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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 21:15 - 21:21
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_21:15-21
15The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
Rev_21:15 "The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city" Measuring was used earlier to show God's protection and care (cf. Rev_11:1-2; Jer_31:38-40; Zec_2:1-5). The end-time prophecy of Ezekiel 40 also involves measuring.
Rev_21:16 "The city is laid out as a square" This may be an allusion to the Holy of Holies (cf. 1Ki_6:19-20), which was also a perfect cube.
The reason that there is no temple (cf. Rev_21:22) is because God Himself will be the temple. This may be John's way of showing that OT prophecies like Ezekiel 40-48 are symbolic or have been fulfilled in a different way.
▣ "fifteen hundred miles" Literally this is "twelve thousand stadia—one hundred and forty-four cubits." These are multiples of twelve; they do not refer to a literal city, but perfect measurements showing that God is providing the unique atmosphere for permanent joy and fellowship between Himself and His people (cf. Joh_14:2-3) in a perfect cube symbol like the OT "Holy of Holies."
Rev_21:18-20 "The material of the wall was" This series of stones may be identified with
1. the stones on the ephod of the High Priest (cf. Exo_28:17-20), however, the order and names are different. This was not unusual because the names of ancient stones changed from country to country and century to century.
2. the jeweled city of Isa_54:11-17
3. the splendor of the king of Tyre (or Satan) conveyed in royal (or heavenly) jewels in Eze_28:12-13
4. the Zodiac, but presented in reverse order (Philo and Josephus)
Rev_21:21 "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl" This is symbolic. It goes back to the rabbinical traditions of the Talmud, "the Sanhedrin" 100a, which states that the end-time city gates would be made out of a single stone 45 feet tall.
▣ "And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass" This is symbolic. We must realize that God's city is not simply human opulence, but symbolizes the inestimable value and purity of God's presence.