There is a dramatic contrast between the great whore and the bride of the Lamb that serves as a powerful metaphor for the unbridled passion of evil and the pure beauty descending from heaven.
Within the vision of Revelation 17, we are introduced to the concept of the “great whore,” representing a dominant force exerting its influence over humanity.
In stark contrast, John’s visionary encounter with the Bride of the Lamb presents a profound distinction between these two.
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal (Revelation 21.9-11).
Let’s not miss the phrase “coming down from heaven from God” in verse 10.
The fact that the city comes down from God means that eternal blessedness is not an achievement of people but a gift from God.
As we have seen in earlier passages, the prophet Isaiah illuminates the picture of the new Jerusalem.
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth
and thick darkness the peoples,
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)
The glory of God is a designation for his presence.
The sun shall no longer be
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give light to you by night,
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory. (Isaiah 60:19)
A Protected and Perfect City
The new Jerusalem that comes down for the bride of Christ is an ideal city as conceived by ancient peoples accustomed to the security of strong outer walls that are built on a firm foundation. (Revelation 21.12-14).
The 12 gates refer to an entrance that is open to all. It is a continuation of the New Testament church which stands on the shoulders of God’s Old Testament people.
Robert Mounce believes that the measurements of the city can be compared to the inner sanctuary of the Old Testament temple.
The city has four equal sides, its length the same as its width, and he measured the city with his rod, twelve thousand stadia; its length and width and height are equal (Revelation 21.16).
He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using (Revelation 21.16-17).
The equation of the city’s dimensions with the temple reveals that the city is the place of divine presence. God has taken up residence with his people in perfect fashion.
The Pearly Gates
Twelve jewels adorn the walls of the city (verses 18-20). They correspond generally to the 12 gems set into the breastplate of the high priest, which suggests that the privileges reserved for the high priest are now freely given to the entire people of God.
The modern idea of the “pearly gates” in verse 21 is a very poor imitation of the honor of all who pass through them.
Jesus understood the pearly gates well when he told the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price.
He said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46).
No Preachers or Protectors
Preachers are out of a job in the city.
“I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21.22-23).
The temple is replaced by the presence of the Lord. Isaiah illuminates the reality of living fully in the realm of God.
The sun shall no longer be
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give light to you by night,[a]
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down
or your moon withdraw itself,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended. (Isaiah 60:19-20)
The defense industry and law enforcement will be out of a job, just as will preachers.
Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations (Revelation 21.25).
Seven hundred years before Jesus walked the earth, God showed him the vision of his peaceful rule.
He shall judge between the nations
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2.4)
Given the reality of the revelation given to Isaiah and John, we do well to heed Isaiah’s counsel.
O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord! (Isaiah 2.5)
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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