The Holy City, Scripture – Commentary
Revelations XXI.
Vers. 10
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great City, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God,
Vers. 11 Having the glory of God: and her Light was like unto a Stone most precious, even like a Jasper Stone, clear as Chrystal:
Vers. 12 And had a Wall great and high, and had twelve Gates, and at the Gates twelve Angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel.
Vers. 13 On the East three Gates, on the North three Gates, on the South three Gates, and on the West three Gates.
Vers. 14 And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
Vers. 15 And he that talked with me had a Golden Reed to measure the City, and the Gates thereof, and the Wall thereof.
Vers. 16 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 heighth of it are equal.
Vers. 17 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.
Vers. 18 And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper, and the City was of pure Gold, like unto clear Glass.
Vers. 19 And the Foundations of the Wall of the City were garnished with all manner of precious Stones. The first Foundation was Jasper; the second, Saphire; the third, a Chalcedony; the fourth, an Emerald;
Vers. 20 The fifth, Sardonyx; the sixth▪ Sardius; the seventh, Chrysolite; the eighth, Beryl; the ninth, a Topaz; the tenth, a Chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a Jacinct; the twelfth, an Amethyst.
Vers. 21 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.
Vers. 22 And I saw no Temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the Temple of it.
Vers. 23 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.
Vers. 24 And the Nations of them … are saved, shall walk in the Light of it: and the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory and Honour unto it.
Vers. 25 And the Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Vers. 26 And they shall bring the Glory and Honour of the Nations into it.
Vers. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lambs Book of Life.
CHAP. XXII.
Vers. 1 And he shewed me a pure River of Water of Life, clear as Crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God, and of the Lamb.
Vers. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and of either side of the River, was there the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of Fruits, and yielded her Fruit every month: and the Leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations.
Vers. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the Throne of God, and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his Servants shall serve him.
Vers. 4 And they shall see his Face, and his Name shall be in their Foreheads.
IN my dealing with this Mystery, I shall not meddle where I see nothing, neither shall I hide from you that which at present I conceive to be wrapt up therein: onelyonly you must not from me look for much inlargement, though I shall endeavour to speak as much in few words, as my Understanding and Capacity will enable me, through the help of Christ.
In this Description of this Holy City, you have these five general Heads:
First, The Vision of this City in general.
Secondly, A discovery of its Defence Entrances, and Fashion, in particular.
Thirdly, A relation of the Glory of each.
Fourthly, A discovery of its Inhabitants, their quality and numerousness.
Fifthly, A relation of its Maintenance, by which it continueth in Life, Ease, Peace, Tranquillity and Sweetness for ever.
To all which I shall speak something in their proper places, and shall open them before you.
But before I begin with any of them, I must speak a word or two concerning John's qualification, whereby he was enabled to behold and take a view of this City; which qualification he relateth in these words following.