HeavenDescriptions

(21:9-23) Introduction: the new heavens and earth will have a capital city, a specific place where the presence of God will be centered and where the Lord Jesus Christ will live and rule the universe. Scripture gives us the city's name: it is the New Jerusalem. Scripture gives several names by which the capital city will be known:

⇒ The New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2; Rev. 3:12).

⇒ The Heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22).

⇒ The Holy City (Rev. 21:2; Rev. 22:19).

⇒ Holy Jerusalem (Rev. 21:10).

⇒ The City of My God (Rev. 3:12).

⇒ The Great City (Rev. 21:10).

What will the city be like? It is indescribable. How could anyone possibly describe the city of God and of Christ? Think of the stars in the sky, the billions and billions of galaxies scattered throughout the universe. Picture them for just a moment: the vastness, the enormity, the endlessness of the universe.

Remember that God is the Creator and Force of the universe, the Sustainer of all things. He is the Intelligence and Power that made all things and keeps all things operating. How could human language describe God? How could human language describe the city where God's presence is centered and where Jesus Christ dwells? This is the problem that John had in trying to describe the New Jerusalem.

The city and the presence of God within the city are so glorious that they are just indescribable. There are no earthly things beautiful enough nor valuable enough to be a part of God's city. Therefore, John did all he could: he used the most beautiful and precious things upon earth to describe the city. This passage tells us about the city of God. It tells us what God showed John, what God wants us to know about the New Jerusalem, the city of God, the city where Christ will live and where the presence of God will be centered in the new heavens and earth. Note how it stirs our hearts when we study this passage knowing that we shall be a part of so glorious a future. God has given us the wonderful privilege of being a citizen of God's great city, the wonderful city of Jesus Christ. This is the description of the New Jerusalem, the city of God. (See note New Jerusalem—•Rev. 21:2 for more discussion.)

1. The last vision given to John (v.9-10).

2. The glory of the city (v.11).

3. The city's walls: perfect security (v.12).

4. The city's twelve gates (v.12-13).

5. The city's twelve foundations: the names of the apostles are inscribed in them (v.14).

6. The city's shape and size (v.15-17).

7. The city's materials: are precious and priceless (v.18-21).

8. The city's worship: is focused upon God Himself and the Lamb (v.22).

9. The city's light: is provided by God's glory and the Lamb (v.23).

1. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A9-10" 21:9-10) Visions of Revelation: this is the last vision that God gives John, and it is the most glorious of visions. God shows John the New Jerusalem, the great city of God that will be the capital city of the new heavens and earth in the recreated universe. Note who it is that God sends to take John to the city: one of the seven angels who had cast one of the bowl judgments upon the earth. There is symbolism in this: God has a message of warning for the earth—judgment is coming. But God also has a message of hope and glory for the earth: the New Jerusalem, the city of God's very own presence, is also coming to earth; and every person can live with God in the glory of that city. Citizenship is available to all if they will believe in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and seek to live in the city with God and His Son.

The angel carries John away in the spirit to a high mountain and shows him the glorious city of God. Eight descriptions are given.

2. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A11" 21:11) New Jerusalem: there is the glory of the city (Rev. 21:11). The glory is the very glory of God Himself.

"[The city] was clothed in God's glory—in all its splendor and radiance. The lustre of it resembled a rare and most precious jewel, like jasper, shining clear as crystal" (The Amplified New Testament).

The glory of God gives light to the whole city. God's glory is full of so much light and shines so brightly there is no need for the sun nor for any other heavenly body to give the city light. Just imagine the power and radiance of God's glory—so bright that it is more forceful than the laser beams of light flowing from the sun! It is the glory of God that gives light to the city.

⇒ The glory of God shines all throughout the city, the city actually shines and has a sparkling sheen to it.

⇒ The city shines like the green of a jasper, but it is as clear as crystal.

⇒ The glory of God glitters off the city as though the buildings are crystal clear—everything glitters in the most beautiful green of the jasper.

Thought 1. If you have ever walked in a mountain forest when everything is covered with ice from an ice storm, you have walked in the midst of a crystal ice palace. Everything sparkles and glitters—the green needles of the pines, the bare branches of the trees, the small branches and trunks of the sapplings, the bushes close to the ground, the leaves lying on the ground. As the glory of the sun strikes the mountain forest, the ice crystals that cover everything in the forest sparkle and glitter just like a crystal ice palace. This is one of the most beautiful sights on earth, a crystal ice forest. Imagine how beautiful the green jasper glistening off the ice crystals would be. This is a very faint idea of the sparkle and glitter of the glory of God throughout the crystal clear city of God.

