Author's final comments

Author's Final Comments.

Well, that is my blog on Revelation. Already it has started some discussions before I was even finished. Great. I will continue to look in on comments and respond to them as time permits so keep those questions, debates, disagreements coming. "Iron sharpens iron" - so the scripture says. I hope many people start to comment on things I wrote and on the comments of others.

The danger when a writer or interpreter of the Bible does a study like this is that for some time they have to "live in their own head" with their own subjective feelings and opinions. I am no different to anyone else in this so there is bound to be some things I have said which are just garbage. As they get debated (if I change my opinion) I will modify the text of this blog, or at least make sure the debate is noted in the text so others can refer to important comments (even comments I don't agree with).
One thing is for sure - I don't know everything about Revelation - no one does - "we only know in part (1 Cor 13). By God's grace I have been led to read and study various approaches that have, for me, opened my eyes to what I have written here.


Presumably Google, in their generousity, will allow this blog to stay as long as I want (i.e. for ever) so as time goes by and I gain understanding I will modify what is written here. So keep coming back to this blog - things might change quite dramatically on it over time. But then, they may not - I could already be right. But then - no!

If you enjoyed it let me know too. It's great to hear the debates and participate in them but it is more encouraging if people have been blessed by what one has done. So if you liked it write and say so - you don't have to have agreed with everything.

Tell others about it to stir things along.

You may enjoy my other blogs which are listed on the page.

This blog is actually part 2 of a three part blog - the first part is also online and I will return to it now to complete it. It is an overview of Genesis to Revelation. In reality one can't understand Revelation if one does not see how it fits into the whole panorama of God's dealings with mankind. My observation over 40 years has been that those who dig into Revelation without a good Bible overview end up with weird ideas. Revelation is the wrapping up, climax and conclusion of things that have been going on since the beginning of time. Have a read of this other blog if you have never done such an overview of scripture.

The third part I will write eventually - it will be a development of some of the other prophetic parts of scripture.

An Idea for a Bible study:

Walk Thru the Bible Ministries (also called "world Teach") have produced two seminars covering OT and NT called "Walk thru the Old Testament" and "Walk thru the New Testament.
At the end of each seminar a comparison of Genesis 1-3 is made with Revelation 20-22.
Why not do this comparison as a group bible study to introduce the people to Revelation.

Then take them through Revelation.

You are welcome to clip and paste these notes into some sort of document (e.g. Word) for reproduction for a Bible study. Most of what is in here wasn't mine to start with - I have borrowed from an untold number of writers (most of whom I have forgotten). The originality I have added was putting it together my own way. Please be fair and don't make money out of my work. There is a danger in trying to do so in that you don't know how much I have taken from others and where it is (neither do I now). Most has not been acknowledged in the text. If you try to sell it (it's not that good) you might find several other authors suing you for breaking copyright.


I don't care if you disagree with me - my aim has been to make you think in new ways about an old book. If I have succeeded in that then have been successful.

Blessings on You
John.

Revelation Chapter 22 The New Jeruslam, contd.

VISION 7: - REVELATION 17:1- 22:5: - SEVEN LAST VISIONS.

CHAPTER 22.

Vision (vii) 22:1-6: - THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (Cont'd).

REV 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

"the river of the water of life"
Psalm 97:4; 46:2
Genesis 2 - a Garden of Eden.
The New Order is to be in some ways a restoration of the perfection of the Old. Hence we see a new Garden of Eden and in it the trees found in the original Garden.
John 4:10-14 - the River is the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel 47:1-12; Zechariah 14:8.
The "river of life" is a symbolic way of saying that death and its results are no longer present.

"from the Throne of God and of the Lamb."
Thus suggesting the God is the source of this life.

Note that there is no real difference between the throne of God and the throne of the Lamb. In this kingdom there is no competition between the rulers, no jealousy, no internal strife or plotting of takeover by the under rulers.

