The New Jerusalem
The New Jerusalem is a heavenly city that God has prepared for His people (Hebrews 11:16; Revelation 21:2; 1 Kings 8:28-30). At the end of Millenium, the majestic New Jerusalem will come down to this earth to become the capital of the world. All the righteous will have a home in it. “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2; Matthew 5:5).
The Bible states that, “The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal” (Revelation 21:16). A furlong (stadion) is about 606 ft. 6 in., or 185 m. Thus, 12,000 furlongs would be around 1,378.4 mi. (2,218 km.). The passage does not state whether this is a measure of the circumference or of one side. If the former, the city would measure about 344.6 mi. (551.4 km.) to a side. “The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal” (Revelation 21:16).
The walls that surround the city are made of solid jasper spanning 144 cubits, or 216 feet high. The streets are made of pure gold (Revelation 21:17,18, 21). The city has 12 gates- three on each side – each one made of a single pearl (Revelation 21:12, 13, 21). Also, the New Jerusalem has 12 foundations, each one made of precious stone representing every color of the rainbow (Revelation 21:14-20).
One great feature of this majestic city is the tree of life which bears 12 kinds of fruit, gives youth to all who eat of it, and its leaves are for sustaining qualities (Revelation 22:2). In addition to the New Jerusalem mansions promised in John 14:1-3, the righteous will also build their own homes in the new earth: “They shall build houses, and inhabit them and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit they shall not plant, and another eat: … mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:21, 22).
The city, with all of its unimaginable beauty and the glory of God is compared to a bride. “The holy city, … prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” “Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:2, 11). The glory that refers to God’s presence will never leave the New Jerusalem.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
