Revelation Study 26 Chapter 21:9-27
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We talked last week of living in Day 6, that even though chapter 1 of Genesis talks of God resting on the 7th Day, the ultimate 7th Day has not yet come.
Day 6 man is created and chapter 2 of Genesis chronicles not only his/her existence, but the Bible continues on from there to chronicle the existence of man.
Man once lived in paradise, but gave paradise away in an attempt to be like God. Failing to realize they were already like God, made in His image.
Their desire was to be their own god, to not be under the authority of the God and by this decision, they rejected God, rejected His love, and chaos was reintroduced back into the world.
This has been a chaos that has affected both man and creation.
But, as we’ve seen, God is making all things new, all things right again.
Heaven and Earth reunited, man and God dwelling together again.
I mentioned last week that Revelation 21 is broken up into 3 sections, 1-8, 9-21, and 22-27. Today we will cover the last two.
Let’s read Revelation 21 verses 9-14 first,
The New Jerusalem
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.
This is a continuation of the vision started in verse 1, “Then came”
John sees one of the angels who had the seven bowls of plagues, “Come I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
John is taken in the Spirit to a high mountain (v10) to see “the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
Hearing this, what would we expect to see? The Church, the people of God
Let’s look back at verse 2
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
So what does John see here? The holy city Jerusalem coming down “out of heaven” coming from God, .
The New Jerusalem, the wife of the Lamb
In the dragon’s kingdom, Babylon was the unholy city and was also referred to as the prostitute.
Here in God’s kingdom, the holy city is Jerusalem and is also being referred to as the bride.
In typical Revelation fashion, what is said and what is seen are not the same, or at least not what we’d expect.
Now why would you need to go to a high mountain to see something coming out of the sky?? That is if we think of Heaven as someplace up there or out there??
But if Heaven is another dimension, an unseen reality, then the coming down language is figurative, not literal.
We talked last week as this being symbolic of the arrival of something new, something from God.
Going up onto a mountain would give John a better view as he looked down on the city, the ability to take it all in. He has already seen it from ground level, verse 2, now a different vantage point.
There is a hilltop plaza in Florence Italy, Michelangelo’s piazza, that overlooks the city of Florence. From this vantage point, you can see the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, the train station, etc.
You could never see all of these at the same time, from within the city.
So, John is given a bird’s eye view to be able to see it all, and that is what we get as he describes it.
What does John see, or what does John tell us, how does he describe it?
English Standard Version Chapter 21
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.
The Revelation verses indicate that this “city” is a temple city
The city, the temple, the bride, the Church, all seem to represent the presence of God dwelling with the people of God
We speak this way on occasion, “the whole city was in an uproar” etc.
But, here it’s apparent John is describing our future home
So how does he describe it
Having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. The radiance described is figurative, not really describable
Some O.T. verses on the glory of God
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
God dwelling with His people
Some more verses on the glory of God.
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
So the glory of God, His glorious presence is essentially God, and it can only be described as magnificent.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
In the O.T. and New T, God’s glory had to be concealed, but in the New Heaven the New Jerusalem will radiate with the glory of God
2. A great high wall, (we’ll hear more about the wall in a bit.
3. Twelve gates, twelve angels, twelve tribes of Israel on the gates
“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. 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. 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. The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.”
John draws upon Ezekiels description of the future perfect Jerusalem
This is representative of the people of God in the O.T
The O.T. temple had 1 entrance, you had to enter through Judaism, and the Jews did a horrible job at allowing people to come to God through the entrance.
This has 12 entrances, 4 each on the east, west, north and south, Why? So all the people from the 4 corners of the world can enter.
4. Twelve foundations for the wall, twelve names of the apostles of the Lamb
This is representative of what? The N.T. people of God
I find it interesting, or even backward that the foundation is the apostles and the gates are the 12 sons of Israel, but oh well.
Now verses 15-21
English Standard Version Chapter 21
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.
This is the angel who once had a bowl and spoke to John
He’s holding a measuring rod of gold, to measure the city, its gates and walls? Why? Just to show it vastness, its massiveness. But, these numbers are symbolic, 12 tribes/apostles times 1000 or a multitude. Similar to the 12k times 12K to give 144K
Also, in the O.T. and previously in Revelation, when measurements were done, instructed by God to be done, it was for the purpose of showing who is faithful or unfaithful, “how many” are truly of God.
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
If these measurements were literal, this city would be as big or bigger than the known world they were living in.
This would be about 1400 miles squared or 1,960,000 square miles.
Even the wall is a derivative of 12, 12x12=144.
All of this speaks of completeness, wholeness, and perfection.
We also talked of the richness, opulence of the Roman empire, well clearly this New Jerusalem is more so, the gates, the roads, the walls, all of it are made of precious stones.
But more than opulence, this city speaks of security, protection. The once persecuted are now eternally safe and secure with their God.
The precious stones are the same as those on Aaron’s breastplate from Exodus 28, although some are listed under different names.
The walls are huge, and each gate is guarded by an angel, even though all evil has been banished, it still communicates secure and safe to the people of God.
This cube city is the Holy of Holies that once lay within the temple, it too was a cube. But in this city God is present so there is no temple, it’s all the holy of holies.
Now Revelation 21, 22-27
English Standard Version Chapter 21
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.
With all its splendor and grandeur, what doesn’t this city have?
A temple
No sun or moon
No shut gates
Nighttime
Anything unclean
Anyone who is unholy
Why no temple? Because not only is the city the temple, but God and Jesus are also those things. The temple or tabernacle symbolized the presence of God. Now God is everywhere in the city.
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Jesus was the earthly tabernacle of God
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
Why no sun or moon? Because the glory of the Lord will be our light, God’s glory and His lamp is the Lamb.
Hebrew 1:3a
English Standard Version Chapter 1
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God
Why no shut gates? There is no longer any threat. All is good.
Why no night there? Because the glory of the Lord, the Lamb as the lamp will always be with them, always near them. Also, there will be no “darkness” no evil.
back to verse 24 for a second
By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
By its light the nations will walk, the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
We were called to be a light unto the nations
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
This verse speaks to the effective witness of Jesus’ followers, the nations will be represented. We may not shine His light perfectly, but it will have an effect.
In His presence we will walk rightly, and those who’ve benefitted from the witness of others will be there, that’s all of us, and we will live rightly and glorify the Lord.
They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
In times past for Israel, especially during Solomons reign, the kings of the earth brought the splendor of their land, the glory of their kingdoms to Solomon as a gift.
But once Israel turned from the Lord, this ceased. This will happen again in Heaven, the splendor of the land, the glory of kings will be brought to the Lord.
Clearly not all the kings of the earth throughout history swore allegiance to the beast and his system. Some were worshippers of the Lord God.
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.
This may sound like a warning, but it is actually a promise. This is not saying the “bad” people will not be there, that is true tho.
This is saying that the “good” people will not bring any of their “bad” with them. We will be made new, righteous, living and walking by the light.
More from Isaiah 60 to close us out.
Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
devastation or destruction within your borders;
you shall call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise.
The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.