THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE ETERNAL STATE OF THE REDEEMED

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ETERNAL STATE OF THE REDEEMED CENTERING ON THE CAPITAL CITY

"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. 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. 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. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 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."
Rev. 21:11-23

The Capital city, New Jerusalem, commonly referred to as Heaven will come down to the earth (Rev. 21:2, 10). So far as I am able to see, this city will not be suspended above the earth. It will come to rest upon the earth. This seems to be the only poss­ible explanation in the light of the fact that men living in natural bodies on the face of the earth will make unceasing pilgrimages to the city (Rev. 21:24-26). Living outside the city and inhabiting the broad expanse of the changed earth, they are all saved and holy, and therefore nothing will ever enter the city to defile or destroy it (Rev. 21:27).

This city is the home of the Church, and other resurrected and glorified saints. It is the home of the triune God and an innumerable company of angels (Heb. 12:22-24; Rev. 21:2-3, 9-10; 22:5).

The description of the city is literal. The materials are precisely as stated. This does not mean that they may not have also symbolical meaning. God was not impoverished when He created the heavens where He dwells, and where the spiritual nobility will dwell.

• The overall impression of the city is its effulgence as light depicting the glory of God. Rev. 21:11, 23

Glory speaks of the sum total of all the attributes of God. This is like the light of a stone most precious, namely that of a jasper stone, which is crystalline as a diamond, with scintillating facets flashing light in every direction. This is em­blematic of the holiness of God, the fundamental attribute of God. This light centers in the Son of God Himself (Rev. 21:23). Even though the sun, moon, and stars are in their place and performing their functions, even though the earth rotates and there is day and night, there is no such thing as night in this city for the effulgence of the Son of God pours forth light continuously.

Any pilgrim who comes up on the breadth of the earth and for the first time views this city, this phenomenon of light will stagger him with wonder and awe so that he is speechless.

• The entrance to the city is a marvel of architecture and symbolism. Rev. 21:12, 13, 21a.

There are twelve gates to the city, three on a side. This means that they are 300 to four hundred miles apart, for each side of the city is 1500 miles (Rev. 21:16). This follows somewhat the pattern of the old city of Jerusalem. From any direction there is accessibility for the inhabitants of the realm.

Each gate is made of pearl, and consists of one entire pearl for each gate. This pearl symbolizes the death of Christ. A pearl is made by the incision in the side of an oyster into which a bit of sand creeps. The oyster surrounds it with a serum that transforms the silicate into a pearl. This means that the only way into this city is through the riven side of Christ.

On each gate is the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This points to the fact that on the human side as designed by God the Jews are the way into the presence of God. As Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jew" (John 4:22). The Jews were chosen of God to be the channel of Christ into the world, as well as that people through whom the word of God was given.

• The foundation of the city is an architectural wonder for representation. Rev. 21:14, 19-20

This city has twelve foundations, probably indicating a substantial foundation. Upon each foundation there is the name of one of the apostles of the Lamb. Since this city is especially the dwelling place of the Bride, the church, it seems appropriate to point out that on the human side the foundation of the city consists of the twelve apostles (Eph. 2:20). These men pioneered the movement that led to the building of the church. They laid their lives on the line, and everyone paid with his life except perhaps the apostle John. Now, for eternity they will be memorialized in this city.

These foundations are garnished with beautiful stones. Here are all the colors of the rainbow, the entire spectrum of light. If the saved are not color conscious now, they will be in eternity.

There is jasper, diamond, crystalline white depicting the glory of God, and when broken up into the colors of the spectrum there is all the colors that follow. Sapphire - blue; Chalcedony - greenish sort of emerald; Emerald - bright green; Sardonyx - red and white; Sardius - bright red; Chrysolyte -golden yellow; Beryl - bluish green; Topaz - yellowish green; Chrysoprasus - apple or golden green; Jacinth - blue, violet; Amethyst - purple.

These colors are all for the purpose of symbolizing the fact that the Church radiates every aspect and detail of the holiness of God as the bride makes public exhibition of the glory of God.

• The dimension of the city will evoke wonder and awe from men throughout eternity. Rev. 21:15-16

The immensity of this city is suggested by the fact that it is 1500 miles wide, long, and high. It would reach from New York City to Denver, from Canada to the Caribbean, and into the stratosphere. No one has ever seen a city of this size. It is one that only God could make (Heb. 11:10).

This city so broad and high shining like a diamond on the surface of the earth could be seen from thousands of miles away and produce wide-eyed wonder on the part of every pilgrim traveling to the city.

The shape of the city is not indicated. It could be a cube or like a pyramid. In any case it is the last wonder of the world. In this city there are many dwelling places (John 14:2). If the density of population is reduced from that of New York City or London, there is room for 72,000,000,000 billion people on one level. This is more people than has ever lived. If it is constructed like a skyscraper, and there should be a floor for every mile, then there would be room for one hundred eight trillion people. This makes it quite evident that for the multitudes of the spiritual nobility, there will be plenty of room. No one needs imagine that he will not have room to move his elbows.

• The enclosure or wall of the city is made of jasper. Rev. 17; 21:17-18a 44 cubits measures 216 feet.

Surely this is amazing for a city that reaches into the sky 1500 miles. This wall quite evidently on the physical side is not intended to protect from physical harm.

Jasper is crystalline or diamond speaking of the holiness of God. It is that attribute the guards the city within and protects from sin, and is a wall of protection from my intrusion of sin from without (Rev. 21:27). Since the city itself is holy, this is also true of the entire realm.

• The material of the city surpasses anything known for value. It is gold.  Rev. 21:18b, 21

The gold of this city is so pure that it is transparent. It is to abundant that it is used even for the streets of the city. It speaks of the righteousness of God made available at the Cross (Rev. 3:18).

This is ever to remind the saints of the city of the righteousness of God whereon our feet have been set in sovereign grace.

Wherever men look they will be reminded of this supreme performance at the cross.

• The river of life flows forth from the throne of God.  Rev. 22:1

This is the river of the water of life. It comes from the throne of God, indicating that life is from the central being of existence, and it comes from the lamb who is channel of all blessing from God.

• There is the tree of life growing on either side of the river.   Rev. 22:2

This tree bears its fruit every month indicating that there is no end to blessing supplied by God. The leaves are for the health of the nations. This does not imply sickness. But it does indicate that the nations are in bodies of flesh and God has made ample provision for that physical life to last forever. This was God's original intention in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22). But because of sin, God withdrew the tree of life and it has not been seen through the ages until the establishment of the eternal state. Now men are without sin, and they going to live forever, and the tree preserves their physical health.