And he measured the City with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.—“The number of ‘buildings’ in the City seems to be indicated by the measures—12,000 times 12,000 furlongs equals 144,000,000 square furlongs. This area contains 144,000 building-lots of one thousand square furlongs each—which circumstance may well signify that the 144,000, faithful ones will reign with Jesus during a thousand years (one square furlong representing a year.”)
The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.—Each view of the City, from any side, presents to view, Justice, Power, Love and Wisdom.
21:17. And he measured the wall thereof.—Its thickness.
An hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man.—The measure of a man, the Man Christ Jesus, is 1,000. His Day is to be 1,000 years in length. Adam's Day was a thousand years long. The total measure is 144,000, the number of the Elect. We should expect to find the number of those rescued during the Millennium shown somewhere in these measurements; and this we also find. The cubit, in symbolism, is flexible in length, like the word “day.” If we multiply the number of square furlongs in any wall by the 144 measures of a man, i. e., 144,000,000 X 144, the result is 20,736,000,000, the estimated number of the sheep class at the end of the Millennial Age.—Matt. 25:34-40; Z. '05-271.
That is, of the angel.—As interpreted by the angel.
21:18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper.—“The solid fabric of the wall was jasper; and the city itself was made of gold, resembling transparent glass.”—Weym.
And the City was pure gold, like unto clear glass.—Of Divine origin, and made up of those who have the Divine nature.
21:19. And the foundations of the wall of the City were garnished with all manner of precious stones.—Mosaic manufacturers make 15,000 colors; and it is estimated the trained eye can detect a million colors. In selecting and polishing the 144,000 gems and putting them in place in the Temple God is preparing a beautiful harmony of characters in infinite variety that will delight the hearts of all His creatures to all eternity.—1 Chron. 29:2.
The first foundation was jasper.—Likeness to the Father. See comments on Rev. 4:3.
AND the second, sapphire.—Faithfulness. The sapphire of the ancients is the modern lapiz lazuli, or azure stone, a mineral substance valued for decorative purposes in consequence of the fine blue color which it usually presents. It has the appearance of being spotted with gold dust. “The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.” (Job. 28:6.) The brilliant spots in the deep blue matrix invite comparison with the stars in the firmament. The crystals form into units having twelve equal sides. The blue is the color of faithfulness; the gold shows the faithfulness towards God; the star-like appearance shows the faithfulness towards all the Heavenly beings—angels, archangels, and the Great Company; the crystalline formation shows the faithfulness towards the symbolical and actual twelve tribes of Israel which, in the last analysis, include all who shall become heirs of salvation. Those who gain the prize of the High Calling can be trusted.—1 Cor. 4:2; Luke 16:10-12.