Having just explored the sobering previous chapter titled THE FINAL JUDGMENT in this Revelation series, we now move on to the next chapter – chapter 21. What was first revealed in the opening two chapters of the Bible now becomes the subject of the concluding two chapters of the Bible. In Genesis, we are told that after six days of Creation, God rested on the seventh day. Each of those seven days is believed to represent a thousand years in God’s plan of the ages. Therefore, according to Revelation 21, after concluding the seventh millennium, God goes back to work and begins to create again.
There are 27 verses in Revelation 21, and they follow an alphabetic design. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet along with 5 final forms, for a total of 27. We can observe the peculiar phenomenon of the meanings of each of these Hebrew letters corresponding to the theme in each of their respective verses in this chapter. The divine design is marvelous. We begin with the first two letters of the Hebrew alphabet along with its corresponding first two verses of this chapter.
In this chapter, God creates a new Heaven, a new Earth and a new city …
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:1).
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (verse 2).
א Aleph, the 1st letter in the Hebrew alphabet, is the symbol of God’s oneness and mastery, as seen in the new Heaven and Earth in verse 1.
בֵּ Beit, the 2nd letter in the Hebrew alphabet, stands for the house or dwelling place, as seen in the New Jerusalem in verse 2.
Seven New Things
We should note that seven “new” things emerge in these remaining two chapters of the book of Revelation. They are as follows:
- A new Heaven (verse 1)
- A new Earth (verse 1)
- A new people (verse 3)
- A new Jerusalem (verse 10)
- A new Temple (verse 22)
- A new light (verse 23)
- A new Paradise (Revelation 22:1-5)
How new are these things? Such heavenly work must be presently going on. Jesus said that he would prepare a place for us …
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).
The construction of the New Jerusalem, introduced in Revelation 21, is presently underway, even at this time. Jesus has been overseeing it ever since he returned to Heaven following his resurrection. In fact, Jesus indicated that it existed in the ancient past. He called it, “My Father’s house,” and said that it already contained “many mansions.”
We are also told that Abraham knew about that city in his day …
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10)
Evidently, the construction of the New Jerusalem has been going on at least since the creation of Adam, and it will continue for at least another 1,000 years from the time the rapture and Tribulation is over and the millennial reign of Christ begins. At that time, it will roll off the assembly line, so-to-speak, and be presented as the “new” Jerusalem. As we shall see in Revelation 21:10, the Apostle John was taken to “a great and high mountain” for a view of the “great city, the holy Jerusalem.” It would seem to me that the mountain was the city, itself. Therefore, it is my opinion that the holy city is in the shape of a mountain … or, to be more precise, … a gigantic pyramid.
I have no problem believing that all of the pyramids around the world, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, were designed after mankind’s earliest view of the New Jerusalem.
There is evidence that the infamous “Tower of Babel” was also a pyramid. The ruins of a huge pyramid still exist near the remains of the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq. It is possible that God once resided in such a city, perhaps in orbit, high above the earth. That could account for the various pyramids around the world, whose construction histories are clouded in the dim mists of the ancient past.
Re-creation or Renovation?
What makes these things new? They are perfect in every way; so as to never wear out. These things are “eternally” new, as opposed to “time,” which is no longer a factor to consider. They are new because there is no aging process. In our mansions, there will be no termites, no dust, no wearing out of the carpet and no repairs needed. Nothing will ever grow old.
So when will God make this new Heaven and new Earth? Will that project be done after the Great White Throne Judgment, or during the millennial reign of Christ? To be sure, the heavens and Earth will need repair after the Tribulation Period. By the time Armageddon is concluded, every mountain will have been leveled and every island sunk. The sun will have to be re-ignited and the orbit of the earth repaired.
As a result of entropy, the laws of thermodynamics suggest that the entire universe should someday collapse. Orbits will decay and suns will burn out. The psalmist wrote about such a possibility, saying that only God will last forever …
“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end” (Psalm 102:25-27).
Even though science suggests that such a thing cannot happen for several millions of years, God can “change them” or renew them. Without God, this universe simply cannot last forever. But according to the above passage, it will never come to that. Furthermore, Isaiah writes that God will make a universe that will never burn out …
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy” (Isaiah 65:17-18).
