Rev 21:18-21  "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."

"And the building of the wall of it was of jasper." As we previously noted in verse 11, the jasper stone speaks to us of God's eternal justice. Those who make up the wall of the city (God's elect) have been eternal judged by the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ (our High Priest) at the cross and according to God's eternal covenant of redemption as set forth in Rom. 8:29, 30. Now there is no charge that can be made to God's elect for it is God that justifieth. The wall of the city is made up of redeemed people who have been made pure by the blood of Christ.

"And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst."

If there is a significance to each of the different types of stones that the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with I have not yet discovered it. However, we can take note that each of the stones was precious and each was unique from the other. We know there were twelve foundations of the wall of the city and we were previously informed that the names of the twelve apostles were inscribed in those twelve foundations. We also know that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone.

Each of the stones was precious. What made the apostles precious and what makes God's people precious is not what is found naturally in our flesh as Paul stated, "I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." What made the apostles precious and what makes us precious is that Christ has redeemed us and has imputed his righteousness unto us. According to 2 Cor. 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." This imputed righteousness gives the great value to each of the elect, who are called stones (1 Pet. 2:5).

While all the stones are precious, yet each is unique. We are all different or unique. We are not clones of one another. According to 1 Cor. 15:41 "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory." God's people are compared to stars. The Lord has told us that one star differs from another star in glory. We are unique in our personality, looks, and character here on earth. We are unique in our personality and character in the church. We will also be unique in our looks, personality and character in glory.

"And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl." The Lord spoke a parable in Matt. 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." The kingdom of heaven is that one pearl of great price. Each local church of the Lord Jesus Christ bears the substance of that one pearl of great price. Each one preaches the same gospel, has the same order and government that her head has given her, and worships in the same way as the Lord has prescribed.

"And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." The street is a place of concourse. Gold is the metal of royalty. We are to walk by faith and not by sight. The scriptures speak of a King's highway:

1. Num. 20:17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. 18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. 19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet."
2. Num. 21:22 "Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king's high way, until we be past thy borders."
3. Deu. 2:27 "Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. 28 Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet."
4. Is. 35:8 "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

From the above we gather that this King's highway belongs to a King. Also according to Rev. 1:6 the Lord's people have been made Kings and Priests unto God. Thus the travelers upon this highway or street are themselves kings. They are traveling the highway of holiness in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

While our travel in this life is not always what it should be, yet the Way that the Lord has set before us is pure gold. The way is a perfect way, and we should "press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Rev 21:22  "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."

Please remember that the angel was showing John, the "bride, the Lamb's wife" which is the church. Elsewhere in the scriptures, we see the church itself referred to as the temple of God:

1. 1 Cor. 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
2. 1 Cor. 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
3. 2 Cor. 6:16 "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
4. Eph. 2:21 "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Other verses of scripture speak of Christ being the temple of God: John 2:19 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body."

A temple is defined as "naos, nah-os'; from a prim. naio (to dwell); a fane, shrine, temple:--shrine, temple." Thus, the temple is a holy place of worship and dwelling. According to the above, both Christ and the church are both temples. Since both are dwelling places, then do we find verses that show forth Christ dwelling in the church and the church dwelling in Christ? Yes, as set forth in the following verses:

1. 1 Cor. 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
2. 2 Cor. 6:16 "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
3. 1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
4. 1 John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
5. 1 John 4:15 "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

The above scriptures certainly prove that the church dwells in God and God dwells in the church. Thus, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb dwell in the church, and the church dwells in the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. Therefore, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of the church. We dwell in Him and He dwells in us in love, and righteousness, and belief.