Revelation 21:14-27

¹⁴ Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶ The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. ¹⁷ Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. ¹⁸ The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the wall of the city 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 chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

On the twelve foundations of this city are the names of the apostles.  This is fitting and right.  All of us who have heard of Jesus, know Him because these twelve enthusiastically and purposefully shared their knowledge and witness of Jesus. 

There is a lot that can be said of the city’s dimensions and decorations.  It is a square.  It is adorned with every most precious stone we could be aware.  I would imagine that there are perhaps other more spectacular materials used, but we should note that it any description we can imagine is inadequate.  Each foundation is particular and unique, but each gate has the same white stone, a pearl. 

²² But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴ And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. ²⁵ Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. ²⁷ But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

I believe that John is surprised here when he does not see a temple, but he quickly realizes that there is no need for one.  There is no sun and the there is no night for the glory of God illuminates all.  The gates to the city never close.  Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life may enter.  This is a description of purity for the new holy city.  It will be covered in God’s glory and there will be nothing impure.