Revelation 21:9-22:9 The New Jerusalem Part 1

In this episode, Rob and Vinnie continue their look at the New Jerusalem. The Holy City/New Jerusalem is the eternal dwelling place of the people of God. It is described as a city, that is a temple, but in reality, it is the people of God dwelling in the presence of God. Rob and Vinnie also discuss what is "outside" the city. Vinnie inserts a dad joke that needs help. 

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Show notes: 

The Bride/Holy City, the New Jerusalem descends 21:9-22:9

It is the Eternal dwelling place for God’s people in the presence of God on the restored earth/New Creation

12 things

1. Eden: Place of God’s presence: expands and fills the Earth
2. Temple: Dwelling of God among – people Lev 26; Ezek 37
3. City = Bride / contra Harlot (New Jerusalem = POG)
4. Economic reversal 
5. 12 uses of 12 = POG
6. Parallels account of the TW
7. Reveals the unity of the OT/NT POG
8. Parallels with Ezekiel
9. What is it going to be like? Eden restored? Work? Golf? Music? Nah!
10. What about hell? 
11. NJ = already begun 
12. What does living in accord with the NJ mean for us now!

17:1-3; 21:9-10 Two sections: each women that are cities 

Economic reversal “freely”

Parable in Luke 16 Rich man and Lazarus

Bible begins in Eden and ends in Eden 

Eden

Prophets expecting: see Isa 51:3; Ezek 36:35; 47:1-7

• Gold: 21:18, 21; Gen 2:11-12
• River of Life 22:1: Eden: “Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden”: Gen 2:10
• The Tree of Life: 22:2; Gen 2:9
• There will no longer be any curse 22:3

“Come, and I will show you” (21:9): carried “away in the Spirit” (21:10); taken “to a great and high mountain” (21:10)

• Mountains symbolized kings and kingdoms; also indicate the place of the temple. 
• Mountains also represent places of revelation. 

John’s use of hearing and seeing.

• John is told (hears) that he is going to be shown, “the Bride” (21:9): what he sees is, “the Holy City” (21:10). 

The “glory of God” (21:11) was a vital component of the temple complex. 

We might say: in 21:1-8: the Holy City as a Bride; in 21:9-22:9, the Bride is the Holy City

• But, it is not the Holy City but the temple within the Holy City 

21:11: “Her brilliance was like a precious stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper” 

• “jasper” occurs only four times in the book of Revelation (4:3; 21:11, 18, 19)

Great and high wall: 21:12-14

Holy City also corresponds to the account of the Two Witnesses. 

• “measure” only five times (11:1, 2; 21:15, 16, 17): limited to these two accounts
• “measuring rod” only three times (11:1; 21:15, 16) limited to the account of the Two Witnesses and the Holy City further establishing the link between the two.

Length, width, and height of the city are all, “12,000 stadia” (21:16)

1. Cube: = the Holy of Holies within the temple
2. 12,000 stadia corresponds to the approximate size of the Hellenistic world. 
3. Holy City/Bride = People of God;
4. The unity of the people of God. 

the Holy City represents the totality of the OT and NT people of God. 

• twelve gates have, “the names of the twelves tribes of the sons of Israel” (21:12), 
• the twelve foundation stones of the city wall have, “the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the lamb” (21:14). 
• that the walls are “144” cubits (21:17) further establishes that the Holy City represents the combined OT and NT people of God.
• the description of the Holy City, John alludes to both the 144,000 (7:3-8; 14:1-5) and the Great Multitude (7:9-17; 19:1-6). 
  • Great Multitude in 7:15-17 was a proleptic description the Holy City. 
  • The allusion to the 144,000 is evident in his reiteration of the “twelve tribes” (21:12).