Recognising that the river is the Holy Spirit we see here a picture of the truth taught in John 15:26, the procession of the Spirit from the Father and the Son. This doctrine of dual procession caused a major controversy between the Eastern and Western church and was the root cause of the split into Orthodox and Roman Catholic (at least that’s what we are told to believe). Of course the real cause of the split was, as always, human selfishness and power struggles, but we don’t talk about those things in the church. The controversy arose when the Western church added a clause to the Nicene Creed to say that “the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.” The original Creed only said that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father.” The Eastern (Orthodox) church did not agree that John 15:25 taught this dual procession. However the idea is also here in Revelation 22. This is not a place for a detailed discussion of the question but it is worth noting the implication of the text here with regard to that particular doctrine. My own view is that, whether or not the doctrine is right or wrong (and I’m not sure it is) the best thing the Western Church could do is remove the contentious phrase in the interests of Church Unity.

REV 22:2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

"the middle of the street"
We saw that there is only one street and it depicts the life of absolute obedience to God and Holiness that the Redeemed have. Here we see in the middle of this street the River, the Holy Spirit. Clearly we are intended to see that the Holy Spirit is central to this obedience and walk of the Redeemed.

"on either side of the river the tree of life"
We are probably meant to understand this to mean there is a row of trees on each side of the river.

Genesis 2:9, 3:22.
It was found in the original Garden of Eden, but man was barred from it because of sin.
Apocalyptic consistently prophesied its restoration in the Perfect State of the Kingdom.
Enoch 25:22ff; 4 Ezra 7:53, 8:52; 2 Enoch 8:3.
Proverbs 3:18 tells us that the wisdom of God is a tree of Life to us, and we are told in
1 Corinthians 1:31 that Christ is the wisdom of God.
We are also told that Christ is the "life of God" and he brought this to mankind.
In other words what we have here pictured is the full manifestation and consummation of the work of Christ. Where there was only a restricted availability of this in the Garden of Eden, now there are enough trees to supply the whole of mankind.

“12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month".
Ezekiel 47:12.
Is this a different kind of fruit every month? Anyway it doesn't matter - John's intention is to indicate that the tree is always loaded with fruit - the wisdom of God is never short. We do not have to wait for it to bud, blossom, develop and grow. Unlike trees today it never goes through the yearly cycle of death, thus showing that death is finally overcome.

"leaves...for the healing of the nations"
Greek literally = "health giving"
But there won't be any sickness so this cannot mean healing in the sense of "from sickness". Rather it means that they are "health giving", i.e. they promote well being and enjoyment.

What are “the nations” doing there if this is the future perfect state? And why do they need to be “healed?”
(i) Clearly the distinctions in this age are not going to be superseded. It the distinctions of culture and nationalism various aspects of the glory of God are revealed. To mix us all up in one big “melting pot” would obliterate the distinctions and as a result God would not receive as much glory. Hence the distinctions remain.
(ii) Again the message is both future and present. There is a wisdom of God available through Christ NOW! It is made manifest by the Holy Spirit in the Church. It can bring "healing" to the nations.
God's wisdom, if lived in now, will prevent sickness and the curse affecting our lives.
The answers facing the politicians of the world have answers, but God is going to demonstrate that these answers are only available from himself through the Holy Spirit in the Church. In the eternal state where such problems arise, as they will in any society, instead of the problems breeding violence and envy thy will be solved by the ready access to the leaves of the tree of life.

REV 22:3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

"nothing accursed"
Zechariah 14:11.
This is a reference back to Genesis 3 where the curse was put on earth because of men's sin.

REV 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

"they shall see his face"
1 John 3:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:49.

"and his name shall be on their foreheads"
Revelation 3:12, 13:16, 14:1 - the 144,000.
It means his character and power has become ours’.

REV 22:5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

"God shall illuminate them and they shall reign forever and ever"
The illumination of God, meaning his divine inspiration and wisdom, is the key to the reign of the saints. Without his wisdom they cannot rule.

There is a clear reference here to the ceremony of illumination that formed an integral part of the Feast of Tabernacles. Jerusalem was lit up as in daylight at night by the lighting of this magnificent lamp in the temple for the whole week of Tabernacles.

22:6-21: - EPILOGUE.

