Jasper Wall and Foundation Stones of the Holy Cityby CBPepper
21:18Revelation 21:18
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
The wall is built of jasper and the city itself is pure gold transparent as clear glass, describing the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven to settle on the renewed earth after the thousand years. It is the blissful home prepared as the inheritance for God's people, where there will be no more partings and sickness will never enter. Only the redeemed who are changed and sanctified in character in this life, God's commandment-keeping people made fitting by obedience, will enter through its gates, for its purity and glory the selfish and disobedient could not endure. The city is worth striving for, every person may have a place there, and God desires His people to be there and has made it possible through the gift of Jesus. This view of coming glory should lead every believing soul to seek earnestly for eternal life and to purify himself in hope, examining life in view of eternal destiny.
Setting and Glorious Description
The verse belongs to the closing chapters made known by God through Christ to John on the Isle of Patmos. They are the last events of this earth's history, given from God in solemn warning about things which will be. They are to call minds in these last days and must be read and understood now, while Satan works to keep minds confused about them. The chapter stands among prophetic scenes that reveal the surpassing glory of Christ's coming. Those prophetic scenes of surpassing glory drew attention to Christ's soon return.
The verse describes the holy city, the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. It descends from heaven and settles on the renewed earth after the thousand years. It has twelve gates and twelve foundations.
Its wall is built of jasper and the city itself is pure gold, clear like glass and transparent as crystal. It is pictured with golden streets and golden gates, with pearly gates and sapphire walls, and with a foundation of precious stones. God is its builder. No further explanation is given of the wall's jasper or the city's clear gold.
Heirs and Holy Character
The jasper wall and city of pure gold clear as glass portray the heavenly home of bliss prepared as an inheritance for God's people. It is the home of the royal family of God, where those who meet will know no more partings. It is pictured with golden streets and golden gates, pearly gates and sapphire walls, and a foundation of precious stones, with God Himself as its builder. There loved ones will no longer part and sickness will never enter. A place there is for the redeemed, God's commandment-keeping people, made fitting by obedience to all the commandments.
Only those changed and sanctified in character in this life go into that city, even the nations that have kept the truth. Entrance through its gates is prepared in character, for its precious materials show a purity and glory that the selfish and disobedient could not endure. The city is worth striving for, and every person can have a place there. God wants people to be there, and His gift of Jesus both proves His desire and makes a place there possible. The faithful will soon enter that golden city if they remain faithful.
Gluttons will not enter the golden city with its pearly gates. Indulgence that harms the body and ends in death is incompatible with the self-denial and sacrifice shown by Jesus, and those who persist in it have no share in the immortal inheritance. The city with its foundation of precious stones was seen in vision by Paul. Because of what he saw he describes true Christian converts, whether Jews or Gentiles, as gold, silver, and precious stones, the fitting material to be built upon the true foundation into God's house.
Hope That Calls to Action
The glories awaiting the saved in the city of God are the home of the royal family, where those who meet will know no more partings, and a place there is for the redeemed as God's commandment-keeping people made fitting by obedience to all His commandments. This view of coming glory should lead every believing soul to seek earnestly for eternal life and to purify himself in hope. Its purity and glory are such that the selfish and disobedient could not endure them, so the chapter calls the reader to examine life in view of eternal destiny. The beauty of the sunset is a brief glimpse of its inner glory and a reminder to look beyond earthly life toward that home.
The description of the beautiful new earth calls for working for one another. It calls for working determinedly to bring up youth in a right manner so they have the crown of life and are overcomers. Angels of God assist in schools in educating boys and girls and do not leave teachers to their own notions. The Holy Spirit works with all human efforts to save souls, and fathers and mothers are to take hold of the work.
The golden city is beautiful, and thinking of it awakens a longing to be there and to see the King in His beauty. Its golden glory is called to mind by a beautiful golden sunset leaving a golden pathway across the hills. That sunset beauty is a brief glimpse of its inner glory and a reminder to look beyond earthly life toward the heavenly home awaiting the faithful. The faithful will soon enter that golden city if they remain faithful.
