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THE NEW JERUSALEM

REVELATION 21:9-23

Here we have details of this magnificent city, as shown to John by one of the angels of the seven vials (Rev.15:1, 17:1), seen from the top of a high mountain, descending out of heaven from God.

Apart from the references provided in the Introduction to the Eternal State, there is no more mention of this city in the Bible.

Our view that it is a literal city is supported by the following facts:

1. it was customary in the Middle East, when a king entered his capital city to assume the kingdom, or a prince ascended to the throne, to say that he was marrying the city, meaning that he was intimately and permanently being united with the throne, the city and the nation (Isa.62:4). So the city called New Jerusalem will be married to the Lamb.

2. the details of the city are described minutely and they are physical aspects, not moral or spiritual: gold, precious stones, pearls, precise measurements.

3. in antiquity, the abode of God among men always took a material form, a tabernacle and then a temple, in anticipation of the eternal abode: a city.

4. the city is defined as separate from its inhabitants, and those entering it, inscribed in the book of life of the Lamb.

5. the declaration that the city does not have a temple (Rev. 21:22), can only be taken in the material, physical sense.

6. the distinction between the saints and the city is clear in the biblical passages that say how Abraham awaited the city (Heb.11:10), how God prepared a city for those who died in the faith without seeing His promises fulfilled (Heb.11:13-16).

7. in Hebrews 12:22 the city heavenly Jerusalem is detached from its inhabitants: the angels, the church, the spirits of just men made perfect.

The city measures twelve thousand furlongs, or 1377 miles if this is a linear measurement; if it is a surface measurement, which seems more likely, each side measures 30 miles, as well as its height. It is not necessarily in the shape of a cube, but quite probably in that of a pyramid, particularly as it will have a wall one hundred and forty-four cubits high, or 216 feet, all around it.

The city is related with Israel, as each gate, a pearl, has the name of one of its twelve tribes, and with the Church, as each of its twelve foundations, constructed of the flashing brilliance of rich and costly gems, has the name of an apostle.

A close examination of these twelve stones in the foundations reveals a polychrome paragon of beauty; varied hues and tints form a galaxy of rainbow colours. The stones are enumerated as follows:

1. Jasper: a clear, transparent stone. This is probably the diamond, crystal clear, a reflector of light and colour, clean, pure and bright.

2. Sapphire: blue. This stone occurs in Exodus 24:10 as the foundation of God, "... And there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in his clarity."

3. Chalcedony: greenish. It is an agate gathered on a mountain in Chalcedon.

4. Emerald: layers of green.

5. Sardonyx: red, or white with layers of red.

6. Sardius: fiery red, found in Sardis.

7. Chrysolyte: golden yellow, similar to the topaz.

8. Beryl: green, like the emerald.

9. Topaz: golden green.

10. Chrysoprase: sea green.

11. Jacinth: violet, like the hyacinth.

12. Amethyst: purple, or ruby according to the International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia.

We are told that the City itself is of "pure gold, like unto clear glass" (21: 18). If this refers to the houses and homes of the inhabitants, then the redeemed are to live in palaces of transparent gold, and the streets are to be of the same material (21: 18, 21). We cannot imagine a city with such dwellings and streets to be unclean or to lack beauty.

Inside the city will be found the throne of God and of the Lamb, from where a pure river of water of life flows, and in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, will again be growing the tree of life (Gen.2:9, 3:22-24), restored for use by humanity: it will not only produce fruit, but its leaves will be used for the health of the nations.

The servants of God will have their name and that of the Lamb on their foreheads (Rev.3:12, 14:1), they will contemplate and serve God there, there will be no more curse, they will be always illuminated by the Lord God, and shall reign forever and ever.

 

 

 

 

The New Jerusalem

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

Rev 21:9-23 (NKJV)