With the description of the Bride the seven series of visions is ended. As the book began with an introduction, now it is ended with a conclusion.

REV 22:6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."

"faithful and true"
Revelation 3:14; 19:11.

"to show his servants what must soon take place"
Again it is affirmed that REVELATION is to do with future events, it is a prophecy in the true sense. That it will happen is guaranteed by the fact that it is revealed to John by "he who is faithful and true".

"servants"
Literally = "bondservants"
Revelation is a difficult book, but its meaning is not hidden, it is a REVELATION not a HIDING. But the message of the book is not clear to all - only those who are "bondservants" have the capacity to understand it. One has to have bound himself to Christ in love as a slave for life.

REV 22:7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

"I am coming soon"
Revelation 2:16, 3:11.

"Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book"
The book is a warning, a call to fidelity to Christ in the face of the workings of Satan in the world. Hence we need to heed it - take note of its message, allow it to challenge our hearts and prepare us for the inevitable persecution that will come.

REV 22:8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.

REV 22:9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"

C/f 19:10.

REV 22:10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.

Daniel 12:4; 1 Enoch 1:2, 104:13; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.

"Do not seal"
In contrast to the prophets of the OT whose message was sealed John's is left open for all to understand. Failure to understand then is not the fault of the book or its author, rather it speaks of the condition of the reader.

"the time is near"
John's prophecy is not for some remote generation, but for his own and for subsequent generations of the church. Though it has a final and full fulfilment at the end of the age, its principles and truths have an application to every age while Antichrist's forces continue to work.

REV 22:11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."

REV 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

C/f 11:8.

REV 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the
Beginning and the End.

C/f 1:8 21;6.

REV 22:14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

The seventh beatitude.

REV 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

"outside the city", i.e. in Hell.

"dogs"
Deuteronomy 23:18; Matthew 7;27; Revelation 21:8 -all those who choose to life as dogs instead of men.

REV 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

REV 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

C/f Song of Solomon 8:14.
Probably the whole verse is an invitation to those who need salvation.

REV 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

REV 22:19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

John expects that Revelation will be read as scripture.

This is the only book of the Bible with such a warning – yet surprisingly enough it is really the only book of the Bible that people consistently add to and take away from. How strange…

REV 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

“He” – Christ himself.

"Come Lord Jesus" = Maranatha. This was a prayer prayed in the Early Church at the Lord's Supper. Here it is John’s response to the visions he has had, but it should become our heart response also as we read Revelation. Perhaps the reason why we do not cry this out with passion is because we either skip Revelation when we get to it, or we don’t read it out loud.

REV 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

Revelation Chapter 21. Vision 7. New Heavens, Earth, Jerusalem

VISION 7: - REVELATION 17:1- 22:5: - SEVEN LAST VISIONS.

CHAPTER 21.

Vision (vi) - 21:1-8: - A NEW CREATION.

REV 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

“a new heavens and a new earth"
Are the present heavens and earth destroyed, or is this only a renovation?
Apocalyptic writing in the Bible seems to give the impression that at Christ's coming the heavens are destroyed, "rolled up like a scroll" (Revelation 6:14; Matthew 24:29; 2 Peter 3:10). In fact Peter seems to indicate the destruction of the earth at that time also. This seems to fit with OT prophecy which generally assumes that the coming of God will result in a destruction of the existing order.
This may not actually mean the destruction of the materials therein however - these could be reused.

NOTE:
The idea of the skies being a "scroll" is again an astrological concept. The stars depict the story of Redemption. Now that the story is complete and fulfilled there is no need for the message to be there, it is written on the hearts of the Redeemed.

The old heavens and earth have been "rolled up" (20:11). This is not a judgement resulting in destruction as matter is not inherently evil. Rather the judgement results in recreation. The OT prophets have this idea:
Isaiah 11:6-9 - the old order is regenerated as it stands with the curse lifted.
Isaiah 65:17 - a new heaven and earth.
2 Peter 3:13.
2 Corinthians 5:17 James 1:10 Romans 8:19-23 Matthew 24:29.

Why a New Earth? Aren't we going to Heaven?

