Revelation 21:11; Having the Glory of God

Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with , ,

Revelation 21:11 (KJV)  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 

The first appearance of the angel-guide to John relates to the appearance, structures, dimensions, and construction materials of the city.

The prophet first describes the city’s radiant glow – Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 

The city has “the glory of God”. This is the radiance of the dazzling splendour of God as seen many places in Scripture (eg. Exodus 40:34; Numbers 9:15-23; 1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chronicles 5:14; Isaiah 24:23; 60:1; Ezekiel 43:5; John 12:41; Acts 26:13).

Exodus 40:34 (KJV)  Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 

Numbers 9:15-23 (KJV)  And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it wasby day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 

1 Kings 8:11 (KJV)  So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. 

2 Chronicles 5:14 (KJV)  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. 

Isaiah 24:23 (KJV)  Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. 

Isaiah 60:1 (KJV)  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 

Ezekiel 43:5 (KJV)  So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. 

John 12:41 (KJV)  These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. 

Acts 26:13 (KJV)  At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 

This is not just a divinely caused splendour. It is the splendour of the presence of God Himself, the Shekinah. His very presence dwells in the Holy City which is the bride of the Lamb. That she possesses the glory of God is the most striking feature of the city.

The city’s “brilliance” results from the glory of the divine Presence (Moffatt).

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 460]