"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid" (Luke 2:9).

"But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55).

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork" (Psalm 19:1).

3. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A12" 21:12) New Jerusalem: there are the city's walls (Rev. 21:12). The walls are great and very high. The idea is that of protection, of perfect security. When believers reach the Heavenly Jerusalem, they will be behind the walls of perfection. They will be secure from all the evil and enemies of the physical world.

"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are" (John 17:11).

"I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Tim. 1:12).

"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever" (2 Tim. 4:18).

"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5).

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever" (Jude 24-25).

4. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A12-13" 21:12-13) New Jerusalem: there are the city's twelve gates (Rev. 21:12b-13). Three things are said about the gates.

1. The gates have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel upon them. This symbolizes that the only way to come to God is through the Messiah of the twelve tribes, the Messiah of the Jews, the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture says, "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). God sent His salvation, His own Son, into the world through the Jews. Therefore, the entrance into the Heavenly Jerusalem is only through the Messiah of the Jewish nation. No person can enter the heavenly city unless he comes through the gates of salvation provided by God.

"Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

"Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:67-68).

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5).

"But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Hebrews 8:6).

"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15).

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).

"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:24).

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).

2. The gates are guarded by twelve angels: this symbolizes that the entrance to the city is protected. No person can enter the city unless they are approved by God. A person can enter only if he comes through the salvation that God gave through Israel, through His Own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. There are three gates on each of the four walls of the city, twelve gates altogether. Every direction on earth has three gates:

⇒ The east has three gates.

⇒ The north has three gates.

⇒ The south has three gates.

⇒ The west has three gates.

This symbolizes that everyone on earth is invited to enter the city. There is a wall that faces everyone in the east, and everyone in the north, and everyone in the south, and everyone in the west. And there are three gates facing everyone. Everyone on earth can enter the city. There is no discrimination or prejudice, no partiality or favoritism shown by God. All can come and live as citizens of the city. The only requirement is that they come through the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ.

"But in every nation, he that feared him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:35).

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him" (Romans 10:12).

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

5. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A14" 21:14) New Jerusalem: there are the city's twelve foundations (Rev. 21:14). They have the names of the twelve apostles inscribed upon them. Note: the twelve apostles are clearly identified as the apostles "of the Lamb." This means that the foundation of the city is the testimony of the twelve apsotles, the testimony that declares Jesus Christ to be the Lamb of God. It is the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ as the lamb of God that makes the city available to people.

⇒ Unless Jesus Christ had died for man—unless He had taken the sins of man upon Himself and sacrificed His life for those sins—no person would ever be free of sin and made acceptable to God. No person could ever enter the city, for every person would still be bearing his own sins.

⇒ Unless a person believes in the Lamb of God, believes that Jesus Christ did sacrifice His life for his sins, that person is not acceptable to God. He will never be allowed to enter the city.

The very foundation of the city is the testimony of the Lamb declared by the apostles. Therefore, a person must build his life upon that testimony.

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephes. 2:19-20).

"Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim. 6:19).

"Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19).

6. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A15-17" 21:15-17) New Jerusalem: there is the city's shape and size (Rev. 21:15-17). Three facts are given.

1. The city is square (Rev. 21:16). There is one side each facing to the east, north, south, and west. Again, the city faces in every direction. Citizenship within the city is available to every nation, city, tribe, language, and person upon earth—available if a person will approach the city through the salvation God Himself has provided for the earth.

2. The city is enormous and, as we would expect of the heavenly city, its size is beyond anything we would ever dream (Rev. 21:16). It is 1500 miles long and wide and high. It towers 1500 miles high! This is a total of 2,250,000 square miles or 3,375,000,000 cubic miles (almost four billion cubic miles)! Picture a huge space station that man might build in a century or two and orbit around the earth. If Jesus Christ delays His coming long enough, the idea that man might be forced to build a large city in outer space to handle the population has already crossed the mind of man. The God who created a moon to orbit around the earth and planets to orbit around the sun has created a city that is far more beautiful than any city man will ever build. It will someday descend from heaven to earth and be the capital city of the universe. God is going to reclaim the earth from all the evil that has engulfed it, and He is going to do the most marvelous thing: make the earth the center of the universe, the place where His very presence will be centered. The earth will be the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the capital city of His rule and reign will be the New Jerusalem. What a glorious picture of the great salvation and sovereign majesty of God!

