Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 21:15-21”
Categories: Revelation“The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”
---End of Scripture verses---
Homer Hailey wrote concerning verse 15 the following: “In John’s earlier vision of measuring the temple, the seer was given an ordinary reed like a rod and told to measure the sanctuary, its altar, and worshipers. This was interpreted to be the church of the present age (…11:1). But the heavenly city must be measured by an angel, apparently the one who had called John to see the holy city (vv. 9f). Unlike the reed used by John, this one is golden, befitting the majesty and glory of the heavenly tabernacle or sanctuary which is identified later as the eternal one. The angel is to measure the city, the gates, and the wall.”
The city measured “twelve thousand furlongs” (KJV), or “fifteen hundred miles” (verse 16). It is uncertain whether this is the total measurement of the four sides of the city added together or that of each individual facet, but either way you look at it the dimensions are staggering to the mind! And that is likely the whole point of the astounding figures given! These are not the measurements of an earthly city that could fit within the boundaries of literal Palestine, but a depiction of the vastness of the eternal, heavenly dwelling place of the saints! There will be ample room in the spacious “mansions above” (John 14:6) to comfortably accommodate all the saved who ever walked the face of the earth!
Robert Harkrider wrote of the “twelve thousand furlongs” of verse 16 and the “seventy-two yards, or “an hundred and forty and four cubits” (KJV) of verse 17: “‘Twelve’ is the apocalyptic number to represent the people of God, and a ‘thousand’ is a multiplication of ten which is the complete, full number… ‘An hundred forty and four’ is twelve multiplied by itself, and this it is an apocalyptic way of indicating the full security for the people of God who dwell within its confines.” These, of course, are figurative numbers and not literal, the first set measuring the dimensions of the city, the second set the thickness of its walls.
Let’s consider just a few of the precious materials that make up this magnificent city. “The city was pure gold, like clear glass” (verse 18), and “the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (verse 21). “‘Gold’ of such purity that it is transparent is unknown to this world, but perhaps it signifies the glorious light of God reflected by its shining appearance.” (Harkrider) “The wall was” made of “jasper” or shimmering diamonds that dazzle the eye as the perfect, pure light of the Son ricochet off its millions of multifaceted mirrors. “The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone” (verse 19).
This is a portrayal of the most stunningly beautiful place imaginable to the mortal mind, a description in human terms of beauty that is indescribable and unimaginable. “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Oh what a splendid procession it will be to pass through those perfect gates of lustrous pearl!
Please read Revelation 21:22-27 for tomorrow.
Have a wonderful day!
-Louie Taylor
