When we speak of heaven, we’re speaking of a place where the Holy City of God resides. It’s also referred to as the third heaven, the first being our atmosphere, and the second being the abode of the moon and stars etc. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)

The Holy City shines with the glory of God, its brilliance is like a precious jewel (like a jasper, clear as crystal).

It has a great, high wall with twelve gates (there is also an angel at each gate). On the gates, are written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (there are three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west). Each of the twelve gates is a single pearl.

The wall of the city has twelve foundations and on them are the names of the twelve apostles of Christ Jesus.

The Holy City is laid out like a square; the length, width, and height are all the same (approximately 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide, and 1,500 miles high). The wall is approximately 200 feet thick and is made of jasper. The city is pure gold, as pure as glass.

The foundations of the city walls are decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eight beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

There is never darkness there for the glory of God gives it light and Christ Jesus is its lamp. It is also the home of those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of Life along with the holy angels.

Within the Holy City is the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Christ Jesus) down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stands the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. The throne of God and of Christ Jesus is in the city and God’s servants serve Him day and night in His temple; God protects them, and never again will they experience, hunger, thirst, or suffering as they did upon the earth. Jesus, at the center of the throne, shepherds them (He leads them to springs of living water) and God wipes away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 4,7,21,22)