Rev 21:18 | KingComments | STEP | . The city has “the glory of God”. That goes beyond the robe of the bride, which is woven by herself, although the robe is given to her by God. In Christ we see the light of the glory of the knowledge of God ( ) and here the church has that glory. The church is as completely in harmony with God as Christ is. As the glory of God is seen in Christ, so the glory of God is seen in it (cf. ). What has been revealed in the Lord Jesus will also be seen in this city. Considering that this applies to people who by nature had no part in the glory of God ( ), isn’t it an indescribable grace? It is indeed nothing but grace through which you have been made partaker of it ( ). Therefore you are now able to boast in the hope on the glory of God ( ) that has become a reality in this section. The glory of God, as it is expressed in Revelation 4 ( ), is in all kinds of ways also the part of the church. The jasper stone which is mentioned there, you also find here, and also in . This stone can be compared to the diamond known to us, which can be cut in such a way that the light is reflected in a variety of magnificent colors. The glow of light, which will soon be visible in full unhindered glory, should now already be radiated by the church (cf. ). That is only possible by the Spirit ( ; ). . The church is built in a way that it can reflect or transmit the glory of God without anything interrupting or obscuring that glory. This is because she has a wall and gates and foundations. A wall ensures safety ( ) and holiness and divides between the holy and the profane ( ). In this city all the saints have gathered who have glorified God in their life on earth. The wall makes sure that nothing can enter the city that does not belong there ( ), which now is still possible in the church ( ; ). But it is a wall with gates. Gates are related to government. In former days court cases were held in the gates of cities ( ). The great emphasis on the gates underscores the significance of the city as a governing body. The gates allow the good to enter and keep the evil outside. A gate also means a secure and controlled access to the temple. Gates form a connection between the city and the earth during the kingdom of peace. The angels are the servants at the gates, they are the guards. Their task as channels of God’s blessing as in the Old Testament is over. That task is for the church ( ). The wall with its gates is to the greater glory of God ( ). Names are written on the gates. That has to do with the custom that gates were named after the cities which they were leading to. The Damascus gate, for example, is the gate through which you come on the way to Damascus. The gates with the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel indicate that the blessings of the church will go primarily to Israel. . With the holy city Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God ( ), it is the same as with the tabernacle in the wilderness. In each wind direction there were three tribes and the tabernacles was in the center ( ). All blessing goes out from the center and all worship goes to this center: 1. It begins with the “east”, the side where the sun rises. The light of the new day of the kingdom of peace is present. 2. The “north” reminds of the time that God had to judge His people through the means of the nations from the north because of their unfaithfulness, a time that is over. 3. The “south” speaks of the summer warmth, the summer that has come. 4. The “west” is the side where the sun goes down, which shows that there also comes an end to the kingdom of peace. An application can be made for the proclamation of the gospel in our time and also for the church now. We must try to reach all nations with the gospel and also all age groups and social layers of the population, that is, everyone, without distinction. A church needs to have both a high wall and well-functioning gates. Some churches have so many open gates that there is no longer a wall. The other way around can also be the case. In that case a church has only a high wall and no gate at all. In both cases there is no separation for the Lord. . After the gates, the wall is described in more details. The foundations are not the twelve sons of Israel, but “the twelve apostles of the Lamb”. The twelve sons of Israel have never been connected to the Lamb on earth. The twelve apostles have become the founders of the church ( ) after the Holy Spirit came and the church came into existence. The foundation is Christ ( ). This is the city with foundations Abraham looked for ( ). . Then John notes that the angel has “a gold measuring rod” in his hand. The rod is of gold and therefore meets the glory of God. The city and its gates and walls must be measured with a Divine measure. Earlier John was ordered to measure the earthly Jerusalem ( ). Only, there was no mention of a rod of gold, nor should John measure a certain part. When God measures something or gives the order to measure, He makes clear that it belongs to Him and that it is recognized by Him (cf. ; ). ‘Measure’ also means to determine the position and the calling of the city, with the boundaries attached to it. It must be established that the city and all that is in it, all that is decided there – of which the gate speaks – is in accordance with the glory of God. The same is true of the holiness of the city, of which the wall speaks. . The city is not only square – which is indicated by the statement “its length is as great as its breadth” –, but also cubical, for its height has the same measurement. That reminds us of the Holy of Holies, which by its measurements was also a cube (cf. ; ). By her length and breadth it stands in connection with the earth and by her height in connection with heaven. The “fifteen hundred miles” which the angel measures, can be compared to about two thousand two hundred twenty kilometers. That the city has perfectly equal sides says something about the perfect balance in all that God brings about. He gives the right weight to every truth of His Word. We see that in the way He carries them out. He never emphasizes one truth to the expense of another truth. That the city can be measured indicates that it is limited. That goes for everything that has to do with man. Only God is endless and man is by definition limited. At the same time, the church is perfect in accordance with the eternal counsels of God and the measure cannot be measured (cf. ). . With the “seventy-two yards” or “one hundred [and] forty-four cubits” (NKJV) the thickness of the wall is probably meant, which therefore counts between sixty-five and seventy meters. Anyway, it is a full measure – one hundred and forty-four is twelve times twelve. At the same time it also implies that each man can have only a limited imagination of the ‘measures’ of the church. In this measurement “a man” and “an angel” are placed on the same level. Both of them are creatures and therefore limited in fathoming all the glory of God. . In you saw that jasper is a picture of the radiance of the glory of God. The wall of the city is of this same material. The glory of God functions as a protecting and dividing wall. The glory of God prohibits and prevents anything unclean entering the city. If the glory of God also manifested itself more among us, much would be held back that does not fit in the light of that glory ( ; ). This is the fourth mention of the wall of the city: 1. In the mark of the wall is mentioned: great and high. 2. In the foundations of the wall are mentioned. 3. In the wall is spoken of in connection with its measure. 4. Finally speaks about the building material, the material of which the wall is composed. The city is “pure gold, like clear glass”, that is, that the city is of transparent gold. In the old creation that is not possible, but it is in the new one creation. It makes clear that the city is made of a material that is fully transparent, without any dark spot, without any blemish or anything unclean. The city is in this characteristic equal to God. How could the city of God have something that is dark or blemished? Everything is transparent and meets the glory of God. Now read Revelation 21:11-18 again. Reflection: What aspects of the city are mentioned and what do they represent?

