Verses 9 - 10
"..one of the seven angels..."
Here we see one of the seven angels come forth to John, who also brought forth one of the seven last plagues to be poured out upon the earth.
As we have learned from the start of this study, and will see again in chapter 22; he is the one who was selected by Jesus to show John the events which were to unfold in the Book of Revelation. He now is ready to show John, "...the bride, the Lamb's wife..." who is portrayed here as the great city of new Jerusalem. Verses 9 and 10 are actually a restating of {verse 2}.
John is taken once again, "in the spirit", to a great and high mountain in the new earth which God has created to view the descent of the holy city, to its final resting place. It's a further reminder to us, that our final destination is not the heaven where God currently dwells; but it's the new earth, wherein God's tabernacle, new Jerusalem, will be established. Where God is, there will be the faithful also.
While we can technically say that the redeemed will live with God forever in heaven; that heaven will actually be found in new Jerusalem, which will rest upon the the new earth, He shall create.
It was an erroneous belief, in medieval times, that the earth was the center of the universe. In that day, it was thought that the sun, moon and stars all revolved around the earth. We, of course, know that the earth revolves around the sun.
In the last day however, the new earth will indeed become the center of the universe, because God Himself shall reside there. The heaven, wherein the throne of God now sits, will literally come down to the new earth in the form of a city called new Jerusalem. When it descends, then there will literally be, "heaven on earth".
Verse 11 - 14
"..her light..."
Here we see that new Jerusalem has light which is crystal clear like jasper stone, or the brilliant light of a diamond. Absolutely no haziness was detectable, for the light of it is generated by God himself (verse 23).
".. a wall great and high, and had twelve gates..."
We are told also of a great wall surrounding the city which has three gates on each side with an angel, or gate keeper, standing by each of them. Upon the twelve gates to the city was written the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. There will be Judah's Gate; Reuben's Gate; Ashers' Gate, ect.
If the order of naming the gates follows the setup of the tribes in Numbers Chapter 2, then there would be: Judah, Issachar and Zebulon on the east; Reuben, Simeon and Gad on the south; Naphtali, Asher and Dan ( ) on the north; Benjamin Manasseh, and Ephraim ( ) on the west. The names of Dan and Ephraim are replaced in Rev. 7 with those of Levi and Joseph.
Verse 14 further tells us that the walls of the city rest upon twelve foundations on which are written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Verse 15 - 16
"..a gold reed to measure the city..."
The angel is now seen holding a golden reed, with which he is to measure the size of new Jerusalem. In verse 16, John states that the city is layed out as a square and that its length, breath and height are of equal size. Its size is given as 12,000 furlongs, which is said to be equal to about 1,380 miles. Some however, have calculated this measurement to be as much as 1,500 miles.
There are two ways we can look at these measurements. First it may be that the length, breadth and height are 12,000 furlongs (1,380 miles) each. Second, we can view the total measurement as 12,000 furlongs (stadia, in Greek).
This second view seems to be more in keeping with what John is stating, because he is very explicit in other details which he gives about the city; and he does not specifically state that each measurement is 12,000 furlongs.
Following the second understanding, we would see that each measurement: the length, breadth and height of the city, would actually be 4,000 furlongs each. If the total of the measurements is 12,000 furlongs (1,380 miles); then three lengths, of equal measurement, would be equal exactly 460 miles (1,380 divided by 3). Based on these calculations, a city, whose length and width are 460 miles, would contain 211,600 square miles of space.
The 460 miles of height can be understood as representing the twelve foundations (each approximately 38.3 miles high). The city will be elevated 460 miles above the surface of the new earth. This is the very mountain of God! It is not clear if its foundations are terraced like steps (as a pyramid), or if the sides are set vertically, one upon another.
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We are not actually told the size of each foundation. We are only told the length, breadth and height of the city. If its foundations are to be terraced as steps, the twelfth, or top foundation, would be a 460 mile square, or slightly larger to allow its walls to be set back from the edge. Foundations below it would then be successively larger.
A similiar construction was employed in the ancient tower of Babel, whereby it is believed that Nimrod constructed a series of platforms, one upon another, in an attempt to reach up to heaven. Here, it appears that God has built a city atop of a similiar, though enormous platform, wherein He will dwell eternally as King of the universe.
To put the size of this city in perspective: if we were to set its eastern limit at Memphis, Tennessee; its western limit would fall in the vicinity of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
If we extend a line connecting Memphis and Oklahoma City, to representing the middle of new Jerusalem, 230 miles north of this line (half of the 460 miles of length) would show the city as covering the northern half of Arkansas; approximately the southern half of Missouri; southeastern Kansas as far west as Wichita, and the northeastern quarter of the State of Oklahoma.
On the south side of this line it would cover the southern half of Arkansas; the southeastern quarter of the State of Oklahoma; the northeastern portion of Texas, the northern one-fourth of the State of Louisiana, and portions of western Mississippi.
Dallas and Forth Worth, Texas would occupy a very small parcel in the southwestern corner of a city the size which is portrayed here. New Jerusalem will be an enormous city, to say the least!
We may also contrast the size of new Jerusalem with that of Babylon, the glory of man, whose ancient dimensions were a 15 mile square (225 square miles of territory). Based on the dimensions given above, the size of new Jerusalem would be sufficient, within its walls, to accomodate 941 cities the size of ancient Babylon!
It might be added here, that if new Jerusalem's size (211,000 square miles) is proportional to the new earth, as current Jerusalem (50 square miles) is to this earth; then the new earth will also be enormous in size, perhaps as large or larger than our sun.
Verse 17 - 20
"..he measured the wall thereof..."
The walls were measured to be 144 cubits, by man's measurement. A cubit was equal to approximately 1.5 feet, making the height of the walls about 216 feet. The 1,840 miles of walls enclosing the city (460 miles each side), rest upon the twelfth foundation of Amethyst, which is a violet colored precious stone. Upon this foundation of bluish-purple color, will flow streets of pure gold.
The foundations of new Jerusalem's walls, will serve a different purpose than those for the walls of earthly cities of the past. They will be like monuments commemorating the service of the Apostles, and their faithfulness in establishing the base upon which the Church sits. Jesus is the chief cornerstone {Eph. 2:20}, but they are also reckoned to be a part of the foundation, as well.
All twelve foundations were adorned with precious stones of every sort. The foundations themselves were of the following makeup and approximate color:
