Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City - A City of Light

 In Solomon's time, Jerusalem was dominated by a temple built at the city's highest elevation on Mount Moriah to the north. But what of New Jerusalem. John says: "And I did not see the temple in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb is. And the city has no need of a sun nor of a moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God lighted it up, and its lamp was the Lamb." (Revelation 21:22, 23) In truth there is no need to construct a literal temple here.  The ancient Jewish temple was just a pattern, and the reality of that pattern, the great spiritual temple, has existed since Jehovah anointed Jesus as High Priest in 29 C.E.(Matthew 3:16, 17; Hebrews 9:11, 12, 23, 24) A temple also presupposes a priestly class offering sacrifices to Jehovah on behalf of the people. But all those who are part of New Jerusalem are priests. (Revelation 20:6) And the great sacrifice, Jesus' perfect life, has been offered once for all time. (Hebrews 9:27, 28) Moreover, Jehovah is personally accessible to everyone living in that city. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City- Precious Building Materials -Conclusion

 No human smelter could produce gold of such purity. But Jehovah is the Master Refiner. He sits "as a refiner and cleanser of silver," and he refines the individual, faithful members of the spiritual Israel "like gold and like silver, removing from them all impurities. Only individuals who have truly been refined and cleansed will finally make up New Jerusalem, and in this way Jehovah builds the city with living building materials that are aglow with the highest excellence of spiritual purity. - MALACHI 3:3, 4.

Even the city's foundations are beautiful, being adorned with 12 precious gems. This calls to mind the ancient Jewish high priest, who on ceremonial days wore an ephod studded with 12 different stones somewhat similar the ones described here. (Exodus 28:15-21) Surely this is not coincidence! Rather, it emphasizes the priestly function of New Jerusalem,  of which Jesus, the great High Priest, is the "lamp." (Revelation 20:6; 21:23; Hebrews 8:1) Also, it is through New Jerusalem that the benefits of Jesus' high-priestly ministry are channeled to mankind. (Revelation 22:1,2) The city's  12 gates, each being a pearl of great beauty, call to mind Jesus' illustration that likened the Kingdom to a pearl of high value. All who enter through those gates will have shown true appreciation for spiritual values. - MATTHEW:45, 46; compare Job 28:12, 17, 18. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City- Precious Building Materials

John continues his description: "Now the structure of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass. The foundation of city's walls were adorned with every sort of precious stone: the first foundation was jasper. the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald. the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh crysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysophase, the eleventh  hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst. Also, the twelve gates was made of one pearl. And the broad way of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass." -REVELATION 21:18-20.

The city's construction is truly resplendent. Instead of mundane, earthly building like clay or stone, we read of jasper, refined gold, and "every sort of precious stone" How fittingly these portray celestial building materials! Nothing could be more magnifieent,  The ancient ark of the covenant was overlaid with pur gold and in the Bible this element often represents things that are good and valuable. (Exodus25:11; Proverbs 25:11; ISAIAH 60:6, 17) But the entire New Jerusalem, and even its broad way, are constructed of :pure gold like clear glass," portraying a beauty and intrinsic value that staggers the imagination. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City - Measuring the City - Conclusion

 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 superbly designated 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. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City -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 gates and its wall. And the city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as it breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; its length and breadth and height are equal. Also, he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to a man's measure, at the same an angel's." (Revelation 21:13-17) When the temple sanctuary was measured, this guaranteed the fulfillment of Jehovah's purposes with regard to it. (Revelation 11:1) Now, the angel's measuring New Jerusalem shows how unchangeable Jehovah's purposes are with regard this glorious city.

What a remarkable city this is! A perfect cube 12,000 furlongs (about 1, 380 miles) in perimeter to, surrounded by a wall 144 cubits or 210 feet, in height. No literal city could 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? 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City

 On its 12 gates, there are inscribed the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. Therefore, this symbolic city is made up of 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 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 uncleans humans. (Genesis 3:24) Similarly, angels are posted at each entrance of the holy city Jerusalem to ensure spiritual security of the city. Indeed, throughout the last days, of anointed Christians, which becomes New Jerusalem, from Babylonish contamination. - MATTHEW 13:41. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City

 New Jerusalem is breathtaking in its beauty: "Its radiance was like most precious stone, as japer stone shining like 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 of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israe. 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 gates of the city also had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve tribes 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 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. 

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Chapter Forty-Three/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 spirit, 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 again: "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 anticipation 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 spiritual city, composed of the 144,000 loyal integrity keepers, resplendent in its holiness and reflecting the very glory of Jehovah. Here is the grand Revelation climax! 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Ones Conquering - Conclusion

 Christendom, though she claims to be the bride of Christ, is characterized by the disgusting practices that John here describes. So she goes down to eternal destruction with the rest of Babylon the Great.(Revelation18:8, 21) Likewise, any of the anointed of the great crowd who take up the practice of such evildoing or start encouraging it face everlasting destruction. If they persist in these actions, they will not inherit the promises in the new earth, any who try to introduce such practices will be destroyed speedily, going into the second death without hope of a resurrection. - ISAIAH 65:20. 

Outstanding as conquerors are the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and his bride of 144,000, New Jerusalem. How fitting, then, that Revelation should be brought to a sublime climax by a final transcendent view of New Jerusalem! John now describes one last vision. 

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Ones Conquering - Continue

 With this grand prospect in view, how important it is that Jehovah's Witnesses now remain clean from the defiling things of Satan's world! We need to be strong, resolute, and determined that the Devil will never drag us down into the company that Jehovah himself here describes: "But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornications, and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death." (Revelation 21:8) Yes, the would-be inheritor has to avoid the practices that have befouled this old system of things. He has to conquer by remaining faithful in the face of all pressures and temptations. - ROMANS 8:35-39. 

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