The beauty of the New Jerusalem

An elderly couple died in an accident and found themselves standing before the Pearly Gates of Heaven. St Peter was there to welcome them and took them inside. First Peter showed them their new, heavenly mansion. The man, awed by the sheer luxury of it all asked, “How much d … More

Beauty

One of the angels invited John to view the New Jerusalem in greater detail (v. 9). He was transported by the Spirit to a special place where he could view the Holy City (v. 10). The overall impression is described as a huge, brilliant jewel (v. 11). However, it is evident that his description is beyond the beauty of anything that we could really comprehend. This city has a great high wall which suggests the security of being with Christ (v. 12). In the wall are twelve gates with an angel at each one and named after the twelve tribes of Israel (v. 13). The wall also has twelve foundations and on them are the name of the twelve apostles (v. 14). 

An angel with a gold measuring rod (ten feet long) measured the city which was approximately 1400 miles on each side (vv. 15-16). This would be about the distance from the Pacific coast of the United States to the Mississippi River. The wall around the city was approximately 216 feet high and 216 feet thick (v. 17). The wall was made of jasper stone and the city of pure gold (v. 18). The foundation was decorated with many precious stones of brilliant color (vv. 19-20). The gates were pearl, and the street was pure gold which was like transparent glass (v. 21). It is hard for our earthly minds to understand all of this, but we can know that it will be a place of extreme beauty.

Application

It is easy for me to get caught up in the materialism of this life and spend most of my time accumulating things that will soon be gone. How much more important it is for me to be introducing people to the Savior who will then spend eternity in this beautiful place we have just read about.

Revelation 21:9-21 (English Standard Version)


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