The Bible describes a magnificent city called the New Jerusalem that will come down out of heaven from God in the future (Revelation 21:2). This city will have high walls around it, and the purpose and meaning of these walls is important to understand.
The walls around the New Jerusalem will serve several key purposes:
1. Protection
The walls will provide protection for the city and its inhabitants (Revelation 21:12). Though there will be no more evil in the new creation, the walls stand as a symbol of God’s enduring protection for His people. Just as ancient cities were protected by walls from invading enemies, God’s people will always remain safe in His eternal city.
2. Separation
The walls will represent a separation between the purity of the New Jerusalem and the outside world (Revelation 21:27). Nothing impure will ever enter the city. Sin will not be present there. So the walls distinguish the new creation from the old.
3. Inclusion
The massive size and scale of the walls – described as 216 feet thick and over 1400 miles high (Revelation 21:17-18) – represent inclusion and accessibility. The gates are always open (Revelation 21:25), and the nations are welcome to come into the city. The walls are not about keeping people out but inviting all who desire in.
4. Beauty
The walls and gates are made of gorgeous materials like jasper, gold, and pearl to express the surpassing beauty of God’s presence (Revelation 21:18-21). This speaks to the majesty, glory, and creativity on continuous display in the New Jerusalem.
5. Permanence
Unlike temporary earthly walls which crumble and decay, these walls are made by God to last forever as a permanent feature of the eternal city. Their foundations are built with precious stones and their gates are made of solid pearls (Revelation 21:19-21). This testifies to the permanence of the people’s place before God.
6. Security
The massive height and thickness of the walls emphasizes the unmatched security they offer. No enemy can breach them and no evil can ever enter the city. They are an enduring symbol of confidence and trust in God’s protection.
7. Foundation
The layering of precious stones in the foundation walls (Revelation 21:19-20) points to the apostles as the foundational stones of the church (Ephesians 2:20). So the walls picture standing on the faithfulness of those God appointed as His witnesses.
8. Continuity
The cube-shape of the city with its walls mirrors the Most Holy Place in the Old Testament tabernacle (1 Kings 6:20). This reinforces continuity between the Old and New covenants and God’s eternal purposes to dwell with His people.
9. Sight
The brilliant gleam of the walls constructed with jewels speaks to the awe-inspiring sight that awaits God’s people in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:11). The beauty will elicit joy and wonder never before imagined.
10. Accessibility
The twelve gates named for the twelve tribes of Israel and twelve foundations named for the twelve apostles (Revelation 21:12-14) show the equal access and unity of all God’s people from both old and new covenants. There is no division.
So in summary, the iconic walls of the New Jerusalem represent God’s presence, protection, promises, and welcome to His diverse people for eternity. They are meant to inspire believers today with awe, hope, and heartfelt gratitude.
Though we face trials and suffering now, we can look forward to the day when God’s people will enter the open gates of that magnificent city. And until that day we can stand firm in sure confidence knowing that even now, God surrounds and upholds us by His steadfast love and faithfulness.
The walls around the New Jerusalem represent the best of what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). They picture the joy, security, beauty and hope that will overflow in the eternal dwelling place of God’s redeemed people. What amazing grace, that sinners once separated from God can be welcomed into the city of God as His own children!
Now we see but shadows, then we will see face to face. Now we know in part, then we will fully know even as we are fully known. And we will dwell secure inside the unshakeable walls of God’s all-surpassing love.
“But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” (Revelation 22:14)
How we long for the day when the people of God can finally enter into the glorious rest and beauty of that city! As we wait, may the truth about the New Jerusalem inspire us to holiness, hope and confident trust in the God who even now is preparing this city for His people.
The magnificent picture of the New Jerusalem that we get in Revelation 21-22 is truly breathtaking. The value of the materials, the scale of the dimensions, the radiance of its glory all defy imagination. The walls provide beauty, security, boundaries, foundation, and welcome. What an amazing gift from our all-wise and gracious God!
Until that day when we walk through those gates of splendor, may we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. By His blood we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place and one day the New Jerusalem. All praise and glory to Christ who by His death tore down the dividing wall of hostility, granting us access to the city of the living God!
No matter what walls may surround us today – pain,trials, grief, or suffering – we can cling to the hope of what is to come. The walls around the New Jerusalem represent the end of tears, death, mourning and pain. Safe within those walls, we will know in full what it means to see face to face the God who has loved us with an everlasting love.
What wondrous, magnificent walls of jewels and precious stones! And every gate made of a single enormous pearl! Who can even begin to grasp the beauty of the place God is preparing for us?
The sparkling radiance of these walls will illuminate the glory of our God. Their foundations, etched with names of apostles and tribes of Israel, remind us that only by grace do we gain entrance. Their gates stand open wide, beckoning the hungry heart to find its satisfaction in Him.
How can our finite minds conceive of infinite treasure such as this? We cannot, except to know that it surpasses all imagination. No eye has seen, no ear has heard the wonders that God has in store for us there.
Until that day, we fix our eyes not on what is seen but unseen. The walls around us now cannot compare to the walls around that Holy City. We live as strangers and exiles on this earth as we await the city that is to come.
The New Jerusalem represents eternity with God. The walls provide refuge and rest from every evil and trouble. They offer security, beauty, foundations and welcome to a people once lost but now found, once broken and now made whole forever.
What will it be like, that first glimpse of jasper walls and streets of gold? Our finite minds strain to comprehend the wonders. But His infinite love has prepared a city for us, so we need not worry. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard all that awaits.
