“A New Jerusalem” Revelation 21:9-27

Would it surprise you to know that New York City is only the 36th largest city in the world by population? In fact, eight of the ten largest cities in the world are found in Asia, with Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Mexico City are the only two cities outside of Asia that made the Top 10. Tokyo, if you include their entire metropolitan area, is largest with over 37 million people. However, if you look at the area of the city, New York City is considered the largest at 8683 square kilometers.

Both Tokyo and New York are large cities, anyway we look at it. But the Bible tells us the largest city in the world won’t even exist until Jesus had made all things new.

Background

In the revelation given to John, he sees a new heaven and a new earth, and he sees a new Jerusalem. In the vision, John starts with a description of the new earth, then the new Jerusalem, and finally within the new city. He goes from large to small. In each of the three parts, the emphasis is on what they mean in relation to God and to His people. Last week, we looked at God’s presence in the new earth, how His presence means the end of sorrow and pain, and that His dwelling place will now be with His people, much as it was in the Garden of Eden prior to the Fall.

In today’s passasge, as we look at the New Jerusalem, we will again see amazing things and a great promise.

Central Truth: God’s new city will be worthy of Him.

What a beautiful city (9-14)

This part of what John sees is introduced by one of the seven angels that had held a bowl of the seven plagues. The angel tells John that he can see the new bride, meaning the New Jerusalem. To get the full vision, John is then taken to a mountain he describes as “great and high.” From this vantage point, John is able to see a glorious sight descending from heaven from God. The stress of these first few verses makes references to the Holy Spirit and to God, focusing on the fact the vision John sees is from God, as is the new city. It’s consistent with the theme of the chapter, that God has gained the final victory and that He has purged the world of sin, of suffering and of death. All things are made new.

The description of the city continues to stress the presence of God and the splendor of God. John first mentions that the city shone with God’s glory. In the past, the references to God’s glory was a brilliant light that shone to represent His presence in our world. We see it in Exodus as the cloud of fire and light that stood between Israel and Egypt’s army at the Red Sea, and that led the nation to the Promised Land. The glory of God is also seen when the angels announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. It’s also seen with Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

But this glory is different. In the New Jerusalem, the glory is the actual presence of God in the city. The city glows with God in its midst. His presence is the light of the city, and that will be presented again later in the chapter.

John says the city is like a clear jewel of jasper. Jasper is a quartz crystal, and comes in a variety of colors. It is not the most precious of gems, but it has a similarity to opal. One of the commentaries I read mentions that jasper has a “watery crystalline brightness.” John mentions it is a clear city, like a crystal. Its appearance is brilliant in nature.

It is a walled city with 12 gates, three on each wall. The gates are named for the tribes of Israel, and the wall had 12 foundations, each named after one of the apostles. The foundations are the strength of the walls, and the gates are used to access the city through the walls. Both are important parts of the city, and both show God honoring His people, both Old and New Testament. It is the joining of God’s spiritual family into one community.

Why does God’s city need walls? Someone commented that the walls represent both the security of the Church and the exclusion of the ungodly. With God at the center, the walls are really unnecessary, but the symbolic nature of what John is seeing is important. The angels present at the gates also speaks of security and the unification of all God’s creation into the new heavens and earth.

The point of this part of describing the city is to let us know that God’s plan has come to fruition and that His presence is with His people. The city represents the splendor and wonder of God.

What a big city (15-21)

Having seen the city, John is now invited to examine the city in more detail. The angel with him produces a measuring rod, and he begins to measure the city.

John begins by telling us the city looks like a cube, being as wide and as high as it was long. When measured, it shows that the city is 12,000 stadia long. 12,000 stadia equates to 1400 miles or 2200 kilometers. The area of the city, then, will be 4.84 million square kilometers, which dwarfs the area of New York City. The 1400 miles is the equivalent of driving from Tallahassee, Florida, to El Paso. Tallahassee is where the panhandle connects to the part of Florida that dips down into the Gulf. In other words, the New Jerusalem would have to be put into the middle of the United States in order to have the entire city on land and not hanging into the sea.

Again, the symbolism of the city can be seen in the numbers. Multiplying 12 by 1000, we find the perfection of a millennium tied into both tribes and the apostles, and the 144 cubits again represents the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles, since 144 is 12 squared.

The city is described as having gates made of pearls, the city made of transparent gold and the walls transparent jasper. The foundations are also made of precious gems and stones, and the streets are also pure gold, as clear as glass.

All of this must have been amazing to see and experience.

What really matters (22-27)

The grandeur of the city must have overwhelmed John, and yet there was more to see, something so splendid that it set everything else into perspective. For the city is to be the home of God.

You would think that a city that would be so big it covers most of the United States would be filled with houses of worship. Go to any city in America. There are churches, temples, mosques—worship centers for every denomination and religion. Around the world, there are always worship places in each city, no matter how small or large.

Yet, the New Jerusalem has no place of worship. No temple. Why? Because God is in the city. There is no need for a place to gather to worship. We worship at His throne. Look what God’s presence does. It eliminates the need for the sun and stars, because He is the light. There is no need for a temple, because He is here with us. God’s presence ensures the safety of His people, so the gates remain open. And, because God is present, nothing impure or deceitful will enter, because He is holy and He is the truth.

Throughout John’s vision, he has yet to mention people living in the city. It’s in the last verse that he mentions who will live in the city. Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will dwell in God’s city, in God’s presence. Only those who have been purified by the blood of Christ, who have been set free by His crucifixion, who have gained new life because of Jesus’ resurrection—these are the ones who will dwell in the presence of the Father.

Those who live in the city will come from every race, every group, every nation. They will come from every language group, from each ethnic group. We will all become one in Christ and worship Him together in the new city with a new fellowship.

And that’s what really matters.

Conclusion

I’ve got to be honest. I can’t see the reason for a new city. As long as God is present, there will be no need or a place to gather, a place to call home, a place to stay. We will stay with God, we will find our home in Him and we will gather in His presence. Whether the New Jerusalem is a literal or figurative vision, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that, however God plans it, the intent is for God to be with us, and us to be with Him. Everything else is all secondary.

Are you ready for the new place, the new promise, the new day? Is your name written in the Book of Life?