The city described in Revelation 21:9-27 is amazingly vivid and also somewhat strange. It has great walls, many gates, pure glassy gold, precious stones, and light that shines forever. In the next chapter, Rev. 22, we find out more about God’s throne, the river of life, and the tree of life. We are only in this world for a time; it is eternity which we must prepare for…do you know what it might be like? In this article we’ll examine just one aspect of the New Jerusalem: its sheer size.
For some time now, I have been at a loss to imagine a golden city with twelve foundations as described in verses 19-20. When revisiting this passage recently, it noticed that the city is described as a cube with each side being of equal length (Rev 21:16). Its measurements are 12,000 furlongs (or stadia) on each side (Rev 21:16), which converts to around 1,380 miles.
Just how big is that? The illustration below compares the size of this city to Planet Earth:
Notice the colors along each edge. In drawing this illustration, I remembered that there are 12 of them in a cube, matching the number of foundation stones. This is just a conjecture on my part, but it would make sense to me that the foundations are along each edge rather than simply below it.
At this point I should explain that we’re talking about a brand new place, restored to the conditions of perfection that humans once enjoyed before we rebelled in Eden. Such a radical change to our physical world could go so far as to alter our concept of space and perhaps modify physical laws in ways we cannot imagine. Therefore, certain aspects of this city, its construction, shape, dimensions, and more are simply unimaginable.
At the same time, God does give us some basic parameters that relate to the physical world we can understand. As I mentioned above, we know some basic dimensions (even if we don’t know the exact shape or layout). I soon wondered how many people might fit in such a cubical volume. After all, its footprint won’t even cover Russia! Is there enough room for everyone, or only the chosen “elect?”
It is a fun exercise to take a few guesses about how many people might fit in this box. Make a few guesses of your own below.
If we ignore the areas that might be taken up for public use, streets, etc. and cram every individual into a prison-cell sized room, you could fit one quintillion (one billion billion, or one with 18 zeros after it) people inside.
One estimate of the total number of humans that have ever lived on this planet puts the figure at around 106.5 billion. For the sake of argument, if we assume each and every one gets a place in the city, that leaves enough room for everyone to have a house that’s 1,500 feet on each side, or 2.25 million square feet on each level and around 150 stories tall! In other words, it seems there will be more than enough room for everyone.
Yet, not everyone gets to go (John 3:18-19). There will come a day when God will judge everyone according to their works (Rom 14:10-12). For those who have repented of their sins and believed on Jesus Christ for forgiveness, this judgment will determine our rewards in Heaven (Matt 25:21). Everyone else will go to the Lake of Fire (Rev 21:8) along with Satan and the angels that follow him, earning the title “demon.” Yes, even some angels will go to Hell. In fact, Hell was originally intended for fallen angels, not for us (Matt 25:41).
Will you dwell in this place called the New Jerusalem, destined to spend eternity with the creator of all beauty? God wants you to be there with him. He has made it clear that he has kept a place with plenty of room for everyone, but as a perfect judge he must not allow sin to go unpunished. If you are not 100% sure of your destiny after death, do not wait another day to put it all on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who paid this penalty on your behalf (John 3:16). Repent. Believe. I hope you enjoy your future dwelling place!
12 replies on “The Immensity of the New Jerusalem”
Maybe it’s bigger on the inside? (Only outside dimensions are given)
Thank God I’m going to be in the New Jerusalem 🙂
The New Jerusalem is city that comes down from heaven to occupy part of the new earth. There will be nations of people living outside of the city.
For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son (Jesus Christ) That Whosoever Believes (Nothing Else, Just Believe) In Him, Shall Not Perish (Go To Hell) But Have Everlasting Life (go to Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem)
12,000 furlongs could also refer to the perimeter of the cube, the length around the entire cube.
“and he measured THE CITY with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.”
This is still a substantial structure 375 miles on each side.
Our God is limitless. He is more amazing in words that cannot be described by any human that has ever lived . A God worthy to be honored and worship forever! I believe He made the New Jerusalem so large that if everyone had accepted his love and forgiveness over a hundred billion people could have a very large mansion and experience His Beauty and Majesty. I love him and I’m looking forward to this incredible place called heaven:))
What bible explains it in modern English? I’m reading from the New Scofield Study Bible. I desire to understand the book of Revelation.
i will live here with wife, my children, my children’s children…by God’s grace we will
Actually, even Jesus Himself said “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
Mt 22:30, Mk 12:25, Lk 20:35
The scriptures do not support the idea of there being “husbands and wives, parents, grandparents, divorces, re-marrying, cheating, step-parents, multiple wives, etc etc” in the new Kingdom on earth – the concept of “be fruitful and multiply” will no longer exist. The “angels of God in heaven” are never revealed in the Bible as making offspring.
https://mcalestercog7d.com/article/The%20Millennium
Dude I think your math is way off… if it’s 1380 miles wide and long, that’s 1,904,400 square miles. If you divide by 106 billion people you get 0.000017966037736 square miles per person, which works out to about 500 square feet. That’s still a lot when you consider how tall the city is, but it sure as heck ain’t 2.25 million square feet per level.
You are confusing square measurements with cubic measurements: lenght x width x HEIGHT. So, you ahve to assume that square footage stacked on top of several levels in the future city.
Regarding “going to heaven”… it’s interesting how so many can seemingly quote the world-famous “John 3:16”, yet just three verses before that Jesus Christ Himself, the Son of the living God, clearly said “no man hath ascended to heaven”, and yet people either ignore that true statement or have not been strongly taught it at their church. Jesus’ words are so plain, so simple, so easy to understand.
As for “some angels will go to Hell” and there were “fallen” “angels”, let’s remember that Jesus said the angels don’t die (Lk 20:36). Your Bible concordance will show you that the word “angel” can also mean “messenger” or “pastor”. So who were the “angels/pastors” that sinned and were cast down to “hell” (grave/sheol)? Notice Psalms 106:17 – “The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram.” Go back in the old testament and read the entire chapter of Numbers 16 and then Numbers 26:9 and Deu 11:6 – you’ll find how these “men of renown”, the princes and famous men of the children of Israel were called rebels, they rebelled against Moses and the Heavenly Father. And what happened to them for not keeping their “first estate” (as in, their first dominion, their first rule, their first priority, their first responsibility, their first providence after leaving Egypt)? The LORD caused the earth to open up and they fell into the pit and then were covered up, including all their possessions.
Let’s be as the Bereans and use the Scripture and the pure, perfect Holy Spirit of God to interpret itself instead of man’s philosophy, opinion and “divinity” education.