With the hand of God upon our universe, we need never worry. There will always be a planet called “Earth” …
“And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he has established for ever” (Psalm 78:69).
This verse tells us that God has built his sanctuary (i.e. New Jerusalem) in the form of a “high palace,” and that he will always be around to see that the earth remains …
“Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever” (Psalm 104:5).
When war, earthquakes or even asteroids threaten our planet, Jesus will be there to protect, repair, restore and renew it …
“One generation passes away, and another generation comes, but the earth abides for ever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4).
Upheavals will happen. Noah’s flood changed the face of the earth. Armageddon will bring on the predicted judgment of fire. But divine restoration will make the planet habitable again. According to Isaiah, there may not always be a race of natural human beings on this planet. However, for the redeemed, we shall live forever …
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished” (Isaiah 51:6).
Redeemed mankind is the key to Earth’s perpetuity …
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain” (Isaiah 66:22).
The fires of Armageddon will destroy the cities, forests, crops, etc., but that does not mean a total destruction of the planet. Just as the surface and landmasses were revived after the Great Flood of Noah, God will renovate the earth and make it new again. When Zephaniah wrote that fire would devour the earth, he did not mean total and permanent oblivion …
“Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy” (Zephaniah 3:8).
The destruction mentioned above will give God the opportunity to make it all new again. Jesus also spoke about the time when our present universe will be up for renewal …
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
But the Savior assured us that his word would never pass away. Whatever happens to our universe, Jesus will make it new again. Most theologians believe these passages, including the chapter before us, refer to a renovation of the existing universe. How else can all these verses, some speaking of a destruction and others speaking of perpetuity, be resolved? Jesus will rewind the mainspring to this proverbial clock as often as he needs to.
No More Tears
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:3-6).
Continuing on with the rest of the Hebrew letters and their corresponding respective chapter verses, we see the remarkable divinely placed pattern continue:
Gimmel, the third letter, is the symbol of kindness and culmination, as seen in God dwelling with his people in verse 3.
Dalet, the fourth letter, is the symbol of dimensions and concern, often described as a door, pathway or journey. As we come to the end of our journey, God will wipe away our tears and do away with former things, as seen in verse 4.
Hay, the fifth letter, is the symbol of Divinity, Gentility and specificity, often described as the breath or Spirit of God and standing for Grace, as God makes all things new and assures us that he will faithfully bring it to pass in verse 5.
Vav, the sixth letter, is the symbol of completion, redemption and transformation, a letter that stands for the Messiah. It represents a hook or connection between man and God, between Earth and Heaven, as Christ tells us that he is the Alpha/Omega (or, as the rabbinical concept would have it, the Aleph/Tahv), the beginning and ending, who offers reconciliation for fallen man, as seen in verse 6.
It has been said that over the course of human history, there have been less than 250 years in which no war has waged in all the earth. The tears of the centuries are without measure. Furthermore, all the saints will have witnessed the Great White Throne Judgment where some friend or relative is condemned for unbelief (John 3:36). There was never so great a need for tears to be wiped away. There will be countless broken hearts that only God can console. If any lesser being should try to dry our tears, there should none be comforted. It will take God Himself to accomplish this task.
But here, what a blessed condition that we are presented with when we see the Apostle John reveal to us that there will be no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow and no more pain. This will be the greatest gift to saints – more than golden streets or ivory palaces. The hurt inflicted upon individuals will be lifted. May God be praised forever.
John is told to write this down for all generations to read. In the midst of every tragedy, hope can triumph because these “these words are true and faithful.”
It is appropriate for this alphabetic chapter that Jesus should once again repeat the alphabetic refrain, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” Our great Creator and Sustainer is the great Finisher as well. As noted in chapter one, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet point to a rabbinical teaching that the aleph and tahv point to the Messiah. As the Creator, Jesus made all things. As the Finisher, Jesus will gain the ultimate victory on behalf of the souls of men. John concurs with Isaiah’s prophecy that the last enemy to be conquered is death itself …
“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8).
