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Sermon preached on Revelation 21:9-21 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 07/13/2025 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Last week we were blessed with a glorious introduction to our Christian hope. The future that awaits God’s people is a blessed new creation. God will make all things new, with none of the former problems. God will also tabernacle among us, making his home here on the new earth with us. That will be realized in a new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven onto earth, where God will be our God and we will be his people. This new Jerusalem is now described in further detail starting with todays passage and continuing on through chapter 22, verse 5, which we’ll finish studying next time.
By way of introduction, let us acknowledge that for this to be a new Jerusalem means there was an old Jerusalem. King David, the Lord’s anointed, established the capital of Israel there where he also had the temple constructed upon the earthly Mount Zion. So that old Jerusalem was the location where God and his Christ reigned on earth, dwelling, in a limited way, with his people Israel. Sadly, that old Jerusalem was destroyed due to the apostasy of God’s people who were then scattered throughout the earth. Yet, the prophets of old declared the hope that one day God would gather up his lost people from all over earth and bring them to a new, far better Jerusalem. The prophets also foretold that God would gather up his elect from the Gentiles and also bring them to Zion. These Old Testament prophecies about the restoration of Israel to Jerusalem are fulfilled here, not in this age, but in the age to come, after Christ’s return, after the final judgment. Then, the long-prophesied glory of the new Jerusalem will be finally realized.
I love how verses 9-10 start things off. It’s almost like saying, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the Bride of Christ!” I will have us gaze at this Bride, the holy city of Jerusalem, in three points today. I will have us consider its features, its dimensions, and its glory.
Let us begin by considering its features as found in verses 12-14. It begins by describing the city as having a great, high wall. Appreciate this from the perspective of the ancient world. A city wall was central to its defense fortifications. It kept the outsiders out while allowing the citizens in and protecting them from enemies. Not all walls are created equal, and this one is impressively described as both great and high, and we’ll consider its dimensions in our second point. But first notice the wall’s features in verses 12-14.
One feature we see is that it has twelve gates with twelve angels. In other words, each gate has an angel assigned to it. Surely, these angels function here as gatekeepers. In antiquity, a gatekeeper guarded the entrance to the city. For citizens and welcomed guests, they opened the gate and greeted them as they entered. At the face of enemies, they would close the gate to bar entrance. As a city that has come down from heaven to earth, it is not surprising to see angels here at gatekeepers. I think this wonderfully complements the start of Revelation where we saw that each of the seven churches had an angel associated with it. Then, the saints down on earth had angelic support up in heaven. Now, in the new Jerusalem, heaven has come down to earth, so the angels are here at the gates to greet the saints as they come into the holy city at the start of the age to come. Let us also note that these angels, while they technically guard the city entrances, they don’t really need to guard. That’s because by this point all the enemies of God’s people are already cast into the lake of fire. That point will be brought out in next week’s passage in verse 25 when it says the gates won’t ever be closed, yet nothing unclean will ever enter the city.
Another feature we see here is that these twelve gates bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. In other words, each gate has a name of one of the twelve sons of Israel. Let us again recognize that the church of Jesus Christ is the true Israel, and that fact is seen here. Old Jerusalem was the capital of Israel where the Davidic King reigns and where God dwells with his people. That is all the more the case here in new Jerusalem. But, this glory of the new Jerusalem is not just for saved people who are ethnically Israelites. All God’s people from all the nations who have been saved by Christ will enter into this city as true Israelites. The fact that this this holy city includes elect from all the nations is explicitly mentioned in verse 27 and also next chapter, verse 2. But it also can be recognized here with the position of the gates, verse 13. The gates have three entrances on each side, facing east, north, south, and west. The symbolism is clear, that from all directions, the nations will flow into this holy city in the new creation.
Another feature of this city wall is found in verse 14. The wall has twelve foundations with the name of the twelve apostles on them the . In other words, each foundation has a different apostle’s name on it. This gives us another instance of the dual sets of twelve, where the twelve tribes are connected with the twelve apostles. It reminds us again of those saints saved under the old covenant and those under the new covenant. Interestingly, while the gates are named after the tribes of Israel, the foundations are named after the apostles. One might have supposed it would have been the other way around, since the tribes historically preceded the apostles. Yet, surely the explanation is there in verse 14, that these are the apostles of the Lamb. The prominence of the twelve apostles is really because of the prominence of the Lamb. Jesus is the chief cornerstone and the sure foundation. His apostles are so important because of their role in bearing witness to the work of Jesus. While we might say the tribes of Israel historically served to provide a way to meet God, like the function of a gate, yet every old covenant tribe found salvation in the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. That was foundational for them as we see all the way back in Exodus with the first Passover. It’s always been about Jesus and his work, for both Old and New Testament saints. Jesus, and his apostolic witness, is the foundation for this holy city.
