9Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 12The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. 17Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.
22I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26And all the nations will bring their glory and honour into the city. 27Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Revelation 21:9-27
I find this complete segment fascinating as it deals with the Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem. We are about to embark on an investigation of mind boggling proportions that will blow your mind as it has mine. I will deal with each of these three paragraphs separately as they deal with three different perspectives or views on the heavenly city. John’s coverage of the heavenly city spills over into Revelation 22:1-5 as well so we will investigate that closing segment when we come to it. I am sure you will come up with many questions related to this block as have I and the band of commentators as well. Feel free to ask them as they occur to you, in order to ensure I deal with all the angles. [Note: that’s angles and not angels – which also feature prominently.] There are some wonderfully deep treasures hidden in this conjoined passage as well as some deep inferences. I look forward to drawing them out for you as a result of what I have seen and in response to your observations and questions.
John’s opening statement is one Greek sentence from Revelation 21:10 to 21:14. The opening statement in 21:9 sets this segment in the mouth of one the angels who held the seven bowls. We have the same construction word for word in both Revelation 17 and Revelation 21. Much debate arises between the commentators as to whether it is the same angel in both instances or just simply one of the angels with the bowls of wrath. Whatever we conclude, the pattern is word for word the same:
- Come with me
- and I will show you
With the angel of Revelation 17 John was shown judgement whereas with the angel of Revelation 21 John was shown the resultant haven for those ‘in Christ’. One question we have to resolve for ourselves: Is the heavenly city a place or a people? In Revelation 19:7-8 John is shown a people, in 21:3 he is shown a bride, in 21:9 he is promised to be shown a bride, the wife of the Lamb and yet he is shown a city in Revelation 21:10. So how is this seeming paradox resolved?
To Jews, the bride of Yahweh is always both a people and a place. The people of God are inextricably tied to the land. As Christians we are people without a place.
This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.
James 1:1
This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
1 Peter 1:1
We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.
1 Chronicles 29:15
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Ephesians 1:10
Why does the Heavenly Jerusalem have walls and guarded gates? Is it to keep people out or to keep people in? Or are the walls and gates for an entirely different purpose? John’s source for the picture in his head comes from:- Exodus 28:17ff, Isaiah 11ff, Ezekiel 18:12ff; 28:12-16; 48:30ff. In this last source from Ezekiel 48, it clearly states the gates are exit points. Whereas in John’s revelation, Revelation 21:24-26 make it clear that the gates are entry points and not exit points. That is why John depicts the Heavenly City as having gates wide open to receive the nations!
The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honour into the city.
Revelation 21:24-26
Many commentators are tripped up by those who appear to be outside the Heavenly City at the end. (See the verse below.)
Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
Revelation 22:14-15
Are the walls and the guarded gates there to keep people out or to welcome people in? Ah there is the $144,000 question.
Given all of the above verses, it is clear from this opening paragraph from John that the symbolism includes the Old Testament saints who are numbered among those within the tribes of Israel along with those from the New Testament who are numbered with the redeemed from the foundation stones marked with the names of the Apostles. Can you recall where John had this exact point revealed to him before? It is found in Revelation 7 with the same 144,000 mentioned, 12 from the tribes of Israel and 12 from the Apostles of Christ represented from among the Elders and the 4 Living Beings.
See the Gems I wrote on Revelation 7, namely: 2258 through 2263.
Follow the Gem series A Difficult Image: 24 Elders and Four Living Beings culminating with Gem 2228.
To ensure you are safe before the Final Judgement make sure you respond well to your invitation. See below:
Bible Gem 2359 – Your Invitation to The Marriage Supper of The Lamb
I promise you, there are some statements in this passage that will leave you in awe and wonder while mystified, questioning how can this all fit together? But hang on to your hat and follow me in this investigation spread of over several Gems.
Hidden in the midst of this long segment are some mind bending statements which require us to dig deep and require considerable unpacking in order to understand the implications.
Ian
There are a number of facts or statements which leave us puzzled and send the commentators into a tail spin in their attempt to explain what John meant. “Is it real or symbolism?”
Ian
The city (as described) is magnificent beyond description and yet it is described in language which continually attempts to break free from its own limitations in order to do justice to the reality it so imperfectly describes.
Robert Mounce
I guarantee this long segment will leave you thinking, “What? How can that be true?”
Yet the One sitting on the throne said, “I am making everything new. Write this down for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:5
I think we still have this question today: as Christians are we “the church” or do we worship “in a church”? I’ve always thought of that as being the “inadequacy” of the English language. I think a lot of languages make a clear distinction, for example in Tongan the word for the people is Siasi which is a Tonganisation of the word “Church”, the word for the building is “fale lotu”, house of Prayer. I’ve always thought of that as being a better way of expressing it. However, from this Gem. I can see that using the same word but keeping in mind the two definitions merges them which I think is one of the things that God wants us to understand about both the concept of God’s Church and the reality of His people.
Yea I agree David. There is still more depth to come on this matter in subsequent Gems.
Ian – Some comments, if you will, please ? (1). Some time ago, as advised earlier; to you by phone; I have found myself being compelled to AUDIBLY seek answers to my needs, from GOD as opposed to JESUS. And I have been BLESSED to witness some amazing outcomes. . . Initially, I felt that I was being somewhat wrong and blasphemous, in doing this; but after a time, of experiencing great peace, I became extremely comfortable with this pattern of prayer. Later, I became aware that the TITLE “YAHWEH” was featuring STRONGLY in my heart and mind ! This TITLE has become ‘like a BEACON in the night’ to me, and it’s USEAGE, gives me great PEACE and a COMFORTING SENSE. . . When the title YAHWEH appeared in your Gem, this morning; I found myself “STOPPED IN MY TRACKS”, and near brought to tears !
That’s great Garry.
Try searching for the tag ‘The Name Above Every Name’
Or deeper yet, look at the Gem Series ‘That Majestic Passage’
Rev 21:14
… twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the lamb.
I would think that the twelfth name would be Matthias would you agree?
Yes Ross, I agree.