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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:17

And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits ,.... The root of which is twelve, for twelve times twelve is a hundred and forty four; which number is mystical and apostolical, and suited to the perfect state of this church: hence twelve gates, and twelve angels at them, and the names of the twelve tribes on them, and twelve foundations of the wall, and twelve thousand furlongs, the measure of the city. According to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:18

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper ,.... Which is expressive of the impregnableness, duration, brightness, and glory of salvation by Christ, the jasper being a very hard, durable, and bright stone; and salvation can never be made void, and of none effect; it will last for ever, and in this state will come forth as light, and as a lamp that burneth; it is represented by the same precious stone as God and Christ themselves are; see Revelation 4:2 . And the city was pure gold,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:19

And the foundations of the wall of the city ,.... Which were twelve; see Revelation 21:14 were garnished with all manner of precious stones: see Isaiah 54:11 not that there were all manner of precious stones in every foundation, but in them all there were, and each foundation had its stone peculiar to it, as follows; and which are not applicable to the persons of the apostles, who were not the foundations, but on them their names only were written: and besides, the order of them, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:20

The fifth, sardonyx ,.... Which is partly of the sardian, and partly of the onyx stone, which resembles a man's nail, from whence it has its name; it is reddish, bordering on white; it may be thought to answer to the onyx in the breastplate, on which was written the name of Joseph. The sixth, sardius ; the same with the sardine stone, Revelation 4:3 of a blood colour, and what is commonly called a cornelian: it is found in Sardinia, from whence it has its name, and in Bohemia and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:21

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls ,.... Denoting the purity and preciousness of Christ, by whom the saints enter, and of the saints who enter in thereat, as well as of the place into which they enter. Every several gate was of one pearl ; the pearl of great price, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only gate, door, and way into this happy state: this shows that this account cannot be taken literally, but mystically, for no such pearl was ever known, large enough to make a gate of. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:22

And I saw no temple therein ,.... No material temple, as was in the old Jerusalem, or such as is described in Ezekiel's vision; nor any place of public worship, as under the Gospel dispensation; for in this state there will be no such external form of worship as now, such as preaching the word and administering ordinances. The Jews expect a third temple, but in vain. For the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple of it ; God will be immediately present with his people, whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:23

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it ,.... Which may be understood either literally of these two luminaries, which all earthly cities need; and which, though they may be in being in the new heavens, yet will not have the use with respect to this city they now have. The Jews say F21 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 101. 1. , the orb of the sun is in this world; and the gloss adds, but not in the future state, for the lights shall be renewed: and they further... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:24

And the nations of them which are saved ,.... In distinction from them that will be deceived by Satan, Revelation 20:8 . These are not all the nations of the world, which will be gathered before Christ, the Judge, for all will not be saved, there is a world that will be condemned; nor the Gentiles only, which shall come into the church state of the Jews when called, for that state is not here designed; and besides, all Israel shall be saved then; nor the living saints at Christ's coming,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:25

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day ,.... Which does not design the free communication between the living saints on the new earth, and the raised ones in the new heaven, as some have thought, for these shall be together, and make up one body; but rather the universal collection, and free admission of all the saints from all parts into this city; though it seems best to interpret it of the safety of the inhabitants, see Jeremiah 49:31 who will have no enemy to fear, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:26

And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. The glory of the nations are the people of God, who, though they are reckoned the filth of the world, are the excellent in the earth; these will be brought into this city, and be presented to the King of it, in a glorious manner, and that by the kings of the earth; either such who have been ecclesiastical rulers over them, who will introduce them as their joy and crown of rejoicing; or who have been political governors of... read more

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