AM Bible Study Group; November 9, 2016 from Revelation 21:9-21
Theme: This passage describes, in astonishing detail, the beauty of the New Jerusalem that will be our eternal dwelling place with Jesus throughout eternity.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
The Bible tells us that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21). And this passage describes what the eternal home of those who are in Jesus will be like. It’s given to us, in part, to spur us on to faithfulness in Him during our times of trial on earth.
Note carefully that this description is given to us in specific details—details that involve dimensions and materials and numbers. These kinds of details suggest to us that this place is not merely meant to be thought of by us as symbolic, but rather is meant to communicate to us a place that has real substance and that it will be our literal experience to dwell in throughout eternity. It gives real objectivity to Jesus’ promise, “ In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). And what a delight it is to read about it!
John tells us about the vision he was given of this city; and gives us the details of …
I. HER BEAUTY AS A WHOLE (vv. 9-11a).
A. One of the seven angels who had had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to John to show this to him (see Revelation 15:1-16:21). This suggests that we are meant to see a continuity between the realities of this present age and the age to come. God is the God of both. This angel speaks to John in terms that were similar to the vision of the wicked city of Babylon (chapters 17-18); because the New Jerusalem—like that other city—is spoken of both as ‘a city’ and as ‘a woman’. In this case, however, the woman is the Bride of the Lamb (named after the people who dwell in it, and after the Lord to whom they belong; see 19:7-9).
B. John is then carried away to a high mountain in order to be given a clearer view of this extraordinarily vast place. Given the dimensions of it—mentioned in verse 16—there would have been no other way to behold it. It was described as “the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God”. It may be that this city already exists before God in some way that we cannot understand; and yet, it is here—finally— revealed to humankind in all its beauty.
II. HER BRIGHTNESS (v. 11b).
We’re told that, in coming down, it was in appearance as “a most precious stone, like a jasper”. Jasper stone, as we ordinarily understand it, is opaque. But we’re told that this city is “clear as crystal”. It will be a breathtaking thing to see; because it will have “the glory of God”. Because of its crystal-like nature, it will be brightly illuminated and will shine from within by God’s own glory. We ourselves will have to be glorified in order to bear the sight of its inexpressible beauty!
III. HER WALL (vv. 12-14).
A. We’re told that it has a great and high wall—like almost all cities of John’s day had. It will have twelve gates. On these twelve gates (which will be enormous; see v. 17), twelve angels will be positioned as if to stand guard (though there will be nothing that will enter in that would cause harm; see verse 27). Names where written on the gates; which were the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Each of the gates are situated in a manner similar to that of the marching and camping order of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Old Testament (see Numbers 2).
B. The wall of the city was fixed upon twelve foundation stones. In verses 19-20, we’re given a description of the composition of these foundation stones. They contain the names of the twelve apostles. Thus, God will show that He forever stands as God of both the Old and the New Covenant.
IV. HER MEASUREMENTS (vv. 15-17).
A. The angel that had been talking with him then takes golden rod and measures the layout of the city (compare this with Ezekiel 40:1-5ff). It’s laid out as a square; and because its length and breadth is the same as its height, it may be either cubic in shape, or may even be pyramid-like. In either case, the measurements are enormous—and would be approximately the distance from Portland, Oregon to Chicago, Illinois in all directions (about 1,500 miles). One engineer has figured this to be laid out as 2,250,000 square miles—15,000 times larger than London; and forty times as large as all England; twenty times as big as New Zealand; ten times the size of Germany, and ten times as large as France (Wilbur M. Smith, Biblical Doctrine of Heaven, p. 246). And because it’s as tall as it is wide and long, there will be more than enough room for all the redeemed to dwell—with room to spare.
B. Similarly, the walls of the city are enormous. They would be around 216 feet in height according to the measure of a man—which, we’re told, is the same as that of an angel. This may speak of the height of the walls; but it may also indicate the thickness of the wall, in which case the wall may be much higher than 216 feet.
V. HER COMPOSITION (vv. 18-21).
A. The composition of the wall was of jasper (see verse 11). The city itself will be of pure gold “like clear glass”. Imagine what a sight it would be—particularly with the glory of God shining in and through it!
B. The foundations of the city are adorned with twelve kinds of precious stones. The names used for these stones may be different in John’s day than we understand today; but the point is that the foundation stones are precious and beautiful; and they make us think of the stones that adorned the breastplate of Aaron in the Old Testament (See Exodus 39:10-14).
C. The twelve gates were composed of pearl—each one made of one pearl over two- hundred feet in height! (And the God of this created realm—and of the one to come— certainly doesn’t need an enormous oyster to create such a set of pearls!)
D. The streets of the city are pure gold, “like transparent glass”. Everywhere that the redeemed will walk, they will be reminded of God’s holiness and purity!
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Hebrews 11:9-10 says that, by faith, Abraham “dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” This is that city! May we, as we walk this earth, also keep our sights on this glorious city—our eternal home!