Rev 21:12-22 | Geneva | STEP | {9} And had a wall great and high, [and] had {10} twelve gates, and at the gates {11} twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (9) A particular description of the celestial Church, first, by its essential parts, compared to a city down to verse 22, . Secondly, from the outside, to the end of the chapter . Thirdly, by the effects, in the beginning of the next chapter, the essential parts are noted the matter and the form in the whole work: of these the superstructure and foundation of the wall are entire parts (as they use to be called) which parts are first described in figure, to the 14th verse afterwards more exactly. (10) According to the number of the tribes. For here the outward part is attributed to the Old Testament, and the foundation of the New Testament. (11) He means the prophets, who are the messengers of God, and watchmen of the Church.

Revelation of John 21:12-22

{9} And had a wall great and high, [and] had {10} twelve gates, and at the gates {11} twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

(9) A particular description of the celestial Church, first, by its essential parts, compared to a city down to verse 22, Re 21:12-22. Secondly, from the outside, to the end of the chapter Re 21:23-27. Thirdly, by the effects, in the beginning of the next chapter, the essential parts are noted the matter and the form in the whole work: of these the superstructure and foundation of the wall are entire parts (as they use to be called) which parts are first described in figure, to the 14th verse afterwards more exactly. (10) According to the number of the tribes. For here the outward part is attributed to the Old Testament, and the foundation of the New Testament. (11) He means the prophets, who are the messengers of God, and watchmen of the Church. And the wall of the city had {12} twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

(12) That is, foundation stones, according to the number of the gates, as is shown in Re 21:19. {13} And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

(13) A transition to a more exquisite description of the parts of the Church, by finding out its size, by the angel that measured them. {14} And the city lieth {b} foursquare, 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.

(14) The measure and form most equal, in two verses. (b) A foursquare figure has equal sides, and outright corners, and therefore the Greeks call by this name those things that are steady, and of continuance and perfect. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of the {c} angel.

(c) He adds this, because the angel had the shape of a man. {15} And the building of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto clear glass.

(15) The matter most precious and glittering, which the presence of God makes most glorious. And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the {d} street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

(d) By street, he means the broadest place of the city.