What is the New Jerusalem Like?

The climactic description of New Jerusalem is appropriately found in the final two chapters of God’s Word, Revelation 21 and 22. Here we learn God will create a dazzling new universe and a stunning new earth. Then, at just the right moment, like a bride floating down the aisle, the great city of New Jerusalem—the dazzling city with its foundations—will descend from the sky to its preplanned spot on the new earth and become the capital city of God’s eternal Kingdom.

Revelation 21:15–16 says, “And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.”

In today’s terms, New Jerusalem will be about fifteen hundred miles wide, fifteen hundred miles long, and fifteen hundred miles high. One way of visualizing its footprint is simply to think of the entire eastern half of the United States stacked fifteen hundred miles high. I know this is mind-boggling, but we have a mind-boggling God, don’t we?

In a city this large, will there be congestion and traffic jams? I don’t want to be dogmatic about this, but the resurrected Jesus was able to travel by telepathy. That’s been a major concept in science fiction, but maybe it will be a reality on the new earth. Perhaps we’ll have the ability to travel instantly by the impulses of thought. When I sit and ponder these things, I can easily become overwhelmed with excitement at what’s ahead.

think of the entire eastern half of the United States stacked fifteen hundred miles high.

Revelation 21 says, “The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. . . . And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (verses 18, 21). The entire city and its major thoroughfare is a unique gold that conveys some kind of transparent quality. The gold of heaven will be so pure that we will seem to look into it and through its clear depths even as we walk upon it.

The beauty of the city will be enhanced by the gushing river of crystal waters flowing through it. Revelation 22:1 says, “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

On both sides of the Crystal River are the trees of life (Revelation 22:2)—not just one tree but multiple trees. Notice that verse 2 refers to “each tree.” The Greek term indicates a plurality of trees, such as we’d find in an orchard. These trees will bear fruit every month, and it will be like eating fruit from the garden of Eden.

In the center of it all will be the throne of God. The final chapter of the Bible says, “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1).

These trees will bear fruit every month, and it will be like eating fruit from the garden of Eden.

The Bible also tells us about a vast, high, broad wall surrounding New Jerusalem, punctuated by twelve gates, each of which is made of pearl. Revelation 21:17–21 says, “Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones. . . . The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass” (NLT).

This is way beyond exciting! The city walls are made of jasper, which in biblical times was a crystal stone like a diamond, and the gigantic gates are made of solid pearl. Imagine seeing this from afar. It will sparkle and shine as it rotates down to the earth, and all the hues of the glory of the city will be overwhelming. It will take our breath away

The foundation will be layered stones of solid emerald, diamond, sapphire, topaz, amethyst, and all the rest. These will be the most massive and beautiful stones in the universe. Imagine these layers as massive enough to serve as the foundations for a city that’s fifteen hundred miles in every direction! Imagine approaching heaven’s capital and seeing it from afar!

It will sparkle and shine as it rotates down to the earth, and all the hues of the glory of the city will be overwhelming.

We’ll witness this magnificent city, soaring fifteen hundred miles into the atmosphere, built upon gemstone foundations, with each gate brilliantly crafted from a single pearl. We’ll walk into this holy city with jaws dropped and eyes widened in absolute wonder, for even the most beautiful places on earth don’t hold a candle to what God has prepared for us.

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For more on this topic, see chapter 5 from Dr. Jeremiah’s book, The Promise of Heaven: 31 Reasons to Get Excited About Your Eternal Home