9b “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like precious stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.

— Revelation 21:9b-11

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.

3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

— Revelation 4:2-3

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

2 For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.

19 No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.

— Isaiah 60: 1-2, 19

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty

— Psalm 91:1

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

In Revelation 21, John is taken to a great, high mountain. Biblical symbolism often depicts the wilderness or desert as a place of testing and evil, while a mountain frequently represents the place God makes Himself known. God shows John another vision of a splendid city. John said the angel carries him away to see “the bride, the wife of the Lamb,” also called “the Holy City.” The utterly pure bride wears beautiful clothing, shining with God’s glory. The bride comes down out of heaven, from God.

John continues by describing the city’s transcendent beauty, which reflects the character of those who dwell there. It shines “with the glory of God” like crystal-clear jasper (which is usually opaque) and reflects the brilliance and purity of God’s presence. Earlier in Revelation, John described God on His throne as appearing like jasper. The Holy City showcases the person of God together with His perfect craftsmanship-resplendent, glorious, and of infinite worth! John’s picture of the Holy City’s radiance has inspired Christians to live to God alone throughout history.