Revelation 21:10-17

10          So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

11          It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone – like jasper as clear as crystal.

12          The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.

13          There were three gates on each side – east, north, south, and west.

14          The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15          The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16          When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.

17          Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).

This vision shown to us in the rest of Revelation 21 and the start of Revelation 22 shows us what our new home with God will be like. We won’t be disappointed by it, but filled with joy and wonder

The jasper represents God’s purity and majesty. The New Jerusalem will be a place where God can reign with power and presence. With the Jasper being crystal clear, we see that the new city will be pure and untainted. For us, we’re called to live for purity in our own lives. The goal of that purity is found in the transformation of becoming more like Jesus. We no longer would have to abide by the standards and the morals of the earth but instead reflect the teachings and commands of our loving, heavenly Creator.

The number 12 is often associated with the divine concept of order and completeness. (Think about the 12 tribes of Israel in Genesis or the 12 disciples Jesus had in the Gospels) The gates suggest to us that the New Jerusalem will be a welcoming and accessibly place, similar to how the Kingdom of God is available to all people. The tribes, as mentioned, represent the 12 original tribes of Israel and the promise that God gave to them (seen in Genesis 12:1-3 to Abraham). The angels represent divine guardianship and the holiness of the city. The high wall around the city signifies the ultimate security and peace found in God’s Eternal Kingdom. This is a place where nothing unclean can enter. What does something being impure or unclean mean? Theologically, it represents those things that misalign the teachings and commands of God. If God is pure, then anything that attempts to represent God but doesn’t do it to its proper extent is impure. Basically, we must be aware of those things that claim to be from God, but they are from the evil spirits of the world.

The number 3 symbolizes completeness and divine perfection. We talked about how the gates represented Gods welcoming energy and the accessibility into his kingdom earlier, so now the city is welcome on all angles for all people. The east represents the direction from where God’s glory appears. The north is associated with God’s judgment and power. The south is associated with warmth and blessing. The west represents the unknown and Gentile nations. The gates on all four sides of the New Jerusalem signify that God’s invitation is open to all people regardless of their background or origin. This is something many Christians struggle with today. We often restrict people of different backgrounds from participating in leadership roles or condemn those who live a different lifestyle (often a lifestyle that is not something that we would live or one that repels us if we thought we would do it.) God’s love is accessible to all people – so why would we create a barrier to stop it? Jesus died to remove the barrier at the Temple; to allow all of God’s people to go to him boldly and confidently. We are not called to judge people – for that judgment exists with that person and God. We are called to guide and nudge – but that’s all. We cannot force, dictate, and push people to live a life that they were not created to live. If they don’t want to accept our advice/concerns/etc., then we accept it, love that person as they are, extend compassion, mercy and grace to them as God does for us, and ensure that they are loved and treated as God’s beautiful creation.

A wall often represents divine security and protection. The foundations of the wall represent the permanence and stability of God’s Kingdom. The apostles are highlighted here for their role in spreading the Gospel and showing the ministry of God. Just as the wall of the New Jerusalem provides security, believers can find their security in the teachings and person of Jesus Christ. We know we cannot trust our world to be secure eternally. As a millennial, Lord knows after walking so many unprecedented events, this world is not stable. What is stable is the word of God. God’s word is always present, even when times are changing. While time goes on, the events of the world are the same. As I’ve been saying – it’s the same flavor, but different recipe. Different things may lead to the end result, but it’s the same result. We must lean on the word of God to guide us through these unprecedented times and see how we can work to get things on the right track.

Angels represent divine authority and significance of what they reveal. Gold is symbol of purity and divinity. The act of measuring signifies God’s ownership and the precision of what he plans for the world. The use of a golden rod highlights God’s standards of righteousness and purity. We should strive to align our lives with His standard. What is that standard? Love. Jesus taught us that two greatest commands are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The ten commandments can be broken down into these commands. Commandments #1-4 are about loving God and Commandments #5-10 are about loving your neighbor. Romans 13:10 says that “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” (NLT) Love is what God is about. Unfortunately, some ministers and teachers get this wrong and display God in the wrong image. God is a loving God, and we are called to reflect that love to the rest of the world.

The square suggests perfection and completeness. It reflects God’s divine order and symmetry. Squares often represent stability and perfection. The act of measuring, as mentioned earlier, is associated with ownership, judgment, or preparation for construction; the equal dimensions reflect God’s perfection and completeness. The 1,400 miles are 12,000 stadia in Greek. The number 12,000 is a combination imagery. It combines the number 12 (which represents the tribes of Israel and the apostles) and the number 1,000 (which represents the completeness or vastness of God). Combined, it represents the completeness of God’s people. The equal length, width, and height indicates the entire city is a sacred space where God’s presence dwells. The detailed measurement reflects the certainty and reliability of God’s promises. Jesus as the New Jerusalem is precisely measured, God’s promises are sure and will be fulfilled. God’s promises are yes and amen. They are gifted to us as a parent gives to their child. As we rely on the intricates details of the different parts of our lives, we can rely on God’s word to ensure that our eternal lives are planted in and through him.

Measuring, again, establishes boundaries and confirms God’s divine order. This reflects God’s precise and perfect design. The 216 feet is 144 cubits. The number 144 (12 x 12) – represents a double completeness and perfection. It reflects the complete and perfect protection and security of God’s people within the city. The act of using human standards means that this new city is something that we can comprehend. It’s a reassurance that God’s promises are magical or fantasy, but real.

Next Part – Earth 2.0 – Part 3