New Jerusalem: The Unmatched Beauty of Our Everlasting Home

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

In our lesson this week, John was taken to see the Lamb’s wife. To see her, an angel took John to look into the new Jerusalem. John tells us of the wonderful sight that he saw.

New Jerusalem: The Unmatched Beauty of Our Everlasting Home

Shared on May 11, 2025

Introduction

In last week’s lesson, we went over the beginning of the “New Day”, where there will be no sorrow, grief, or death.  John saw a new heaven and a new earth, and a new Jerusalem coming out of heaven, from God.  In this week’s lesson, the Revelation is going to take a deeper look at the new Jerusalem, and it will absolutely thrill you.

The Dwelling Place of Jesus’ Wife

This week’s lesson opens with John telling us that one of the angels that had the seven bowls came to take John to see the Lamb’s wife (Rev. 21:9).  The seven bowls of wrath came upon those on earth after the loosening of the seventh seal.  You can read of the seven bowl judgment in Revelation 16.

Now, let’s keep in mind that the church is the Lamb’s wife as shown throughout New Testament scripture and confirmed in Revelation 19:7-8.  Let’s also keep in mind that the church is made up specifically of the sincere believers of the church age.  The church age began after Jesus’ resurrection and will conclude at the rapture.

John tells us that the angel carried him away “in the Spirit” to a great and high mountain and showed him the “holy Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:10).  This serves as a reminder of how John was a witness to these things in heaven.  Jesus permitted John to be a firsthand witness of all these future events in the Spirit.  John’s flesh and blood couldn’t enter the heavenly kingdom to take in such wonderful sights.

So, to see the Lamb’s wife, the angel took John to a high vantage point to see into the new Jerusalem.  You see, the reason why the angel took John to see into the new Jerusalem is because that is where the Lamb’s wife is dwelling.  

As I spoke about last week’s lesson, in John 14:2-3, Jesus said He would go away and prepare a place for His disciples – His followers.  Jesus then promised to come again and receive His followers to be with Him in that prepared place.  John said that the new Jerusalem looked like a bride prepared for her husband (Rev. 14:2).  The new Jerusalem is the home prepared for the church.

The unparalleled holiness of the new Jerusalem

Now, let’s pay attention to how scripture keeps differentiating the Jerusalem of Revelation from the Jerusalem that is of this world.  

In Revelation 21:2, the future Jerusalem is called “New Jerusalem”.  In Revelation 21:10, “New Jerusalem” is called the “holy Jerusalem”.  The Jerusalem of the world is thought of as a “holy city”.  The thought that Jerusalem of this world is a “holy city”, honestly, mocks the idea of what it would mean to be a holy city.  I know that some may not like to hear that, but the Jerusalem of the world pales in comparison to the Jerusalem of Revelation.

The new Jerusalem, along with the new heaven and new earth will be without  – it will truly be holy.  John tells us that as he looked into the new Jerusalem, he noticed the light that was coming from it.  John said that the light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal (Rev. 21:11).  Now, if you’ve been with me throughout this quarter of lessons, you will remember that John saw this same kind of light emanating from Him who sat on the throne (Rev. 4:2-3).

So, if John saw the same kind of light coming from the throne, what do you suppose that means about the new Jerusalem?  In Revelation 21:23, we’re told that the glory of God illuminated the holy Jerusalem.  Not only does the glory of God illuminate the new Jerusalem, but John saw that the Lamb is its light.

Because the Lamb is its light and the glory of God fills the new Jerusalem, we can understand why the light coming from it has that jasper color.  John saw that there was neither sun nor moon to light the city, as they were not needed.  The Lamb is dwelling in the new Jerusalem, and God’s glory is literally filling it.  Again, this sets the new Jerusalem far apart in holiness compared to the Jerusalem of this world.

The crown jewel of the new day

I have even more thoughts on this, which shows just how different things will be in the new heaven.  

So, because the Lamb will be in the new Jerusalem, the holy city will essentially be the center of the new heaven.  In ancient times, there was an argument over whether or not the Earth was the center of the universe.  Science tells us that the earth can’t be the center of the universe, as it’s just a planet that orbits around a star at the center of a solar system.  

In fact, science will tell you that there is no center to the universe.  Yet, so far as we know it, life is here on this rock.  Science is desperately searching for life elsewhere in this expanse of creation, which we call the universe, as mankind is still trying to answer the question:  Are We Alone?  

God is the center of all things.  God is the sovereign ruler over all things.  Science will argue against the Lord but God is, and to me, there is no denying that He is.  

The new Jerusalem will be at the center of all things in the new day.  The light emanating from it will go out in every direction.  The Lamb and the glory of God will illuminate every inch of eternity, which means the new Jerusalem will give light to the new heaven and new earth.  

The holy Jerusalem will not be of or on the new earth.  The new Jerusalem won’t be like a satellite (moon) to the new earth.  The new earth will be more like a satellite to the holy Jerusalem.

