One of the seven angels with the seven bowls invited John to go with him as he was carried away in the spirit to see the bride. This is similar to Paul’s “out of the body” experience in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4. He is taken to a great high mountain where he is shown the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. This corresponds to the New Jerusalem which is a heavenly, spiritual habitation with God. This replaces the physical old Jerusalem which He destroyed. He serves as our high priest while reigning on His throne as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The marriage is likened unto God indwelling this New Jerusalem, the celestial city. As a result, the city has the glory of God that compares to the jasper stone (cf. Rev. 4:3) and as being “clear as crystal.” The bride is precious to the groom and is of great value to Him. She is without spot or blemish (Eph. 5:27; cf. Eph. 5:22-33). The wall of the city is great and high [Each side is 1,500 miles long and 1,500 miles high, and 216 feet thick (vv. 15-17)], having twelve gates with twelve angels posted at their entrance. The gates have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them. This wall is massive and impenetrable. No one can go under it or over it. The only way to enter the city is through the gates guarded by the angels who allow only the redeemed of spiritual Israel entrance into the holy city. There are three gates in each of the four directions (North, South, East, and West). The wall of the city has twelve foundations with each foundation carrying the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. We are told elsewhere that the household of God rests upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus being the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:19-22).
The angel had a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and the wall. The city lieth foursquare, the length is as great as its width. The city measures a cube with the length, height, and width measuring the same. Each side measured twelve thousand furlongs (1,600 furlongs equals 200 miles, Rev. 14:20). Therefore, twelve thousand furlongs would be about 1,500 miles (7.5 x 200) or 33,750,000 cubic miles. The thickness of the jasper wall is measured at 144 cubits (18 inches to the cubit, the walls were 216 feet thick). The city was pure gold, like unto pure glass, both of which are opaque in real life. But, in the celestial city, both have a transparent quality comparable to crystal. No dark corners exist is a glass house.
The foundations of the wall were adorned with all manner of precious stones: the first was made of Jasper; the second, sapphire;’ the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh; chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst (v. 19). These represent a brilliant rainbow of colors with each having one of the twelve names of the twelve apostles. This is appropriate since they form the foundation for the house of God. Each of them had its own unique qualities of beauty. Upon these foundation-stones are built other “living” stones, row upon row, layer upon layer, generation upon generation, according to Peter (1 Peter 2:3-10).
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each one being of one pearl and yet all open to a single street made of pure gold like transparent glass. These unusually large pearly gates symbolize the splendor of the celestial city. There are no back streets and dark alleys in New Jerusalem. There are no ghettos or run-down apartments.
There was no temple in the description of the celestial city. He sees heavenly temples in his vision, but these visions are symbolic for no temple is found in the celestial city. God never abode in temples made with hands. The city, itself, is the sanctuary for God’s people (cf. Rev. 7:15-17).
The city has no sun or moon to lighten it. The glory of God lightens it and the lamp of the city is the Lamb (v. 23). The New Jerusalem radiates with bright light in the middle of which the nations walk. The kings of the earth bring their glory into it. The nations will never again be deceived by Satan.
Since there is no reckoning of time by days and nights, the city is characterized by one neverending day. Therefore, the gates of the city remain open. Remember, each is guarded by an angel who provides a welcome mat at any hour to those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. This holy city will not allow anything impure to enter it or that makes an abomination or lie. The angels bar evil from its entrance. Consequently, there is little or no traffic flow because once the redeemed are inside, they shall go out no more (Rev. 22:14, 3:12). The wicked are never allowed to enter (Rev. 22:15; 21:27; cf. Gen.3:22-24). Since the gates stay open, we have an impression that those within the gates are not imprisoned, but there is never a desire to leave. The gates are, also, open because the threat of enemy invasion is non-existent.