After the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth, one of the angels that had the seven bowls came to John and showed him the New Jerusalem, the Lamb’s wife.
Revelation 21:9 NKJV 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.”
The New Jerusalem, is a literal city that is called the Lamb’s wife due to the fact that all of God’s people are gathered there. The city is prepared as a bride in beauty, purity and splendor. What John saw in verse 2 is now being shown in greater detail. This is the inheritance of God’s people. The city is the habitation of the redeemed of the Lord. As Jesus was preparing to go back to the Father, He told His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you,” (John 14:1-4). That prepared place is for the bride of Christ.
Revelation 21:10 NKJV 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,
As with much of the Revelation, John was under the influence of the Holy Spirit when he was shown the great city, the holy Jerusalem from outside on a great and high mountain. The language indicates some of the magnitude and infinite and indescribable power of God. After the holy city has been prepared, it descends out of heaven from God. After the heavens and earth have been made new, they are prepared for the holy city. The city is not only prepared for the Lamb’s bride, it is also prepared for God’s holy presence.
Revelation 21:11 NKJV having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
The city is filled and radiant with the glory of God. The radiance of the city is not just from the fabric it is made of but from the radiant glory of God. Moses and Israel saw a manifestation of God’s glory in the tabernacle in the wilderness, (Exodus 40:34-35). When they saw His glory, it filled the tabernacle, but now the entire Holy City is filled with God’s glory.
Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
The overall appearance of the city is like a precious stone. John is being shown the radiant glory of God that is upon the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. He describes what he sees as a precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. What John saw was clear as crystal.
Jasper is a stone that may be in many different colors (yellow, green, red, or blue). Comparing the New Jerusalem with a jasper stone indicates the radiant glory that emanates from the city has a full spectrum of light like a rainbow. The crystal clarity of the city is a testimony of the holiness, purity and glory of God that transcends anything known in this present world. The whole city is given light by the glory of God. The city has the radiance and brilliance of the undiminished glory of God.
The appearance of the New Jerusalem is similar in glory to the throne of God that Ezekiel saw.
Ezekiel 1:26 NKJV And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.
Sapphire can range in colors from royal blue to every color in the spectrum.
Ezekiel 1:27 NKJV Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around.
Amber is usually a golden color but can be red and blue. The appearance was like fire all around and within it.
Ezekiel 1:28 NKJV Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Revelation 21:12 NKJV 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:
The holy city has great and high walls. The walls are not needed for defense for there will be no enemies since all evil has been removed. The great and high walls appear to be for definition and the exclusion of anything that would defile. It appears that God has put a defining wall around that which belongs to Him. Everything that is behind the walls has been made perfect and share in the glory and presence of God. In the Wilderness Tabernacle, God told Moses to build a curtain around to separate the holy from the profane. God is saying the New Jerusalem is holy to the Lord.
Revelation 21:13 NKJV three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
There are twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates. The twelve angels are a testimony that access into the City of God and protection comes from God. Access into the New Jerusalem is only granted through the salvation that has been provided by God through Christ. The gates on every side of the city shows that access has been granted through the Lord Jesus Christ to any who will come to Him.
The number 12 is used often in the city.
- The 12 gates have the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, (21:12) with 12 angels standing guard at the 12 gates, (21:12
- There are 12 foundations with the names of the 12 apostles, (21:14)
- There are 12 pearls that make up the twelve gates, (21: 21)
- The wall is 144 cubits (12 X 12), (21:17)
- The height, width, and length of the city is 12,000 furlongs or 1,500 miles, (21:16)
- The tree of life yields 12 fruits every month, (22:2)
Revelation 21:14 NKJV Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The names of the twelve tribes of Israel are on the gates and the twelve Apostles on the foundations. Both Israel and the church have part in the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:15-16 NKJV And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 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.
A furlong is about 200 yards and twelve thousand furlongs is approximately 1,500 miles. That is about the distance from New York to Houston, Texas. The Holy City is 1,500 miles long, wide, and high. This is a total of 2,250,000 square miles. It is unclear if the city is a cube or more like a mountain. The Holy Place in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness was more of a cube in shape. Since it was built on the pattern of things in heaven, it is likely that the New Jerusalem is a cube in shape.
Revelation 21:17 NKJV Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
One hundred and forty-four cubits is about two-hundred and sixteen feet. It is difficult to tell if the measurement is the height or width of the wall. We should take the description of the city literally. It is not a description of wealth but the glory of God that is present throughout the city.
