GO FOR THE GOLD!!          	Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  10-1-00 P.M.   		Revelation 21:9-27      
	WOW!! Another Olympics time... what an extravaganza!  Beautiful scenes... pageantry.... 
performances.   Many, many talented athletes.. so many nations involved!  Most "going for the gold" 
and winning by just fractions of seconds. One swimmer (a first timer) was one minute behind... but 
finished the race... and the crowd cheered so loudly he thought he had won a medal!  Believers have 
a "great cloud of witnesses..) Some medal winners have been stripped of their medal because of drug 
use...   (1Cor.9:24-27; 2Tim.2:5) 
	Well... Here Is The REAL GOLD that awaits the true believer.... 
I.   THE DESCRIPTION.. of a marvelous eternal city for the saved... 
  A. It is That Holy City.. 10.. 
    1. This is not New York... or Los Angeles... or Tokyo... 
    2. This is None other than the New Jerusalem.. from God 
  B. It is Adorned With The Glory of God..  11 
    1. All aglow like a precious stone.. clear as crystal 
    2. The city is "pure gold"... 18... like clear glass 
  C. It Has Walls, Gates, and Foundations.. 
    1. The Wall... "great and high"  12..  216 feet tall.. jasper 18 
    2. The Gates... - There are 12... 3 on either side..  names of the 12 tribes of Israel 
	- They are "pearls".. each gate one pearl... 21 
    3. The Foundations... (of the wall)  14  (there are 12 foundations)
	- They are garnished with all manner of precious stones.. 19,20 
	- They have the names of the 12 Apostles of the Lamb..  14 
  D. It Is "Massive"... "four square"..  15-17   (to measure a golden city)
    1. Measured by an angel with a "golden reed"  15 
    2. Measures.. four square.. 16..  1500 miles.. a mammoth cube 
    3. Means... of pure gold.. clear as crystal... 
	- Even the streets are of gold... 21 b..  (as transparent glass) 
  E. It Has No Temple.. 22 
    1. The Lord God Almighty & The Lamb.. just permeate the city.. 
    2. They are the "temple"..  all that is needed in the eternal city 
  F. It Has No Need of The Sun Nor The Moon..  23    (or even candles 22:5) 
    1. The glory of God and the Lamb Light it..  
  G. It Is The Focus of All Earth Dwellers (?)  21:24-26 
 ** OH... LET'S GO FOR THE GOLD !!! 
II.  THE DELIGHTS... When the vision and focus and commitment and discipline of the athletes 
finally pays off... WHAT A DELIGHT !!     Here Are Some of The BELEIVERS' DELIGHTS...
  A. Enjoying the Absolute Presence of God and The Lamb... 21:22 
  B. Enjoying the True Light and Glory of God as No Mortal Can!  21:23 
  C. Enjoying the Pure River of Water of Life..  22:1 
    1. It is "clear as crystal".. Oh how refreshing! 
    2. It is coming out of the throne of God and the Lamb 
  D. Enjoying the Fruit of The "Tree of Life"..  (finally !!!) Gen.2:9 
    1. It bears 12 manners of fruit ! 
    2. It has leaves that bring "healing" to the nations 
	- It is in the midst of the street.. a boulevard ?? 
	- It is on either side of the river... 22:2 
  E. Enjoying a Curseless Earth As Well...  22:3 
  F. Enjoying The Pure Service To God.. 22:3 
  G. Enjoying His Presence (see His Face) and His Acceptance... 22:4 
  H. Enjoying A "Forever Reign" With Him !!!   22:5
 ** OH... LET'S GO FOR THE GOLD !!! 
III.  THE DANGER..  (Here Is A Warning!!) 
  A. The Cause.. 
    1. If you would defile... 21:7..  (Mark 7:20-23) out of the heart... 
    2. If you are an abomination... (a long list in God's Word!) 
    3. If you make a lie.. (cover up)   (neglect, reject, object..) 
  B. The Consequences.. 
    1. You shall in no wise enter in !!!! (only those who "run" according to the rules) 
IV.  THE DEMAND.. 
  A. Only Those Whose Names Are Written In The Lamb's Book of Life ! 21:27 
    1. No one else.... in No Wise... 
    2. Nothing that defiles... 
    3. Nothing that is abominable... 
  B. Only Those Who Qualify.. 
    1. It is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS...
 ** OH... LET'S GO FOR THE GOLD !!!       THE REAL GOLD !!! 

BY....
  REPENTING of OUR SIN..   Luke 13:3-5 
      RECEIVING the LORD JESUS CHRIST..  John 1:11,12 
	(Because of God's Amazing Grace and through Faith)
          RUNNING the RACE.. (diligently, faithfully, properly)  Heb.12:1