Well - No. God's intention was to create a people who would reign on earth (Genesis 1). The Fall spoilt this plan, but Redemption is designed to bring us back to the position we fell from, and then add to it. God's original intention has never changed, and we are to be a people who eternally reign on earth, and from earth throughout the rest of creation. Heaven will come to earth, in that God's presence will be there with us, but earth it will still be.

With the old creation the corruption began in the hearts of men and spread from there to affect the whole of the creation. With the new creation it too begins in the hearts of men (2 Corinthians 5:17) and moves from there to the whole creation. Men's bodies have been resurrected and transformed with he coming of Christ, now the rest of creation which has been awaiting its release from bondage gets its desire (Romans 8:20-23).

What about Hell?

If Hell is created out of Babylon, then what happens to it in the new order? If the earth is recreated will Hell still exist? The implications of Revelation 18 are that the smoke of Babylon's burning goes up forever and ever - How does this fit if earth is recreated?

The answer is we do not know. We have to affirm the eternal punishment of the unbeliever and of Satan so there can be no annihilation of them hence Hell must continue. However in the final analysis we can only say what we know - they will be "renewed" in some way. What God does with Hell is his business.

"no more sea".
For the Jew the continuous movement of the sea was a symbol of restlessness and rebellion. The incarnate monster of evil (ch 13) was thought to have a suitable home there. Therefore in the new order it will be non-existent. C/f 15:2 where the sea has been transformed to solid "like crystal".

Personally I have some issues with this. I live by the sea, I love the sea. It has a beauty all of its own. I am going to put in a request for a bit of sea near where I live in the New Creation.

REV 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

"And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem"
Hebrews 12:22-24; Galatians 4:6; Philippians 3:20.
Not a physical entity, but a representation of the people of God living in community harmony.
There is a sense in which the city of God is always coming down from heaven (2:12). Wherever the Church meets in Christ's name the city of God is manifested. The Church militant is that City “come down”, but in this age it is "trampled underfoot by the heathen" (11: 2f).

However we are intended to see here a greater manifestation of that truth. Here we see the perfection of it. Though the Church militant on earth now is ideally a united community, it is in reality racked by divisions and internal dissension. What we see here is the completed Bride, or Body, of Christ - now with each member perfectly fitting into God's plan and flowing together.

"prepared as a bride adorned for her husband"
The Wedding ceremony has just finished.

"coming down out of heaven"

REV 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

"a great voice"
Twenty one times in Revelation, this is the last.

"behold the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them and they shall be his people".

"dwelling"
Greek = skene, the LXX for the Hebrew mishkan = tent.

The tent, or tabernacle, was the symbol of God's abiding presence with Israel. It is sometimes used in the OT to mean the presence of God itself (Leviticus 26:11). It was later in Hebrew thought that the "mishkan" gave way to the "shekinah".
John has therefore chosen a symbol that shows this is the fulfilment of all the promises of God to his people, both Israel and the Church.

"they shall be his people"
Exodus 19:5.
Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 7:23, 11:4; Hosea 1:9; Romans 9:25; 1 Peter 2:10.

"God himself shall be with them"
Exodus 3:12; Isaiah 7:14 (Emmanuel); Zechariah 8:23; Matthew 1:23.

REV 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

"God will wipe away all tears from their eyes".
Revelation 7:17; Isaiah 25:6-8.
There are seven elements of the old order not found in the new: sea, death, grief, crying, pain, all under God's curse, night.

REV 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

"And he who..." - i.e. God.

"trustworthy and true"
I.e. this prophecy can be relied on to come to pass.
Revelation 3:14, 19:11 - title given to Christ.

REV 21:6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

"It is done!"
Revelation 16:17.
Literally "they are done", i.e. the prophecies.

"Alpha and Omega"
c/f 1:18, 22:13, 1:17, 2:8.

"beginning and the end"
I.e. the ground and goal of their being.

"to the thirsty...fountain of life"
The way is open to all who seek God.
In this age though we seek God and find a measure of satisfaction in him, contact with him seems to only increase our thirst for him. In the age to come that thirst shall be finally quenched.

