The Wall and Light of New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:15-21 gives a description of Holy Jerusalem. This article describes the wall and the Light of New Jerusalem.
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references I mention.
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15. This angel is talking. John had a golden reed to measure the city.
The temple on earth was measured in Ezekiel 40 and the temple during the Tribulation was measured in Revelation 11:1. (Two Witnesses)
“The significance of all three measurements is that they mark out what belongs to God.” (MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 12-22. [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2000], 281)
The measurement in Revelation 11:1 “did not tell us the dimensions. Here he does so. There, the measuring symbolized God’s protection; here it demonstrates the awesome greatness and perfection of the city.” (Easley, Kendell H., Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. [Nashville: B&H, 1998], 399)
16. Easley calls it “perfectly square and it was high as it is long.” [NIV] (399)
He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[a] in length, and as wide and high as it is long.
a. That is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometers [NIV]
“Each side of the city measured 12,000 stadia, about 1400 miles, the distance from Dallas to Los Angeles.” [NIV] (Easley, 399)
MacArthur quotes Henry M. Morris:
“Morris calculates that each person’s ‘cube’ would be approximately seventy-five acres on each side.” (The Revelation Record [Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale, 1983], 450)
“Were that city be superimposed on the present-day United States, it would extend from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and from Colorado to the Atlantic Ocean (The Revelation Record, 450) (MacArthur, 282)
Human Measurements
17. “As if to emphasize that the city’s dimensions are literal and not mystical, John adds the parenthetical footnote that those dimensions were given according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. (NASB1995)” (MacArthur, 282)
And it was 144 cubits [about 200 feet or about 65 meters] thick.[ Or high] [NIV]
“The angel measured the wall at 144 cubits, about two hundred feet. Whether this is meant as the height or thickness of the wall is not clear…Perhaps it is best to see this dimension as the number of tribes of Israel multiplied by the number of the apostles (vv. 12-13), another representation of the people of God throughout time.” [NIV] (Easley, 399)
18. “Beauty, rather than protection, is the motive in design. It is a wall with jasper built into it and is generally designates as a jasper wall. The hardest of substances and the most beautiful gem constitute the exterior of the city.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume V: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 1071)
“The most desirable of all metals is pure gold.“ [NIV] (Easley, 400)
“The new Jerusalem’s walls and buildings must be clear for the city to radiate the glory of God.” (MacArthur, 282)
Foundations
19-20. “John describes the materials with which the foundations of the city walls were decorated.” [NIV] (Easley, 400)
“A close examination of these twelve stone in the foundation reveals a polychromed paragon of beauty; varied hues and tints form a galaxy of rainbow colors.” (McGee, 1071)
McGee lists these precious stones: (Verses 19 and 20)
1. Jasper—its color is clear. This is probably the diamond.
2. Sapphire—its color is blue. (Exodus 24:10)
3. Chalcedony—its color is greenish. It is an agate.
4. Emerald—its color is green.
5. Sardonyx—its color is red.
6. Sardius—its color is fiery red.
7. Chrysolyte (chrysolite)—its color is golden yellow.
8. Beryl—its color is green.
9. Topaz—its color is greenish yellow. (sea green)
10. Chrysoprasus [chrysoprase]—its color is gold-green.
11. Jacinth—its color is violent. It is the color of hyacinth.
12. Amethyst—its color is purple.
The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.
(McGee, 1071) [See also (Easley, 400) and (MacArthur, 282)]
Streets of New Jerusalem
21. “Jesus had told a parable about a man who sold all he had to purchase a costly pearl. (Matthew 13:45-46). Pearls were as highly prized in the ancient world as they are today.” (Easley, 400)
“If the dimensions for the wall hold for the gates, then the pearls are at least two hundred feet in diameter. Again, our imaginations are stretched past the breaking point.” (Easley, 400)
“The streets in the New Jerusalem were made of the highest quality pure gold which, like everything else in the heavenly city, was transparent like glass.” (MacArthur, 284)
“For the city street to be transparent as glass (revealing that it was flawless) shows that every citizen of the heavenly city will have access to far more that the wealthiest human who ever lived. It is also worth noting that in the ancient temple of Israel, the priests walked on gold floors; now every citizen has the same privilege and beyond.” (1 Kings 6:30) (Easley, 401)
The Lamb is the Light
22. John did not see a temple.
The temple in Israel “was an earthly enclosure for the shekinah glory. It was a testimony to the presence of God and the presence of sin. Where sin existed, God could be approached only by the ritual of the temple.” (McGee, 1073)
“There is no need for a temple in the new Jerusalem. for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” [NASB1995] (MacArthur, 284)
“Believers will be constantly in His presence (cf. 21:3); there will never be a moment when they are not in perfect, holy, communion with the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. (NASB1995) (MacArthur, 284)
23. “God lights the new creation directly by His presence.” (McGee, 1073)
Light comes from the glory of God.
No need to turn on a lamp because the Lamb is the light thereof.
24. Easley tells us that “these verses (24-26) are challenging to interpret.” (402)
One interpretation is:
“The ‘nations’ and their ‘kings’ are Gentiles and their leaders who have been redeemed, while the city dwellers are Israelite.” (Easley, 402)
Nations “can also mean ‘people,’ and is most frequently ‘Gentiles’ [from the Greek]” (MacArthur, 285)
“Another possible interpretation is that this phrase refers to the believers living at the end of the Millennium.” (MacArthur, 286)
Praise God
25. There is no need for the gates to be shut.
“They are going to throw away the key because there will be no danger.” (McGee, 1074)
“It will be a place of rest, safety, and refreshment, where God’s people will ‘rest from their labors’ (14:13)” (MacArthur, 286)
26. This “suggests that endlessly in heaven the saints will have opportunity to bring praise to God by offering up to him the best of our accomplishments.” (Easley, 403)
27. “All in heaven will be perfectly holy.” (MacArthur, 286)
“First, those who have done what is shameful could also be translated ‘what is abominable.’” (Easley, 403)
“Second, those who have done what is deceitful, that is have worked or spoken lies, are excluded (see v.8, where all liars were sent to the fiery lake).” (Easley, 403)
“By contrast, the true citizens are defined as those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (see 20:15).” [NIV] (Easley, 403)
Is your name in the book of life.
Do you want your name in the Book of Life?
References
Unless otherwise noted; Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version
In this article Scripture quotations taken from the NIV. Copyright by Biblica, Inc.®
In this article Scripture quotations taken from the NASB1995. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
Easley, Kendell H., Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. Nashville: B&H, 1998
MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 12-22. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2000
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume V: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
