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4. The Building Material of the Holy City (Revelation 21:18-21)

REVELATION 21:18-21
18 The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. 19 The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

John did not only try to grasp the oversized dimensions of New Jerusalem, the “tabernacle of God” (Revelation 21:3), but also its beauty and splendor. He recognized that the wall around the city was made of jasper that is the same jewel which he already mentioned with the description of the holiness of God (Revelation 4:3; 21:11). The building material of the wall resembles a white transparent marble which is pure, holy, true and without defective flaws and opacities. In this city everything is accessible, cunning and deceit cannot enter. As Allah is called “the most cunning” (Sura Al 'Imran 3:54), he cannot find room in the Holy of Holies. The city wall would already exclude him.

The great city itself shines in the purest gold which like glass is transparent for light and also reflects it. New Jerusalem does, however, not resemble an oversized gold nugget, its streets and mansions will rather be described as golden, as gold belongs to the noble metals and is therefore very resistant against oxidation, and at the same time gold indicates the unlimited richness of God. New Jerusalem is as “the Bride of the Lamb” His “treasure” completely refined, never ending, holy and gifted with the fullness of God. Out of spoiled and mortal sinners the Savior had made the Holy of Holies (Isaiah 48:10-11; Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Peter 1:3-9).

The wall of the city is built on oversized huge foundation stones being precious jewel blocks. These blocks project to some extent from the ground, on each of them is the name of an apostle (Revelation 21:14) and each of them is glowing in its color. Obviously John knew color, worth and meaning of the various jewels, as he describes the character of the apostles and of himself by means of subtly differentiated features.

Jasper, at the time of John, was a marble white, crystal-clear translucent jewel.

Sapphire is a heavenly blue glowing jewel.

Chalcedony (carnelian) is deeply red like a glowing coal.

Emerald is a light green jewel, very dense

Sardonyx is a red and white streaked precious stone.

Sard is light red.

Chrysolit is gold-colored and glowing in the morning.

Beryl is bluish green

Topaz is light green having a golden brightness.

Chrysoprase is translucently greenish having a fine golden brightness.

Hyazinth is yellowish red.

Amethyst is deeply purple to magenta.

The biggest precious stone known so far of the above described types weighs 70 grams. In relation to the foundation walls of New Jerusalem it is like a dust particle. Each of the foundation blocks has a priceless and incomprehensible high value beyond all human imagination. We may revise our judging of the apostles of Jesus Christ.

In addition, the foundation blocks are decorated by many small colored precious stones, which may refer to the saints that the Lord Jesus Christ had won for the everlasting life by the apostles and their witness. The Lord glorifies His apostles and servants undeservedly, solely by grace! How much are the jewel blocks of Matthew and John sparkling and glowing, as millions of people have been saved by means of their gospels. And how much the jewel blocks of Peter and Paul are shining and gleaming, if everybody who put his faith in Jesus because of their letters represents a little jewel on their jewel block.

Unfortunately, the order of the names of the apostles in the gospels and in the Acts is not uniform (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13), so we are not able to assign each of the jewels with their shade to each of the apostles. However, in the above mentioned lists of names of the apostles, three circles around Jesus become apparent.

The inner circle consists of the two pairs of brothers who first got in contact with Jesus: Andrew and his brother Simon (Peter) as well as both of the sons of Zebedee, James and his brother John (John 1:35-42).

The second circle with the following four apostles is given in all name lists: Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas.

The outer, third circle varies in all lists, but always includes the following three apostles: James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Canaanite, called Zelotes, and Judas Iscariot. Two names are mentioned in turns: Thaddaeus and Judas, the son of James. Presumably, this is only one person, one time with his Greek name and one time with his Semitic name.

John does not take into account these groups. In eternity each of the apostles appears as a very large jewel of an unimaginable value. The sparkling foundation stones in their splendor and majesty establish the separating wall. Its ground plan defines the limits of the holy city.

Three of the twelve names are, however, in all name lists at the same place, so we may assign them certain jewels with due care:

As Peter in all lists of the apostles is always the first of the closest circle of Jesus, out of the list of jewels jasper may assigned to him. Jesus had made Peter, who was originally an uncouth fisherman and later on the speaker of the disciples, to a foundation stone of New Jerusalem having the features and the glory of God! This judging means a particular grace for the disciple whom Jesus had to call “Satan” (Matthew 16:23) and who cursed himself after his master was captured if he knew Jesus (Matthew 26:74-75). The renewing and sanctification of Peter is one of the most miraculous proofs of the love and patience of Jesus.

One of the other three disciples of this close circle of Jesus is described as a deeply red glowing chalcedony (carnelian) who recognized the ardent love of God out of grace and then lived according to it (Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:16). This precious stone block may indicate to John.

The first name of the second list is always Philip of Bethsaida (John 1:43-49; 6:5-7; 12:20-22; 14:8-11). This fisherman willing to evangelize got in contact to strangers quickly and they in turn got into conversation with him easily. His love and truth are reflected in the red and white streaked sardonyx.

At the top of the name list of the outer circle is always James, the son of Alphaeus, of whom nothing is reported in the gospel except that his mother had been one of the women standing by Jesus at the cross (Mark 15:40). James, the son of Alphaeus may be compared with a light green topaz covered with a fine golden brightness.

In his pastoral care for his disciples Jesus looked forward and was patient. This fact encourages us to worship him. For as he renewed these called entirely and transformed them to the most precious jewels of heaven, in the same way He wants to transform His followers today into His image. Do we hinder Him from doing it?

With almost pitiful derision at all the kings, queens and emperors on earth, who are decorated with gold and jewels, John mentions in addition that each of the twelve gates is made of just one pearl That is unimaginable! How big should have been the mother mollusks of such pearls!

The seer reports in addition on a wide, huge place in the midst of New Jerusalem, perhaps surrounded by colonnades like places in ancient Greek towns. In such meeting places gathered in those days the “ecclesia", the called open council of the town for talks about the public weal and woe and for passing resolutions. Other expositors think of this place as a central point, where all streets which lead from the twelve gates in the centre of the city come together and where people meet for worshipping and praising God.

The whole place consists of pure gold which is transparent for the radiance of the glory of God and reflects it as well. This transparent gold everywhere in eternal Jerusalem indicates that the love and holiness of God is flowing to each place of the capital and to each inhabitant so as to warm them up and refresh them. The triune God is their centre, their strength and light. Without Him this glorious city would resemble a dead and empty mollusk.

All these details of New Jerusalem are to describe and illustrate the mystery of the Bride of the Lamb. It's not a matter of real gold or priceless jewels, it's rather a matter of sanctified people, who had been sinners but are now cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and revived by His Spirit. These saints are the glorious city having all these features and graces.

PRAYER: We magnify You, heavenly Father, because Your beloved Son changed sinners to saints, and gave His revelation to simple people. We praise You for the great incorporeal value of Your apostles and Your church members in whom Your Son dwells through Your Holy Spirit who establishes in them everlasting love and divine love. Make us living stones in Your holy capital. Amen.

QUESTION:

287. Why did the ideal value of the fellowship of believers become very high?