Revelation 21:9-21
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.
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.
After the plagues of judgement, the seven angels now spoke differently to John of the hope and goodness of God’s work for eternity. This pattern of the severity and grace of God is completed in the rooms prepared for us (John 14:2) now previewed by John in this Revelation, and recorded for us to anticipate the reality of the grace to be given in the new earth within the new heaven awaiting us. The bride of the Lamb is both the city and all who will live in it; this is the dwelling of those in the Lamb’s Book of Life, descending from God’s heaven and sitting on a high mountain. This city will have God’s glory and light which John put in words to describe what little he could for us. There are twelve gates showing the entrance of His first chosen people by tribe, and twelve foundations of Christ’s chosen apostles of the gospel. Both Israel and the fullness of the nations are His people in the new city of God on earth. Israel gave entrance to the Messiah and the apostles founded the details and fulfillment of Christ through the gospel preached. We see the judgement of God finished and the glory of His inheritance of us in Christ in the New Jerusalem with rooms prepared for all who are His. The dimensions of the great city are given, and the beauty of God’s chosen place to live with all His chosen people after the resurrection to eternal life with Him. We who are His will one day walk those streets of gold, yet all their splendor will go unnoticed as we look full in His wonderful face. Turn your eyes upon Jesus now to do so forever!
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