Measuring The City

John continues his account Now the one who was speaking with me was holding as a measure a golden reed, that he might measure the city and its golden gates and its wall. And the city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its breadth.And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; its length and breadth are equal. also, he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits,according to a man's measure,at the same time an angel's." (Revelation 21:15-17) When the temple sanctuary was measured, this guaranteed the fulfillment of Jehovah's purposes with regard it. ( Revelation 11:1) Now, the angel's measuring New Jerusalem show how unchangeable Jehovah's purposes are with regard to this glorious city.

What a remarkable city this is! A perfect cube 12,000 furlongs (about 1,380 miles) in perimeter, surrounded by a wall 144 cubits, or 210 feet, in height. No literal city could ever have such measurements. It would cover a territory about 14 times as large as modern Israel, and it would tower almost 350 miles into outer space! Revelation was given in signs. So, what do these measurements tell us about heavenly New Jerusalem?

The 144-cubit high walls remind us that the city is made up of 144,000 spiritually adopted sons of God. The figure 12 that appears in the 12,000 furlong measurement of the city-with the length, breadth and height being equal-is used figuratively in organizational settings in Bible prophecy. Hence, New Jerusalem is a superbly designed organizational arrangement for accomplishing God's eternal purpose. New Jerusalem, together with the King Jesus Christ, is Jehovah's Kingdom organization. Then there is the shape of the city; a perfect cube. In Solomon's temple, the Most Holy, containing a symbolic representation of Jehovah's presence, was a perfect cube. (1 Kings 6:19, 20) How fitting, then, that New Jerusalem, illuminated by the glory of Jehovah himself, is seen as a perfect, large-scale cube! All its measurements are perfectly balanced. It is a city without irregularities or defects. -Revelation 21:22.

Next time: Precious Building Materials

Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, 1988