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Revelation 21

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

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,

Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

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:

On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

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.

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.

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

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.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

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.

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

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 Lamb's book of life.

What does Revelation 21:11 mean?

Explanation

Revelation 21:11 describes the vision of the New Jerusalem given to John, the author of the Book of Revelation.

In this verse, the city is depicted as having "the glory of God," a phrase that denotes the magnificent presence or manifestation of God.

The "light" of the city is compared to a precious stone, "like unto a stone most precious," which suggests a radiance or brilliance that is both awe-inspiring and beautiful.

Specifically, the light is likened to a "jasper stone, clear as crystal." Jasper in ancient times was regarded as a gemstone that could come in various colors, often opaque, but the reference here to it being "clear as crystal" suggests a dazzling, clear, and bright quality.

The overall imagery paints the New Jerusalem as a place of purity, beauty, and divine radiance.

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Historical Context

The Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, is traditionally believed to have been written by John the Apostle while he was in exile on the island of Patmos, around the end of the first century A.D.

This was a time when early Christians faced persecution under Roman rule.

The text is apocalyptic literature, full of symbolic imagery and visions that offer hope to the persecuted believers by depicting the ultimate victory of good over evil and the establishment of God's kingdom.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Revelation 21:11 serves several functions.

Firstly, it communicates that the ultimate destiny for believers is to dwell in the presence of God's glory.

Secondly, it portrays the heavenly city, New Jerusalem, as a place of immense beauty and perfection, symbolized through the imagery of precious stones and light.

Thirdly, the use of clear jasper stone may represent transparency and truth, elements that are consistent with the divine nature.

Different Christian denominations may interpret the verse quite literally as a description of heaven, while others might understand it more metaphorically, emphasizing the spiritual truths it conveys rather than specific physical details.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse might inspire believers to live in a manner that reflects the purity and glory of the New Jerusalem.

It can encourage Christians to seek holiness and transparency in their lives, strive for moral clarity, and find hope in the promise of a future glorious dwelling with God.

It could also be interpreted as a call to recognize and reflect God's light in the world through good deeds and a faithful witness.

Cross-References

Revelation 4:3: "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."
Revelation 21:23: "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."
Isaiah 60:19: "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."

Language Study

Key words in this verse in the original Greek text include:

"Doxa" (δόξα), often translated as "glory," implies honor, renown, and an amazing light related to the divine.
"Phaino" (φαίνω) refers to "light" or "shine," indicating luminosity or brightness.
"Lithos" (λίθος) means "stone," and is used to describe the gemstone through which the light of the New Jerusalem is seen.
"Iaspis" (ἴασπις) is the word for "jasper," a gemstone varied in its appearance, but here associated with clarity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The imagery of a city made of precious materials is not unique to Christianity.

Many ancient cultures and religions have their versions of a celestial paradise.

For example, in some ancient Greek mythology, the Elysium is a place where heroes and those favored by the gods dwell after death.

In Hinduism, the golden city of Lanka in the Ramayana is portrayed as a place of great beauty and wealth, although it also has a complex moral narrative.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the description of light and clear jasper stone could be seen as an appreciation for the natural beauty and properties of gemstones.

While the literal existence of a city composed of such materials is not supported by physical evidence or science, the text is rich in metaphoric and symbolic language not intended to be scientifically accurate but rather to convey theological truths.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians provide diverse interpretations of Revelation 21:11.

Commentators from more conservative theological backgrounds may emphasize the literal beauty and grandeur of the heavenly city.

In contrast, more liberal scholars focus on the symbolic meanings, seeing it as a metaphorical expression of God's redemption and the transformation of the cosmos.

Additionally, some commentators note the contrast between the glorious New Jerusalem and the corrupt human cities, highlighting the moral and spiritual implications of the text.

Revelation 21

Revelation 21

What does Revelation 21:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Revelation Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Revelation 21:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Revelation Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?