‏ Revelation of John 21:18

The Holy City, the New Jerusalem

Rev 21:11. The city has “the glory of God”. That goes beyond the robe of the bride, which is woven by herself, although the robe is given to her by God. In Christ we see the light of the glory of the knowledge of God (2Cor 4:6) and here the church has that glory. The church is as completely in harmony with God as Christ is. As the glory of God is seen in Christ, so the glory of God is seen in it (cf. Jn 17:22). What has been revealed in the Lord Jesus will also be seen in this city.

Considering that this applies to people who by nature had no part in the glory of God (Rom 3:23), isn’t it an indescribable grace? It is indeed nothing but grace through which you have been made partaker of it (2Cor 4:6). Therefore you are now able to boast in the hope on the glory of God (Rom 5:11) that has become a reality in this section.

The glory of God, as it is expressed in Revelation 4 (Rev 4:3), is in all kinds of ways also the part of the church. The jasper stone which is mentioned there, you also find here, and also in Rev 21:18-19. This stone can be compared to the diamond known to us, which can be cut in such a way that the light is reflected in a variety of magnificent colors. The glow of light, which will soon be visible in full unhindered glory, should now already be radiated by the church (cf. Phil 2:15). That is only possible by the Spirit (Acts 7:55; 2Cor 3:18).

Rev 21:12. The church is built in a way that it can reflect or transmit the glory of God without anything interrupting or obscuring that glory. This is because she has a wall and gates and foundations. A wall ensures safety (Zec 2:5) and holiness and divides between the holy and the profane (Eze 42:20). In this city all the saints have gathered who have glorified God in their life on earth. The wall makes sure that nothing can enter the city that does not belong there (Psa 122:3), which now is still possible in the church (Gal 2:4; Jude 1:4).

But it is a wall with gates. Gates are related to government. In former days court cases were held in the gates of cities (Rth 4:1). The great emphasis on the gates underscores the significance of the city as a governing body. The gates allow the good to enter and keep the evil outside. A gate also means a secure and controlled access to the temple.

Gates form a connection between the city and the earth during the kingdom of peace. The angels are the servants at the gates, they are the guards. Their task as channels of God’s blessing as in the Old Testament is over. That task is for the church (Heb 2:5). The wall with its gates is to the greater glory of God (Isa 60:18).

Names are written on the gates. That has to do with the custom that gates were named after the cities which they were leading to. The Damascus gate, for example, is the gate through which you come on the way to Damascus. The gates with the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel indicate that the blessings of the church will go primarily to Israel.

