PrevRevelation 21:14Next

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 21:14 mean?

Explanation

The verse Revelation 21:14 describes a vision of a great wall with twelve foundations seen by John, the author of the Book of Revelation.

These foundations are said to have the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ.

The wall is part of the description of the New Jerusalem, which is depicted as descending from heaven and serving as the dwelling place of God with humanity.

The twelve foundations of the wall bearing the apostles' names signify the integral role of the apostles in the establishment of the Church and the spread of the gospel.

As foundations provide stability and support for a structure, the apostles are seen as the foundational figures of the early Christian Church.

The mention of their names on the foundations suggests honor, remembrance, and the enduring legacy of their ministry.

The deeper meaning associated with the verse points to the idea that the Christian faith is built upon the teachings and witness of the apostles, who were directly chosen by Christ.

This contributes to the overall symbolism of the New Jerusalem, which represents God's perfect kingdom and the eternal home of the righteous.

Top Rated Revelation Books

Historical Context

Revelation was written toward the end of the first century AD, a time when early Christians were facing persecution from the Roman Empire.

Apostle John, traditionally identified as the author, was exiled on the island of Patmos where he received visions that he recorded as the Book of Revelation.

The image of the New Jerusalem with its foundations named after the apostles would have provided comfort and encouragement to early Christians, affirming the significance of their faith and the promise of a divine inheritance.

At the time, the identity and unity of the Christian community were closely tied to the teachings and authority of the apostles, making this imagery especially powerful for John's original audience.

Theological Insights

There are various theological insights that can be drawn from Revelation 21:14:

Apostolic Authority: The verse emphasizes the God-given authority of the apostles as the rightful leaders and teachers in the early church.
Permanence of God's Kingdom: The use of precious stones and firm foundations for the New Jerusalem suggests the eternal and unshakeable nature of God's kingdom.
Communion of Saints: It reflects the Christian belief in a community that spans both heaven and earth, in which the faithful on earth are connected to the saints in heaven.

Some theologians also view the New Jerusalem as symbolic of the church itself, with the apostles' teachings as the foundation of all church doctrine and practice.

Practical Applications

Modern readers can draw several applications from this verse, including:

Understanding the importance of having a firm foundation in one's beliefs and values.
Acknowledging the historical roots of Christianity and respecting the role of the apostles' teachings in the development of Christian faith.
Drawing inspiration from the vision of the New Jerusalem to seek unity, peace, and righteousness within the Christian community.

Cross-References

Ephesians 2:20: "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"
Matthew 16:18: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Hebrews 11:10: "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of the New Testament, the word for "foundations" is "θεμελίων" (themelion), referring to a foundation or groundwork.

The term "apostles" is "ἀποστόλων" (apostolon), which means "ones who are sent away," indicating their mission to spread the gospel.

The phrase "of the Lamb" points to the sacrificial nature of Jesus' role in Christian soteriology.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a city with significant foundations is not unique to Christianity.

For example, in Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus are credited with founding Rome, and their legacy is as foundational to the city's identity as the apostles are to the New Jerusalem.

Within Judaism, the twelve tribes of Israel also provide a foundational framework for God's chosen people, akin to the role of the apostles in Christianity.

Many ancient societies placed importance on the founders or heroes who laid the groundwork for their civilizations and religions.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives generally do not directly intersect with the interpretations of prophetic and apocalyptic literature like Revelation.

However, in viewing the description of the New Jerusalem metaphorically or symbolically, one can explore concepts such as the psychological significance of the idealized city and the human tendency to create utopian visions.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered insights into Revelation 21:14:

Some comment that the vision of the New Jerusalem serves as a counterpoint to the fallen Babylon, representing the height of God's redemptive plan in contrast to the depths of human sinfulness.
Others point to the apostles' placement in the foundation as connecting the story of Jesus and the work of the apostles to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise in the heavenly city.
Still, others highlight the inclusivity of the New Jerusalem, with its twelve gates allowing entrance from all directions, as indicating that salvation through Christ is available to all.

Revelation 21

Revelation 21

What does Revelation 21:14 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 21:14 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?