3. The thickness of the wall and gates is 144 cubits or 266 feet thick (Rev. 21:17).

Thought 1. The size of the city is large enough to take care of all who will enter it. There is room for all who will come to God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22).

"Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1).

"Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage" (Matthew 22:9).

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37).

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him" (Romans 10:12).

"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4).

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

7. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A18-21" 21:18-21) New Jerusalem: there are the city's materials (Rev. 21:18-21). We must keep in mind that in some cases the gems or precious stones that are mentioned in this passage differed from the valuable stones that we know today. The stones seem to be as follows. (Note the spectacular beauty and variety of color in the city.)

1. The walls are made of jasper: a crystal-like rock that is green in color. The crystal green walls sparkle with the most beautiful color as the reflection of God's glory strikes them.

2. The city is made of pure gold, a gold that is as clear as glass. There is no gold on earth as clear as glass. Imagine a city many times larger than New York or Tokyo or any other major city being made out of pure gold, a gold so pure that it would be crystal clear. Imagine the dazzling gold color of the New Jerusalem as the glory of God strikes it.

3. The twelve foundations are decorated with every kind of precious stone (Rev. 21:19-20. This information is gathered from William Barclay. The Revelation of John, Vol.2, p.273f.)

⇒ The first foundation is jasper: a green rock-like crystal.

⇒ The second foundation is sapphire: a sky blue spotted with gold (cp. Exodus 24:10).

⇒ The third foundation is chalcedony: a green stone like the green on a peacock's tail.

⇒ The fourth foundation is emerald: a green, the greenest of all greens.

⇒ The fifth foundation is sardonyx: a stone that has different shades of color, basically white with layers of red and brown breaking the white background.

⇒ The sixth foundation is sardius: a blood-red stone.

⇒ The seventh foundation is chrysolite: a shining stone with a gold radiance.

⇒ The eighth foundation is beryl: a sea blue or sea green stone.

⇒ The ninth foundation is topaz: a greenish-gold stone that was transparent (cp. Job 28:19).

⇒ The tenth foundation is chrysoprasus: an apple green stone.

⇒ The eleventh foundation is jacinth: a violet, bluish-purple stone.

⇒ The twelfth foundation is amethyst: also a violet, bluish-purple stone, but more brilliant than the jacinth.

4. The twelve gates are twelve huge pearls. What magnificant beauty!

5. The streets are made of pure gold, but again the gold is transparent, as transparent as glass.

Thought 1. This is a staggering picture of beauty and variety. Imagine the fiery brilliance and splendor as the glory of God reflects off the glistening stones. The beauty is bound to be the most dazzling and staggering sight in all the universe. Do the stones and color symbolize anything? There is bound to be at least this meaning behind such magnificant beauty: the heavenly city is worth any price to enter. It is priceless. No matter what a man has to sacrifice, he is a fool if he does not give up everything he has to enter the heavenly city of God.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field" (Matthew 13:44).

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46).

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:20).

"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matthew 19:21).

"Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not" (Luke 12:33).

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Phil. 3:8).

"Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim. 6:19).

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see" (Rev. 3:18).

8. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A22" 21:22) New Jerusalem: there is the city's worship (Rev. 21:22). There is no temple in the heavenly city, for both God and Christ are there. Their presence will be so manifested...

• that the very atmosphere will be heavy with their spirit.

• that every person will be filled with God's Spirit, perfectly filled.

• that every person will be perfectly conscious of God's continued presence.

No believer will be without the full and perfect knowledge of God's Spirit and presence. Therefore, there will be an unbroken worship, communication, and sharing with God and Christ. No matter what service or work the believer will be performing, and no matter where the believer is serving throughout the universe, he will be in unbroken fellowship and communion with God. Therefore, there is no need for a temple and its ceremonies and rituals to pull the human mind into the worship of God.

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Phil. 4:8).

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God" (Rev. 19:1; cp. Rev. 19:1-7).

"But his delight is in the law of the lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2).

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).

9. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+21%3A23" 21:23) New Jerusalem: there is the city's light, the glory of God and of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 21:23; see note—Rev. •21:11).

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