The New Jerusalem: Exploring Our Eternal Home in Revelation 21

Recently, we've been reflecting on eternity and what happens when Jesus returns. Those who call on the Lord and turn from sin will be united with Him and live with Him forever. John the Apostle describes this event in Revelation, when the New Jerusalem descends from heaven.

A Vision of the Holy City: Revelation 21:9-16

Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." ¹⁰And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. ¹¹It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. ¹²It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. ¹³There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ¹⁴The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. ¹⁶The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long (Revelation 21:9-16).

Understanding the Dimensions of the New Jerusalem

The city wall is 144 cubits thick, or 216 feet. The New Jerusalem spans 12,000 stadia, equal in width and length, or about 1,400 miles each way. This area roughly matches the land from California to the Appalachian Mountains and from Canada to Mexico. The ground level alone covers nearly two million square miles. Remember, the height matches the width and length (v. 16). If each story is about 12 feet high, that results in approximately 600,000 stories. Billions of people could live there, each with many square miles of space. The city's dimensions form a perfect cube, reminiscent of the Most Holy Place in Solomon's Temple, which was also a cube measuring twenty cubits (30 feet by the standard cubit), where only God resided (1 Kings 6:20). This sanctuary could be entered by the High Priest only once a year on the Day of Atonement, when he brought the sacrificial blood of a slain animal through the heavy curtain that separated humanity from God's direct presence. That curtain was torn at Christ's death on the cross (Matthew 27:51).

The Temple of Light: Dwelling in God’s Presence

²²I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:22-27).

A Personal Invitation to the Book of Life

The dimensions of the New Jerusalem illustrate God's desire for humanity to dwell with Him eternally. It invites redeemed humanity to enter God's presence, where they can enjoy Him and His people forever in the Holy of Holies. How incredible it must have been for John the Apostle, who recorded Revelation, to see his name on one of the foundation stones (Revelation 21:14). While we may never fully understand how our efforts for Christ influence others—only God knows—John recognizes that his life has truly made an eternal difference. The New Jerusalem is where Christ will enjoy eternity with His bride, a place characterized by unity of heart and mind, where we will live with Him forever.

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:4).

Why the New Jerusalem Matters for You Today

What a wonderful joy it will be to see the face of Christ, admire His beauty, and live in close relationship with Him. Are you beginning to see how much God values you? The psalmist David asked, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4). We are incredibly special to God because, out of all creation, the Lord God Almighty and His Son choose to dwell with humanity in the New Jerusalem. No matter which country you are from or what sins you have committed, the God of heaven invites you to accept His grace and mercy, to come to His home, and to live with Him forever. This invitation is extended to you and your family. It cannot be earned; it is given purely by grace — God’s undeserved favor. Will you dedicate your life to Him? He wants you to know that Heaven is your eternal home. Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, there is so much more to explore about God’s plan for our future.

Explore the Full Study. This meditation is part of our series, Insights into Eternity. You can read the complete, in-depth teaching—The Wedding You’ve Been Waiting For—right here in our All Studies Library.

Watch the Deep-Dive Video

Prefer to watch and listen? We’ve prepared a powerful video series that brings these scriptures to life. Join us as we walk through the prophetic significance of the New Jerusalem and the return of the Bridegroom.

[▶️ Watch: The Wedding You’ve Been Waiting For on YouTube]