God's People in the New Earth Before New JerusalemBible World
21:14Revelation 21:14
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The wall of the New Jerusalem rests on twelve foundations, each bearing the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Those foundations are glorious stones of different precious materials, like the stones in and around the breastplate worn by the priests who ministered before the ark, except the breastplate bore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The city is the beautiful home God will bring down from heaven to settle on the earth after the thousand years and the judgment of the wicked. It is the real eternal inheritance held out to every soul, prepared for those who are changed and sanctified in character in this life and who keep all the commandments of God. That prospect calls every believer to seek eternal life earnestly, to purify himself even as Christ is pure, and to climb resolutely as by a ladder from earth to heaven, forsaking sin step by step until he gains an abundant entrance.
City Wall and Foundations
The wall of the city rests on twelve foundations, each bearing the name of one of the Lamb's twelve apostles. The walls are massive, and the twelve foundations are part of the glorious, beautiful appearance of the holy city. The same vision also shows twelve gates, with three on each side and an angel at each gate.
The holy city, the New Jerusalem John saw, comes down from God out of heaven and settles on the earth at the end of the thousand years following Christ's second advent. In that same descent the New Jerusalem with its twelve foundations comes down and settles on the earth. After the judgment of the wicked dead, Jesus descends to a great mountain which becomes a plain, and the city comes down in dazzling glory and settles on the plain Jesus has prepared, where the saints stand. Revelation 21 belongs to the last events of this earth's history, made known by Christ Himself to John on the Isle of Patmos and given from God as a solemn warning to be read and understood in the last days, when Satan works to keep minds confused about these things to gain victory.
Scriptural Symbols Compared
The twelve foundations of the wall are made of different precious stones of different materials. They are the same kinds of stones that were used in the breastplate covering the breast of the priests who ministered before the ark. They are also the same materials that bordered that breastplate. That breastplate bore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, while the foundations of the city bear the names of the twelve apostles.
Paul's vision of the city of God and its foundations is connected with building imagery in which true Christian converts are gold, silver, and precious stones brought to the true foundation. Gentile converts therefore belong among the building materials of God's house. This stands against the Jewish claim that only the descendants of Abraham could be its legitimate stones.
Promised Home and Preparation
The twelve foundations belong to the glories that await the saved in the city of God, which is the beautiful new earth. There the redeemed are members of the royal family as sons of God and know no more partings. Its gates and inner glory are beautiful, only faintly suggested by the brightness of the sunset.
The city and its blessings are part of the eternal inheritance made available to every soul. It is a real hope to look toward by faith, a place to hope and strive to enter, for which Jesus has been given. Its glory encourages faithful workers to trust God's care and look beyond earthly life.
The city is the home of those who have been changed and sanctified in character during this life and who have kept the truth. A place there among the redeemed is fitted for by obedience to all the commandments of God.
That prospect should lead every believing soul to seek earnestly for eternal life and to purify himself even as Christ is pure. It calls for working for one another and determinedly bringing youth up in a right manner so they receive the crown of life and become overcomers. Angels of God assist in schools that educate girls and boys, the Holy Spirit works with all human effort, and fathers and mothers take hold of the work to see souls saved.
The massive walls must be scaled to enter the city. A ladder set up on earth reaches to the city of God, and planting the feet on the ladder, forsaking sins, and climbing step by step leads to God above the ladder and to the Holy City. None who resolutely mounts up will fail of everlasting life but will receive an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom.
The wall of the New Jerusalem rests on twelve foundations, each bearing the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Those foundations are glorious stones of different precious materials, like the stones in and around the breastplate worn by the priests who ministered before the ark, except the breastplate bore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The city is the beautiful home God will bring down from heaven to settle on the earth after the thousand years and the judgment of the wicked. It is the real eternal inheritance held out to every soul, prepared for those who are changed and sanctified in character in this life and who keep all the commandments of God. That prospect calls every believer to seek eternal life earnestly, to purify himself even as Christ is pure, and to climb resolutely as by a ladder from earth to heaven, forsaking sin step by step until he gains an abundant entrance.
City Wall and Foundations
The wall of the city rests on twelve foundations, each bearing the name of one of the Lamb's twelve apostles. The walls are massive, and the twelve foundations are part of the glorious, beautiful appearance of the holy city. The same vision also shows twelve gates, with three on each side and an angel at each gate.
The holy city, the New Jerusalem John saw, comes down from God out of heaven and settles on the earth at the end of the thousand years following Christ's second advent. In that same descent the New Jerusalem with its twelve foundations comes down and settles on the earth. After the judgment of the wicked dead, Jesus descends to a great mountain which becomes a plain, and the city comes down in dazzling glory and settles on the plain Jesus has prepared, where the saints stand. Revelation 21 belongs to the last events of this earth's history, made known by Christ Himself to John on the Isle of Patmos and given from God as a solemn warning to be read and understood in the last days, when Satan works to keep minds confused about these things to gain victory.
Scriptural Symbols Compared
The twelve foundations of the wall are made of different precious stones of different materials. They are the same kinds of stones that were used in the breastplate covering the breast of the priests who ministered before the ark. They are also the same materials that bordered that breastplate. That breastplate bore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, while the foundations of the city bear the names of the twelve apostles.
Paul's vision of the city of God and its foundations is connected with building imagery in which true Christian converts are gold, silver, and precious stones brought to the true foundation. Gentile converts therefore belong among the building materials of God's house. This stands against the Jewish claim that only the descendants of Abraham could be its legitimate stones.
Promised Home and Preparation
The twelve foundations belong to the glories that await the saved in the city of God, which is the beautiful new earth. There the redeemed are members of the royal family as sons of God and know no more partings. Its gates and inner glory are beautiful, only faintly suggested by the brightness of the sunset.
The city and its blessings are part of the eternal inheritance made available to every soul. It is a real hope to look toward by faith, a place to hope and strive to enter, for which Jesus has been given. Its glory encourages faithful workers to trust God's care and look beyond earthly life.
The city is the home of those who have been changed and sanctified in character during this life and who have kept the truth. A place there among the redeemed is fitted for by obedience to all the commandments of God.
That prospect should lead every believing soul to seek earnestly for eternal life and to purify himself even as Christ is pure. It calls for working for one another and determinedly bringing youth up in a right manner so they receive the crown of life and become overcomers. Angels of God assist in schools that educate girls and boys, the Holy Spirit works with all human effort, and fathers and mothers take hold of the work to see souls saved.
The massive walls must be scaled to enter the city. A ladder set up on earth reaches to the city of God, and planting the feet on the ladder, forsaking sins, and climbing step by step leads to God above the ladder and to the Holy City. None who resolutely mounts up will fail of everlasting life but will receive an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom.