THE PEARLY WHITE CITY

          Jesus promised that He would prepare a new and perfect home for His children and He always keeps His promises. For ages believers have realized that this world is not our home  and we have longed to be with our Lord in this new home.

          What will this new home be like? Well the Lord revealed some of the answers to that question to John while he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos.  "…I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God…" (Rev. 21:2).  Then John shared with us what he had seen in the book of Revelation.

          Many years later in 1902, Arthur Forrest Ingler (1873-1935) used John's writings and penned the words of the song "The Pearly White  City".  The hymn paints a wonderful picture of heaven from the book of Revelation – a "holy and beautiful" place for which God's people long.

          According to some sources, this song was first introduced at the Metropolitan Church Association in Chicago, Illinois. The Metropolitan Church Association was a Holiness reaction within the Methodist Church against the move toward the Social Gospel.  The hymn looks to heaven, the holy city that John saw - the city of God, rather than the cities of the earth.  The rich and satisfied may find their delights in the cities of this earth, but the poor and afflicted saints of God find their joy in "watching, waiting, and longing, for the white city that's soon coming down."

           In the first verse the writer describes the beauty of the city whose builder and maker is God.  Then he goes on to share what is absent rom this city - sin, pain, sickness and sorrow.  In the third verse he describes the inhabitants - saints living in sweet harmony. In the fourth our friends who are safe in Jesus. 

          The chorus emphasizes that each child of God has a home there as well as many blessings. We should be "watching, waiting, and longing, for the white city".   And we should be reminded that Jesus and that pearly white city will soon be coming.  Rejoice in that truth.

          

1.     There's a holy and beautiful city

Whose builder and ruler is God;

John saw it descending from heaven,

When Patmos, in exile, he trod;

Its high, massive wall is of jasper,

The city itself is pure gold;

And when my frail tent here is folded,

Mine eyes shall its glory behold.

Chorus:

In that bright city, pearly white city,

I have a mansion, an harp, and a crown;

Now I am watching, waiting, and longing,

For the white city that's soon coming down.

2.     No sin is allowed in that city

And nothing defiling nor mean;

No pain and no sickness can enter,

No crepe on the doorknob is seen;

Earth's sorrows and cares are forgotten,

No tempter is there to annoy;

No parting words ever are spoken,

There's nothing to hurt or destroy.

Chorus:

In that bright city, pearly white city,

I have a mansion, an harp, and a crown;

Now I am watching, waiting, and longing,

For the white city that's soon coming down.

3.     No heartaches are known in that city,

No tears ever moisten the eye;

There's no disappointment in heaven,

No envy and strife in the sky;

The saints are all sanctified wholly,

They live in sweet harmony there;

My heart is now set on that city,

And some day its blessings I'll share.

Chorus:

In that bright city, pearly white city,

I have a mansion, an harp, and a crown;

Now I am watching, waiting, and longing,

For the white city that's soon coming down.

4.     My loved ones are gathering yonder,

My friends too are passing away,

And soon I shall join their bright number,

And dwell in eternity's day;

They're safe now in glory with Jesus,

Their trials and battles are past.

They overcame sin and the devil,[ii]

They've reached that fair city at last.

Chorus:

In that bright city, pearly white city,

I have a mansion, an harp, and a crown;

Now I am watching, waiting, and longing,

For the white city that's soon coming down.

Listen to it here.   CITY