Last 5 Days
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.
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.
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.
Have you ever been to a beautiful city? How did you try to describe it to your hearers, so that you can help them to vividly picture the city? The bible contained inspiring descriptions of the city of God (Psalm 48), the end-time city (Isaiah 2:2-3), and the new Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40-48). Often, these descriptions are meant to stir an appreciation for God’s faithfulness rather than to emphasize the literal details. Here in today’s passage, the detailed descriptions of this city, this new Jerusalem, evokes an appreciation of the glory of God (verses 11 and 23).
John saw a glorious city in his vision. That names were written on the gates and foundation stones (verses 12-14) would not have struck the audience then as unusual. City building projects that were funded by wealthy supporters often had the names of these supporters inscribed on them. Yet, in this passage, the names written on the gates and foundation stones were not of wealthy supporters. These names were those whose lives provided foundations for God’s people – the twelve tribes and twelve apostles. The naming of the twelve tribes and twelve apostles emphasizes the link and continuity between Israel of the Old Testament and Christ’s church of the New Testament.
The measuring rod (verse 15) is an important stage device that allows John to recognise the supernatural enormity of the city (verse 16). The numbers (12000 stadia and 144 cubits) may again be symbolic and the use of a square number like 144 may also be a direct contrast with the triangular number 666. But the new Jerusalem is not merely square, it is cubic, and it is so high that it is beyond human’s imagination. It also has walls and gates, and these were architectural pieces that would flaunt imperial triumphant during John’s time. Therefore, the usage of walls and gates in the vision is symbolic of God’s glory. Indeed, the new Jerusalem would not need either the sun or moon, because God Himself would be its glory and its continual light.
It is thus not surprising that a city that is like the Most Holy Place will not need a temple other than the Lord Himself. If the city was like the Most Holy Place, then our Lord will be right there in the city with the believers. Those whose names are in the “Lamb’s book of life” (verse 27) will be able to enter the city, and the gates of the new Jerusalem are never closed. Isn’t it wonderful to know that where we will be in the new Jerusalem is where God will be Himself, and we will be at a place that is akin to the holiest part of the temple? And not only are we with God our King, but also Christ, God’s Lamb, our Intercessor. We will be with God for eternally, we can continue to depend on Christ through all eternity!
Dear brothers and sisters, are you looking forward to the perfect intimacy with God? As we look forward to the promise of the new heaven and earth, may we enjoy the intimacy with God now through prayer. As we look forward to the continual experience of worship in the new Jerusalem, may we lift our hands up and enjoy the worship of God now. As the Holy Spirit indwells in us, may we enjoy the presence of God today, as we look forward to the perfect dwelling with God!