REV 21:7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

"He who conquers has this heritage"
It is not for everyone, only for the conqueror. However for those of the faith it is theirs’ of right. It is their inheritance.

"I will be his God and he shall be my son"

"son"
(i) A kingdom title (2 Samuel 7:14). I.e. we shall be his coregeants.
(ii) A title of Inheritance. We will have legal and possessional rights to the fullness of God.

REV 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

"cowardly" - in the face of persecution.

"Faithless" - Revelation 14:12; 1:2,9; 12:17.

"polluted" 17:4 - morally unclean.

"murderers, fornicators, sorcerers" (9:21).

"idolaters" - of the heart.

"liars" - 2:2, 3:9, 14:5, 21;27, 22:15.

Vision (vii) - 21:9-22:5:- THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.

(1) INTRODUCTION.

This is the last vision of the book, and it is its climax. The aim of God in Creation was to bring forth a people, a man and a woman (Genesis 1,2) with whom he could fellowship eternally. Sin marred that desire, but now in the new creation the purpose of God is fulfilled. God brings forth a people, a Man and a Woman, Christ and His Bride, the Church. With this people God will find that eternal fellowship he originally planned for.

We are told that John is commanded to "Come and see the Bride, the wife of the Lamb". But in reality what John sees is “a city”, a group of people bound together in corporate covenant relationship. Where we saw Zion before (ch 12) as the woman in suffering, undergoing persecution. Now we see her resplendent as queen.

This is the picture we see of the Church in the Astrological signs also. Cassiopeia, the enthroned woman, a decan of Aries, The Consummation of God's Blessings. This decan pictures the people of God, the Church, enthroned, dressed in her wedding finery. On her right stands the star crowned king holding out his sceptre towards her. She is his wife.

(2) EXEGESIS.

REV 21:9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."

"one of the seven angels”
One of the archangels, probably Gabriel as he seems to have this role of bringing revelation elsewhere in Scripture.

"Come" - a command. Greek is imperative.

REV 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

"carried me away in the Spirit"
i.e. in a prophetic "trance".

"a great high mountain"
The mountain is not the viewpoint from which John sees the city (as in Matthew 3), rather the mountain is the site of the city. Jerusalem is found on the mountains of the north, on Mt Zion.
Ezekiel 40:2 - Mt Zion.
Enoch 18:8; Psalm 48:2; Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1; Zechariah 8:23, 14:16
Daniel 2:35,44 - a great mountain, or political empire.
This is not a panorama, but a detailed inspection.

C/f Ezekiel 28:12-16 - the mountain of God is identified with Eden, the Garden of God. The list of stones which follows is also drawn from Ezekiel here.

“The Holy City, Jerusalem”
John is asked to come and see “the bride, the wife of the Lamb” and he is shown a “city”. It is important here that we do some real hard thinking. The clear identification here is that “the bride = the city”. This is indisputable. Thus what John carries on to describe is not in any way meant to be taken to be a literal description of a literal city. He is talking in pictures, symbols. The things described are all symbols of something else.

The fact is this: There is no city with golden streets, high walls, stretching 1500 miles out into space with pearly gates and mansions. All of those things are symbols of spiritual realities. I have several times seen scale drawings in the books of prophetic writers showing what the New Jerusalem will look like on the sphere of the earth, poking out into space 1500 miles. To even attempt such a drawing is to show that one hasn’t seen the point of what John is talking about. It is to try and make literal what is clearly meant to be symbolic.

John is describing the Bride of the Lamb, the people of God, the redeemed of all ages from mankind – he says so! Do you really think he is interested in what the streets are made of? Or the Gates? Or how high the walls were? No! All of these things are symbols to teach us spiritual truth about our future state – they are not given to tell us we will be living in mansions with golden streets outside the doors. Why demean the true meaning with some foolish literal interpretation which only gives rise to a massive contradiction.

With this in mind let us interpret the vision.

REV 21:11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

"having the glory of God"
A radiance of light (c/f Ezekiel 43:5). No sin is present now to destroy or interrupt the lustre.
"jasper" - not the modern jasper, probably is diamond.

