Revelation 21:9–14, 22–27

In the opening verses of chapter 21, John saw the new Jerusalem come down from heaven. It was likened to a bride adorned for her husband. The new Jerusalem came with the announcement of a new and special relationship between God and His people. The verses before us produce images of that relationship.

In verse 9, John is told to come and behold the bride of the Lamb by an angel. John recognized the angel as one of the seven angels who poured out the seven vials of God’s wrath (Rev. 15:1). The same angel who unleashed death and destruction upon the world system that was ushered in after Adam fell, now reveals the Lamb’s wife. John was carried up in the spirit to a great and high mountain from which he saw the new Jerusalem descending out of heaven (v. 10). All that is written in Revelation 21:11 to 22:5 is a record of the features of the city and the goings-on within the city. When John looked upon the new Jerusalem, he beheld the bride of the Lamb.

The bride of Christ is all who are second born; it is all who believe God and trust in His provision for life eternal. As the wife of Adam was fashioned by God from Adam, so is the wife of the Lamb fashioned by God of all who are born of the Lamb.

The new Jerusalem is described as having the glory of God. The glory of God is revealed through all that God does. His perfection is revealed to us through the Son. The glory of God is seen in all who have been changed by God. “He that hath the Son hath life” (I John 5:12). The Son is the perfect expression of God. The glory of God radiates outward from the new Jerusalem. The glory of God sparkles from the bride of the Lamb.

The light of the new Jerusalem is like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Krystallos, a verb in the Greek language, is translated into English as “clear as crystal” (v. 11). John looked upon the new Jerusalem and saw light which sparkled as light radiating from a precious gem stone. Jasper is a gemstone which can be of multiple colors. The light of the new Jerusalem is bright, vibrant, diverse in color and shines with a light which is not its own. The bride of the Lamb radiates light which is of the Lamb.

The new Jerusalem is pictured as having a great wall with twelve gates — gates bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (v. 12). Access into the new Jerusalem is linked with God’s covenant with Abraham, symbolized by the twelve tribes of Israel. The wall sits upon a foundation bearing the names of the twelve apostles (v. 14). Walls are built upon foundations. The foundation of the walls of the new Jerusalem is the faith of the twelve apostles. Walls provide security. The walls of the new Jerusalem are made secure by faith. Faith which God uses for His purposes and has used to build His church.

The new Jerusalem is the dwelling place of the bride of the Lamb. It has no temple in it (v. 22). The temple that stood in the first Jerusalem was a place of separation. There is no separation between God and man in the new Jerusalem. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of the new Jerusalem. The bride is bound to the Lamb in marriage. The bride is one with the Lamb and dwells in the presence of God and is pictured radiating His glory. The new Jerusalem has no need of the sun or the moon (v. 23). No external lighting needed. There is glorious light everywhere in the holy city. It is the light of the Lamb.

The nations of the earth which are saved shall walk in the light of the city (v. 24). Scholars differ on the identity of the nations of them which are saved. It can, however, be stated with certainty that nations that walk in the light of the new Jerusalem are separate from the bride of the Lamb and are blessed by the bride. The kings of the earth are seen bringing honor and glory into the holy city. They, too, are separate from the Lamb and His wife.

The appearance of the new Jerusalem coincides with the close of Christ’s millennial rule (Chapter 20). Those who walk in the light of the city, but not part of the city, would seem to be the nations which were present during Christ’s reign. It seems reasonable to surmise that these nations are composed of those who were present during the one thousand years but were not part of the great number which was deceived when Satan was loosed from the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:7).

The kings of the earth bring glory and honor of the nations into the holy city (v. 24, 26). The kings are able to enter the city because their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (v. 27). The glory and honor of the nations is a glory and honor which does not and cannot defile the holy city. All that enters into the city must come through its gates — gates bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Again, the names of the tribes serve as a link to God’s covenant with Israel and to the law of Moses. All who pass through the gates keep the law without fail.

God has shown John (and all who have the ears to hear and eyes to see) a picture of the future — a picture of a time in which the church shall radiate the light of the Lamb, a time in which believers shall be joined to the Lamb in marriage. God reveals the future because He desires that all should prepare themselves for that which is to come. God would have all repent of their evil ways and not perish (II Peter 3:9). God would have the bride of the Lamb (the church) prepare herself to radiate the light of the Lamb for all eternity. Preparation involves practice.

Let us do as Jesus has said (Jn.15:5). Let us abide in Him such that His light be seen in us — light that brings forth much fruit. Let us make ready for the day to come.