Revelation 21:18-27

18          The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

19          The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone 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, the twelfth, amethyst.

21          And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like a transparent glass.

22          I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23          And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

24          The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

25          In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;

26          And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;

27          and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The wall being made of jasper highlights the protection and eternal security of the New Jerusalem. This reflects God’s unchanging nature with the promises he makes and the people that follow him. In the ancient world, gold was often used to build temples and palaces. Gold being used here in the New Jerusalem shows that this came from God and it was perfectly created. It highlights its holiness and splendor. Now, something being as “pure as glass” suggests that it’ll be a clear and transparent place. Glass was not as refined as it is today. Pure, clear glass was a rare and valuable commodity, which symbolizes that this city will be free from impurity and corruption. This city will reflect God’s perfect and unblemished nature. It shows the openness and accessibility of God’s presence. The vision of the New Jerusalem provides us with hope for the future. It reminds us that our ultimate home is with God, and we should live with an eternal perspective. We should still work towards making our earth a safe and loving place for all of God’s creation. Our mission is to spread the message of the Gospel through our words and actions to all parts of the world. We are going to make sure that those around us have an equal right to life, having their needs met, and they are loved as God loves us.

The use of precious stones was a source of beauty, value, and permanence. These stones were a symbol of wealth and status. These precious stones are associated with the high priest’s breastplate, symbolizing God’s people and covenant. Let’s go through these gems to talk about their meaning. It’s a good study trick as well to do this – so that when you see them in other parts of the Bible, you can see how they affect the narrative:

• Jasper:                purity and holiness
• Sapphire:          heaven and divine revelation; represents the heavenly origin and nature of the New Jerusalem; emphasizes the connection to God’s throne.
• Chalcedony:   beauty and diversity of God’s creation; symbolizes the inclusivity of believers in God’s Kingdom
• Emerald:           life, renewal, and immorality; highlights the promises of eternal life and the renewal of creation in God’s presence.
• Sardonyx:         strength and beauty; represents the blending of divine and human elements
• Carnelian:        courage and protection; symbolizes strength and dignity; endures strength and dignity; highlights the fulfillment of God’s promises
• Chrysolite:       protection and associated with the sun; known for abundance and prosperity; signifies eternal prosperity and the light of God’s presence.
• Topaz:                 antiquity, clarity, and brilliance; represents faithfulness and obedience; underscores faithful of God’s covenant and the clarity of His truth.
• Chrysoprase: healing and renewal; symbolizes the city’s eternal renewal and healing presence of God; reflects the promise of new life and restoration in God’s kingdom.
• Jacinth:              protection; strength and victory; city’s eternal victory over sin and death through Christ’s death.
• Amethyst:        royalty and spiritual wisdom; represents understanding and discernment; highlights the city’s royal status and the spiritual wisdom of God’s eternal kingdom.

The variety of the stones signifies the diversity within the body of Christ. Each believer, like each stone, has a unique role and beauty, contributing to the overall splendor of God’s kingdom. Each of us is unique, different, and attacks the world with a different skillset. We all have different gifts given to us by God to conduct the different plans he set out for us. Each of us can recognize that we are bad at something and great at something. We all have our place in this world, and we celebrate others who fill that place. However, we often condemn, judge, and bully others when they find their place because it’s not how we would operate, or they operate in a way that does not feel comfortable to us. There is a selfish mindset that we run off of nowadays. We must work to understand, comprehend, and support those around us – regardless of how they live their life. Again – we are not the judge of their life. The judgment resides with God. Now – we are taught that the Bible is used to teach, rebuke (correct), and live. This is Paul’s guidance to Timothy, and to us. We should read the Bible in a way to teach us, correct us, and give us the wisdom to live. It is not to say that we should go out and teach others to live that way. You can talk about it, offer it, etc. If they don’t want to listen, so be it. At the end of the day, it’s up to God to cast judgment.

The use of pearls for the gates was unique and significant. Pearls were considered extremely valuable and rare, representing purity and beauty. In the natural world, pearls being the size of gates do not exist, showing that this design was of divine origin. This can also represent the unity and perfection of God’s creation or represent the unity of new believers through Christ. The use of pure gold for the main streets represents the holiness and majesty of God’s divinity. In ancient history, gold was the most precious metal – often used in the construction of temples and palaces. The purity of gold shows the absence of impurity or sin. The idea of gold being as clear as glass suggests a divine level of purity and transparency. Glass shows clarity and truth. This shows the complete transparency and righteousness of the New Jerusalem. The pure gold, clear as glass, represent the holiness and purity required to dwell in God’s presence. Believers are reminded to pursue holiness in their daily lives, reflecting the character of God. Holiness refers to being set apart for God. It’s doing the things that God calls us to do that the world may shun, frown upon, or judge us heavily. God wants us believers to stand out in the world, to be the beacon to represent his light. God wants us to make sure we represent ourselves with the same love, grace, compassion, mercy, faithfulness, and forgiveness that he shares with us. If we think about it, those traits can feel hard find in a person nowadays – making it feel unique. That’s true holiness.