The wall is built of jasper and the city itself is pure gold transparent as clear glass, describing the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven to settle on the renewed earth after the thousand years. It is the blissful home prepared as the inheritance for God's people, where there will be no more partings and sickness will never enter. Only the redeemed who are changed and sanctified in character in this life, God's commandment-keeping people made fitting by obedience, will enter through its gates, for its purity and glory the selfish and disobedient could not endure. The city is worth striving for, every person may have a place there, and God desires His people to be there and has made it possible through the gift of Jesus. This view of coming glory should lead every believing soul to seek earnestly for eternal life and to purify himself in hope, examining life in view of eternal destiny.
Setting and Glorious Description
The verse belongs to the closing chapters made known by God through Christ to John on the Isle of Patmos. They are the last events of this earth's history, given from God in solemn warning about things which will be. They are to call minds in these last days and must be read and understood now, while Satan works to keep minds confused about them. The chapter stands among prophetic scenes that reveal the surpassing glory of Christ's coming. Those prophetic scenes of surpassing glory drew attention to Christ's soon return.
The verse describes the holy city, the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. It descends from heaven and settles on the renewed earth after the thousand years. It has twelve gates and twelve foundations.
Its wall is built of jasper and the city itself is pure gold, clear like glass and transparent as crystal. It is pictured with golden streets and golden gates, with pearly gates and sapphire walls, and with a foundation of precious stones. God is its builder. No further explanation is given of the wall's jasper or the city's clear gold.
Heirs and Holy Character
The jasper wall and city of pure gold clear as glass portray the heavenly home of bliss prepared as an inheritance for God's people. It is the home of the royal family of God, where those who meet will know no more partings. It is pictured with golden streets and golden gates, pearly gates and sapphire walls, and a foundation of precious stones, with God Himself as its builder. There loved ones will no longer part and sickness will never enter. A place there is for the redeemed, God's commandment-keeping people, made fitting by obedience to all the commandments.
Only those changed and sanctified in character in this life go into that city, even the nations that have kept the truth. Entrance through its gates is prepared in character, for its precious materials show a purity and glory that the selfish and disobedient could not endure. The city is worth striving for, and every person can have a place there. God wants people to be there, and His gift of Jesus both proves His desire and makes a place there possible. The faithful will soon enter that golden city if they remain faithful.
Gluttons will not enter the golden city with its pearly gates. Indulgence that harms the body and ends in death is incompatible with the self-denial and sacrifice shown by Jesus, and those who persist in it have no share in the immortal inheritance. The city with its foundation of precious stones was seen in vision by Paul. Because of what he saw he describes true Christian converts, whether Jews or Gentiles, as gold, silver, and precious stones, the fitting material to be built upon the true foundation into God's house.
Hope That Calls to Action
The glories awaiting the saved in the city of God are the home of the royal family, where those who meet will know no more partings, and a place there is for the redeemed as God's commandment-keeping people made fitting by obedience to all His commandments. This view of coming glory should lead every believing soul to seek earnestly for eternal life and to purify himself in hope. Its purity and glory are such that the selfish and disobedient could not endure them, so the chapter calls the reader to examine life in view of eternal destiny. The beauty of the sunset is a brief glimpse of its inner glory and a reminder to look beyond earthly life toward that home.
The description of the beautiful new earth calls for working for one another. It calls for working determinedly to bring up youth in a right manner so they have the crown of life and are overcomers. Angels of God assist in schools in educating boys and girls and do not leave teachers to their own notions. The Holy Spirit works with all human efforts to save souls, and fathers and mothers are to take hold of the work.
The golden city is beautiful, and thinking of it awakens a longing to be there and to see the King in His beauty. Its golden glory is called to mind by a beautiful golden sunset leaving a golden pathway across the hills. That sunset beauty is a brief glimpse of its inner glory and a reminder to look beyond earthly life toward the heavenly home awaiting the faithful. The faithful will soon enter that golden city if they remain faithful.