Saints of God, this first point reminds us that we have a firm foundation on Jesus Christ. It also reminds us that we have a strong refuge in Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that he would build his church and the gates of hades would not prevail against it. As we look forward to this coming glory, let us here and now make sure we build our life upon the rock of Jesus Christ and not on any shifting sand of the world.
Let us turn now to our second point and consider this holy city’s dimensions as found in verses 15-17. The angel has a measuring rod to measure the city. This is one of several allusions to Ezekiel’s final chapters that foretell a future temple and city for God’s people. The allusions to that portion of Ezekiel tell us that Ezekiel’s temple and city were foretelling this new Jerusalem. So then, we are first told that the dimensions of the city are that of a foursquare. In other words, the city makes a perfect square, its four sides are all the same distance. I suspect this should call to mind the Holy of Holies in the temple, which we find in 1 Kings 6:20 was also a perfect square. Next week we’ll consider how verse 20 says there is no temple in this holy city because God and Jesus will be here in the city. This square dimensions suggests that the entire city is one big Holy of Holies where the saints enjoy God’s full presence continually.
The passage goes on to tell us the length of each side of this foursquare city, 12,000 stadia. Now that number surely employs more apocalyptic symbolism. We see that recurring number of 12 multiplied by a 1,000 which is a number to symbolically describe an emphatically large amount. Indeed, if we think of the size of what is envisioned here, 12,000 stadia is about 1,380 miles. On a side note, that is roughly 1,000 times bigger per side than Ezekiel foresaw, suggesting that God’s promises will be fulfilled in a far more greater way that we would have imagined. Indeed, for this holy city to be 1,380 miles wide and 1,380 miles long, that would make it something like seven times the size of the state of Texas. Now, remember, this is an apocalyptic vision, so we want to appreciate the symbolism, but the symbolism is that the glory that awaits us will be a huge dwelling place for all the saints down through the ages. Literally, it is what Jesus already promised, that the saints will inherit the entire new earth.
But actually, did you see that our passage doesn’t say the this holy city will be 12,000 stadia squared, it says it will be 12,000 cubed. That’s right, we are told not just the length and the width but also the height. This city will somehow reach 1,380 miles into the sky. Again, think apocalyptically here. This city came down out of heaven to earth, but simultaneously it reaches back up to the heavens. Remember the sinful desires of the tower of Babel where sinful people want to make a tower so tall in order to make a name for themselves in arrogance over God. This wonderfully counters that by God making a whole city that reaches the heavens, one that exalts God’s name while lifting up us his people. In the previous point, we saw the blending of heaven and earth by recognizing the angels at the gates. Something similar here seems to be the case when verse 17 tells us the measurements being used here in these dimensions are human measurements, and then immediately says that these are also angelic measurements. In this new city, the angelic and the redeemed human come together, even as the gap between heaven and earth disappears.
The other dimensions given are that of the wall, that they are 144 cubits, probably referring to its height, though some have suggested it refers to its thickness. Either way, this would be huge as 144 cubits is approximately 216 feet. No ancient walls had walls anywhere near that height. But again, we should recognize that 144 is the number that comes when you multiply 12 by 12 which is again to remind us of the church who is identified with both the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of Jesus. As we noted last week, the new Jerusalem is called the Bride of Christ which is to call the Bride a city. But the Bride has also been identified as the people of God. So then, the people are reflected symbolically with all these twelves here that define the city. The Bride of Christ is both a people and place where God dwells with us in peace and blessing.
Saints of God, this second point reminds us the we God’s people will inherit the world, and it will be heaven on earth! As Hebrews 11:10 says, we are looking forward to a heavenly city whose designer and builder is God. While this is our sure future, God is already now at work to build this city with every new member baptized into the church of Jesus Christ. We share in the work of this building project of the new Jerusalem as we participate in evangelism and as we look to build up one another in the faith.
Let us turn lastly to our third point today to consider this holy city’s glory. We especially see this in verses 18-21, but it begins in verses 10-11. Starting in verses 10-11, we see that this city comes down out of heaven. Verse 11 specifically says that as it comes down out of heaven that it has the glory of God. It is shining with the radiance of crystal-clear jasper. Imagine what is being seen here. John looks up in the sky and he sees what must at first look like some amazing brilliantly bright star in the sky. But it is getting closer and closer, bigger and brighter, until it comes into focus as this gloriously amazing mega-city that lands upon the earth. A city that is like none-other.
