Revelation 21:18

The construction of the wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

• ·        When we read of jasper and pure gold and all kinds of precious stones, we should take these as literal representations; yet they express realities of another world. We can gain a brief glimpse of what John saw, but we can’t even begin to see it in fullness until we see it with our own eyes.  (DG)

• ·        John’s use of material riches to describe the city “is his way of bringing out the very great value of what God has for His people.” (Morris)

Exodus 28:20  and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.  They shall be set in gold settings.

Exodus 24:10  and they saw the God of Israel.  And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens even as clear glass.

Revelation 21:17

Then he measured its wall:  one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

• ·        The size of the New Jerusalem is enormous; twelve thousand furlongs equals 1,500 miles. This is the same distance from Maine to Florida; the square footage would approximate the size of the Moon.  (DG)

• ·        “A city of this size is too large for the imagination to take in. John is certainly conveying the idea of splendor. And, more importantly, that of room for all.” (Leon Morris)

• ·        Henry Morris, guessing that there will have been 100 billion people in the human race, and that 20% of them will be saved, calculates that each person would have a “block” with about 75 acres on each face to “call their own.”  (DG)

Psalm 39:4 LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am.

Isaiah 2:15 Upon every high tower, and upon every fortified wall

Revelation 21:16

The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth.  And he measured the city with the reed:  twelve thousand furlongs.  Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

• ·        The New Jerusalem’s length, height and width are equal. This means that it is either a cube or a pyramid.  (DG)

• ·        A cube is reminiscent of the Holy Place of the tabernacle, suggesting that the entire city is the Holy Place. (DG)

Ezekiel 43:16  The altar hearth is twelve cubits long twelve wide, square at the four corners..

Ezekiel 40:3  He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze.  He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.