17 He measured its wall also--144 cubits (about 72 yards) by a man's measure [of a cubit from his elbow to his third fingertip], which is [the measure] of the angel.
18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city [itself was of] pure gold, clear and transparent like glass.
19 The foundation [stones] of the wall of the city were ornamented with all of the precious stones. The first foundation [stone] was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony (or white agate), the fourth emerald,
20 The fifth onyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
I am sure that there are very significant meanings to the kinds of jewels that our Father shows John here. He just has not given me those meanings yet. I have read many different accounts of them and what they mean, but nothing really ever has ministered to me. When I think about all of it, the gold streets and jeweled walls, don’t really mean that much to me. Because it will still be just streets and a walls. What I think it is all about is for our guests. They will have a place to visit and it will be glorious for them. Just like with a wedding cake. Cake is great, it can look like a total mess and still be great, some of the best cake that I have ever had doesn’t look all that nice. Yet for a wedding, you make the cake look great and it taste great.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each separate gate being built of one solid pearl. And the main street (the broadway) of the city was of gold as pure and translucent as glass.
22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Omnipotent [Himself] and the Lamb [Himself] are its temple.
23 And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the splendor and radiance (glory) of God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24 The nations shall walk by its light and the rulers and leaders of the earth shall bring into it their glory.
Once again John is shown that nations, people, and rulers are around to bring glory into the New Jerusalem? The Bride of Christ will not be divided into nations. We are one body, one mind, and one spirit with Jesus, Ephesians 5:30. The last are now first and they are allowed to rule and lead, Matthew 19:30. They were not chosen to be the Bride, but our Father has placed them into positions of glory and splendor. Jesus is still Lord and we are the Lord’s Bride. But that doesn’t mean that there are not others who were last on this earth who are also allowed to have positions of authority in the new one. The lost will have been forgiven and they will love much, Luke 7:47.
25 And its gates shall never be closed by day, and there shall be no night there.
26 They shall bring the glory (the splendor and majesty) and the honor of the nations into it.
The glory that they bring has to be themselves and their fellowship, what physical possessions would our Father or us need?
27 But nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed shall ever enter it, nor anyone who commits abominations (unclean, detestable, morally repugnant things) or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Notice that all who enter have to have had their names written in the Lambs Book of Life. There are people who have their name written in it, who are not rulers and kings with Jesus. These people will bring in the glory of the earth to us, because they will bring in themselves. There is no evil any longer, so these people names have to be written in the Book of Life, even though they are not transformed to be just like Jesus. John is shown here is that there is no more abominations in existence. The lost have been cleansed. They may have suffered loss during their cleansing, but they themselves have been saved as those who have passed through the fire, 1 Corinthians 3:15. I honestly believe that Jesus' sacrifice was so great that it totally and completely overcame mans sin and every last shortcoming that we have ever had.
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