THE NEW JERUSALEM AND
THE CONCLUSION TO THE
BOOK OF REVELATION
Revelation 21:9 –
22:21
As taught by Dave
Lindstrom
I. The amazing city of the New
Jerusalem is revealed to the Apostle John (Rev. 21:9 – 22:5).
A. One of the angels of the seven last
bowl judgments is sent to show the Apostle John some of the details
of the New Jerusalem just as previously one of these angels showed
him the city of the Antichrist. An obvious powerful message of the
book of Revelation is that following Satan and his Antichrist will
ultimately lead to pride, a destroyed city, death, and the lake of
fire (Rev. 17:1 – 18:24, 19:17 –
20:15). Whereas, following Yahweh Father and His Christ will
ultimately lead to humility, an eternal city, and eternal life in
Yahweh’s presence as His Bride (Rev. 19:1 – 22:21) (Rev. 21:9).
B. The Apostle John was carried away
to a very high mountain (on the New Earth which had already been
prophetically created, Rev. 21:1) where he saw the holy city
Jerusalem (New Jerusalem, Rev. 21:2) coming down out of the New
Heaven and presumably landing on the New Earth. For the second
time, the Apostle tells us that it is “from God” (also Rev.
21:2). This city has been especially made by Yahweh Father Himself
to be the eternal place of fellowship between God and His people
(Rev. 21:10; Isa. 66:22; John 14:2-4; I Cor. 2:9).
C. The exterior aspects of the New
Jerusalem (Rev. 21:11-21).
1. It radiated the glory of God,
Yahweh Father Himself, which looked to the Apostle John like
jasper (probably like a translucent diamond). This is also the
first description of Yahweh Father’s throne in Rev. 4:3! (Rev.
21:11).
2. It is surrounded by a high wall
which according to verse 17 measured out at 144 cubits (216 feet
tall, wide, or both) (verse 12a).
a. The wall had 12 large entry gates
which could give access into or out of the city. The Millennial
Jerusalem had smaller versions of these (Ezek. 48:31-34). The twelve
tribes of Israel were inscribed on the gates (three gates to the
east, north, south, and west, see Ezek. 42:16-19) and one angel
was at each gate (verses 12b-13).
b. The wall had 12 foundations that
it was built on with the 12 names of the 12 apostles on each
foundation (verse 14; Matt. 19:28; Eph. 2:20).
3. The angel was given a measuring
rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and walls. This
usually was a piece of bamboo a little over 10 feet long (Rev.
11:1) but for this occasion, the angel was given gold (verse 15).
4. The city itself was laid out
foundationally in a square shape with its width, length, and
height all equal. Each distance was 12,000 stadia or about 1,380
miles (each stadion was about 607 feet or 85 meters). Therefore,
the city itself was most likely cube shaped (possibly
triangular). As an item of interest, the holy of holies in Solomon’s
Temple and Ezekiel’s Millennial Temple area were cube shaped
(verse 16; I Kings 6:20; 2 Chron. 3:8-9; Ezek. 42:15-20,
45:2).
5. Added details on the materials and
colors of the city, wall, and street (verses 18-21).
a. The wall was built of jasper (a
translucent diamond-like material) and the city was built from a
pure gold-like material that was like clear glass (verse 18).
b. The foundations of the wall,
which must be above ground enough to be seen, are adorned with
every kind of precious stone or jewel. This would reflect a vast
array of colors on the translucent wall and clear as glass city
including blue (sapphire, jacinth, amethyst), green (chalcedony
or onyx, emerald, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase), red (sardonyx or
agate, sardius or carnelian), and yellow (chrysolite) (verses 19-20).
c. The 12 gates were made of a
single pearl and the street probably running through the gate was
pure gold which was transparent (verse 21).
THOUGHT: Any entry
or exit into the New Jerusalem will cause people and angels to
remember Yahweh’s work in Old Testament Israel and the New
Testament church to the praise of His name.
D. The interior aspects to the
New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:22 – 22:5).
1. It has no temple in it because
Yahweh Father and Yahweh Jesus are its temple (verse 22).
2. It will have the glory of God
shining with such intensity that it will be its own light as well
as be the source of light for the nations living on the New Earth.
If the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem are Old Testament, New
Testament, and Tribulational believers that reigned with Christ
during His 1,000 year reign (Rev. 20:4), then the nations are
probably Millennial believers (verses 23-27).
3. It will have a river of the water
of life flowing from the throne of God (Yahweh Father) and the
Lamb (Yahweh Jesus). This has some similarities to the Millennium
but now the Father’s throne is present also (Rev. 22:1; Ezek.
47:1-12; Zech. 14:8; John 7:38).
4. It will have the tree of life on
each side of this river of life running all the way through the
middle of the street of the city. Perhaps the tree is single
rooted with many trees running on both sides of this river that’s
in between the cities main highway system. This again has some
similarities to the Millennial time period (Rev. 22:2a; Ezek.
47:7-12). The tree produces 12 kinds of fruit (possibly one kind
a month) and leaves which heal (therapeian – Greek) or give
health to the nations. Perhaps Millennial believers have resurrected
bodies which the leaves and fruit of this tree gives added benefit
(Rev. 22:2b; Gen. 2:9, 3:22-24).
5. It will be free of the curse of
sin (Gen. 3:14-19), and will rather be full of the service and
worship of Yahweh (Rev. 22:3). Yahweh’s servants will see
Yahweh’s face and have His name on their foreheads (Rev. 22:4;
Rev. 2:11, 12). This eternal service and worship (in and out of
the city) will be eternal because Yahweh’s people will reign
forever with Him
(Rev. 22:5; Dan. 7:14, 27).
II. The conclusion to the book of
Revelation (Rev. 22:6-21).
A. The message of this book is
trustworthy and true. It was given by Yahweh Father, in 100%
agreement with earlier Scriptural prophets, through angelic
messengers and Yahweh Jesus to the Apostle John. The one who keeps
the words of this prophecy will be blessed by Yahweh Jesus Himself
at His prophetically soon return (Rev. 22:6, 7; Rev. 1:1-3).
B. John heard and saw the things of
Revelation, again gets rebuked by an angel (also Rev. 19:10) and is
instructed to let others hear this message before it’s too late
(Rev. 22:8-10; Dan. 12:4, 9).
C. Yahweh Jesus tells us that He is
coming soon several times in these closing verses. When He comes,
there is reward and judgment for His creation (verses 12, 13; 2 Cor.
5:10; Rev. 20:12-15). The blessed believers enter the New
Jerusalem and unbelievers enter a place outside the New Earth
called the Lake of Fire (verses 14, 15; Rev. 20:11 – 22:5).
D. Yahweh Jesus is the promised
Messiah (Christ) who will come again and now offers His free gift
of the water of life to any and all who want it (verses 16, 17;
Isa. 11:1,10; 55:1; John 7:37-39;
Rev. 2:28). The book of Revelation
is written to be believed, warns unbelievers, and witnesses to
Christ’s soon return for those alive now (verses 18-21).
