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-Glory of God described with human limitations

-Precious stones reflecting the light of God’s glory
-Jasper. Transliteration of Greek / Clear diamond
-“Clear as crystal”
-Like in jewelry store / Light makes jewelry beautiful
-Similar to throne room vision (Rev 4.2-3)

Verse 12) -Great high wall / Reveals security (No danger)

-12 gates
-Angel doormen at gates / Not really guards
-Names of 12 tribes of Israel on gates
-Represents all Old Covenant believers
-*Dispensationalists. Distinction between Israel and church remain

Verse 13) -3 gates on each side (ENSW)

Verse 14) -12 wall foundations
-Names of 12 apostles of the Lamb on foundations
-Represents all New Covenant believers
-People of God united in heaven. Israel and church

Verse 15) -Angel has a golden reed / Even tools are beautiful!
-Standard of measure / Around 10 feet long
-Measures holy city, gates, and walls
-John previously measured temple (Rev 11.1)
-Shows God’s ownership and protection of people

Verse 16) -Holy city / Perfect square and cube
-*Literal? / Figurative for perfection?
-Holy of Holies. Perfect cube (1 Kings 6.19-20)
-Inner sanctuary of tabernacle and temple
-Filled with God’s presence / Now city filled

-City measured 12,000 furlongs
-Multiple of 12. Signifying completeness
-Recalls numbering of multitude (Rev 7.5-8)
-Each measurement. Around 1,500 miles (2.25 million sq miles)
-*Ground level could hold all people that have ever lived
-*Just 25% occupancy could fit 20 billion people

Verse 17) -Wall measured 144 cubits
-Another multiple of 12. Signifying completeness
-Each measure around 216 feet / *Maybe thickness of wall

Verse 18) -Wall of jasper / Thick diamond wall

-City of pure clear gold
-Made of gold. Like earthly temple
-Not like earthly gold. Transparent
-To reflect God’s glory throughout entire city

Verse 19) -Foundation walls decorated with precious jewels
-Beauty / Enduring nature. Symbolic of God’s glory
-Enduring beauty of city / Better than perishable treasures

-12 stones (gems)
-Another multiple of 12. Signifying completeness
-Some names have changed over centuries
-*Unable to identify all with certainty
-But point is still plain. Beautiful

-8 of 12 stones in breastplate of High Priest (Ex 28.15-30)
-Sardius / Topaz / Emerald / Sapphire / Jacinth /
Amethyst / Beryl / Jasper
-*Other 4 stones may be related to breastplate stones
-Breastplate. Turquoise / Diamond / Agate / Onyx
-Wall. Chalcedony / Sardonyx / Chrysolite / Chrysoprase
-12 stones on breastplate represent 12 tribes of Israel

-*Attempts at identification
-Jasper. Clear diamond / Sometimes used for seal stamps
-Sapphire. Blue gemstone
-Chalcedony. Sky blue agate stone / Translucent / Colored stripes
-Emerald. Green gemstone

Verse 20) -*Attempts at identification
-Sardonyx. Variety of chalcedony with red and white parallel lines
-Sardius. Red and orange quartz
-Chrysolite. Transparent gold or yellow gem
-Beryl. Green, yellow, or blue gem
-Topaz. Yellow or yellow-green soft stone
-Chrysoprase. Apple green and gold tinted quartz
-Jacinth. Transparent red, reddish brown, or blue-violet zircon
-Amethyst. Translucent purple quartz

Verse 21) -12 gates were 12 giant pearls
-Another multiple of 12. Signifying completeness
-Around 1,500 miles high
-*Literal? / Symbolic?
-Pearls made by wound to oyster flesh
-Eternal reminder of Christ’s suffering (Is 53.5; 1 Pet 2.24)
-Reminder of beauty of redemption

-Streets of gold / Like transparent glass

-Place of eternal beauty, purity, and durability
-“When I enter that beautiful city, and the saints all around me
appear, I hope that someone will tell me, ‘It was you who invited
me here.’” - Corrie Ten Boom

-Next week. The temple and light in New Jerusalem

*. Description with challenging, disputed, or unclear interpretation.

NEXT MEETING (Rev 21.22-27)

CROSS REFERENCES
Rev 21.9. Ezek 48.30-35; Rev 15.1; 19.7; 21.2
Rev 21.10. Ezek 48; Rev 1.10
Rev 21.11. Is 60.1; Ezek 43.2; Rev 15.8; 21.23; 22.5
Rev 21.12. Ezek 48.31-34
Rev 21.13. Ezek 48.31-34
Rev 21.14. Matt 16.18; Luke 22.29, 30; Gal 2.9; Eph 2.20
Rev 21.15. Ezek 40.3; Zech 2.1; Rev 11.1
Rev 21.19. Ex 28.17-20; Is 54.11; Ezek 28.13
Rev 21.21. Matt 13.45, 46; Rev 22.2