Isaiah’s prophecy will become a reality, just as John reports it. Isaiah’s verse is set within the context of the future – “He will swallow up death … will wipe away tears from off all faces …” But, in the book of Revelation, chapter 21, it becomes an accomplished fact.
The Water of Life
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:7-8).
Zayin, the seventh letter, is the symbol of spirit, sustenance and struggle as seen in the victory of the over-comer mentioned in verse 7.
Chet, the eighth letter, is the symbol of transcendence, divine grace and life and stands for a new beginning for believers, from which the unsaved Christ rejecter will be excluded, as described in verse 8.
The whole plan of God throughout history is to test the human species and take out of their ranks, a group of over-comers. Life is worth the struggle. Eternal Life can be ours by faith in Christ. We are over-comers through the blood of the Savior, Jesus Christ. What we couldn’t do for ourselves, being totally depraved, Christ has accomplished for us. All he asks of us is to receive it through personally receiving him and what he did for us. John has already told us how to become over-comers …
“And they overcame him by the blood o the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11).
Furthermore, we are invited to partake of “the water of life freely” (verse 6). Verse 8 tells us who will be excluded from the holy city. Their fate came in the previous chapter. We are only reminded here of the distinction between the saved and the lost in order to point to the profound significance of salvation for the believer.
A View of the City
“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:9-11).
Tet, the ninth letter, is the symbol of objective good, the good that sometimes appears to be evil, as seen in the angel that poured out a vial of wrath, as described in verse 9.
Yod, the tenth letter, is the letter that symbolizes Creation and the metaphysical as seen in the presentation of the holy Jerusalem in verse 10.
Kaf, the eleventh letter, is the symbol of crowning accomplishment as seen in the description of the glory of the city in verse 11.
John is invited to tour the holy city, home of the bride, the Lamb’s wife. He is carried up to a “great and high mountain” which, as previously explained, is the city itself. Otherwise, what mountain would give him a proper view of the city? Were he to scale the heights of the Himalayas, he would still only be about six miles above sea level. While some theologians have imagined the city to be a cube, nowhere in scripture is that concept supported. Just because the height is the same as its length and breadth, and lies foursquare, does not support the idea of a cube. The Great Pyramid of Egypt is also as tall as it is long and wide, yet it is a stylized man-made mountain. Isaiah wrote …
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord‘s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it” (Isaiah 2:2).
According to Isaiah’s view, the holy city will be suspended in orbit above the earth. It is my opinion that the city will be high enough that its light can be seen night and day, and that it will not be a stationary orbit, but will appear to move through the heavens like the sun and moon.
Walls, Gates and Foundations
“And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:12-14).
Lamed, the twelfth letter, is the symbol of teaching and purpose, as seen in the mezuzahs on the gates containing the names of the twelve tribes as seen in verse 12.
Mem, the thirteenth letter, stands for the revealed as seen in the four sides with three gates on each side of the city, as seen in verse 13.
Nun, the fourteenth letter, is the symbol of faithfulness and soul as seen in the twelve foundations containing the names of the twelve apostles in verse 14.
The gates are inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
I see these gates as sporting a mezuzah at each entrance, containing a name. That does not mean that only a member of that tribe can enter, but that, together, the sons of Jacob provided the world with the proverbial pathway to Heaven. All saints, whether Jew or Gentile, become members of the commonwealth of Israel.
We should remember that through the lineage of Jacob, Christ came into this world. Now, the Lord honors them. Jerusalem, the city of peace, is theirs at last. This is Abraham’s city – the one for which he looked. It is the ultimate Promised Land. Note that the tribes are inscribed upon pearl, something produced by the irritation of a living organism, but the names of the New Testament Apostles are inscribed upon gemstones, formed in the pressure and fires of the deep, and supports for the gates.
Let us not forget that the foundation of the city is based upon twelve men who carried the Gospel message of salvation through receiving Christ to the whole world. They are the Apostles – and their names are inscribed in the twelve layers of gemstones. This tells me that the bride of Christ is made up of all the saints of all ages. Old Testament Judaism is just as much a part of the bride as New Testament Christianity. We were all saved through the death of Christ on Calvary. Some would say that the Old Testament saints are the “friends” of the bridegroom (John 3:29) and not part of the bridegroom itself, although in Heaven with the bride of Christ. I won’t labor that point here, but here is a link regarding that issue if any are interested in the finer points of that subject matter.