REV 21:12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve
angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

"a great high wall".
Important for ancient cities, it marked the limits of security against outside attack. The emphasis here then is that the wall is so high as to be unscalable, impregnable. For those inside the city, i.e. who are its citizens, there is total security and safety.

"twelve gates"
The gates speak of the "way in". Though the wall is so high there is no restriction of access. No matter how the sojourner approaches the city he can find a convenient way in.
Ezekiel sees the gates as exits for Israel to get in and out of the city to their allotted inheritances. John sees them as entrances for the nations to come in.

"at the gates twelve angels"
As gatekeepers, guards to prevent entry of those not qualified.
Each gate has an angel, hence each tribe has an angel, just as each Church had an angel (ch 2&3).

"and names written on them"
On the gates, or on the angels? The clause probably refers back to both. The identification of the angel with the tribe is thus complete. He is the guardian angel of each tribe.

"of the twelve tribes of Israel"
The city is the Church of God, but the way into the city is through Israel, through the 12 tribes. In other words to come into the city of God one has to become an Israelite, not literally, but one must enter into the same covenant of Faith that Abraham had with God. To become a Christian one has to become a Jew. The way in is through the gates – the 12 tribes of Israel. But this is not in a literal sense - we have to be the "seed of Abraham through faith".
This suggests that, like Israel, the Church is to be considered as being "twelve tribes" (James 1:1,2).

REV 21:13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.

"three gates on (each side - North, South, East, West)".
This refers back to the setting up of the camp of Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 2). There the Israelites were arranged around the Tabernacle in their tribes. Some interpreters suggest that this circular encampment was intended to represent the Zodiac, each tribe representing one of the constellations. It is believed by many interpreters, that each of the tribes of Israel carried a standard, and each standard had a picture on it of one of the Constellations, or one of it's decans. Thus the twelve tribes would be encamped around the Tabernacle representing the Zodiac.

The stones on the foundations point to a similar idea. Each of the constellations has associated with it a "birth stone". That each of the tribes had such a stone is clear - the High priest had the twelve tribes represented on his breastplate by these twelve stones.

It is clear that:
(1) Each of the names of the twelve tribes had symbolic meaning which was not just related to the birth of the patriarch, but also was prophetic of the history of the tribe he founded.
(2) Each of the Constellations depicts a particular aspect of Christ's work in symbol. (See Seiss, Bullinger).
(3) Each of the stones as symbolic meaning (see Slemming:- "These are the Garments").

Hence it is not unlikely that we are to see the Bride as being divided into twelve subgroups, each one reflecting some aspect of the full glory and work of Christ.

REV 21:14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

"twelve foundations and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb"
Ephesians 2:20.
Apostles have a particular foundation ministry. They are Church planters. The Twelve hold a special place in that they planted the whole Church, they were the basis of it all. On their teaching and example the rest of the Church is founded.
Note that there are twelve foundational Apostles, not eleven. We are meant to see Matthias included in this number, replacing Judas Iscariot. The twelve foundations all had to be there at the beginning.
Interestingly enough, though this city includes the faithful of all ages, BC and AD, the foundation of the city is the Apostles. God does not view things historically the same way as us. What we are seeing here is a spiritual reality, not a being which we can historically identify its growth.

REV 21:15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls.

"a gold measuring rod"
C/f Revelation 10,11; Ezekiel 40:3ff.
A standard measure of distance. The aim of the measuring is to show the perfection of the city, it is complete, nothing is missing. It is not intended to show that the city is limited, or that access is restricted, in any way.

REV 21:16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.

"Its length, breadth, height, are the same."

"foursquare" - c/f Ezekiel 45:2 48:20.
Is this:
(i) A cube?, like the Holy of Holies.
(ii) A pyramid?, (as portrayed in Baker "Visions Beyond the Veil").
Usually it is understood to be a cube and I think this is probably correct because of the computation of the dimensions which follow.