The glory introduced there in verse 11 finds expansion starting in verses 18. The glory was described to be like God’s glory and it references the precious stone of jasper. And then the wall is said to be built of jasper, thus explaining why that was so predominately seen when the city was coming down out of heaven. Likewise the city itself is said there to be pure gold, like clear glass. What follows is a description of the twelve foundations of the city wall each being adorned, probably composed of, these twelve different jewels. Again, remember that it said this was like God’s glory. In that light, remember back to chapter 4 when presented with the heavenly throne room scene. There, God’s appearance was liked to both jasper and carnelian and with a rainbow like an emerald. There, we see a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Do you see how this holy city that God made looks a lot like God and his heavenly throne room. Both jasper and carnelian are in the list of stones, along with emerald. Indeed, all the colors of these stones make a rainbow of various colors. The city streets of transparent gold are like the sea of crystal. There is a close connection between the city’s glory and God’s heavenly glory.
When we remember the close connection between the city and the saints, the people and the place, we should make this same connection then between God’s glory and our glory when we at long last come to this new Jerusalem. God in all his glory made us from the start to be his image bearers. To be an image bearer means we are to reflect the likeness and image of God in this world. That includes that humans should reflect the glory of God in this world. Yet, ever since man’s fall into sin, we’ve marred that image and thus obscured the glory of God that we should be imaging on earth. Finally, in this New Jerusalem we will properly shine forth God’s glory!
While mentioning the twelve foundation stones as these twelve different jewels, we must also acknowledge that they reflect the twelve stones God had the priests under the old covenant wear on their breastplate used in their priestly service. This again suggests a temple and worship theme. It suggests this whole city is a priestly city. Indeed, all the saints in glory will be a kingdom of priests unto God, the very desire God told Israel back in Exodus 19:6. Part of the glory of this holy city is that it will be place of such a universal priesthood.
We should also note the unique beauty of the pearls mentioned in verse 21. Each gate will be a pearl, which I presume means that it is they are crafted out of some gigantic pearl. Again, this is an apocalyptic vision, so appreciate the symbolism. Natural pearls in Scripture are regarded the way society regards them, as even more valuable than gold. On this, we might remember that parable of the pearl of great price, and that a merchant who would sell everything for that precious pearl. That parable teaches how we need to see the tremendous value of the Christ’s kingdom, and value it more than anything else. Think of finally entering this holy city at the end of the age and greeted with such pearl gates. Symbolically it would remind you of the priceless glory you have finally come to enjoy. It reminds us that our denying ourselves to serve Christ is all worth it!
While considering this glory of the Bride of Christ, we would be remiss if we didn’t notice how this passage invites us to contrast this with the Whore of Babylon. Chapter 17 starts out with a similar presentation of Babylon as it does new Jerusalem in verse 9. What is also interesting is that Babylon is also seen adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. On the surface she outwardly looks similar to new Jerusalem here. I think this reminds us that there is not something inherently wrong with gold, jewels, and pearls, just because Babylon wears them, since we also see the Bride wearing them. But you see, with the Whore of Babylon, her beauty was only ever outward. For her, these precious adornments were all she had. Her beauty was superficial at best, fading at most, and inside she was actually ugly as sin. But not so with the Bride of Jesus. As chapter 19 says, the Bride is ultimately clothed with the righteous deeds of the saints, and her sins that had marred her garments have been washed white and pure by the blood of Jesus. Unlike Babylon, the gold, jewels, and pearls that adorn the Bride are but outward adornments that represent an even greater inner beauty prepared by God for Jesus.
Saints of God, this third point got us to reflect on the beauty and the glory that awaits us in the new creation. We are reminded of Jesus’ call to set our heart not only on earthly treasure with its fading and fallible glory, but on the heavenly treasure that has a glory that endures. No earthly treasure can do justice to what awaits us in the age to come, which is why we can again say this is just apocalyptic symbolism here when it sees all these treasures because surely the reality will be even more glorious. May your heart treasure such things. And so, may your heart even now treasure righteous living, knowing that Jesus is working to beautify us in the glory of godliness.
Trinity Presbyterian Church, today we’ve been given a glimpse of the wonder that awaits us Christians in the coming age. We’ve seen the unity that old and new covenant believers will have, being one holy nation under God. We’ve seen how we will be created together to be one holy temple-city for the Lord. We’ve seen something of the glory and beauty he is preparing us to be.
With this future in store, let us walk in step with this divine plan. The church here on earth begins to express the unity we Christians will all have together in the new Jerusalem. While we have all come from different cultures, races, peoples, tongues, and nations, yet we are one in Christ Jesus and are commanded to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, loving one another. For there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, even as we are one holy nation, one royal priesthood, a united elect people for God’s own possession. Together then, we strive in faith toward the realization of this glorious hope. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Copyright © 2025 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
All Rights Reserved.