The Size of the City
“And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel” (Revelation 21:15-17).
Continuing further with the Hebrew letters and their corresponding verses, we come to the …
Samech, the fifteenth letter. Samech is the symbol of support, protection and memory, and stands for the holy of holies where God’s people will be supported and protected, as seen in the city with its gates and walls in verse 15. The correlation here is also magnificent as it is with all the letters.
Ayin, the sixteenth letter, is the symbol of sight and insight. It stands for the physical eye (sight) and for the mind’s eye (insight), and is symbolized by the all-seeing eye, or capstone of the pyramid, a fitting description of the holy city as a gigantic pyramid in verse 16.
Peh, the seventeenth letter, is the symbol of speech, and is depicted by the wall around the heavenly holy city, as described in verse 17. The wall is only 144 cubits high (about 250 feet tall, the height of a 25 story building). Why should the city need a wall or gates, since it is 1,500 miles high? The wall of Old Jerusalem on Earth was the place where the people heard the shofar trumpet, and all pronouncements. It was the place of speech, the call to prayer and worship. Therefore, this wall represents the theme of the letter פ peh.
The size of the city compares to the eastern half of the United States.
But since it is as high as it is long and wide, it offers a lot more territory, enough for every person who receives Christ and is thus allowed entrance into the Holy City. Remember, the human race will not always continue to proliferate. There is a limit to population growth. Since the New Jerusalem is much smaller than the earth, we may assume that God is about to bring population growth to a halt.
Once the city is filled to capacity, there will be room for no more. However, at this point, if every person ever born were given eternal life, there would still be room in the New Jerusalem … barely.
So, if Christ were to come back in the next few years and establish the kingdom, there would still be another thousand years of population growth to consider … and I have no answer to offer.
Some suggest that the city will be a cube, with twelve layers stacked on top of each other, with each layer being about a hundred miles high, like a high-rise apartment building.
Each layer would be approximately the size of the eastern half of the United States, allowing a considerable amount of room for population growth. Take your choice. But, as for me, I don’t think that we will be overcrowded.
The Beauty of the City
“And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass” (Revelation 21:18-21).
Tzaddi, the eighteenth letter, is the symbol of righteousness as seen in the purest of gold in verse 18.
Koph, the nineteenth letter, is the symbol of holiness, as seen in the four stones of the foundations of the city in verse 19.
Resh, the twentieth letter, is the symbol of choosing between greatness and degradation, as seen in the eight jewels of verse 20. Here, we are reminded that on the day of judgment, God will look upon those who belong to him as jewels …
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Malachi 3:16-18).
Here, we see the difference between those who are not saved (Christ rejecters) and those who have personally received him (Christ receivers). Those born again in him are his jewels. So, it is rather interesting that we should see jewels in verse 20 corresponding to the meaning of the twentieth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Shin, the twenty-first letter, is the symbol of Divine power and provision, as seen in the twelve gates of pearl and streets of gold in verse 21. Here, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the revealed “pearl” of great price …
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46).
How interesting it should be, then, that the letter of Divine power should correspond in meaning to its respective verse of this chapter in mentioning the twelve gates of pearl.
These gems appear to be listed for their symbolic meaning or value, certainly not for their strength to carry the weight, if there is any weight.
Since the names of the twelve Apostles are not listed, we do not know which Apostle is associated with which gem. We should note that the wall, sitting atop the twelfth foundation, and the first foundation are both made of Jasper – the same stone listed in the description of God upon his throne in chapter four. The foundations are listed as follows …
1. Jasper is an opaque variety of quartz. It comes in various colors: green, red, yellow, white, etc. My choice would be red, but others suggest green.
2. Sapphire is a translucent stone, usually deep blue variety of corundum. Corundum is made of aluminum oxide, second only to the diamond in hardness.