"12,000 stadia" = 1500 miles.
We are not intended to see a literal city on the side of the earth sticking out 1500 miles. That is not the intention of the vision here. Rather it is a symbol.
12 = Zion, the people of God.
10 = completeness, hence 10 cubed is perfect completion. It is related to testing. So the Church is seen here perfected mature through testing.
1000 = indefiniteness, uncountable numbers.
The number relates back to Revelation 7 where there are 144,000, twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Hence we are probably meant to see the New Jerusalem here as a cube with twelve edges, each one 12,000 stadia long,

i.e. 12 edges x12,000 stadia = 144,000.

144,000 is the external dimensions of the Heavenly Jerusalem. All of God’s people are contained within the 144,000.
The impact John really wants to give us is that the numbers are uncountable. There is a multitude of the Redeemed, but none is missing. When measured the city is complete, not one part of it that should be there is missing.

REV 21:17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using.

"144 cubits"
Clearly the wall is not literal. A wall of only 72 yards in thickness could not extend upwards 1500 miles.
144 = 12x12.
= Israel x Church.

Together the people of God provide strength and security to each other. Israel will not inherit without the Church, and we will not inherit without Israel. However the principle of inheritance is "by faith alone".

REV 21:18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.

"jasper"
A symbol of God's purity. Probably diamond is meant.

"pure gold, like clear glass"
It is hard to imagine gold that one can see through. It may be that the reference is not to glass that one looks through as we imagine in the 20th Century, rather it could have the idea of glass that one looks INTO, i.e. a mirror. In other words this phrase could be about the purity of the reflection of the city. There is no dirt or grime to mar the reflection of God's Glory that reflects off it. The mirrors of old were made from polished bronze which tarnished quickly in the air. This eternal mirror of God's glory is made from gold, which will not tarnish. Its value is inestimable.
The meaning of the symbol then is that God's people have a transparency, a purity - there is no flaw of sin or character that will in any way impede the transmission or reflection of the light of God. Their righteousness is perfected.

REV 21:19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

REV 21:20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

(1) Twelve stones. They are the same as on the High Priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:17ff 39:1ff). If we take the Exodus order as normal and count them from 1-12, then John's list is:

6 5 4 3 2 1 10 11 12 7 8 9.

(2) They are also the stones of the Zodiac. But they occur in a different order. John's list is the exact reverse order of the passage of the sun through the Zodiac signs as represented by their stones.

Stone---------------------- Zodiac Sign-- Colour.
jasper/Diamond ------ Pisces---------- clear
sapphire------------------ Aquarius ---- blue
chalcedon/agate-------Capricorn---- sky blue\stripey
smaragdos/emerald -Sagittarius--- bright green
sardonyx/onyx--------- Scorpio-------- red and white
sardius/carnelion----- Libra------------ reddish or honey
chrysolyte---------------- Virgo------------ transparent gold
beryl------------------------ Leo ------------- green
topaz----------------------- Cancer--------- yellow green
chrysoprase ------------ Gemini--------- green
hyacinth/jacinth-------Taurus --------- violet
amythist------------------ Aries------------- purple

There appears to have been no standard order in Judaism - varying lists of the stones and of the tribes are found in the OT.

C/f Isaiah 54:11 Ezekiel 28:13 LXX.

(3) Seiss identifies the signs with the tribes as follows as they encamped around the Tabernacle:

-------------------------------------------EAST.

-------Issachar ------------------------ Judah ------------------------------ Zebulun
-------(Cancer)------------------------- (Leo)-------- ------------------------ (Virgo)

-----NORTH. -------------------------------------------------------------------SOUTH.

-----Naphthali---------------------------------------------------------------- Simeon
----(Capricorn)--------------------------------------------------------------- (Pisces)

--------------------------------Levi (Libra) surrounded the
-------Dan--------------------- Tabernacle------------------------------- Reuben
----(Scorpio)------------------------------------------------------------------- (Aquarius)

------Asher----------------------------------------------------------------------Gad
---(Sagittarius)---------------------------------------------------------------(Aries)

----Benjamin--------------------Ephraim---------------------------------Manasseh
-----(Gemini)------------------------------------------ (Taurus)

------------------------------------------------WEST.

