Eternal Glory - 6. The New Jerusalem - Part 1 - Revelation 21:9 - 21
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Psalm 48:9–11 (ESV)
9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgements!
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Introduction
Have seen that there is to be the new heavens and the new earth we now consider more of the new Jerusalem.
1. The Bride, the Wife of the Lamb 21v9
2. The Holy City 21v10-14
3. Appearance 21v15-21
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1. The Bride, the Wife of the Lamb 21v9
1. The Bride, the Wife of the Lamb 21v9
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Revelation 21:9 (ESV)
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls comes and converses with John (cf. Rev. 17:1). ‘Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ Then the angel carries John away, not literally, but ‘in the Spirit’ (cf. Rev. 1:10; 17:3) to a mountain great and high (cf. Ezk. 40:1, 2). Only when we stand on the high mountain of faith are we able to see the Church as it exists ideally. The apostle now beholds a scene of transcendent beauty and splendour. He sees a city. The angel had promised to show him the bride. So the city is the bride; the two are identical. Both indicate the Church of God. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 201). Baker Books.
7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
5 For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
The words the bride, the wife are not to be read as if the wedding had already taken place (compare 19:7), but rather as a first-century Jewish betrothal of a woman to a man. The betrothal ceremony was equivalent to the wedding itself, with the understanding that the couple had no sexual relations during the period between betrothal and wedding. During this intervening period, the bride was considered to be the wife of her future husband. This means that the church is already the wife of the Lamb, even though the wedding has not yet taken place. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 563). Baker Book House.
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2. The Holy City 21v10-14
2. The Holy City 21v10-14
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a. From God v10
a. From God v10
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
The new Jerusalem is called holy, which means that the city has been consecrated by God as a place without sin; in other words, it is perfect in every respect. The privilege of living forever in the presence of God is his gracious gift to us. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 564). Baker Book House.
As such it is the community of men who have fellowship with God. Nothing in the entire universe is as glorious as this fellowship with God, so that He tabernacles with us and we are His own. Moreover, as the symbol of the Holy City so clearly indicates, this communion is holy and lasting and it is enjoyed by a countless multitude. Thus, the transcendent splendour of the ideal Church is symbolised. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (pp. 201–202). Baker Books.
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b. The Glory of God v11
b. The Glory of God v11
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11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
John compares this brilliant light of God’s glory to that of a precious stone, namely, a crystallised stone called jasper. Crystallised jasper is quartz appearing in a variety of colours that maybe compared to the radiance of a diamond. It reproduces indescribable splendour that John conveys in greater detail in the rest of the chapter. We should bear in mind that he is describing what he is permitted to see by comparing it to that which human beings are able to comprehend. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 565). Baker Book House.
18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
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c. Wall and Gates v12-13
c. Wall and Gates v12-13
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12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
John’s description of the holy city communicates safety, for the wall that is both great and high imparts security. In addition the twelve angels that guard the twelve entrances are there to keep an eye on the traffic moving in and out. On the other hand, the totality of twelve gates in this city allows for free and easy traffic moving in and out of it. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 565). Baker Book House.
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d. Foundations v14
d. Foundations v14
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14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The city wall itself was built on a total of twelve foundation stones, which were partially above ground and exhibited the names of the twelve apostles. With the names of the apostles at ground level and the names of the twelve tribes at the gate level, believers belonging to either the Old Testament or New Testament era were given entrance into the city. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 566). Baker Book House.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
John stresses that the twelve apostles are of the Lamb, implying that Jesus by his sacrificial death on the cross set his people free from sin and guilt. The twelve apostles were commissioned as messengers of Christ’s gospel to the world at large (Matt. 28:19–20). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 566). Baker Book House.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
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3. Appearance v15-21
3. Appearance v15-21
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a. Golden Measure v15
a. Golden Measure v15
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15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls.
Whereas earlier John was given a reed and told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worshipped (11:1), now the angel takes in hand a golden measuring reed. The golden reed harmonies with heavenly items that are made out of gold: lampstands, harps, bowls, crowns, and incense altar. Even the streets are made out of pure gold. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 567). Baker Book House.
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b. Perfect Cube v16-17
b. Perfect Cube v16-17
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16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement.
12000 Stadia = 1400 miles; 144 Cubits = 65 metres (72 yards)
The city of the new Jerusalem is foursquare, but in addition to the length and breadth its height is given in equal measurement. The length is twelve thousand stadia, so is the width, and likewise the height. j“The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high” (1 Kings 6:20). A cube is a symbol of perfection. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 567–568). Baker Book House.
20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar.
Twelve thousand is the product of three (for the Trinity) times four (for the universe) times ten times ten times ten (for reduplicated, ultimate completeness and perfection). Therefore this number expresses the complete and perfect result of the saving power of the triune God operating in the universe. That complete and perfect result is the Church of God enjoying fellowship with God in the new universe. That communion will be ‘complete and perfect’ in every direction. We enjoy a foretaste of it here and now. It was foreshadowed, moreover, by the Holy of holies in the Tabernacle and in the Temple of Solomon. That, too, was a perfect cube. Here the high priest entered into fellowship with God. But in the Holy City all believers are priests as well as kings. They all enjoy this fellowship. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 202). Baker Books.
The point is not the width or height of the wall itself but the number 144 as the square of twelve. It is the multiplication of the representative twelve tribes on the gates and the representative twelve apostles on the foundation of the city. Therefore, this number should be understood as a symbolic figure. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 569). Baker Book House.
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c. Materials 18-20
c. Materials 18-20
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18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
i. Wall of Jasper
i. Wall of Jasper
This jasper probably is a variety of quartz in the various colours of green, yellow, brown, and mottled red. It reflects God’s glory through this stone; it is truly a picture of indescribable beauty. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 569). Baker Book House.
iii. Pure Gold
iii. Pure Gold
John writes, “The city was of pure gold like clear glass.” Gold is a metal and is not transparent like glass. It is possible that John has in mind the gleaming splendor of this metal, because for him gold signifies heaven’s perfection. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 569). Baker Book House.
iii. Precious Stones
iii. Precious Stones
The emphasis on the number twelve relates to both the foundation stones and the precious stones, which are a reminder of the breastplate the high priest wore when he entered the Holy of Holies. Each of the twelve stones had the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, so that when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies he represented all God’s people. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 569). Baker Book House.
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d. Gates and Streets v21
d. Gates and Streets v21
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21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
The emphasis ought not to be placed on the literal size of a single pearl from which a gate was made nor on the monetary value of this pearl. John is speaking figuratively and conveys a picture of perfection. “Gates of pearl are a symbol of unimaginable beauty and unassessable riches.” Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 571). Baker Book House.
The street of the city appears to be the main corridor and is used here as an example of all the streets (see 22:2). This street was made of pure gold symbolising heaven’s perfection (see v. 18). John compares it with transparent glass denoting perfect purity. Its clarity was of such a degree that it was completely free from any defect. All the inhabitants of this city were without flaw. Whereas only the priests were allowed to walk on the gold-covered floor of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:30), in the new Jerusalem all the saints walk the streets of gold. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 571). Baker Book House.
Conclusion
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11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
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2 Timothy 2:19 (ESV)
19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”