3. Chalcedony is a kind of quartz, like an agate with a waxy or milky color.
4. Emerald is a bright-green transparent variety of beryl or corundum.
5. Sardonyx is made up of two words, sard and onyx. It is a variety of onyx, made up of alternating layers of white chalcedony and sard. Sard is a deep orange-red variety of chalcedony. It is used in making cameos.
6. Sardius is the deep orange variety of sard, or chalcedony, from the quartz family of stones.
7. Chrysolyte is a yellowish-green topaz derived from a variety of olivine. Olivine is a crystallization of magnesium and iron.
8. Beryl is a very hard lustrous mineral that is a source of beryllium that occurs in hexagonal crystals. It is a sea-green beryllium aluminum silicate.
9. Topaz is a native silicate of aluminum and fluorine crystal, and comes in a white, yellow, pale-green or pale-blue.
10. Chrysoprasus is a light-green variety of chalcedony (quartz).
11. Jacinth is a gem variety of the mineral zircon (zirconium silicate). Its modern name is hyacinth. In this passage, it is believed to be turquoise.
12. Amethyst is a purple or violet variety of quartz. Five of these stones represent a variety of quartz, a common product of earth minerals. Four of them contain an alloy of aluminum. Five are used in the breastplate of the Old Testament Jewish High Priest. All of them are either precious or semi-precious gems.
Dr. Joseph Seiss suggests that these stones correspond to the twelve major constellations of the Jewish Mazzaroth (zodiac):
1. Jasper means, “coming to bruise and be bruised,” and speaks of the Son of the virgin, Virgo.
2. Sapphire means, “number,” the count of weight, referring to Libra.
3. Chalcedony means, “affliction or torture” and fits Scorpio.
4. Emerald means, “defending,” as seen in Sagittarius.
5. Sardonyx means, “the Prince smitten,” the same as in Capricornus.
6. Sardius means, “the power issuing forth,”as seen in Aquarius.
7. Chrysolite means, “He who binds, who holds with bands,” and answers to Pisces.
8. Beryl means, “the Son, the first-born, the exalted Head,” corresponding to Aries.
9. Topaz means, “dashing in pieces,” as seen in Taurus.
10. Chrysoprasus means, “they who are united,” as seen in Gemini.
11. Jacinth means, “Possessing, He shall possess,” as seen in Cancer.
12. Amethyst means, “He that destroys,” as seen in Leo.
Dr. Seiss’ list is located in his book, The Gospel in the Stars (pages 146-147).
The Best Part of the City
“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” (Revelation 21:22).
Tahv, the twenty-second letter, is the symbol of truth and perfection, as seen by the fact that no temple is needed. God the Father and God the Son are all we need, as seen in verse 22.
It may have seemed odd to John, at first. He was intimately connected with many who served at Herod’s temple, and was well read on the history of the Jewish temple. When John wrote about the twenty-four elders, he knew that there were twenty-four courses of the Levitical priesthood. To one who knew so much about the Temple and its symbolic relationship to the Book of Revelation, John may have been at least a little surprised that there was no temple in the New Jerusalem. How can this be? Why should there be no temple? For one thing, I think the liturgy of the temple was entirely prophetic and had been completely fulfilled by this time. There was no further need for a temple or its liturgy. Furthermore, the Father and the Son replaced the temple. The very central reason for having a temple now lives among his worshipers.
There is no need for a veil to hide the holy of holies. There is no need for an ark to preserve the tables of the Law. There is no need for an olive oil lamp-stand to light the room. There is no need for an altar of incense upon which to offer prayers. There is no need for a table of show-bread, or laver, or brazen altar. Jehovah is no longer out of town. He’s home. We’re home. The Lamb has put an end for the need for sacrifices. “The LORD God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” (verse 22).
The Glory and Honor of the City
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:23-27).
There are 27 verses in this chapter, just as there are 27 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Beyond the normal 22 letters, there are five additional letters that are known as “final forms.” They are gleaned from other earlier letters and represent prophecies that will be fulfilled when Revelation 21 becomes a reality. The five final forms are:
Kaf – earlier seen as a humble bent , this elongated 23rd letter kaf shows the final crowning accomplishment standing tall, as seen in the Lamb of verse 23.
