WEDNESDAY
Today we move to the second movement of the New Creation narrative in this chapter, and will continue to 22:5.
Revelation 21:9-14 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.
The angel says that he will show John the “Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” If you’ve been following along in this campaign, you’ll remember that this is a reference to the church, the people of God. The angel then proceeds, however, to show John the new Jerusalem, as we saw a few verses earlier. This has led some to conclude that this is just a metaphor for the people of God. This is possible, but I think it’s best not to restrict it to just the people of God. It seems the city is a metaphor both for the new creation and the people of God. It is both a people and a place.
Revealing the new creation in the form of a city would have been a surprise in the Greco-Roman world, as future scenes of happiness and peace are usually described as a rural setting. By using a city, John is likely suggesting that the new creation will be full of culture and human ingenuity under the lordship of God.
The city is adorned with beautiful jewels. The prostitute of chapter 17 is similarly adorned with jewels (17:4) and Rome is full of jewels (18:12). These being in the holy city imply that the jewels and riches themselves are not evil. It is the exploitative and oppressive means by which they are acquired that is condemned.
The high walls and the angels guarding the gates signify the security and safety of the people of God in the new creation.
The twelve tribes of Israel are written on the gates and the twelve apostles of Christ are written on the foundations. This implies the oneness of the people of God. The story of God and the way to salvation are written through the people of God in the Old and New Testaments. The church, believers in Jesus, are the true children of Abraham, carrying on the story of God as his people. The gates facing every direction imply that people will come from every nation to be a part of the people of God. The apostles being the foundation symbolize that the fulfillment of all the promises to Israel rests on Christ and the testimony of his apostles.
The angel measuring the city communicates the idea that it is built and protected. The new creation, the people of God will stand forever and will prosper under God’s care. The measurements suggest this is a figurative city—12,000 stadia is between 1,400 and 1,500 miles (about half the span of the US from east to west)! The size of the city implies that there are many counted among the people of God and there is room for them all. The city is a perfect cube, like the holy of holies in the temple (1 Kg. 6:20). The 144 cubits (about 216 ft) is likely describing the thickness of the wall, again communicating the idea that it is safe. Thick, high walls were of vital importance to the safety of ancient cities. This is a symbol, again, as the 144 indicates 12x12. A 216 foot thick wall is wild! Twelve is the number of the kingdom that implies God’s rule and authority.
John lists the jewels likely as a hyperlink back to the jewels on the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:17-20; 39:10-13) representing the 12 tribes of Israel. These stones likely represent the people of God as the priests of the Lord.
The gates are made of pearls, each a single pearl! Pearls were the most expensive and luxurious of all jewels. The streets are made of pure gold. These emphasize the beauty and elegance of the people of God and the new creation.
Reflection
This is beautiful! Use your imagination to imagine this scene as best you can and simply thank God for the beauty and elegance of the new creation—yourself as a new creation as well.