Revelation 21:9-27

The bride of Christ is the holy city and glorified community dwelling with God.

Introduction: (9-10)

The bride is contrasted with the great prostitute of chapter Revelation 17:1 “1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,”

John is describing with symbolic language the glorified body of Christ and not architecturally what heaven will be like.

The appearance of the city describes the glory of the people and place.

Exposition: (11, 18, 21) Notice verse eleven. The bride of Christ will have the glory of God, and notice how it is that John describes this visible glory. Like a most rare jewel, like jasper.

Revelation 4:3 “3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.”

The glory of God is unique, distinct, and particular. He shares his glory with no one or thing according to Isaiah, and yet Jesus reemphasizes Isaiah 42 in His public ministry by declaring that He is the servant of Isaiah 42 and the gentiles are the ones who will hope in Him because of His unique ability to bring justice to victory.

It seems that john wants his readers to understand that God’s glory will be something that is not just seen but also that which will be the possession and identity of the bride of Christ in eternity. Notice not only the rarity of this but also the imaginable description of the social structure of the community who dwells with God. Verses 11, 18, and 21 highlight this point.

Clear as crystal, pure gold clear as glass, and pure gold transparent as glass. It is unimaginable for the worlds most valuable material to be transparent or clear and yet this is what John describes… Also notice that from top to bottom the city is clear or transparent. The city John says in verse eighteen was pure gold, clear as glass and the the streets of the city in verse twenty one the same.

Explanation: It seems to me that John is describing primarily a people, a society, a distinct community. He describes it in terms that we can relate to in one sense, but are also foreign to our understanding in another. The clearness of the crystal, the transparency of the gold describes the reality of a people who harbor no secrets, hidden agendas, or manipulative conversations. It is a people who dwell together in the fullest sense of transparency that will ever exist. A place in which the conscious is pure, the motive is pure, the plans are pure, the people are pure, and their actions toward one another pure. A society in which every thing is not open for interpretation, but rather that all interpretation is fully known and it is good because the residents are good, and not just good but glorious.

Illustration: The relationship between wartime leaders Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt has been well chronicled by historians of the period. On one visit to the United States, Roosevelt wheeled himself right into the British Prime Minister’s bedroom, opened the door to find Churchill completely naked and yet unashamed. Churchill’s response was classic: “You see, Mr. President, we British have nothing to hide.”

Application: There is coming a day in which nothing will be hidden. A day in which transparency and purity of motive will be the means of dealing with one another. Why wait until then. This week may we live with heaven at the forefront of our minds so that we live transparently and with pure motives toward people.

An Irish church once had a humorous yet insightful motto that gets at the heart of the pain that often accompanies our relationships: “To dwell above with those we love will certainly be glory. But to dwell below with those we know—well, that’s another story.”

May we be the people God’s revelas His glory through by how we live and walk in the Spirit.

TS: Not only does John describe the appearance of the city, but also goes into great dtail on the architecture.

The architecture of the city details the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Exposition: The architecture of the city includes high walls, twelve gates, unprecedented measurements, and a distinct foundation. The walls we are told are great and high. The point is this place is like no other. The great and high wall is not to protect from invading forces, but rather a point of declaration. Declaring to us that this city is a dwelling place of God and means of security unlike we have ever seen or known. Notice in verse twelve that their are angels at the twelve gates of the city. Three gates on each wall in every direction and at each gate angels. This is God’s city, God’s people, God’s dwelling place. The gates also include the inscriptions of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. God has previously spoken through Ezekiel concerning what John sees…

Ezekiel 48:30–34 “30 “These shall be the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi, the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel. On the east side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan. 33 On the south side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun. 34 On the west side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali.”

Notice how John describes the foundations… Verse fourteen says that they had on them the names of the twelve apostles. There is a uniting of the twelve apostles with the twelve tribes of Israel. In verses nineteen through twenty John’s details include jewels and stones as the expression of what the actual foundations look like.

Matthew 19:28 “28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Notice also the measurements of the city in verses 16-17. Ezekiel 43:12 “12 This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.”

It is 12x1000 stadia or a 1,400 mile cube with walls some 200 feet thick.

The Expositors bible Commentary: The new Jerusalem symbolizes the paradox of the completeness of the infinity of God.

Explanation: It seems to me that John is describing a place in which the electing purposes of Israel and the Church are united together in some perfect and secure way by which the unique qualities of both are reconciled in the shared glory of God. The future and coming eternal reign of God will be a sharing of His glory, a fulfilling of His promise to Israel and the church and provide eternal answers for our longings by dwelling with God and one another in purity and security.

There are approximately 8,810 promises in the entire Bible. In the Old Testament there are 7,706 and in the New Testament there are 1,104 wonderful promises. Deuteronomy 28 has 133 promises, which is more than any other chapter in the Bible. “We’re sitting on the premises when we ought to be standing on the promises!” observes Vance Havner

Illustration:

Application:

The absence of the temple and artificial light distinguishes the new heaven from the old earth.

Notice that John describes a place in verses 22-26 in which worship will be uniquely constant and unimaginably pure. I want to point out here what John says in verse seventeen. The measurement is both human and angelic. It is a human number but serves a divine purpose. In the tabernacle the most holy place for God’s dwelling was 10x10 cubits or 15x15 ft… In the temple it was 20x20 cubits or 30x30 ft. They were both cube type spaces and distinguished as the place where God dwells.

The most sacred acts of worship took place in and right around the dwelling place of God. John sees no need for a temple, pattern, or expectations to do anything as a means of worship because the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb Jesus Christ will be dwelling with the worshippers in physical presence. Worship will not be relegated to days and services, but be for us what Paul describes….

1 Corinthians 10:31 “31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Hebrews 10:11–18 “11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

Matthew 5:14 “14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

What is worship? Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven. A.W. Tozer