REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 21.15

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

 

Chapter Twenty-One

The Eternal State

New Jerusalem – The City of God

(Blueprints of the City)

 

 

Introduction

Heaven is a real place of radiance and beauty. Visible will be the glory of God in New Jerusalem. Thankfully, John was able to view this perfect home of the Lamb’s Bride descending to earth and record its description.

 

Straightforward are three unimaginable features:

1. The twelve gates are inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes respectively commemorating God’s covenantal relationship with Israel

 

2. The twelve walls are inscribed with the names of the twelve Apostles commemorating God’s covenantal relationship to the Church

 

3. The twelve layers of foundations are jeweled with the most precious gemstones commemorating God’s glorious love for His people

 

The eternal city is also the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeemed believers:

Matthew 5:12a – Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven. 

 

Matthew 25:34 – Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom [of Heaven] prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

 

1 Peter 1:4 – [He] (hath begotten us) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you.

 

 

(Verse 15)

 

And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

 

As the angel of God communicates with John, Seemingly, he displays a heavenly ruler. Wielding a golden measuring rod, the angel metes out three components:

1. The city

2. The gates of the city

3. The wall of the city

 

The Measuring Rod

A measuring reed, rod, or stick (staff or cane) was a Hebrew unit of a measure calculated at six cubits; a cubit being about 18 inches. One would determine a cubit from his extended elbow to the tip of his third finger.

 

This reed, moreover, was gold. Gold as a precious metal is symbolic of something more powerful or greater. Now, by God’s requirement, preciseness is intended. 

Some biblical examples encompass:

1. When animals passed under the shepherd’s rod to be counted by a priest:

Leviticus 27:32 - And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

 

2. When God brought him to a mountaintop, Ezekiel saw an angel with a reed to provide measurements for the Temple:

Ezekiel 40:3 - And He brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

 

3. When John was prophetically told to apportion the Temple:

Revelation 11:1 - And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

 

 

(Verse 16)

 

And the city lieth four square and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

 

From his vantage point, John perceived the angel measuring the city with a golden measuring rod to God’s exact standard.

 

Measurements of New Jerusalem

Foursquare

New Jerusalem is a cubed city of perfection. Foursquare (tetragōnos) means a quadrangular square, i.e., an architectural structure having four sides as in a four-sided polygon, thus forming a perfect cube. The length is [as] large as the breath (large width)…and the length, height, and breadth of it are equal. This is God’s perfect and faultless symmetrical plan for His eternal city.

 

A Furlong

Somewhere between 1,382 and 1500 miles constitutes an ancient furlong or stadia (stadion) from which the English word stadium (or racecourse) is derived. Its conversion is 660 feet, 220 yards, or 1.25 miles. In Greek cities, like those of Olympia, a stadium or race course was 600 feet in length.

 

Some familiar distances in the United States would be encompassed:

1. From the top of Maine to the bottom of Florida

2. From Atlantic City, New Jersey to Denver, Colorado

3. From New York City to London, England

 

Using the greater number, twelve thousand furlongs, it is equivalent to 1,500 miles or 2 million, 250 thousand square miles. So individually, the length of each side (height, width, and length) would be 1,500 miles. Specifically, the city will ascend 1,000 miles high, meaning within the city there is enough room to accommodate six hundred floors. It is just overwhelmingly unimaginable.

 

The volume (inside measurement) of this cubed city is three billion, three hundred and seventy-five million, two hundred seventy-five thousand cubical miles (3,375,000,000). Three theorized possibilities as to the shape of the city are as follows:

1. The city is a cube within a crystal sphere

2. The city is a pyramid

3.  The city is a perfect cube

Most scholars agree with the latter.

 

Living Conditions

There is ample space for each individual, family, tribe, tongue, and nation. From the immensity of this city, it has been estimated, assuming that one-fourth (about 20 billion) of the world’s population (almost 8 billion people) is born again, and then each believer would roughly be allotted a seventy-five-acre cube. Most likely, the remaining three-quarters of the city would be for parks, streets, streams, rivers, and the River of Life originating from the Throne of God.

 

Having transformed bodies that defy the law of gravity, the space of each cube or mansion would be fully utilized. It is amazing to imagine what blessings lie ahead with which God has prepared.

 

Jesus promised those who accept Him:

John 14:3 - …I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

 

(Verse 17)

 

And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

 

The Wall of New Jerusalem

Continuing, the angel is now measuring the thickness of the eternal city’s wall. Nonetheless, if a cubit (from Latin, cubitus) is about eighteen inches (1 ½ foot), then one hundred and forty-four cubits would be equivalent to a wall being two hundred and sixteen feet (72 yards) thick. Imagine walking through a 216 ft. gate of pearl (v. 21) and having a diamond [and eleven other precious stones (Vv. 19-20)] wall illuminated by the light of the Lord.

 

According to the measure of a man, That is, of the angel [was using or used]

Simply stated, the measure of a man is equally the same as the angel’s measurements.

 

 

(Verse 18)

 

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

 

Building Materials

The Walls

The building material of the city’s entire wall is jasper. Jasper stones throughout the ages assumed various colours. While the modern jasper is opaque, verse 11 identifies it as being crystal clear and transparent [See also notes in Revelation Simplified 4.3 and 21.9]. Nonetheless, the Hebrew (יַהְלַם), which in the Authorized Version is rendered diamond. So John sees a brilliant diamond city radiating God’s glory.

 

The Appearance of the City

The city is of pure gold and clear as glass. This is a new form of gold from the hand of God. Not only New Jerusalem, but the street of the city is gold as well (v. 21).

 

It is said the gold found in Tutankhamun’s (King Tut) tomb in 1922 is equivalent to all gold reserves on the planet. And, its purity is (99.9%). But, all the gold in the world pales in comparison to the city and streets (v. 21). Hence, one hundred percent clear gold comprises God’s holy city - New Jerusalem [See also notes on Revelation study 3.18].

 

Jerusalem Compared

A. Present Jerusalem is an earthly terrestrial city

B. New Jerusalem is a heavenly celestial city

 

A. Earthly Jerusalem was built by man’s hands

B. Heavenly Jerusalem is built by God without hands

 

A. Earthly Jerusalem is built with stones, mortar, and wood

B. Heavenly Jerusalem is built of precious gems and clear gold

 

A. Earthly Jerusalem has been involved in a conflict for generations

B. Heavenly Jerusalem is an eternal home of everlasting peace

 

A. Earthly Jerusalem has the sun and moon as its light

B. Heavenly Jerusalem has the glory of God as its light

 

A. Earthly Jerusalem has an invisible God in Heaven

B. Heavenly Jerusalem has God living amongst His people

 

A. Earthly Jerusalem has no Tree of Life

B. New Jerusalem has the Tree of Life everlasting

 

The building materials of New Jerusalem continue in the next study.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   What does the angel of God measure?

2.   What is the importance of his measurements?

3.   What does foursquare mean?

4.   What does a furlong represent?

5.   Which measure is correct, man or the angel?

6.   What is the composition of the city’s wall?

7.   Describe the appearance of the city.

 

 

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