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DECEMBER 31
cubits, according to the measure of a man, that
is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was
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of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear
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21:2 New Jerusalem.This is the capital city of glass. The foundations of the wall of the city
heaven, a place of perfect holiness. It is seen were adorned with all kinds of precious stones:
“coming down out of heaven,” indicating it the first foundation was jasper, the second sap-
already existed; but it descends into the new phire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emer-
heavens and new earth from its place on high. ald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the
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This is the city where the saints will live (John seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth
14:1–3). bride. An important New Testament topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh
metaphor for the church (Matt. 25:1–13; Eph. jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve
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5:25–27). John’s imagery here extends from gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate
the third part of the Jewish wedding,the cere- was of one pearl. And the street of the city was
mony. Believers (the bride) in the New pure gold, like transparent glass.
Jerusalem come to meet Christ (the bride- 22
groom) in the final ceremony of redemptive But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God
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history (19:7). The whole city, occupied by all Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The
the saints, is called the bride, so that all saints city had no need of the sun or of the moon to
must be finally included in the bride imagery shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it.
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and bridal blessing. God has brought home a The Lamb is its light. And the nations of
bride for His beloved Son. All the saints live those who are saved shall walk in its light, and
with Christ in the Father’s house (a promise the kings of the earth bring their glory and
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made before the church began; John 14:2). honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by
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day (there shall be no night there). And they
shall bring the glory and the honor of the
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End. I will give of the fountain of the water of nations into it. But there shall by no means
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life freely to him who thirsts. He who over- enter it anything that defiles, or causes an
comes shall inherit all things, and I will be his abomination or a lie, but only those who are
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God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually And he showed me a pure river of
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall 22 water of life, clear as crystal, proceed-
have their part in the lake which burns with fire ing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
and brimstone, which is the second death.” 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the of the river, was the tree of life, which bore
seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every
came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, month. The leaves of the tree were for the
I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” healing of the nations. And there shall be no
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10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a more curse, but the throne of God and of the
great and high mountain, and showed me the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall
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great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out serve Him. They shall see His face, and His
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of heaven from God, having the glory of God. name shall be on their foreheads. There shall
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Her light was like a most precious stone, like be no night there: They need no lamp nor
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a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them
a great and high wall with twelve gates, and light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
twelve angels at the gates, and names written 6 Then he said to me, “These words are faith-
on them, which are the names of the twelve ful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy
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tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on prophets sent His angel to show His servants
the east, three gates on the north, three gates the things which must shortly take place.
on the south, and three gates on the west. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foun- he who keeps the words of the prophecy of
dations, and on them were the names of the this book.”
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twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who 8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things.
talked with me had a gold reed to measure the And when I heard and saw, I fell down to wor-
city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out ship before the feet of the angel who showed
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as a square; its length is as great as its me these things.
breadth. And he measured the city with the 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do
reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, that. For I am your fellow servant, and of
breadth, and height are equal. Then he your brethren the prophets, and of those who
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measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
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