21:11 This city obviously appeared extremely impressive to John. The first and most important characteristic that John noted was its radiant glow. It shone with the splendor of God Himself because He was in it (cf. Exod. 40:34; Num. 9:15-23; 1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chron. 5:14; Isa. 24:23; 60:1; Ezek. 43:5; John 12:41; Acts 26:13).
John compared the glory of the city to that of a beautiful gem. Jasper stones were very beautiful but not always clear. As mentioned earlier (cf. 4:3), this is probably a crystal clear gem with many facets of brilliance, probably what we call a diamond. This stone described God Himself earlier (4:3), so it's brilliance is a further reflection of God's presence in the city.
21:12 The city's wall with 12 gate-towers was what caught John's attention next. The city evidently looked square (v. 16). Its high walls suggest its security and inviolability. Certainly its inhabitants will need no defense from attacking enemies there. The 12 gate-towers (Gr. pylon, cf. Luke 16:20) stood three to a side (v. 13). The gate-towers provided access into the city. In the case of this city, the many gate-towers also suggest great freedom of access.
The angelic guards also present a picture of great security (cf. Gen. 3:24; Isa. 62:6). The names were apparently on the gates, not on the angels stationed beside them (cf. Ezek. 48:31-34).740The fact that each gate-tower bears a name of one of Israel's tribes probably indicates that Israel will have a distinctive identity and role in this city as it had through history (cf. 7:1-8).741God will perpetuate the memory of Israel throughout eternity.
21:13 Evidently directions will exist in the new creation as they do in the old suggesting that space will exist throughout eternity as well as time (cf. 20:10). Which names will be on which gate-towers remains to be seen.742
21:14 Since there are foundations to the city (cf. Heb 11:10, 13-16), it will be a permanent abode for the righteous in contrast to temporary dwellings that lacked foundations. The foundations may be one on top of each other in layers, but probably each section of the wall, between the gate-towers, has its own foundation.743As the walls and gates represent protection, so the foundations speak of permanence.
Evidently the church, represented by the apostles (cf. Eph. 2:20), will be in the New Jerusalem as will Israel (v. 12). However assigning the name of each apostle to a particular foundation stone is as impossible as matching the names of Israel's tribes with the gates.744Note the distinction between Israel and the church even in the eternal state (cf. Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30). God had a role for each group and an identity separate from the other in the past and as He does in the present.745
"The combination of the twelve tribes in verse 12 and the twelve apostles is a way of saying that Israel of old and the Christian church are united in God's final scheme of things."746
That these are apostles "of the Lamb"again focuses glory on the Lamb in this city.
21:15 The fact that the angel's measuring rod was gold reflects the dignity of the task of measuring this city's gate-towers and walls (cf. Ezek. 40:3).747Only the utensils used in the holy of holies were gold in the tabernacle and temple, but even this measuring rod is gold suggesting the high value of the city.
21:16 John described the shape and then the size of the city. Its base was square, the same shape as ancient Babylon and Nineveh.748The dimensions of this city were 12,000 stadia (approximately 1,500 miles) on each of its four sides and 1,500 miles high.749This description could allow for either a cube750or a pyramid shape.751The fact that the holy of holies was a cube tempts one to conclude that the New Jerusalem will also be a cube in shape, but this is speculation.
Probably we should interpret these dimensions literally. Some interpreters believe they only symbolize what the holy of holies in Israel anticipated, namely, a perfect environment in which God dwells. Others hold that they symbolize the fulfillment of all God's promises.752
21:17 The city wall was evidently 144 cubits (about 216 feet or 72 yards) thick (cf. Ezek. 40:5; 42:20).753John explained that even though an angel was doing the measuring he was using human units of measure. Thus these measurements meant the same to John as they would have meant if something else in his day was being measured.
21:18 The walls appeared to be glistening (cf. v. 11; 4:3). The word "material"(Gr. endomesis) means "building in"and suggests that the material on the wall was jasper, not that the wall was solid jasper. Perhaps John meant that the walls were overlaid with this brilliant material, suggesting further the radiance of God's holy presence. The whole city appeared to shine as a mass of pure gold.754Clear glass was the best quality glass in John's day, so when he compared the gold to clear glass he probably meant that there was no impurity in the city.755John apparently described the New Jerusalem by using similes and metaphors to communicate its ineffable glory.
21:19-20 The apostle further explained the foundation stones of the city (v. 14). The foundation of a building is usually completely functional and not decorative, but these stones, which were at least partially visible above grade, were adorned with gems.756These stones were of many different colors suggesting the extreme beauty of the city. We cannot identify all of them exactly today, but they were obviously precious gems in John's day.
"Our God is a God of beauty, and He will lavish His beauty on the city He is preparing for His people."757
The Israelite high priest carried 12 gems representing each of the twelve tribes on his breastpiece (Exod. 28:17-20). Perhaps there is some symbolic connection between these 12 jewels and those, though only eight of them appear in both lists. In the new order everyone will have the privilege of access to God that was the unique privilege of the high priest in Israel.758
21:21 Evidently each gate-tower that John saw (vv. 12-13) had been carved out of one huge pearl.759
"Among the ancients, pearls were ranked highest among precious stones, because their beauty derives entirely from nature, improvement by human workmanship being an impossibility . . ."760
John further described the street or pavement of the city (probably referring to all the streets since all would be connected). These were pure gold (v. 18), as pure as transparent glass. Old Testament priests who ministered in Solomon's temple walked on a gold floor (1 Kings 6:30).
21:22 Unlike old Jerusalem, there was no temple in the new city because God Himself was there. The whole city will, therefore, be a virtual temple.761The Lamb will play the central role in this temple along with Almighty God. The presence of God with man was the symbol of the earthly tabernacle and temple, but in the New Jerusalem that presence is a reality.
This verse and verses 23-27 stress that God will bring people into intimate relationship with Himself in the New Jerusalem.762