Mem – earlier seen as open , the revealed, this closed 24th letter mem is now concealed as a secret, as seen in the mention of nations and kings of the earth in verse 24.
Nun – earlier seen as a humble bent , the downfall, this elongated 25th letter nun represents the final emergence or rising again of the faithful soul, as seen in the gates that are never shut in verse 25.
Peh – once seen as a closed 
, this open 26th letter peh represents the open mouth offering praise to God, as seen in the bringing of glory and honor in verse 26.
Tzaddi – once seen as a humble bent , this elongated 27th letter tzaddi represents the righteous standing victorious before God, as seen by those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of Life in verse 27.
The regular forms of these letters are used within the framework of a Hebrew word, whereas the final form is always used at the end of a word. Being relegated to the end of a word sets forth the concept that they are prophecies that will be fulfilled at the end of days.
Our sun and all the stars in the universe are a mere reflection of the primeval light, the metaphysical source of all light and life. In the Hebrew text of scripture, it is known as “glory” and sometimes called Shekinah glory. We can only read about it in the form of a flaming sword at the east gate of Eden, a burning bush, a pillar of cloud and fire, etc. It is said that the primeval light was the source called upon when God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:2). It was the source of light for the first three days of Creation, until God created the sun and stars on the fourth day. At that time, he withdrew the primeval light.
John explains in the opening chapter of his Gospel that Jesus is that light, and that the light is the source of life for all men. It is my opinion that all life, whether plant or animal, is an emanation of the primeval light. Science can put all of the chemical elements that make up the cell structure in a test tube, but cannot make it come to life. Furthermore, when a cell dies, the chemical make-up is still there, but the life is gone. Life is something that can only come from the Creator of the cell.
This primeval light will emanate from Jesus Christ, himself, and permeate the New Jerusalem, so that there will be “no night there” (verse 25). The city will have no need of the sun or moon because the glory emanates from there. That is not to say that the earth will have no sun or moon, however. The planet will still orbit the sun and the moon will still orbit the earth. There is no reason to think otherwise.
The saved from all nations, who will still be in their fleshly bodies who were born in the millennial kingdom, will live in the New Jerusalem. There will be no unsaved people left outside of the Lake of Fire. They will have been vanquished and will cease to exist after their long period of years of suffering in torment. Therefore, all races and nationalities will live in perfect harmony, bringing the glory and honor of their king – that is, their best qualities – into the city.
Since kings from all nations will live there, we might need to entertain the question of whether it is possible that the city will be organized into various communities, ruled over by a national sovereign. Will there be variations among the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem? If not by nationality, then will people be separated by degrees of reward? There is no reason to believe that everyone will be entirely equal, having the same style home, the same amount of monetary value accumulated, etc.
We are told that the gates will never be closed. So why have gates? We are told that the city has walls that are only 144 cubits high. The wall will offer absolutely no protection from a perceived enemy (besides, there is no enemy), so why have walls? We are told that the city has twelve foundations. But foundations are needed for structural integrity. Since there is no gravity pulling on the city from below, why have foundations? I think these are decorative, rather than essential. They are real, to be sure, but are symbolic of those who are honored for being the proverbial gates and foundations of God’s redemptive plan for humanity.
I suspect there will be landing strips throughout the city, and that we will not need to enter the city through the gates. Besides, with only twelve gates, if they were used for traffic, there would be a continual traffic jam.
The Hebrew Letter Shin
The theme of this entire chapter is expressed by the meaning of the letter shin, the twenty-first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The shin symbolizes Divine power. It stands high among the sacred letters because it represents two names of God: שַׁדַּי Shadai, meaning “the All-Sufficient, Unlimited One;” and שָׁלוֹם Shalom, meaning “Peace.” These two names associated with shin, form the theme of this chapter. It is the 21st letter of the Hebrew alphabet and conforms to the whole 21st chapter of Revelation. This phenomenon is the mark of Divine authorship.
God is אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י El Shadai, meaning “God Almighty” (Genesis 17:2), the provider of all our needs. He is our all-sufficiency. This theme is obvious throughout this entire chapter as we observe all things new and immaculate. God will provide all of this for us. Furthermore, the very term, “God Almighty” is in Revelation 21:22 …
“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” (Revelation 21:22).
