bus and stand with the Neuschwanstein over their shoulder for a picture then back on the bus and off they went. But in all of it’s beauty it does not compare to the castle God is preparing for us. In the book of Revelations during the “Kingdom Age” John talks about the “New Jerusalem” first mentioned in Revelation 3:12. John writes, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:12) This castle will far out shine the Neuschwanstein. Later on in the Book of Revelation we get some more information on the “New Jerusalem. “In Chapter 21 John writes of the character of this palace: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,” Here is the foundation of the castle: 11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Here is the dimensions of the palace: 15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelations 1-23) What a palace! Who needs the Neuschwanstein.
More next month as we look at a prison and other diversities of circumstances. Are you there my friend? In tough situations and circumstances? Have you heard His voice? Listen closely and you will. Written by David Stahl
