"The New Jerusalem" (2)

I. THE INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW JERUSALEM! – (21:1-8)

II. THE NEW JERUSALEM – (21:9-21)

A. THE INVITATION TO SEE THE NEW JERUSALEM – (vv.9-11a)

1. The announcement of the angel! (v.9)

The same angel who poured out the seven last plagues is the one who invites John to see the holy city! The blending of God's wrath and judgment with God's promise of eternal blessing is a reminder of His character! He manifests both attributes throughout all His dealings with man!

2. The ability of John to see it! (v.10)

As we indicated in Revelation 1:10, John was being transported into the future in the realm of the spirit, rather than the flesh.

John is transferred in time to the actual events of the day of the Lord and the future! He is an eyewitness of those events and tries to describe them in the language of his day.

3. The overall appearance of the city! (v.11a)

The New Jerusalem reflects all that God is. His incomparable attributes are all contained in the expression, "…having the glory of God."

The city is a wonderful manifestation of the glory and character of Almighty God.

God prepared and designed a city that would truly reveal the wonder of His nature and would cause us all to worship Him forever!

B. THE IMPACT OF THIS CITY ON JOHN – (21:11b-21)

Words are so inadequate at times, and John must have felt over-awed by what he saw.

He is obviously stunned by the beauty and majesty of this heavenly city. The details of this city are indeed incredible and wonderful to contemplate.

It is a city that comes from God and has been prepared by Him for our enjoyment and blessing throughout eternity!

1. The shining of its light! (v.11b)

The light was like that which comes from the most expensive gem imaginable ("…like a most rare jewel").

It is difficult to identify the "…jasper." It could be a diamond or something like chalcedony, which is a translucent form of quartz.

2. The structure of the city! (vv.12-14)

Three items are brought to our attention: the wall, the gates, and the foundations.

The WALL is "a great, high wall," which may emphasize that it keeps out what is not wanted.

It is an impossible barrier to cross if you are not invited to enter the gates of the city.

(v.17) says the wall is 144 cubits, but it does not say whether this refers to its width or height. Either way, a wall 200 feet high—or 200 feet thick would be impressive!

There are TWELVE GATES with TWELVE ANGELS at the gates.

On the gates are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. On the foundations are the names of the twelve apostles.

This confirms the view that the heavenly city is intended for all believers in all history!

The FOUNDATIONS of the city could be stacked on top if each other, with each foundation covering the entire base of the city.

Another possibility is that the one foundation exits under each gate, so that there are three foundations per side. We simply do not know!

Ephesians 2:20 NIV84

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

3. The size of the city. (vv.15-17)

Normally, a reed of measurement was about ten feet long, but it could be longer. It is gold to match the majesty and royalty of what is being measured.

The city is laid out "…foursquare; its length the same as its width." The length and width are equal, each side measuring 12,000 stadia.

Since a stadia/furlong is approximately 607', each side measures roughly 1,380 miles.

Because the height of the city is the same as its length and width, some have suggested the city is a cube; others say it is a pyramid. Frankly, there's no way to prove either view!

4. The stones of the city! (vv.18-21)

This city is a jeweler's fantasy! With its gigantic stones through which an enormous supply of light will pass, this city will be a stunning sight indeed. There are simply not enough words to express the impact of such beauty upon the human eye!

a. The WALL of JASPER! – (v.18a)

b. The CITY of PURE GOLD! – (v.18b)

c. The FOUNDATIONS adorned with JEWELS – (vv.19-20)

d. The GATES of PEARL! – (v.21a)

e. The STREET of PURE GOLD! – (v.21b)

This is not 24-carat gold, this is 100 percent pure! The whole city has the appearance of wealth and royalty! The worth alone is impossible to calculate.