Revelation: Chapter 21:1-22:5

The New Creation

OT Allusions  Ezekiel 40-48 (Vision of the new Jerusalem and new temple)  Isaiah 60 (Restoration of Jerusalem, nations pilgrimage to Jerusalem, God as the light)  Genesis 2 (New creation as new Eden, also precious materials and stones)  Exodus 28 (Precious stones, priestly garments, tribes of Israel)

Revelation 21:1-8 – The New Creation  This vision follows the previous vision’s depiction of heaven and earth fleeing away during the last judgment in 20:11.  The correlation of the new Jerusalem and bride highlights the similar correlation between the prostitute and spiritual Babylon.  Verse 3 begins imagery connected with priestly/temple worship and God’s continual presence with his people (“tabernacle” see also John 1:14 ).  Note the connection of vs. 6 with 16:17. Both “It is done!” phrases introduce the cities of Babylon and Jerusalem.  Thus this spiritual vision of the new city is a corollary to the vision of spiritual Babylon.  Much of the first eight verses will be elaborated on more fully in the verses immediately following.  Verse six calls back to the initial vision and the title “Alpha and Omega” in 1:8. The beginning of the book is of the churches in process; the end highlights their perfection in the new creation.

Revelation 21:9-27 – The New Jerusalem  This section mirrors the continued connection with the final chapters of Ezekiel that we have been tracking through the last few chapters of Revelation. In Ezekiel 40-48, Ezekiel sees a rebuilt and restored temple complete with measurements, gates corresponding to the tribes of Israel, living water, etc. The finality of Ezekiel’s vision is the renaming of the city as “The Lord is There.” God’s presence is fulfilled in John’s vision.  Vss. 9-10 demonstrate the difference for John of “hearing” vs. “seeing” and thus the spiritual, symbolic nature of the vision (i.e. He is told of the “bride” and is then shown a “city”).  “Jasper” in vs. 11 has a unique connection to 4:3, also Exodus 28 (priestly garments, see below), and Ezekiel 28 (also see below). In 4:3 it describes God sitting on His throne. Here the city reflects God’s glory in similar fashion.  Notice the juxtaposition of the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles in regards to the wall. The gates represent Israel as in Ezekiel 48, but the foundations are the Apostles. One would probably assume Israel to be the foundation of the new Jerusalem, but in John’s vision it is the church.  The wall is likely symbolic for the complete protection within the presence of God rather than a literal wall around heaven.  Again, the numbers in this vision should be interpreted symbolically and spiritually, not literally. This becomes more apparent with a translation that maintains the Greek numbering. (12,000 stadia, 12 x 12 = 144, 144 cubits for the wall, etc.). Each number then coincides with other numbers from the visions that represent completeness of the people of God.  The jewels named at the foundation of the wall in vss. 19-20 – jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst vs. the jewels in the priestly garments of Exodus 28 – sardius, topaz, carbuncle, emerald, sapphire, diamond, jacinth, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx, jasper vs. the jewels of Eden from Ezekiel 28:13 - sardius, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle. The Ezekiel list parallels the Exodus list while leaving off three. The connection to Eden and the temple worship is likely deliberate (see also Gen. 2:12 and the tree of life in chapter 22).  The connection is further made by the fact that in the vision – God and Jesus are the temple (vs. 22)  Vss. 23-26 mirror the vision of Isaiah 60:1-3, 10-11, 19-21, etc. Here the vision is seen as fulfilled in the new Jerusalem through the church.

Revelation 22:1-5 – The New Eden  The vision moves from a restoration and recreation of Jerusalem to a restoration and recreation of the Garden.  The connection to the tree of life from Genesis 2 undoes the curse from the expulsion of Eden, itself being an expulsion from the continual presence of God.  The ultimate vision is of a restored continual presence with God and a worshiping of Him for His glory.  Thus the truth of God is seen to at last triumph over the first deception of the serpent/dragon/Satan from Genesis 3.