One
of the seven angels who had the seven bowls and had earlier showed him Babylon
the great, now speaks to John and shows him the bride, the wife of the Lamb. Here
John was shown the bride who was briefly introduced in Revelation 19:6–8. This
bride of course is a symbol of God’s faithful people. We have established
earlier that they were given the wedding dress because of their good deeds. This
is to say that while her salvation is secured through the blood of the Lamb,
her good works matters. For we are all saved for good works that God has
prepared beforehand for us to walk in them,
The
renewed city is about to be shown to John. So he was carried away in the Spirit
and there he sees the New Jerusalem. Unlike the wilderness where Babylon was
seen, here what John sees is a huge and high mountain. And before his eyes is
Jerusalem, the holy and yet glorious city, bearing the glory of God. It comes down
out of heaven. Bear in mind that John is now up on this huge and high mountain,
a supernaturally elevated mountain. In the Bible, mountains have frequently
been used as places where God had encounters with His servants. We need to know
that in the time of John, Jerusalem was a mountain city built on Mount Zion which
also connected Mount Moriah and the Temple mount.
However,
this New Jerusalem is far more superior in comparison to the earthly one, which
is only an imperfect copy. What John is so greatly impressed about is the
dazzle of God’s overwhelming glory. This visual impact of the New Jerusalem
with all its splendor and brilliance is simply beyond description. So John has to
use metaphors to describe, what he is at a loss for words, to give the details exactly.
The
appearance is both brilliant and luminous, thus deflecting more impressively the
glory within. John describes it as a precious stone, as a crystal-clear jasper.
In the tour of the city we read from verses 12 -14, John shares about the holy
city as he sees it. Reflecting the mountain on which she rests, the new Jerusalem
has a huge, high wall with twelve gates. In ancient cities, walls were crucial structures
to ensure the security of the people within. So the wall speaks of divine protection
for God’s people. Besides referring to the twelve tribes of Israel, the number
twelve also highlights the completeness and inclusiveness of God’s new people.
The people of God are no longer confined to the historic twelve tribes but also
people coming from every nation.
Besides
we are told that there were twelve angels at the gates, presumably stationed
there to protect the city and ensure that no-one unworthy enters in. These
angels function much like the cherubim who guard the entrance to the Garden of
Eden. The gates also have inscriptions of the names of the twelve tribes of the
children of Israel on them. These are perfectly divided around the four sides
of the city wall. Three gates are located on each side, looking outwards to
east, north, south and west. Opening out to the four cardinal points of north,
south, east and west, this city will invite the new enlarged people of God to
enter into her.
The
perfectly proportioned city, John learns, have twelve foundation stones on her wall.
Together, they form the foundation of the city. And just as the names of the twelve
ancient tribes on the gates, the foundation stones bear the twelve names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb. This tells us that this new Jerusalem that God has
prepared is intimately related to the renewed community gathered in Christ’s
name.
Praise
God we are all members of the redeemed community of God. Awaiting us is the New
Jerusalem, where we will forever enjoy the divine presence of God. However,
even now, we can start to enjoy God’s presence. All we need is to take the time
and draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to us as we do so. Why don’t we
start today?
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