Until then we walk by faith and not by sight, longing for the day when we will enter the gates and dwell within. Safe inside forevermore, our eyes will behold the King in all His glory. What light, what truth, what joy awaits! No dark, only light and life eternal.
Thank You Lord for the living hope that is ours through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He lives, we will one day enter the glorious walls of Your holy city. Until then we wait with longing, we hope with confidence, we endure with faith.
You are preparing a place for us, an eternal dwelling more magnificent than we can imagine. These current trials are producing an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. We yearn for the day when we will be safely home with You.
The walls of the New Jerusalem represent the glory, beauty, security and eternity You have prepared for all who love you. They are our future hope in the darkest night. They are our strength when we feel weak. They remind us this world is not our home.
The New Jerusalem is our destination. The journey is hard, the waiting seems long. But Your steadfast love sustains us until we enter the gates of that city. You are forever faithful to bring to completion the good work You’ve begun.
Lord, no matter what walls surround us now, one day we will dwell within the walls of the New Jerusalem in resurrection life and never-ending joy. We take heart because Your power sustains us until the day when we finally come home.
The New Jerusalem represents our eternal reward as God’s people. The walls provide beauty beyond imagination, security that never fails, foundations that never falter, and gates ever open to welcome us home.
Lord help us live with resurrection power and hope, knowing the trials of this life are producing for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all. We yearn for the New Jerusalem, when we will dwell with You in perfect intimacy forever.
No mind can conceive, no eye can envision the wonders within the jasper walls and golden streets of that city. Their foundations are secure, their gates are open wide. The glory of the Lord illuminates each jeweled wall, reflecting rainbows of color and light.
Our finite minds cannot comprehend the infinite treasure awaiting us there. But we know the One who is preparing it, and He promises it will be grander than anything we’ve ever seen or imagined!
The walls surrounding the New Jerusalem represent the end of everything sad and broken. No more tears or pain, only joy in the unbroken presence of the Living God. What hope and comfort this brings our weary souls today.
The trials of this world are producing for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all. Lord, in our suffering and longing, give us strength to endure. The New Jerusalem awaits, where we will dwell with Christ forever.
The walls around the New Jerusalem provide a beautiful picture of God’s eternal promises for His people. Protection, security, boundaries, glory, accessibility and welcome – all gifts from our loving God who is preparing a city for us with Him at the center.
Until that day comes, we walk by faith, not sight. We keep our eyes fixed on unseen eternity, not temporal walls around us now. We live as strangers here, citizens of heaven, ambassadors of Christ.
Lord, the longing for home burns deep in our souls. Come quickly Lord Jesus! The Spirit and bride say come. How we yearn to dwell within those walls where the glory of God illuminates each shining jewel and pearl gate.
What mysteries the walls around the New Jerusalem hold! Made of jasper, inscribed with names, spanning over 200 feet thick and 1400 miles high. Their scale reflects the vastness of God’s love and protection.
The gleaming precious stones reflect the glory of God. The gates stand open wide, welcoming the thirsty soul to living waters. The layers of foundations remind us our life is built in Christ.
Our weaknesses are swallowed up in resurrection power. Sin and shame have no hold on us inside those walls. We are free to worship the King and delight in Him forever.
No eye has seen the wonders God has prepared for those who love Him. As we wait, may our trials produce an eternal glory beyond compare. Lord, in this weary life, be our strength until we dwell within the walls of the New Jerusalem.
The walls surrounding the New Jerusalem represent the greatest treasures of God’s kingdom – beauty, security, boundaries, foundations, glory, welcome, access, diversity, protection – all given freely by our generous God.
Until that day arrives, we walk by faith not sight. The trials of this world are insignificant compared to the glory that awaits. Lord, in our grief and pain, remind us the New Jerusalem is our forever home.
Our weary hearts yearn to dwell within those welcoming walls where death and sorrow are no more. We strain to envision their jewel-bright radiance, their gates of pearl, their streets of gold.
But our finite minds cannot fathom the wonders prepared for us there. We must be content to know God is diligently preparing a city for us with Him at the center, where we will enjoy Him forever.
No mind can conceive the infinite treasures within the walls surrounding the New Jerusalem. Their scale, dimensions, materials reflect the extravagance of God’s eternal promises.
Protection, security, boundaries, glory, accessibility, diversity – all speak to the lavish gifts given by our generous God. Though we do not deserve it, He has prepared an eternal dwelling for us with Him at the center.
Until that day comes, we walk by faith and not sight. The trials of this life are producing for us a glory that far outweighs them all. We yearn for home, the New Jerusalem where we will finally see our King face to face.
The gleaming walls of the New Jerusalem represent the hope that burns within every believer’s heart. No matter what trials surround us now, we have a secure eternity awaiting us in that magnificent city.
Pain and heartache will cease forever. Only joy and life to the full in Jesus’ presence. His glory illuminates each wall with brilliance no jewel can match. The gates stand open, beckoning us to our eternal home.
The foundations etched with names of apostles and tribes proclaim God’s inclusive love. The protecting walls express His tender care for His people. He is preparing a lavish dwelling for us to enjoy Him forever!
Lord, the longing for home tugs deep within us. We strain to envision the New Jerusalem’s glory. Come quickly Lord Jesus! Until that day, remind us this world is not our home. You are preparing an eternal dwelling for us, and it is magnificent!
