Paradise Restored

The New Creation 207
evident when they attempt to deal with the measurements John
gives of the City (Rev. 21:15-17). John says that the City is a pyramid
(or cube), 12,000 “furlongs” on each side, with a wall 144
“cubits” high. The numbers are obviously symbolic, the multiples
of twelve being a reference to the majesty, vastness, and
perfection of the Church. But the “literalist” feels compelled to
translate those numbers into modern measurements, resulting in
a wall 1,500 miles long and 216 feet high. John’s clear symbols are
erased, and the unfortunate Bible reader is left with just a jumble
of meaningless numbers. The “literalists” find themselves in the
ridiculous position of deleting the literal numbers of God’s Word
and replacing them with meaningless symbols!
John goes onto describe the City in terms of jewelry: each of
the foundation stones is adorned with precious stones, each of
the gates is “a single pearl,” the wall is made of jasper, and the
City and the street are “pure gold, like transparent glass” (Rev.
21:18-21). From our study of the minerals connected with the
Garden of Eden, we understand that this, again, is symbolic language,
speaking of the restoration and fulfillment of Paradise in
salvation. Eight hundred years earlier, Isaiah had described the
coming salvation in terms of a City adorned with jewels:
O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
Behold, I will set your stones in fair colors,
And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.
Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,
And your gates of sparkling jewels,
And your entire wall of precious stones. (Isa. 54:11-12)
It is interesting that the word translated fair colors is, in
Hebrew, eye shadow. This sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Walls are intended
for protection; this wall is merely decorative. Who
would build a wall out of je wels, using cosmetics for “mortar”?
Someone fabulously wealthy, and supremely confident against
attack. This, Isaiah says, is the future of the Church, the City of
God. She will be rich and secure from enemies, as the rest of the
passage explains:
And all your sons will be taught of the LORD;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.
In righteousness you will be established;