Revelation 21:15

15 The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall.

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 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates on the west.
14 The wall was set on twelve foundations, the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb inscribed on them.
15 The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall.
16 The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: twelve thousand stadia, its length, width, and height all equal.
17 Using the standard measure, the Angel measured the thickness of its wall: 144 cubits.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.