The Glory and Design of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-21)
This sermon opens a window into the awe-inspiring vision of the New Jerusalem, a city promised by God as the eternal home for His people. It invites us to contemplate the unparalleled beauty and intricate design of this heavenly capital.
This sermon offers a detailed glimpse into the New Jerusalem, heaven's capital city, as described in Revelation 21. It focuses on the city's radiant appearance and its astonishing exterior design, emphasizing its divine origin and purpose.
Overview
The sermon begins by setting the stage for Revelation 21, contextualizing the New Jerusalem after major biblical events like the tribulation and millennial kingdom. It presents the city as the fulfillment of Jesus' promise in John 14, the Father's house prepared for all believers. This capital city of the new heavens and new earth is meant to stir longing and anticipation in those who await their eternal home.
The first main section, 'General Appearance,' describes the city's overarching glory. John is shown the city as 'the bride, the wife of the Lamb,' taking its character from its occupants, the redeemed of all ages. Transported in the Spirit to a high mountain, John witnesses the city descending from God, radiating the full and limitless 'glory of God' as a blazing light, like a 'crystal-clear jasper'—a perfect, massive diamond.
The second major section, 'Exterior Design,' delves into intricate architectural details. The city features a great, high wall with twelve gates, each bearing the name of an Israelite tribe and attended by angels. Below these, twelve foundation stones display the names of the twelve apostles, symbolizing God's covenants with both Israel and the church. The city is a perfect cube, 1500 miles in length, width, and height, measured with a gold rod.
Further details reveal the city's walls are made of jasper (diamond), and the city itself is pure gold, described as 'clear glass' to allow God's glory to shine unimpeded. The foundation stones are adorned with a dazzling array of precious gems, creating a spectacular display of color. Finally, the twelve gates are each a single, enormous pearl, symbolic of access to God's home being gained through Christ's suffering and sacrifice.
Key points
- The New Jerusalem is presented as the capital city of the new heavens and new earth, fulfilling Jesus' promise in John 14.
- It is described as 'the bride, the wife of the Lamb,' drawing its character from the redeemed who inhabit it.
- The city's general appearance is defined by 'the glory of God,' manifested as limitless light, resembling a massive, crystal-clear diamond.
- Its exterior features a great, high wall with twelve gates bearing the names of Israel's tribes, and twelve foundation stones named after the apostles.
- The city is a perfect cube, measuring 1500 miles in length, width, and height, with walls 216 feet thick.
- The walls are made of jasper (diamond), and the city's internal material is translucent pure gold, allowing God's glory to shine through.
- The twelve gates are each a single, immense pearl, symbolizing that access to heaven is through Christ's suffering.
In John MacArthur's words
“If it doesn’t mean what it says, then what does it mean? It means what you say it means? Well, where did you get that information?”
“You will have the Lord for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory.”
“Heaven is entered through suffering by a wounded Redeemer.”
