Revelation Chapter 21
The previous vision describes the awful doom of Satan and his followers in the lake of fire where they suffer the second and eternal death, the death from which there is no resurrection. The last two chapters end the Bible with the home of the redeemed, Eden restored. Never again will there be any evil.
Verses 1–27: Paradise Restored
The Bible begins with the loss of Eden, but it ends with Eden restored. The New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven is part of that new Edenic glory. This is no doubt a literal city, with literal saints, and a literal King. It is the home of the Bride and the new capitol of the universe. It is a most wonderful city filled with holy people.
The walls of the city are great and high. They are 144 cubits or 250 feet. The size of the city is 375 miles on each side. See Revelation 21:15–17. This would make it about the size of Oregon. Others believe the distance on each side is 1500 miles, making the city half the size of the United States.
There are twelve gates (verses 12, 13, 21) where God’s people enter the city. Each person will go through one of these twelve gates according to some character or personality traits. If you are more like the tribe of Benjamin, then you would enter the city through the gate bearing Benjamin’s name.
The city is made mostly of gold. Verse 18. The gold is so pure that it is like pure glass. The twelve stones of the twelve foundations represent the varying personality traits of the twelve nations. We are all to have the character of Jesus. But as unique individuals, we mesh His altogether beautiful character with our own personality. Hence, the main reason for twelve gates, twelve stones, and twelve foundations is character and personality combined. These twelve stones are nearly identical to the stones found on the breastplate of the High Priest. No matter which tribe or nation we find ourselves in, we are equally upon the heart of our Maker and Redeemer.
Verses 7, 8, 27; 22:14, 15: Excluded
Those who continue in their sins and refuse to repent and be converted will be lost. The following are sinful conditions that make individuals unfit for heaven:
The “fearful” will not be there. This word comes from an old word for cowardice, representing those who recant under persecution. They are afraid to do their duty.
The “unbelieving” are the faithless and untrustworthy. They think that skepticism and doubting are evidence of great independent thinking.
The “abominable” are the hateful; those who have gone deep into sin. They think and talk and do evil until they are filthy. They will not be there.
“Murderers” will not be there, as well as those who become angry for no cause.
The “whoremongers” are the immoral, those who cannot control the lust of the flesh and mind.
The “sorcerers” are those who are deceived by spiritism through “seducing spirits, and the doctrines of devils.”
The “idolaters” are those who adore and worship the creature.
“Liars” won’t be found there either. The sin of lying is again mentioned in Revelation 21:27. God hates lying. See Proverbs 6:16–19. There are a thousand ways of giving a wrong impression, falsifying the facts, living a lie, and by simply withholding the truth.
And the “dogs” generally represent all who are unconverted.
If, on the other hand, you repent and become converted, it doesn’t matter what you have done or how many times you have done it. God desires all to be saved. We are lost because we refuse to repent and give our sins to Christ, the Sin-bearer.