Revelation 21:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The lamp of the Church is Christ, who is called jasper as ever growing, flourishing, the Giver of life, and pure. In general, He is presented under many diverse images, because His manifold benefactions toward us cannot be expressed in one word.

The prophets also speak of this city: The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor shall the brightness of the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God your glory (Isa 60:19). For just as a stone shines neither within nor without by an alien radiance, but is made translucent by the brilliance of its own nature, so this city, as it is written, is illumined by no starlight, but is invisibly permeated by the light of God alone. The brilliance of crystal means that the grace of baptism shines red, since redemption is accomplished by the blood of Christ.

According to his words, its lamp, that is, the Sun of righteousness, Christ (Mal 4:2), is like a jasper stone. Jasper, according to what was said earlier, being something green, signifies that Christ opens His hand and fills every living thing (Ps 144:16), nourishing and giving life. For greenness is the chief earthly food. But the jasper was also crystal-like, which shows the purity and holiness of Christ. For He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth, according to the words of the prophet Isaiah (Isa 53:9). That is, jasper. See the interpretations on Rev 4:2.

The Lord says to the apostles: “You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14). This expression refers to the whole Body of Christ, although the apostles heard it from the mouth of the Truth, since they were first both in time and in dignity.

Although jasper and crystal are stones of different kinds and differ in color, John rightly joins them here for the sake of the metaphor. He also compares them with a most precious stone, so that the image may be referred to Christ. Blessed Peter said of Him: “a cornerstone, chosen, firmly established” (Isa 28:16).

Primasius has in mind 1 Pet 2:6, though he cites the book of Isaiah.

The most precious stone is Christ, who said: The glory which You gave Me I have given them (Jn 17:22). Like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. He is like jasper because of the radiance of His virtues, and like crystal because of the inner purity of the soul and sincere faith.

According to some interpreters, the wall surrounding the holy city means not a boundary perceptible to our senses, arranged by the power and wisdom of God. It may also mean the very power and wisdom of God, inaccessible to every other force, guarding the dwellings of His glory.

This boundary, or wall, according to such interpreters, is invisible to the eyes of sinners. Therefore it does not prevent them from seeing the blessed dwelling of the righteous, as is said in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (see Lk 16:23). Yet at the same time this boundary is impassable for every attempt to cross its line.

By what features does the seer of mysteries depict the New Jerusalem, which came down before his eyes from heaven? Here are some of these remarkable features.

“The city has the glory of God, and its light is like a most precious stone” (Rev 21:11). This signifies a certain special nearness of the Lord God to it, so that the whole city is illumined with divine light.

A high wall surrounds the city as a sign that no unworthy person can enter there. The same thought is expressed by the fact that Angels of God keep watch at its twelve gates.

The gates bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. For as these tribes on earth formed the society of God’s chosen people, so their names are also assigned to the chosen ones of heaven.