Revelation 21:14-21 (NKJV) Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
V14 “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Foundations = stories, thus, this is a city with 12 stories or levels. They were named after the 12 apostles of the Lord Jesus. Matthias is the 12th (Acts 1:23).
V15 “And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.” Gold reed indicates royalty, so this is the royal standard of measurement. Compare Ezekiel 40:3-5.
V16 “The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.” The shape is a perfect cube. twelve thousand furlongs equals 7920000 ft/1500 miles or 2,414 kilometers. Each level would be separated approximately by 125 miles or 201.2 km. Each level or story would contain 2250000 miles² or 5827396 km².
V17 “Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.” 144 cubits = 212.6 feet or 64.4 meters. The angel is called a man because of its similar body shape. If this refers to the thickness of the wall, then the same dimensions (measurements) apply.
V18 “The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.” If the wall was solid jasper or just jasper, its color is unknown. It seems reasonable that the Creator could have made a wall of solid jasper. All you want to know about jasper (geology/semi-precious gem) is here: https://geologyscience.com/minerals/silicates-minerals/jasper/ It is used as a building material for floors and countertops, etc. The city itself is pure gold.
Keathley writes: “”Jasper” usually refers to green quartz. “Pure gold like clear glass” is solid gold yet transparent like crystal with a gold cast to it (Revelation 21:21). This constant reference to the transparency of the city shows us that it is designed to transmit the glory of God to every nook and cranny.
“Again compare Ephesians 3:16-18. As the believer grows in the fourfold knowledge of God’s love in all categories of truth, Christ becomes more and more at home in our lives, filling every area.”
V19 “The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald…” The decorative stones of the foundation and walls were of awesome beauty.
V20 “…the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.”
V21 “The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was made of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”
We learn:
- The blessings of believing the Gospel and serving God.
- The dwelling place of the New Jerusalem is beautiful beyond description.