The Revelation makes it clear that the Jerusalem of the world, along with every other city of this world, does not compare.  The Jerusalem of the world, like every other city in the world, has been defiled and corrupted by sin.  Death, murder, all manner of immoral and sinful actions have taken place in the Jerusalem of this world.

Sure, Jerusalem has its history where holy events have taken place in the city, but it still cannot escape its judgment along with the rest of this creation.  John saw the first heaven and first earth pass away, and the Jerusalem of this world is a part of the first creation (Rev. 21:1).  If the Jerusalem of this world was truly holy, there would be no need for it, or any other city, to be cast away.

The New and Holy Temple

Now, if we take a look back at Revelation 21:12, John tells us that the new Jerusalem had a “great and high wall.”  The wall, John noticed, had twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates.  John saw that the wall had the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written on them as well.

In Revelation 21:13-14, we get even more description of the look of the new Jerusalem and this great and high wall.  John tells us that on the wall, three gates were facing east, three gates on the north, and the same was true on the south and west.  The wall of the city, John said, had twelve foundations, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles.

These few verses leave us with lots of questions.  Some of us may wonder why the new Jerusalem needs a wall?  If you’re like me, you might be trying to figure out the look of this description.  Then there is the part about the twelve apostles having their names written on the foundations.  So, let’s try to understand what is being described to us.

The wall and measurement of the city

Our lesson skips over Revelation 21:15-21, but this scripture brings forth the dimensions and the beauty of the new Jerusalem.  

Revelation 21:16 tells us that the city is laid out as a square – its length is as great as its breadth.  If you think of your local cities, states, and countries, they wouldn’t have such an equal length.  Borders are jagged and irregular, leaving many of us wondering why our borders are the way they are.

The measurement of the city was 12,000 furlongs.  A furlong is a unit of distance that is equal to 220 yards.  If you’re trying to do the math, that is about 1,500 miles (2,414km) across.  Keep in mind that the city is a square that is equal in height and width, 1,500 miles across!  The Earth is a sphere, but the new Jerusalem will be as a cube, or a box, if you will.  

Now, if the dimensions of the city are not remarkable enough for you, the angel that measured the city also measured the wall.  The wall was measured at a height of 144 cubits (216 feet), according to man’s measurement system.  While that sounds very high, it is said that the walls of Babylon stood at a height of 320 feet.  Not only that, but the city stands at a height of 1,500 miles, which means the city dwarfs its walls!

Walls were built around ancient cities, like Jericho, as a means of protection from outside forces.  The walls of the Jerusalem of the world were built to protect Jerusalem, but they were destroyed by the Babylonians.  Nehemiah had to lead an effort to rebuild those walls, which can be seen today.

However, for the new Jerusalem, it is very clear that its walls aren’t for protection at all, considering how short they are in comparison to the city itself.  The walls of the Jerusalem of Revelation are there more so as a decorative piece.  Seriously, it’s a beautiful wall, constructed of jasper.  The names of the twelve tribes are engraved upon it as well.  The gates of the wall, John saw, were always open, as again, there would be no need for them to be shut.

The foundation of the city

The foundations of the city were also adorned with all kinds of precious stones and the gates were pearls.  Let’s keep in mind that the names of the twelve apostles are inscribed on the twelve foundations.  This may raise a question as to whether or not that means Iscariot’s name is going to be engraved.  

While Iscariot did walk with Christ, he did not become an apostle of Christ.  Iscariot betrayed Christ, hanged himself, and killed himself.  Iscariot did not minister Christ.  

In Acts 1:15-26, the eleven apostles cast lots and their lots fell on a man named Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven.  Even though Matthias was numbered with the eleven, I don’t believe it will be Matthias’ name engraved on the foundations.  I believe it will be Paul’s name engraved on the foundation as one of the twelve apostles.  Paul was taught by Christ (Gal. 1:1,11-12) and he also ministered Christ as well.

The beauty of the new Jerusalem

The street of the city, John saw, was pure gold, like transparent glass.  John said that the city itself was also pure gold, like clear glass.  So, the city from a holiness perspective and a beauty perspective is just unmatched.  Nothing on earth can come close to matching it in its holiness and beauty.

The true beauty of the city, in my opinion, is not the gold but the fact that we are going to be dwelling with the Lord.  In Revelation 21:22, John said that he didn’t see a temple in the new Jerusalem, as there was no need for one.  God and the Lamb was its temple!  

The temple was a place for making sacrifices.  On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter into the Most Holy Place to offer up the atonement offering.  In the new Jerusalem, this won’t be needed!  The new Jerusalem will be the Most Holy Place, and we will live together with Christ, in perfect love and harmony.

Again, I hope that such a lesson like this one would open your heart, if it’s not already open, to the Lord.  I hope that such a lesson like this one will set your mind on the heavenly kingdom – to wanting to see it!  I know I want to be there and see it one day.  I know I want to walk in the light of God and dwell with Him for everlasting life.