Revelation 21:14

14 The walls of the city were built on twelve foundation stones, and on the stones were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Revelation 21:14 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 21:14

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations
Christ is the one and only foundation of his church and people, of the covenant of grace, and of salvation; and of faith, hope, peace, and joy, and of eternal happiness, and so of this glorious state of the church; he will be the light and temple of it, the glory and safety of it; he will be all in all in it; but because he has been ministerially laid as the foundation, by the twelve apostles, for men to build their present and future happiness upon, therefore the foundations of the wall of salvation are said to be twelve; see ( Ephesians 2:20 ) . Moreover, this may denote the firm and immovable state of the church at this time, it being a city which has foundations, or is well founded, ( Hebrews 11:10 ) with which compare ( Isaiah 14:32 ) ( 28:16 ) . Hence it follows,

and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The Alexandrian copy, Vulgate Latin, Syriac and Arabic versions, read, "the twelve names of the twelve apostles"; the allusion seems to be to the inscribing of the names of builders on stones laid in the foundation, in memory of them; and so these wise master builders will be had in everlasting remembrance.

Revelation 21:14 In-Context

12 The city had a great high wall with twelve gates with twelve angels at the gates, and on each gate was written the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

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

14 The walls of the city were built on twelve foundation stones, and on the stones were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod made of gold to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 The city was built in a square, and its length was equal to its width. The angel measured the city with the rod. The city was twelve thousand stadian long, twelve thousand stadia wide, and twelve thousand stadia high.