Reading: Revelation 21:10 - 22:21

In the remaining verses of Revelation 21, what we have recorded is a walk-through of this new capital city that John sees coming down from above. The reason we’re getting a picture of it is because that’s where God is. And He’s what’s most important! But, I don’t think there’s any reason to assume this is His only city. It’s why the walls have gates. Because we’ll be going in and out.

Additionally, the text says we’ve got a wall, some 216 feet high, with 12 gates in the wall (3 on each side), and each gate is made of a single pearl. I think the pearl is meant to be a reminder. It’s a reminder because a pearl is formed by an injury. An irritant, like a grain of sand, or a parasite, makes its way into a mollusk. The oyster responds to the irritation by sending out a substance to cover the irritant. This protective coating is followed by another layer, followed by another layer and another layer and another layer. And eventually you have a pearl. So. A pearl is a stone birthed out of suffering. And God said, “Oh. I think every time my people come in and out of my city—every time they go through the gate of the New Jerusalem—they should see a pearl so that they can be reminded of the beauty of the cross.” Our proverbial parasite (sin) entered in to God’s allegorical mollusk (the earth). And God said, “I’ll just go ahead and cover that with my son’s blood.” And over and over and over Jesus’s forgiveness forms a perfect barrier creating a perfect pearl called your life.

Then, Chapter 22 continues with what John saw—this being a river and the tree of life. It should point us back to the Garden of Eden, as that’s what it’s mean to represent. Life with God in His perfect creation. But. 2 things stand out to me in this chapter. 1. We’re called to worship God (vs 9) and 2. We should desire to be with God (vs 17).

All that said, here’s my summation of the entire book: Revelation is an invitation to endure the difficultly of a broken world, and for those who do, they’re invited to come and enjoy the eternity of a perfect world. It’s not meant to decode anything. It’s meant to reveal the goodness of God who’s worthy to be praised.

With Gratitude,

pLJ