The Resplendent City

AN ANGEL had taken John into a wilderness to show him Babylon the Great.  Now one of the same angelic group  conducts John to a lofty mountain.  What a contrast he sees!   Here is no unclean, immoral city like the Babylonish harlot, but New Jerusalem -pure, spiritual, holy-and it is descending from heaven itself. -Revelation 17:1, 5.

Even earthly Jerusalem never had a glory such as this.  John tells us:  "And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were full of the seven last plagues, and he spoke with me and said:  'Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.'  So he carried me away in the power of the spirit to a great and lofty mountain, and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God and having the glory of God."  (Revelation 21:9-11a)   From the vantage point of that towering mountain, John surveys  the beauteous city in all its lovely detail.  Men of faith have been in eager expectation of its coming ever since mankind's fall into sin and death.  At last it is here!  (Romans 8:19; 1 Corinthians  15:22, 23; Hebrews 11:39, 40)  It is the magnificent spiritual city, compose of 144,000 loyal integrity keepers, resplendent in its holiness and reflecting the very glory of Jehovah.  Here is the grand Revelation climax!

New Jerusalem is breathtaking in its beauty:  "Its radiance was like most precious stone, as a jasper stone shining crystal-clear.  It had a great and lofty wall and had twelve gates, and at the gates, twelve angels, and names were inscribed which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.  On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.  The wall of the city also had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names  of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."  (Revelation 21:11b-14)  How fitting that the first impression John records is of glowing brightness!  Radiant as a new bride, New Jerusalem makes a fitting consort for Christ.  It positively glows, as is proper for a creation of "the Father of the celestial lights." -James 1:17.

On its 12 gates, there are inscribed the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.  Therefore, this symbolic city is made up of the 144,000, who were sealed "out of every tribe of the sons of Israel."  (Revelation 7:4-8)  In harmony with this, the foundation stones have on them the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.  Yes, New Jerusalem is not the fleshly nation of Israel founded on the 12 sons of Jacob. It is the spiritual Israel, founded on "the apostles and  prophets." -Ephesians 2:20. 

The symbolic city has a huge wall.  In ancient times, city walls were built for security to keep out enemies.  New Jerusalem's "great and lofty wall" shows that she is spiritually secure.  No enemy of righteousness, no one unclean or dishonest, will ever be able to gain entrance.  (Revelation 21:27)  But for those allowed in, entering this beauteous city is like entering Paradise.  ( Revelation 2:7)  After Adam's expulsion , cherubs were posted in front of the original Paradise to keep out  unclean humans.  (Genesis 3:24)  Similarly, angels are posted at each entrance of the holy city Jerusalem to ensure the spiritual security of the city.  Indeed, throughout the last days, angels  have been guarding the congregation of anointed Christians, which becomes New Jerusalem, from Babylonish contamination. -Matthew 13:41. 

Next time: The Resplendent City - Measuring the City

From the Book of Revelation