Revelation 21:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The twelve gates clearly signify the twelve disciples of Christ, who showed us the door and the way of life. The twelve pearls are also they, since they received brilliance and illumination from the one Pearl, Christ. The good things of the city above cannot be explained precisely by one comparison. Therefore the square of the city is presented as like gold because of its great value, and like crystal because of its purity. In our understanding these two properties cannot be expressed by one word. The perfect knowledge of the city above surpasses hearing, sight, and thought.

In the words that follow in the text, the difference between the merits and blessedness of the saints is shown. For above it was said that the whole city was pure gold, like clear glass (Rev 21:18). Here it says that the streets of the city are pure gold, like transparent glass. This refers to its saints who have lesser merits. But John means that, having been brought into the same assembly, they do not shine with a lesser light.

By these pearls John designated the apostles, who are called gates because through their teaching they open the door of eternal life.

The pearl appears here as something new, not belonging to the number of stones in the two preceding verses. It may be observed that the stones recently mentioned are more precious than their Old Testament types listed in those verses; cf. Ex 28:17-21; 39:10-14; Ezek 28:13. Through this it is signified that the holy apostles were versed in the Old Testament and observed what was established in it. Thus the apostle said: “as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (Phil 3:6). Yet they were also glorified in observing the commandments of the New Testament, possessing its rich knowledge. This knowledge proved clearer and, in its image, more precious than the knowledge of the Old Testament. For in the Law there was a certain shadow; cf.

John has already said that the city was pure gold, like clear glass, and that the foundations of the city wall were adorned with every precious stone. I think this refers to those who have authority in the Church. But now he adds concerning the streets and says that they too are pure gold, like transparent glass, as though they were not included in the earlier description. Yet I think those children are signified here of whom it is said: “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book they were all written” (Ps 138:16). And again: “His conversation is with the simple” (Prov 3:32). This is because, of course, they were not deceived by this gift and examined their thoughts in mutual communion. For as streets are set below, so people of this kind are saved in the place of humility.

All the perfect, by whom the city of our God on His holy mountain is adorned and on whom it is founded, shine with the light of spiritual grace. Yet “to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge, to another gifts of healings, various tongues, to another faith by the same Spirit” (1 Cor 12:8-10), and so forth. Their craftsman and builder is God (Heb 11:10). He is the foundation of the foundations, and for our sake He even deigned to become High Priest. By the sacrifice of His blood He washed and sanctified the walls of the city, so that all that the Father possesses might also become His possession. Therefore the supreme high priest was commanded to place on his breast the stones on which the names of the patriarchs were engraved.

The twelve gates are the twelve disciples of Christ, through whom we have known the door and the way of life. They are also the twelve pearls, receiving their brilliance from the one precious Pearl, Christ, teaches St. Andrew.

By what features does the seer depict the new Jerusalem, which descended 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 by divine light. A high wall surrounds the city as a sign that no one unworthy 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 on earth these tribes formed the society of God’s chosen people, so their names are also assigned to the elect of heaven. The city has the form of a regular quadrangle.