Revelation 21:14

14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and engraved upon them were twelve names--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 It has a wall, massive and high, with twelve large gates, and in charge of the gates were twelve angels. And overhead, above the gates, names were inscribed which are those of the twelve tribes of the descendants 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 wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and engraved upon them were twelve names--the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

15 Now he who was speaking to me had a measuring-rod of gold, with which to measure the city and its gates and its wall.

16 The plan of the city is a square, the length being the same as the breadth; and he measured the city furlong by furlong, with his measuring rod--it is twelve hundred miles long, and the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.