Outline
- Introduction: Anticipating Our Eternal Home
- I. The General Appearance (Revelation 21:9-11)
- A. The Angel's Invitation to See the Bride (Revelation 21:9)
- 1. One of the Seven Judgment Angels
- 2. The City as the Bride, Wife of the Lamb
- B. John's Spiritual Journey to a High Mountain (Revelation 21:10)
- C. The City's Divine Origin and Glory (Revelation 21:10b-11)
- 1. Coming Down Out of Heaven From God
- 2. Having the Glory of God (Manifested as Light)
- 3. Brilliance Like a Crystal-Clear Jasper (Diamond)
- II. The Exterior Design (Revelation 21:12-21)
- A. The Great and High Wall (Revelation 21:12-13)
- 1. Twelve Gates with Twelve Angels
- 2. Names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel on the Gates
- 3. Perfect Symmetry: Three Gates on Each Side
- B. The Twelve Foundation Stones (Revelation 21:14)
- 1. Bearing the Names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb
- 2. Celebrating God's Covenants
- C. Measuring the City (Revelation 21:15-17)
- 1. Angel with a Gold Measuring Rod (Signifying God's Possession)
- 2. City Layout: A Perfect Square (Cube)
- 3. Dimensions: 1500 Miles in Length, Width, and Height
- 4. Wall Thickness: 72 Yards (216 Feet), According to Human and Angelic Measurements
- D. Material of the Wall and City (Revelation 21:18)
- 1. Wall Material: Jasper (Diamond)
- 2. City Material: Pure Gold, Like Clear Glass (Translucent)
- E. Adorned Foundation Stones (Revelation 21:19-20)
- 1. Twelve Kinds of Precious Stones (Jasper, Sapphire, Chalcedony, Emerald, Sardonyx, Sardius, Chrysolite, Beryl, Topaz, Chrysoprase, Jacinth, Amethyst)
- 2. A Blazing Panoply of Brilliant Colors
- F. The Twelve Gates of Pearl (Revelation 21:21)
- 1. Each Gate a Single Pearl
- 2. Symbolizing Access Through Christ's Suffering
Scripture references
- Revelation 21:9
- Revelation 22:5
- John 14
- Revelation 21:2
- Revelation 21:3
- Revelation 21:22
- Hebrews 11:8
- Hebrews 11:10
- Hebrews 11:16
- Hebrews 12:22
- Hebrews 13:14
- Revelation 20:1
- Revelation 15
- Revelation 15:7
- Revelation 16
- Revelation 17:1
- Revelation 19:7-9
- Ephesians 5
- Revelation 21:10
- Revelation 21:11
- Exodus 33
- Revelation 21:23
- Isaiah 60:19
- Revelation 21:12
- Revelation 21:17
- Hebrews 1:14
- Revelation 21:13
- Ezekiel 48
- Revelation 21:14
- Ephesians 2:20
- Revelation 21:15
- Ezekiel 40
- Ezekiel 40:3
- Revelation 11
- Revelation 21:16
- 1 Kings 6:20
- Revelation 21:18
- Revelation 21:19
- Exodus 28
- Exodus 39
- Revelation 21:21
- John 1:14
- Matthew 24
- Matthew 25
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
+ 6 more verses — Read Revelation of John 15 in full context →
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
+ 19 more verses — Read Revelation of John 16 in full context →
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:
2 And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
1 Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar–enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.
2 And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the Lord was upon me, and brought me thither.
2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
+ 17 more verses — Read Revelation of John 11 in full context →
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
1 And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the Lord commanded Moses.
2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Insights
God's promises for eternity are staggering in their glory and detail.
The New Jerusalem reflects God's demand for perfect symmetry and order.
Our eternal home is a place of indescribable beauty and radiant light.
Questions & answers
What is the New Jerusalem, according to the sermon?
The New Jerusalem is described as the capital city of the new heavens and new earth, the Father's house that Jesus promised to prepare. It is the eternal dwelling place of God and all the redeemed, descending from heaven into its final place.
Why is the city called 'the bride, the wife of the Lamb'?
The city draws its character from its occupants, who are the eternal bride of Christ. It encompasses all the redeemed of all ages, symbolizing their intimate relationship and union with God and the Lamb.
What is the most distinguishing characteristic of the New Jerusalem?
Its most distinguishing characteristic is 'having the glory of God.' This glory is manifested as full, limitless, and unconfined light, blazing from the city throughout all eternity, so bright that it has no need of the sun or moon.
What are the dimensions and materials of the New Jerusalem?
The city is laid out as a perfect cube, 1500 miles in length, width, and height. Its wall is made of jasper (diamond) and is 216 feet thick. The rest of the city is pure gold, like clear glass, designed to allow God's glory to radiate through everything.
What is the significance of the pearl gates?
The twelve gates, each a single pearl, symbolize that access to God's home is gained only through the suffering of Christ. Just as a pearl is formed by an oyster around an irritation, heaven is God's answer in Christ to those who crucified Him, inviting them to share His home.
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