Rev 21:13. With the holy city Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God (Rev 21:3), it is the same as with the tabernacle in the wilderness. In each wind direction there were three tribes and the tabernacles was in the center (Num 2:17). All blessing goes out from the center and all worship goes to this center:

1. It begins with the “east”, the side where the sun rises. The light of the new day of the kingdom of peace is present.

2. The “north” reminds of the time that God had to judge His people through the means of the nations from the north because of their unfaithfulness, a time that is over.

3. The “south” speaks of the summer warmth, the summer that has come.

4. The “west” is the side where the sun goes down, which shows that there also comes an end to the kingdom of peace.

An application can be made for the proclamation of the gospel in our time and also for the church now. We must try to reach all nations with the gospel and also all age groups and social layers of the population, that is, everyone, without distinction. A church needs to have both a high wall and well-functioning gates. Some churches have so many open gates that there is no longer a wall. The other way around can also be the case. In that case a church has only a high wall and no gate at all. In both cases there is no separation for the Lord.

Rev 21:14. After the gates, the wall is described in more details. The foundations are not the twelve sons of Israel, but “the twelve apostles of the Lamb”. The twelve sons of Israel have never been connected to the Lamb on earth. The twelve apostles have become the founders of the church (Eph 2:20) after the Holy Spirit came and the church came into existence. The foundation is Christ (1Cor 3:11). This is the city with foundations Abraham looked for (Heb 11:10).

Rev 21:15. Then John notes that the angel has “a gold measuring rod” in his hand. The rod is of gold and therefore meets the glory of God. The city and its gates and walls must be measured with a Divine measure. Earlier John was ordered to measure the earthly Jerusalem (Rev 11:1). Only, there was no mention of a rod of gold, nor should John measure a certain part.

When God measures something or gives the order to measure, He makes clear that it belongs to Him and that it is recognized by Him (cf. Zec 2:1-2 ; 12; Eze 40:3 ; 5). ‘Measure’ also means to determine the position and the calling of the city, with the boundaries attached to it. It must be established that the city and all that is in it, all that is decided there – of which the gate speaks – is in accordance with the glory of God. The same is true of the holiness of the city, of which the wall speaks.

Rev 21:16. The city is not only square – which is indicated by the statement “its length is as great as its breadth” –, but also cubical, for its height has the same measurement. That reminds us of the Holy of Holies, which by its measurements was also a cube (cf. 1Kgs 6:20; Eze 41:4). By her length and breadth it stands in connection with the earth and by her height in connection with heaven.

The “fifteen hundred miles” which the angel measures, can be compared to about two thousand two hundred twenty kilometers. That the city has perfectly equal sides says something about the perfect balance in all that God brings about. He gives the right weight to every truth of His Word. We see that in the way He carries them out. He never emphasizes one truth to the expense of another truth.

That the city can be measured indicates that it is limited. That goes for everything that has to do with man. Only God is endless and man is by definition limited. At the same time, the church is perfect in accordance with the eternal counsels of God and the measure cannot be measured (cf. Eph 3:18-19).

Rev 21:17. With the “seventy-two yards” or “one hundred [and] forty-four cubits” (NKJV) the thickness of the wall is probably meant, which therefore counts between sixty-five and seventy meters. Anyway, it is a full measure – one hundred and forty-four is twelve times twelve. At the same time it also implies that each man can have only a limited imagination of the ‘measures’ of the church. In this measurement “a man” and “an angel” are placed on the same level. Both of them are creatures and therefore limited in fathoming all the glory of God.

Rev 21:18. In Rev 21:11 you saw that jasper is a picture of the radiance of the glory of God. The wall of the city is of this same material. The glory of God functions as a protecting and dividing wall. The glory of God prohibits and prevents anything unclean entering the city. If the glory of God also manifested itself more among us, much would be held back that does not fit in the light of that glory (Acts 5:13; Gen 28:17).

This is the fourth mention of the wall of the city:

1. In Rev 21:12 the mark of the wall is mentioned: great and high.

2. In Rev 21:14 the foundations of the wall are mentioned.

3. In Rev 21:17 the wall is spoken of in connection with its measure.

4. Finally Rev 21:18 speaks about the building material, the material of which the wall is composed.

The city is “pure gold, like clear glass”, that is, that the city is of transparent gold. In the old creation that is not possible, but it is in the new one creation. It makes clear that the city is made of a material that is fully transparent, without any dark spot, without any blemish or anything unclean. The city is in this characteristic equal to God. How could the city of God have something that is dark or blemished? Everything is transparent and meets the glory of God.

Now read Revelation 21:11-18 again.

Reflection: What aspects of the city are mentioned and what do they represent?