REV 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

"the twelve gates were twelve pearls"
Literally "carbuncles"
The Talmud said that God would make the gates of Jerusalem out of pearls - 30 cubits x 30 in which he would cut a passage 10 cubits wide x 20 cubits high. (Baba Bathra 75a).
Pearls are made by the suffering of the oyster. Objects of great beauty and value are made through suffering. This is also how we are to be perfected, "It is by many tribulations that we shall enter the kingdom of God".

"street"
Singular. Only one street, symbolising the fact that there is only one way to God's presence, through Jesus Christ.
Ancient belief was that the street of heaven was a sort of "golden milky way" in the heavens.
Again the "gold as transparent as glass" appears. Here the meaning is clearly that the way the Redeemed walk in the eternal state is completely pure and holy.

REV 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

"no temple"
C/f Hebrews 9:23-25 - Christ's death has done away with the need for a temple. A temple symbolises the presence of God, we do not need a symbol when we are in heaven as we have the reality. In fact we are the temple of Gold.
The city and the temple are really the same thing. They are two metaphors for the same thing. The emphasis here is that God is so present that men do not have to go anywhere special to find him.

REV 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

"no sun, no moon"
Isaiah 60:1,19; 24:23; Apoc Abraham 17; 2 Esdras 7:40-43.

REV 21:24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth
will bring their splendor into it.

"the nations"
What are they doing here? Has John forgotten that he is describing the perfect order in the new heavens and earth? Why have these old divisions?

What John is trying to convey to us is:
(i) In the Eternal order the knowledge of God will be universal, not just limited to a certain nationality.
(ii) Man was created in "the image of God", but no single man can fully reflect the full image of God. Rather the differences between nationalities and cultures are parts of the image of God which we bear. In the Eternal State, then, these differences will not disappear, we will not be all reduced to a bland sameness. True "In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek", but this is to do with priority of standing before God. There is no indication in the Bible that God is going to throw us all into a vast melting pot and churn us out all the same for our existence in Eternity. For the fullness of God's glory to be manifested in the Eternal State then the differences between peoples and nations will not only exist, but they will be magnified. However this will not be done in any way that will cause division or jealousy. Rather the differences will bring praise and Glory to God who is the originator and Father of All.

Revelation 7:9 - in the New Order nationality is not lost.
Isaiah 60:3,11 - John is clearly dependent here on Isaiah 60. Yet the nations play a large part.

However we need to remember that the "coming down of the city" is not just something that happens in the distant future. It is a reality happening all the time wherever the people of God gather. John is hinting that there is a light, a divine knowledge, in the Church that could transform the world. The problem in the world is not so much the world, but the fact that Christians fail to realise that they have the answers form God. We get bogged down in a narrow minded religious viewpoint which becomes very "me centred", when God wants us to realise that he has blessed us so that the world can be blessed.

"kings of the earth"
Presumably the people of God who are "kings and priests" are meant. The earth is our inheritance, so we will be the "kings of the earth."

REV 21:25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.

"no night"
Darkness being the symbol of evil it has no place where evil is banished.

"its gates shall never be closed"Never again will access to God be restricted in any way. God not only will live with his people but he will be available to his people.
This is true even now, the gates are never closed to any sinner who repents.

REV 21:26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.

"the glory and the honour of the nations"
Offered to Christ by Satan (Matthew 3), but taken by Christ through his death and resurrection.
Though this will be fully so in the Millennium and Eternal State it is a spiritual principle that is true even now. We can live in the kingdom of God now and not be limited by the poverty and pain of this world. But we need to "come out", stop compromising with the world.

REV 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

"nothing unclean"
Through the defilement of Sin.

"practices abomination"
"Abomination" in the OT usually has the sense of something that is demonic in its origin or operation.

"lying"
Not what we would consider to be a cardinal sin, yet c/f 22:11,15. The thing with sin is it does not matter what sin we commit we will soon add lying to it to cover up our wrongdoing. The first step to stopping sinning is to stop lying, as it forces us to confront the reality and shame of our actions.