Walls: Daily Thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 21:9-14)

I like this definition of a wall in Wikipedia: A wall is a structure that defines an area, carries a load; provides security, shelter, or soundproofing; or is decorative. [From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall ]. As John is given a vision of the walls surrounding the heavenly Jerusalem that God brings down to the reformatted earth, much of this definition fits, but not all.

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed—on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  (Revelation 21:9-14 ESV)

One of the seven angels who poured out judgment from God on the earth, now comes to John to show him the wife of the lamb. Is the wife of Jesus us or the holy city? We must say it is us, his followers, but we are the only inhabitants of the city so it is, in that sense, also true that the city is his wife. And the contrast with past judgment and present glory is made by this particular judging angel giving John the quick tour of heaven. God wants John to see the stark difference judgment has brought.

It is important to God and to us that we have at least a glimpse of what this city, the heavenly Jerusalem come down to earth, looks like.  And it is basically a walled city that is glorious in appearance, radiant and translucent.  We, who are prone to build walls that you cannot see through as a means of privacy and safety, may feel a little put off by the transparency of this city. But the security of this city is guaranteed by two things: 1) the presence of the triune God, and 2) the sinlessness of all its citizens…us. We will not need to fear any dangers from one another and certainly not from God. We may not even need the same privacy. Nothing we do or think will need to be hidden from anyone else nor be judged negatively in any way. We are truly at home.

There are 12 entrances or gates in the wall of the city built on 12 foundations. We will see soon just how massive these walls and this city are. What is most fascinating is that the gates are named for the 12 tribes of Israel and the foundations for the 12 apostles.  Here we see the confluence of Israel and the church.  For those who argue that Israel has no formal place in the kingdom, that God has finished His work with her as a nation, it is hard to explain why the gates would be named for the tribes.  Both the church and Israel have a place in the kingdom, distinguished from each other, to be sure, yet united as God’s people.

There are many promises made to Israel in the Old Testament of a future in the kingdom, even with preeminence over all the other nations (see for example Micah 4:2; Isaiah 2:2; Zechariah 14:16-18).  The church, of course, is made up of believers from all nations.  In the heavenly (become earthly) Jerusalem they are united as one, symbolized by the names on the walls and foundations.  This is how it should be now, too.  Believing Jews and Gentiles form one people of God.

We are such a fractured people of God now. In our sinful selfishness we seem to have little room for our differences. But then, part of what will make heaven heaven is that we will have a unity we have never been able to achieve for much time at all here, a unity that will last forever there. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Lord.