I realize a number of these verses (Revelation 21 having a total of 27 of them) can be discussed in groups. Yet basically I have chosen to present them singly, individually. This is in part because of the nature of a daily Website Lesson, space and time are (for practical reasons) somewhat limited.

So, we shall focus on one aspect of the City’s WALL today. Towns today, for the most part, do not even have walls! But in Biblical times they did, for some very good reasons!

Our verse now: “And he (the angel) measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.” Revelation 21:17

First, a “cubit” (in Greek “pechus,” a word about which its etymology is too opaque to ascertain) is a linear unit of measurement, thought to be about a foot and a half, eighteen inches.

According the “measure of a man” just means the standard “yardstick” of that day was being used. The “angel” has adapted and employed the “metric system” to which John was most accustomed. (God can and does often speak our language! Acts 2, the Day of Pentecost, all those languages come to mind!)

Then the noun “wall.” Spelled “teichos” in Greek, it is derived from a root verb (“tikto”) meaning “to bear, to bring forth, to give birth!” This is strange. Does the wall afford enough “protection” (the major reason walls were built in those days) that life can “reproduce, develop, mature” within its confines? Is the wall that necessary, that “vital?” Perhaps so.

Anyway, the stats on the wall are “an hundred and forty and four cubits.” That’s 216 feet! Pretty big!

But, the Text does NOT tell us if this is the height or the width of the wall! Purposely so, I imagine. God never makes a mistake!

If it is the width (as at least one of the newer translations “inserts” into the passage) … then this thing is virtually impenetrable! By any weaponry of that day, first century Greek-Roman culture.

And if it is the height (probably the normal understanding) … its statue would be vastly out of proportion to the city’s size. (Around 1,500 miles high, and 1,500 miles square as well!)

Then the wall would have been (would yet be) merely a “symbol!”

I learned a long time ago, “When the Bible is silent, I should be silent too!”

Either way, the wall is impressive, beautiful, and serviceable … and most importantly, literal! “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.”

By the way, no need for “protection” exists in New Jerusalem!

God lives there!

All enemies have been vanquished!

Eternal Safety, Security!

Tomorrow we shall learn the appearance of the wall.

Maybe even its color!

Aren’t you glad that today … JESUS IS OUR WALL. HE IS THE DOOR TOO. AND THE GATE TO THE SHEEPFOLD!

Listen to Him a minute, our Lord. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold (which has a wall surrounding it), but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” John 10:1-7

I know the Door!

I know the Wall!

I know the Son of God!

He, through His Spirit, lives in my heart this morning!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

A three-dimensional City, at least! New Jerusalem, which John actually (as an eyewitness) observed “coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:2

Here are the City’s width and length measurements, along with its “height!” Not “elevation” mind you … “HEIGHT!” John further learns: “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 height of it are equal.” Revelation 21:16, today’s Bible study verse.

A “furlong” (in Greek “stadion”) equals 600 feet. That’s approximate. And twelve thousand of those equals around 1,500 miles in every direction! That’s a LARGE City, Brothers and Sisters!

The Greek for “foursquare” is “tetragonos,” a “tetragon!”

Shaped like a “cube,” equidistant in length and width and height!

A “cube” like the Holy of Holies!

In the Tabernacle (20 cubits square, 30 feet)!

In the Temple (30 cubits square, 45 feet)!

Both being … Places God lived!

Although a few Bible commentors have reminded us it could be a “pyramid.” As in Egypt? I doubt it. Yet mathematically it’s a possibility.

“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 height of it are equal.”

The Greek adjective “equal” is spelled “isos.” So, the City can be called “isometric” as well. Sounds absolutely captivating, almost beyond description!

A “cubic” City!

One computes the “area” of most cities.

But in the Holy City … figure the “Volume!”

Does this mean its numerous (an understatement) inhabitants will live three dimensionally? Somehow in “layers?” Has the law of gravity been altered, adapted? Remember, Someone smarter then Albert Einstein is present! Our great, omniscient God!

Do be mindful, the City has but one “street!” Verse 21 has not yet been studied, but here it is in part. “And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” Wow, again I note “the street,” singular! How does one boulevard service all that space?

What delight awaits us!

One more thing, a City that large will NOT fit into the current geography of the Holy Land, of Israel. Not even close! So the City will either miraculously remain “suspended” over earth, what a beautiful sight that would be! Or God will re-do the topological landscape of Israel. Now folks, that would be phenomenal! Then again, maybe the “new earth” God just created is bigger than we ever could have imagined! That would suffice, to make things “fit!”

Mercy, what a verse today!

“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 height of it are equal.”

Praise the Lord!

What a Builder He is, still is!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s verse is short, but nonetheless important.

God is a precise God, in so many ways.

Another way of saying, God often “measures” things!

The Bible is, in many ways, a “numerical” Book.

In fact, the fourth Book into the sacred Volume is named “Numbers!”

So … here’s Revelation 21:15, our text for this snowy Monday morning (at least where we are … preaching in the mountains of western North Carolina). “And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.”

The speaker, the one “talking” (Greek “laleo” meaning “to converse, to chat”) to John, is an angel. See verse 9 for confirmation of this fact.

A “reed” is simply a measuring rod. It’s “golden” appearance suggest it belongs to God! It’s heavenly in origin. (In Scripture “brass” often implies “judgment.” While “silver” speaks of “redemption.” And “gold” typifies “deity.”)

The Greek verb used here for “measure” is “metreo,” as in “metric.” It is only used 10  times in the whole New Testament. But it’s noun cognate (relative) is used 13 more times.

