Revelation 21:15-27
The New Jerusalem's Glory
Read the passage
15The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls.
16The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height.
17And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.
18The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass.
19The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.
22But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.
25Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.
26And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations.
27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The angel measures the city with a golden rod. Its length, width, and height are equal: 12,000 stadia. The wall measures 144 cubits by the human measure the angel uses. The wall is jasper, and the city is pure gold, as pure as glass. John is shown a vast and carefully measured dwelling.
The foundations of the wall are adorned with precious stones, and the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each gate made from a single pearl. The street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass. John sees no temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.
The city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations walk by its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it. Its gates never close because there is no night there. Nothing unclean enters it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood; only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life enter.
The city has extraordinary beauty, but its greatest gift is God's presence. No temple building stands between the people and their worship of God and the Lamb. His glory provides their light, and the nations bring their glory into the city. Even the kings' splendor takes its place beneath Him.
The gates stay open because there is no night, yet evil has no entrance. Only those in the Lamb's book of life may come in. The vision holds safety and holiness together: God's people can dwell with Him without the darkness, corruption, and falsehood that now threaten their lives.
Questions
1 What does the angel measure?
AnswerHe measures the city, its gates, and its wall. The careful measurements present the dwelling place as real, ordered, and secure rather than vague or temporary.
2 What is absent from the city?
AnswerJohn sees no temple building: God and the Lamb are its temple. The city has no need of sun or moon, because God's glory illuminates it.
3 Who brings glory into the city?
AnswerThe nations walk by the city's light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it. Human authority is not erased from the vision, but it is gathered under God's radiance.
4 Who may enter?
AnswerNothing unclean and no one devoted to falsehood may enter. Those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life enter, so the city's welcome is holy rather than indiscriminate.
What This Means for Us
The best part of this promised home is being with God. When you pray about the future, thank Him for that gift as well as for relief from trouble. Let hope in His presence loosen the need to make your current possessions provide lasting security. Use what you have faithfully while you wait for the home He gives.
Prayer
Lord God, You are the light and the home of Your people. Keep our hope fixed on Your presence, make us truthful and clean in our lives, and free us from trusting wealth or control to save us. Amen.