If this chapter had been available in the Hebrew language, this verse would have prominently displayed the theme of shin, El Shadai.
The very name of Jeru … “salem” (יְרוּשְׁלֶ֑ם) incorporates the Hebrew word for peace. Jerusalem means “city of peace.” It is the letter uniquely associated with Jerusalem and can be seen from an aerial view of the city.
The Hinnom, Tyropoeon and Kidron valleys form the three branches of the shin that come together at the pool of Siloam. The Temple site atop Mount Moriah forms the vowel point of the letter.
Finally, every mezuzah that adorns the doors of Jewish homes has a shin engraved on the face of it. The twelve gates of pearl depict the use of a mezuzah containing the name of a tribe and displaying the shin.
And finally, speaking of the word Jeru … “salem,” if one takes the well-known abbreviated initials for the title of the United States of America (USA), you will notice that USA is smack in the middle of the word Jerusalem (JER-USA-LEM). As many may know from a previous posting, the United States of America displays some very peculiar and solid evidence that it is the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy of the Vineyard found in Matthew 21. Jesus made the statement that he would “lease out” the vineyard by taking it from Israel and temporarily raising up another nation in the end times to proclaim the message of the Gospel. As such, we can see powerful evidence that God formed and patterned America based on the structure and formation of ancient Israel (see the posting titled AMERICA AND A PROPHETIC FOUR DIMENSIONAL TRIP THROUGH THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES.
SOME WILL ENTER THE HOLY CITY, MOST WILL NOT: THE REQUIREMENT FOR YOUR ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN
Now, for the most important part of the Revelation 21 narrative. Let’s re-focus our attention on verse 27 …
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).
Some see this passage as an indication that what you do, what you fail to do or sins you commit will keep anyone, even saved believers, out of Heaven. But this line of thinking misinterprets the passage. Let’s break this down a bit and keep it as simple as possible.
The key to this verse is in the last segment of the verse “… but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”This statement strongly implies and clearly means that if your name is NOT written in the book, the aforementioned sins that would defile, whatsoever would work abomination or make a lie is still on the record of the individual, indicating that the individual’s name is not written in the book of life because of said individual’s rejection of Christ. When one personally believes on (and receives) Jesus Christ as personal Savior, one’s name is written in this all-important book – thus, said abominations are wiped clean from the record and one is considered fully forgiven and has the spirit of God dwelling on the inside of them. Again, rejection of Jesus Christ indicates that ones name is NOT written in that all-important book, thus the stain of said abominations and “lie” will forbid any person from entering. So, what is required to enter exactly? What are the steps of my assurance of entry? Here it is …
In order to accept the offer of God’s grace and his salvation, you must take the crucial three steps of …
1. Agreeing – A belief and agreeing with God in all that he says in his word, the Bible, about the fact that you are separated from God, as every man and woman on the face of the earth are before accepting his salvation. The Bible reveals that all are separated from him in a spiritual state of death, or said another way that the Bible reveals it, in a state of sin, that will result in damnation in the afterlife. Agreeing with God in your heart that you are in need of his salvation. The Bible reveals that God looks upon the heart of a man or woman, and thus, responds accordingly to the person who comes to him for salvation in recognition of his inability to save himself. The Bible makes these facts very clear – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The Bible describes these three kinds of death:
- physical death (the state experienced when life leaves our bodies).
- spiritual death (spiritual separation from God caused by our state of spiritual death inherited from the first man Adam – the state of sin that results in our daily outward acts of sin, whether deliberate or not, whether omissive or not; and finally …
- the second death (the fixed state entered into by the individual who dies physically while he or she is dead spiritually). This state is entered into after the death of the body which results in punishment in the afterlife until the event of the Great White Throne Judgment occurs wherein the damned are resurrected from Hades, or Hell, and are judged according to their works and finally destroyed and cease to exist after being cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 14 refers to this tragic end of the unsaved as the “Second Death” (verse 14). It is this state of suffering entered into after physical death and then final destruction at the Great White Throne Judgment in particular which is the horrible result of receiving the wages of sin (unforgiven due to unbelief and rejection of Christ). The Lord Jesus Christ frequently described such a death as being irrevocable in a destiny which he called Hell. He described Hell as a literal place of judgment (Matthew 13:42); a place of everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8); a place of torment (Luke 16:24,28); a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50); a place of remorse (Mark 9:44-48); of bitter memory (Luke 16:25), and a place originally prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). In fact, Jesus more often warned about Hell than he spoke about Heaven.