Revelation 21:18 NKJV The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
None of the materials of this present earth can compare with the beauty and splendor of that city. The walls are 200-feet thick jasper. Comparing verse 11 with verse 18 lets us know that the jasper is so pure that it is transparent and radiates the reflection of God’s glory. The gold of the street is so pure it is clear as glass. Everything about the City of God reflects God’s glory.
Revelation 21:18 NKJV The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
None of the materials of this present earth can compare with the beauty and splendor of that city. The walls are 200-feet thick jasper. Comparing verse 11 with verse 18 lets us know that the jasper is so pure that it is transparent and radiates the reflection of God’s glory. The gold of the street is so pure it is clear as glass. Everything about the City of God reflects God’s glory.
Revelation 21:19-20 NKJV 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, 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.
- Jasper—a green, or red
- Sapphire—a blue
- Chalcedony—sky blue with stripes of other colors
- Emerald— green
- Sardonyx—red and white
- Sardius— fiery red
- Chrysolite—a yellow golden brightness
- Beryl—a blue-green
- Topaz—green-yellow and transparent
- Chrysoprase—pale purple
- Jacinth—violet
- Amethyst—a purple
It is good to remember that although we have precious stones of all of these types, nothing in this present world compares with what God has prepared in heaven.
Revelation 21:21 NKJV 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.
The gates of the city are individual pearls that are created by God. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. Everything about the appearance of the New Jerusalem is a reflection of the glory of God.
Revelation 21:22 NKJV But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Jerusalem throughout the ages has been the location of the temple of God. Even in the Millennium, the Temple is the focus of the city. In the New Jerusalem, there is no temple, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. What does that mean? God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will be present. God’s presence will not be limited to one building in the New Jerusalem. God will dwell with His people and the whole city will be permeated with His glory and presence.
Revelation 21:23 NKJV 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.
The glory of God will be the light.
Isaiah 60:19-20 NKJV “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the Lord will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning shall be ended.
The physical light of the New Jerusalem will be the glory of the Lamb of God. This is also a testimony that no evil or sin shall enter that city.
In this New Jerusalem, all of the glory and honor will be given to the Lord of glory.
Revelation 21:24 NKJV And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
Regardless of the positions individuals have had in all of the nations of the earth, they will give all glory and honor to the Lamb of God. None of the splendor and glory of the kings of this present earth are worthy to be compared with the glory of that city.
Revelation 21:25-26 NKJV Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
All of the citizens of the New Jerusalem will walk in the light of the glory of God. Everyone will live continually in the unbroken presence and light of the glory of God.
Revelation 21:27 NKJV But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
It is apparent that the New Heaven and New Earth and the New Jerusalem will be completely different from anything that we have known in this present time.
Revelation 22:1 NKJV And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
The pure river of water of life is a literal river, but it is also a testimony of the purity and holiness of God that flows through the New Jerusalem. It is a pure river of water of life. This is similar to the literal river that flows from Jerusalem during the Millennial Reign of Christ, (Ezekiel 47:1,12, Zechariah 14:8). While showing John this river of life, more of a description of the New Jerusalem is revealed.
Revelation 22:2 NKJV In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
There will be a main street in the New Jerusalem that leads to the throne of God. It appears that the river of life flows down the middle of the main street of the Holy City.
Remember the New Jerusalem is 1,500 miles across and this river runs through the city bring refreshment, beauty and life. The tree of life is seen on both sides of the river. It yields fruit year round and brings life and healing or the blessing of God in the eternal state. It quenches thirsts, satisfies desires, fulfills and completes life. The imagery of the river of life and tree of life shows the vital connection to the throne of God. Life, purity, and blessing flow from the throne of God.
Revelation 22:3 NKJV And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
The effects of the post-Edenic curse will forever be gone and will be remembered no more. God is going to restore life, health and the function of all things to the position of harmony with Himself. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in the Holy City. God will dwell with us and be our God.
Revelation 22:4 NKJV They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
The redeemed of the Lord shall behold the face of God. This is a wonderful revelation and exposure to God. We shall behold Him and our spiritual and physical faculties will be so dramatically changed that we shall be enabled to know Him as He is and look upon His face.
1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
His name shall be on their foreheads is an indication that they shall forever be identified with their God. Moses experienced some of the glory of God on Sinai and his face did shine with the glory for many days. They shall be eternally marked as His.
Revelation 22:5 NKJV There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.