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.