It is not God’s will or desire that any person should be consigned to perish in Hell (2 Peter 3:9), but rather that all should come to repentance of unbelief toward him and believe on him for the salvation of the individual’s soul. But God’s justice requires that the “soul who sins” (remains in it’s state of death or state of sin) is the one who will die a second time after a long period of torment (Ezekiel 18:4). So, agree with God, admitting that you are unable to save yourself and in a state of sin under God’s just condemnation for that sin and that you are in need of his salvation.
2. Believing – Then, believe that God does not want you to perish eternally in the torment of Hell because of your sin. Believe that God loves you so much that he provided a way whereby he could still be a just, holy and righteous God, and yet pardon you. Believe that God did not just overlook sin, but that he sent his only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to provide salvation by personally paying the penalty for sin. Believe that Jesus Christ, whose life, death, burial and resurrection is the best-attested fact of antiquity, did come to earth to live, die, rise again and ascend to Heaven in order to provide justification and salvation for all who trust him. Believe that he, and he alone, can save you because he has fully satisfied the just demands of God. Believe that you can’t become righteous in God’s sight by your own effort. Believe that he wants to save you and that he will save you. The Bible provides a solid basis for such belief …
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
“But God demonstrates his love toward us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
God presented him (Jesus Christ) as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man or woman who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26).
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures … ” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“Jesus answered, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out [drive away]” (John 6:37).
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
3. Calling – It is not enough to agree with God, admit your need, and believe that Christ can and will save you. You must act upon those facts. God’s requirement is that you repent of your unbelief toward him and actively call upon him for the salvation of your soul based on the fact that you cannot save yourself because of your sins. It is unbelief in particular that damns the soul to its horrible fate …
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
You must be willing to completely turn from your own efforts to save yourself or from any other hope. You must come to Christ, calling upon him for salvation and counting on the fact that he will do what he has promised. This means simply taking the gift of pardon and eternal life which he offers. Merely believing about Jesus Christ without coming to him makes as much sense and is as effective as believing that a medication can successfully treat a fatal disease, but failing to take it. Yet again, the Bible emphatically and authoritatively provides the basis for such statements.
The word translated “believe” here means to “rest one’s entire weight and trust on the object or person in which the belief is placed.” It requires action in keeping with the intellectual assent of that belief.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
” … but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The logical question you may be asking at this point is: “how do I come to Christ and call upon him?” The answer is that “calling upon the Lord” is just another term for praying, or talking to God. To talk to God is not a complicated process, dependent upon some special rituals. God has invited people to approach him through his Son in simple, straightforward terms. In fact, Jesus approved of the dishonest, despised tax collector who simply prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” While the exact words of your prayer to God are not of vital importance (since God sees and knows the attitude of your heart), the following is the kind of prayer that you could pray in calling upon God for salvation …
“Dear Lord Jesus: I realize that I need you. I admit that I have sinned and that I deserve your just, eternal punishment for that sin. But I am sorry for my sin and I am turning to you and asking for forgiveness. I believe that you died and rose again to pay sin’s penalty on my behalf. I come to you and open my heart to you. I ask you to come into my life, forgive me for all of my sin and make me your child. I invite you to take control of my life and to cause me to be the kind of person you would have me to be. I thank you for doing this because you have promised that whosoever calls upon you, as I am doing now, shall be saved. I pray this in the name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, I urge you to sincerely and genuinely express it to God as your prayer. The Bible makes clear that when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in our heart, God forgives our sins and counts us righteous, and that when we openly confess with our mouth what we have done in our heart, God gives us assurance of that salvation (Romans 10:9-10).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7).
The next article in this Revelation series can be read in the link below.
BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY
END TIMES: DARKNESS DESCENDING 
Leave a Reply