Throughout the Old Testament, the temple was the central place of worship and the swelling place of God’s presence among His people. Temple was a symbol of God’s promise with Israel and a place where sacrifices and offerings were made. In the New Jerusalem, there is no need for a physical temple because God’s presence is fully realized and accessible to all. God’s presence is not confined to a building but is shown in the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. The presence of God and the Lamb as the temple signifies the complete and eternal relationship between God and his people. The imagery of God and the Lamb as the temple emphasizes the intimate relationship believers will have with God. This encourages a deeper personal relationship with Him now. God did not create us to do life alone. Now, we typically hear that with ideal of being in relationship or in community, but we cannot do life without God. Having our creator, heavenly father, guide, teacher, source of wisdom and strength, cheerleader among many other titles with us 24/7 without restriction is something that believers can be taken for granted or something that we may not have thought off before today.

In the new creation, the heavenly city does not rely on the sun or moon for light. The absence of the sun and moon signifies the complete sufficiency and supremacy of God’s presence. The glory of God provides the light for the city. This divine illumination signifies God’s direct and unmediated presence with His people, fulfilling the promise of God dwelling among His people. This light is pure, holy, and eternal, which contrasts the temporary and imperfect light of the sun and the moon. (Puts a weird divine perspective on the moon having phases) The Lamb being the lamp highlights the centrality of Christ in the new creation, where His presence is the source of life and truth. Jesus, the Lamb, is our guide and source of truth. We should rely on Him for direction and understanding in our daily walk. Each day brings it’s own challenges, successes, and everything in between. We need to make sure we check in with God throughout the day to ensure that we are sticking to the path that honors him with all of our being. It would also allow us to share our praise with God and vent our concerns/prayers with him as well. This frees the stress, anxiety, and panic on our minds and lets us go forward with our day living our best life for God.

The “light” symbolizes divine truth and righteousness, which guides the nations. Light often represents God’s presence and guidance. The nations walking by this light suggests a time of peace and unity coming under God’s rule. Kings would bring gifts to honor a greater king/deity. The “glory” mentioned should be wealth, honor, and cultural achievements of the nation. Overall, they acknowledge that all true glory belongs to God. God’s kingdom is inclusive, welcoming people from every nation and background. This challenges believers to embrace diversity within the body of Christ. It’s hard to wrap our minds around this, because many Christians (typically older Christians in the Baby Boomer and Gen-X) that people of a different ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation are not “normal” and are not welcome to the same rights as they have. Churches can be a culturally diverse and divisive place depending on how progressive the community is (and that itself is a difficult statement because God’s sole teaching to the church is that ALL believers can go before him boldly with confidence and clarity. We as believers and people are not to get in the way of people of any background trying to achieve a relationship with Christ.

The open gates in this passage symbolize perpetual safety and security showing that the New Jerusalem is a place of eternal peace. This imagery also suggests unrestricted access to God’s presence – reinforcing the inclusivity and welcoming nature of God’s kingdom. Night often symbolizes darkness, evil, and uncertainty. The absence of night shows the complete eradication of sin and evil and solidification of God’s eternal light. The perpetual light shows God’s eternal light and presence. The open gates represent the unhindered access for believers to God through Jesus. We are encouraged to approach God with confidence and assurance. As I mentioned, we are invited to come to God boldly and confidently without fear and judgment – yet many Christians cause it. This is evil. This is not what God called us to do. Let us be confident in God’s teaching and assurance, and trust that God knows what he is doing.

The New Jerusalem is the culmination of the biblical prophecies, showcasing the eternal dwelling place of God with humanity. The act of bringing suggests a continuous and voluntary offering, representing the worship and reverence that the nations will show towards God. Glory often refers to the visible manifestation of God’s presence, while honor signifies respect and reverence. This shows us that all that is valuable and praiseworthy in human culture will be offered to God, purified and redeemed. The inclusion of nations signifies the universal scope of God’s redemptive plan. It fulfills the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12. The bringing of glory and honor into the city suggests the importance of using our resources and talents for God’s kingdom purposes, contributing to His eternal glory. I know the last 6 months I have had a primary focus on what the end of the world will look like, as I have gone through the Book of Revelation. I don’t want this to be your excuse to quit working towards bringing the mission of God down to the earth. God still calls us to share his message to all parts of the world, through both our words and actions. We should still work to meet the needs of those with less, to speak up and fight for the voiceless and marginalized, and to still spread kindness and compassion in whatever ways possible. We don’t know when this final judgment will happen or when the New Jerusalem will be set up, but we don’t quit and wait.

“Unclean” refers to anything that is morally or ritually impure. The concept of purity is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where the Israelites were given laws to distinguish between clean and unclean. The term “abomination” describes actions that are detestable to God, such as idolatry and moral corruption. Lies and deceit are also condemned throughout the Bible. This shows the exclusion of those who persist in sin and rebellion against God from the holy city. The idea of the “Lamb’s Book of Life” is rooted in the idea of divine records. The Lamb connects to Jesus’s sacrificial death and victory over sin and death. Those that have accepted Christ’s atonement and have transformed by His grace are granted access to the New Jerusalem. The promise of entering this new Jerusalem is a source of hope and motivation for believers to persevere in their faith. This community is not something to wait for. This community is a reward for those who continue to commit their lives and follow God’s commands in the world today. It’s not an overarching thing that will happen for all – it’s a system that ensures God’s believers are reward for the atypical way of life.

Next Part: Earth 2.0 – Part 4