Plenty of Room

What’s the largest city in the world by area? That’s a tricky question, as different countries have different definitions of a city. A loose definition would make Sermersooq in Greenland (formed by five municipalities) the largest city by area. It spans 205,400 square miles—but it has just 0.11 people per square mile. The largest U.S. cities by area are Sitka, Juneau, Wrangell, and Anchorage, all in Alaska.

The apostle John was given “a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.” Once more, this is reminiscent of Ezekiel’s vision (40:3), when he was placed on a high mountain to view a new city and temple. An angel measured with a rod many parts of the city, walls, gates, and temple. Measuring in Ezekiel was for the purpose of restoring the temple. Measuring in Revelation shows the temple (and city blended into one) already stands.

Not only is the length and breadth of the city a perfect square of 12,000 furlongs (around 1,500 miles), but “its length, breadth, and height are equal.” That means the city is a perfect cube. If you multiply 12,000 furlongs by the 12 sides of a cube, you come to 144,000, which represents all of God’s people (Revelation 7:4).

Only one other structure is a perfect cube in the Bible: the most holy place of the sanctuary (1 Kings 6:20). It’s as if the entire New Jerusalem is God’s throne room (Revelation 22:3). Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would someday be called “The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it” (Jeremiah 3:17).

The holy city is a place with full access by all the righteous. Jesus promised, “In My Father’s house are many mansions [dwellings]” (John 14:2). In other words, there will be plenty of room for all God’s children.

Jesus, thank You for Your promise to make a beautiful dwelling place for me. I look forward to Your soon return to take me home.

For Further Study: Zechariah 2:1; Hebrews 11:16; Revelation 21:22

Key Bible Texts

And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. (Revelation 21:15 KJV)