Revelation 21:15

15 The angel who spoke to me had a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹

Revelation 21:15 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 21:15

And he that talked with me
One of the seven angels, ( Revelation 21:9 ) for not a man is the measurer of this city, as in ( Ezekiel 40:3 ) nor John, as of the temple, ( Revelation 11:1 ) but an angel, the same that showed to John this great sight:

had a golden reed;
not a common measuring reed, or rod, as in ( Ezekiel 40:4 ) ( Revelation 11:1 ) but one covered with gold, denoting the present glorious state of the church, being without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing:

to measure the city;
the new Jerusalem, its length and breadth; see ( Zechariah 2:1 Zechariah 2:2 ) to show how exactly conformable this church state will be to the rule of God's word, even to perfection: and the gates thereof; to signify who had a right to enter into it, and who not:

and the wall thereof;
its height, it being exceeding high.

Revelation 21:15 In-Context

13 There were three gates on each side: three on the east, three on the south, three on the north, and three on the west.

14 The city's wall was built on twelve foundation stones, on which were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who spoke to me had a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 The city was perfectly square, as wide as it was long. The angel measured the city with his measuring stick: it was fifteen hundred miles long and was as wide and as high as it was long.

17 The angel also measured the wall, and it was 216 feet high, according to the standard unit of measure which he was using.

Cross References

• 1. 21.15Ezekiel 40.3.