What is to be measured?

The whole City limits!

And her Gates!

Including the Wall!

God wants us to be aware of the sheer “size” of this new and vast Jerusalem!

Come to think of it … God measured the days (in hours like “evening and morning”) He invested in creating the world, the universe!

God carefully told us the size of Noah’s Ark!

And of the Tabernacle, nearly every detail.

Plus, the dimensions of Solomon’s Temple!

And the Prophet Ezekiel devotes over eight chapters depicting the size of the Millennial Temple!

We even know how “tall” Goliath was, before David killed him with that single little stone!

Get this. (Then I’m going to quit writing today and let YOU ponder this inexhaustible subject, God’s love for numbers and sizes.) Even the very hairs of our heads, you know! Folks, Jesus is recorded as saying this, Matthew 10:30. “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Wow!

What a God we serve!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

This City, the “focus” of Revelation chapter 21, has an unusual “foundation!” Surely, “multi-layered” would be an apt description for this beautiful Thing. John the Disciple of Jesus, from the small Island of Patmos, was an eyewitness to the city’s descent from God out of Heaven. “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:14

I take these to be 12 foundations, one secured on the top of another. The Greek noun “foundations” is “themelios,” derived from the verb “tithemi.” Something “set in place.” Laid down, fixed, appointed. The idea of stability, permanence is found here.

And “12” is one of God’s perfect numbers of completion, often being associated with government, oversight, administration. The Greek number twelve is spelled as “dodeka,” blending the numbers “two” (“duo”) and “ten” (“deka” as in decade).

Apparently engraved into each of these subsections of foundation … is one of the names of the 12 Disciples or Apostles. Interesting! The name “disciple” merely means “learner,” a student of some rabbi in those times. The name “apostle” means one “sent, deputized, authorized” to give a message! Even “to correct some wrong” that’s been observed by the Master!

The names of these 12 Apostles are given (collectively) four different times in the New Testament. In Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:13-19 and Luke 6:12-16 and in Acts 1:13-14. There are some name variations though, best explained at another time. (Were there 2 different men named Judas in that Group? Exactly who was Thaddeus?) But no contradictions appear, for sure!

As for the importance of the 12 Apostles, they are to be respected but not venerated, not worshipped! Certainly not used as mediators of prayer! And NO, Peter did not become a Pope, not ever!

Yet Paul does say this of the men. “Now therefore ye (born-again people) are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God (the Church); and are built upon the foundation of THE APOSTLES and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22

They are important as the first real Preachers in the Church!

Oh, I  know someone is asking. “Who took Judas’ place, the betrayer?” This text today simply does not say, no hint at all. At least as far as I can see. Acts 1:26 says of the decision made in the Upper Room … “And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon MATTHIAS; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Seems clear enough.

Yet Paul called himself an Apostle, many a time. Even saying this about the Resurrected Jesus, “And last of all He was seen of ME ALSO, as of one born out of due time.” First Corinthians 15:8, quite a statement.

God knows!

And we’ll know for sure, when we step inside New Jerusalem! Into this gloriously fresh, miraculous, God-created City, one that gets a whole chapter of Scripture, filled with descriptors. When we arrive, let’s just go read those foundation stones! After we’ve adored Jesus for a millennium or so!

Truly not Rome, “New Jerusalem” is the “Eternal City!”

And what a Corner Stone joins all these! “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” But really all of us who are saved … are equally, fundamentally, organically, connected to Jesus Christ, God the Son!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s verse mentions the 4 main points of the compass! It discusses the locations of the Gates to the Holy City of God, future New Jerusalem!

“On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.” Revelation 21:13, word for word.

At times the Bible will allude to the compass, while NOT indicating a complete 360 degree sweep. For example: “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” Psalm 75:6-7, where the “north” is omitted. Why? We do not know for sure. Maybe because Heaven, God’s present Residence, is though to perhaps be in the “north,” the northern sector of the universe! At least Isaiah 14:13-14 teaches that the fallen angel Lucifer thought so. “For thou (Satan) hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit (on God’s very Throne) also upon the mount of the congregation, IN THE SIDES OF THE NORTH. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

Anyway, when God comes to live with redeemed humanity, inaugurating the “eternal state” for all saved mankind … the City He’s building for that express purpose will have a total of 12 Gates. And 3 of them face in each fundamental direction; east and north and south and west.

I suppose I could express what each of the compass headings might mean, 90 and 180 and 270 and back to 360 degrees. But surely the central thought here is that God has made ACCESS to Himself available to ALL who would come!

Scripture records people being “saved” from every point of the compass. The Day of Pentecost, its list of nations having representatives present in Jerusalem, people who heard Peter preach, people who were saved that great Day … that list alone reveals each compass direction, really! Here’s Acts 2:8-11. “And how hear we (sinners) every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” A veritable geography lesson here!

Plus, Joel 2:32 promised such a time would come. And it did! “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

Here’s how Paul re-quotes Joel’s magnificent verse. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Including people from every nation, every tribe, on earth!

Thus; east, north, south and west!

Plus this. Our verse for today (“On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.”) may as well teach us there we will have egress from the Holy City, freedom to travel anywhere we please. Remember, the new earth is nearby! And no telling what else! Even the “heavens” have been recreated, made new. Listen to God speak, way back in Isaiah 65:17. “For, behold, I create NEW HEAVENS and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Wow, the half has never been told, I suspect.

I will promise you this about New Jerusalem. It WILL NOT be a boring, dull place! Plenty to do, life forevermore! Eternally delighted in the Presence of our God!

Praise his Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell