Rev. 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim.

With His People

Currently, the Holy-Spirit dwells in the hearts of all believers, but when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven things will change. A loud voice will announce that Elohim will dwell with his people instead of in his people. Elohim will actually live n the New Jerusalem where he will establish a fixed and permanent relationship with his Church.

Rev. 21:4 And Elohim shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Death And Pain Forgotten

He will wipe every tear from their eyes does not mean crying will occur in the heavenly city. It means things will be so different that there will be no need for tears, because there will be no death, loneliness, depression, pain, or suffering.
The old order of things has passed away is a reminder that Elohim will bring an end to sin and death. Everything associated with human sorrow will pass away.

Rev. 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

A Divine Declaration

Following the Millennium, Yahusha will not fix or repair this old creation. He will recreate everything. This is more than a verbal promise because he says, Write this down. It is a divine declaration from one whom cannot lie.

Rev. 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Never to Thirst again

The new creation is inevitable because it is the spoken Word of Yahusha. He proved his power to create when he fashioned all things at the beginning of creation. As the Alpha and Omega, he is the first and last word in all things. All authority is his. What he declares will be done.
All who thirst after Elohim will be given the privilege of freely drinking from the water of life. Their thirst for Elohim will be abundantly satisfied.
"I am the Alpha and Omega, says Yahuah", "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the almighty" (Revelation 1:8).

Rev. 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his Elohim, and he shall be my son.

Heirs With Yahusha

All true Christians are overcomers. Elohim is their Elohim. They are his children and joint heirs with Yahusha

Rev. 21:8 But the 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 burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The List Is Long

1.) The cowardly - those who are to embarrassed, ashamed or afraid to accept Yahusha as Lord.
2.) The unbelievers - those who reject Yahusha
3.) The vile - those who defile themselves with abominable sins such as stealing, taking the Mark of the Beast, taking drugs and drunkenness.
4.) The sexually immoral - fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, and rapists.
5.) Those who practice magic arts - astrologers, Satan worshippers, witches, and warlocks.
6.) Idolaters - those who worship anyone or anything other than Elohim.
7.) Liars - those who deceive the lost, falsely accuse Christians, falsely claim to be a Christian, or add to or take away from the Bible.

Rev. 21:9 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 hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

The Bride Of Christ

Elohim's nature has more than one characteristic. He loves and judges; saves and condemns. Both of these characteristics are demonstrated here. Imagine, one of the same angels who poured out a bowl of Elohim's wrath is now inviting John to see Elohim's love for his Church.
We already have established that the bride is the Church, but here the angel refers to the city as the bride of the Lamb. In Elohim's eyes, the Holy City and the Holy People are synonymous. The physical identity of the Holy City will include rivers, trees, streets, and mansions, but the true identity of the City will be the Lamb and his bride.
Remember This ---->A special union will exist between Yahusha and the Church similar to the union that exists between a bridegroom and bride upon their marriage.

Rev. 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from Elohim,

Carried Away

While John was in the Holy Spirit, the angel carried him away to a great mountain where he could have a clear view of this marvelous city. It is being built in heaven, but Elohim will cause it to descend to the new earth. How far it will descend is a matter of debate. Nothing is said about it coming to rest on the new earth. It may do that, but it also may remain suspended above. One thing is for sure: what goes on in the Holy City will be more important than what takes place on the new earth. The Holy City will be the headquarters of the new creation.

Remember This ---->John was in the Spirit (an ecstatic spiritual state) which put him in close touch with Elohim and made him able to see visions.

Rev. 21:11 Having the glory of Elohim: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

The Glow Of Glory

The presence of Elohim in the Holy City will cause it to shine with his glory. His pure light will burst forth in brilliance like the sparkle of a large and expensive jewel.
What kind of jewel is not said, but it will look like Jasper (opal, diamond, or topaz) and be crystal clear. Jasper is the first stone in the breastplate of the High Priest. It is opaque and translucent like a diamond, and is a symbol of purity and holiness.

Rev. 21:12 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:

Twelve Gates

The Holy City will be surrounded by a thick, high wall with twelve gates. I'm sorry, but Saint Peter won't be standing at the gates, angels will. The name of each of the twelve tribes of Israel will be written on a gate.
The wall will be for security. The same can be said of the angels guarding the gates. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel will be a reminder that the Messiah, the Scriptures, and salvation came through the Jews. Without them the Holy City would not be needed, and the Gentiles would be without hope.
Why does the Holy City need security? No one knows the answer. Some suggest it is a symbol that not everyone has access to Elohim. Only Elohim knows.

Remember This---->Satan tries to copy everything God does. This explains why the rebuilt city of Babylon will have the names of blasphemywritten on it.

Rev. 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

Three Gates For Each Compass Point

The wall will have four sides with three gates on each side.

Rev. 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

One Foundation For Each Apostle

The city will have twelve foundations. Some experts say these foundations will be stacked on top of each other and will encompass the base of the city. Others speculate that they will be large columns extending down to the new earth like legs or post.
Each foundation will have the name of one of the twelve apostles of Yahusha on it. This is significant because the Bible tells us that the Church is being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Yahusha the Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20). It says Yahusha gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen (Acts 1:1,2). With the help of the Holy Spirit the apostles preached the gospel, won converts, organized congregations, wrote the Scriptures, selected deacons, and taught their followers. They relinquished everything for Yahusha and his Church and were threatened, beaten, imprisoned, and killed. They earned the right to have their names inscribed on the foundations of the Holy City.

