The Foursquare City Revelation 21:16

After all the events of the tribulation period, the millennial reign of Jesus and the “Great White Throne” judgment, John the apostle wrote, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” John added how God will wipe away all tears and allow no more death, sorrow, crying or pain”, and He is to make “all things new”. He also gave a warning to those who are “fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”, and he continued, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show your the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. 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 in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.” In Revelation chapter twenty-one and verse sixteen John shares how, “the city lies foursquare” where we read:

And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

The verse reads, “And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth:” John began with the words, “and the city” which means “and the heavenly dwelling place and abode” “lies” or “is set in place, destined and appointed to be made and laid down” “foursquare” which means “in a quadrangular or square shape”, “and the length” or “and the measurement of how long the city is” “is as large” which means “is the same amount” “as the breadth” or “as the measurement of how wide the city is”. John saw how the “heavenly city” was in a “square” shape with the “length and breadth” equaling in measurements.

The verse goes on to say, “and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.” John added the words, “and he measured” which means “the angel meted out and judged the distance with a measure’s reed or rule” “the city” which means “the heavenly dwelling place and abode” “with the reed” or “with a rod or staff”, “twelve thousand furlongs” which means “that was twelve thousand furlongs or the space or distance of about six hundred feet”. John saw the “angel” measure the “city” and found it to be “six hundred feet long and wide”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see the accurate measurement for the length and breadth of this “city”. One may wonder why this is important, but we must remember that God has ordained that these words are a part of His scriptures, and there is significance within it. God knows specific details concerning this “city”, even down to the measurements, and He also knows specifics about every person who is reading these words. These details give us an idea of the “length and breadth” that God will go to to meet a person right where they are to have a relationship with them. No matter how far away from God they may seem to be, God knows to the millimeter every aspect about them. He desires a relationship with them through His Son Jesus, and no matter how sinful they have been, Jesus paid the price for those sins upon the cross. In other words, God knows the measurements of His “heavenly city”, and He knows the measurements of us. Let us yield to Him today.

Next time John shares how the angel, “measured the wall thereof”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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