Gold In The Streets

The Apostle John was allowed to see the New Heaven and the New Earth, and it was recorded in the Revelation. John describes the main street of the New Jerusalem, which descends to the New Earth, as being made of pure gold. 

Revelation 21:21 (NLT) 

The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 

Gold has always been the ultimate standard of worldly wealth. The Lord blessed King Solomon so much that gold became as common as stones in the glory days of Solomon’s reign in Jerusalem. 

2 Chronicles 1:15 (NLT) 

The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. 

But John sees gold in a new way in the Revelation. Golden streets! The most valuable mineral on earth is used to pave the streets of New Jerusalem. Solomon made gold common in Jerusalem, but the Lord plans to pave the streets with it in the eternal Kingdom. 

But there is another biblical reference to golden streets in the Bible. And this one is not golden streets, but gold in the streets. This reference is very different. This reference is terrifying to those who misunderstood the true value of wealth on the earth. 

The Prophet Ezekiel is given a future vision of the time when men who had put their trust in worldly wealth will throw their gold and silver into the streets as they suffer under the judgment of God in the last days. 

Ezekiel 7:19-20 (NLT) 

“They will throw their money in the streets, tossing it out like worthless trash. Their silver and gold won’t save them on that day of the LORD’s anger. It will neither satisfy nor feed them, for their greed can only trip them up. 20 They were proud of their beautiful jewelry and used it to make detestable idols and vile images. Therefore, I will make all their wealth disgusting to them. 

One scene (Revelation) has golden streets, which symbolize eternal wealth in the Kingdom of Heaven. And the other scene (Ezekiel) has people throwing their gold into the streets because the deception of wealth had led them to spiritual poverty and judgment. 

Gold in the streets or streets of Gold. Can you see the difference between the two scenes? The Book of James also gives a similar warning in the New Testament. This warning is for everyone who puts their trust in worldly wealth, but has not taken hold of the true wealth of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

James 5:1-3 (NLT) 

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. 3 Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. 

Wealth in itself is not the problem. Trusting in worldly wealth is idolatry, and idolatry is fatal. Jesus told us clearly that we can’t serve two masters (God and Money). We must choose! We must realize that a time is coming when people will throw their gold and worldly treasures in the streets because they will be worthless on the day of God’s judgment. 

Jesus gives counsel to the Church at Laodicea, and it would be good counsel for the lukewarm church today. 

Revelation 3:15-18 (NLT) 

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 

16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 

17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 

18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 

Gold in the streets or golden streets. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. 

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen, 

Terry Cooper