Rev. 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

A Golden Rod

A measuring stick in John's day was approximately ten feet long, and the most common material used in heaven seems to be gold. The same angel who talked with John took a golden measuring stick to measure the city, its gates and its walls.

Rev. 21:16 And the city lieth 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.

A Giant Cube

The Holy City will be laid out like a square. Its length will be the same as its width, and its height will equal its length. Some suggest that this will be a pyramid, but others think it will be a cub. Not enough information exists to prove either view.
However, everyone agrees that the Holy City will be enormous. 12,000 stadia is about 1,500 miles. A city 1,500 miles long and 1,500 miles wide will be larger than anything the world has ever seen. A city towering 1,500 miles high is almost incomprehensible, but the Carpenter of Israel is building many mansions.

Rev. 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

A Thick Wall

The wall around the Holy city will be 144 cubits (216 feet) thick. It does not matter whether one uses God's measurements or man's measurements, the result will be the same. This thick wall will provide plenty of protection.

Rev. 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

The Purest Gold

In verse 11, It was noted that the Jasper could be an opal, diamond, or topaz. Although we don't know which one of these it will be, we do know the wall will be made of a gem that is beautiful, hard, and transparent. People will be able to see through it into the Holy City, and the light of Elohim will beam out of the city. The city itself will be made of gold as pure as glass.

Rev. 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

Walls Of Precious Stone

Each one of the twelve foundations of the city walls will be different. The first four will be:
1.) Jasper - a crystal clear gem that could be a massive diamond.
2.) sapphire - a clear blue gem similar to a diamond in hardness
3.) chalcedony - a greenish agate with possibly a few stripes of other colors mixed in.
4.) emerald - a bright green stone.

And the one who sat there (on the throne) had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.

Rev. 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

How Rich Can We Get?

The next eight foundations will be decorated with:
5.) sardonyx - a reddish white onyx similar to the color of healthy fingernails.
6.) carnelian - a fiery red or blood-colored stone from Sardis.
7.) chrysolite - a transparent golden-yellow stone.
8.) beryl - a sea green emerald lighter in color than the third foundation.
9.) topaz - a transparent greenish-yellow stone.
10.) chrysoprase - a yellowish pale green stone similar to the modern aquamarine color.
11.) jacinth - a violet hyacinth-color gem.
12.) amethyst - a purple-colored stone.
A brilliant rainbow would be just a pale glimmer compared to what these foundation stones will look like. Elohim is light, and his light passing through these many different colored stones will be breathtaking.

Rev. 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

The Perly Gates

With only twelve gates to this extensive city, and each gate being more than 300 miles apart, we know the gates will need to be huge. And each gate will consist of a single gigantic pearl. This emphasizes the great wealth and generosity of Elohim.
The great street is a mystery. Will this city, with a circumference of 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide, and 1,500 miles high have only one street or will one of the streets be called the great street? We don't know, but we do know it will be made of pure gold.

Rev. 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Yahuah El Shaddai and the Lamb are the temple of it.

No Temple

Because of sin on earth, Elohim withdrew his presence from mankind. He had Moses and others build a tabernacle, and later he had Solomon build a Temple where the people would go to worship. He separated himself from them by residing in the Holy of Holies, and having priests serve as mediators.
After the Millennium, however, things will be different. A temple will not be needed since sin will not be present in the Holy City. Elohim will have no need to separate himself from his people. Mediators will not be necessary. The glorious presence of the Father and the Son will permeate the entire City.
The Bible is filled with truths that are difficult to understand but wonderful to speculate on. One of them is the fact that when he appears, we (believers) shall be like him (I John 3:2). We will have great insight, great love, and everything else that Yahusha has. Also, we will not have a sin nature that could separate us from him.

Rev. 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of Elohim did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

No Sun

The Father and Son are the source of physical light. They spoke light into existence when they created the sun, moon, and stars. But they will do away with these when they create the new heaven and earth because their presence in the Holy City will eliminate the need for other heavenly lights.
Think about this. It means we can be in the Holy City, several hundred miles from Elohim and not need a light. The light of Elohim will cover an area almost as large as the eastern half of the U.S>, and it will even be visible in outer space.

Rev. 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

World's Brightest Night-light

The new earth will be populated with the children of Israel, and the descendants of those who did not follow Satan in his final rebellion after the Millennium. Nations and leaders already will be on the new earth with the Holy City comes out of heaven. They will walk in the light coming from that city instead of the light of the sun and moon.
The inhabitants of the new earth will travel to the Holy City not to live but to worship. The Holy City will be the future home of the Church. The new earth will be the future home of Israel and all the others who will be saved after the Rapture.

Something to Ponder ---->I believe the Jews lost their right to dwell in the Holy City because they rejected the Messiah. The nation and their priest failed, so Elohim established a new priesthood - the Church. We will be the priest in heaven. It was done to make Israel jealous and to remind her of her sin.

Rev. 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Always Open

The people of some ancient cities opened their gates during the day and closed them at night. The continuous presence of Elohim in the Holy City will mean the continuous presence of light. Darkness will be known, thereby eliminating any need to shut the gates.

Rev. 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

Gifts Of Glory And Honor

Visitors will go to the Holy City to give glory and honor to the Lord.

Rev. 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Only Those In The Lamb's Book Of Life

When Elohim created Adam and Eve he placed them in his perfect creation, the Garden of Eden. Then he allowed Satan to enter and tempt them and they fell. Elohim will never allow this to happen again. He will never allow any impure thing to enter the Holy City. Only those with their names found in the Lamb's Book of Life will be permitted to enter.