Revelation 21:15

15 The angel who talked to me held in his hand 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 There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west.

14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.

17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).