James Jordan has suggested that the vision of new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-22:5) is arranged as a chiastic recasting of the creation week:
A. Day 1: Light in the city, 21:10-11
B. Day 2: Boundaries and measurements of the city, 21:12-17
C. Day 3: Materials of the city, 21:18-21
D. Day 4: Sun and moon of city, 21:22-23
C’. Day 5: Swarms of kings into city, 21:24-27
B’. Day 6: Garden, 22:1-2
A’. Day 7: Throne and light, 22:3-5
Each “half” of this structure (A-C, D-A’) is also arranged in a more or less regular chiasm. Verses 9/10-21 can be sketched as follows:
A. The Bride with glory of God, crystalline jasper, 21:9-11.
B. Twelve gates with names of tribes, three in each direction, 21:12-13.
C. Foundation stones with names of apostles, 21:14.
D. Measurement of the wall and city, 21:15-17.
C’. Foundation stones, 21:18-20.
B’. Pearl gates, 21:21a.
A’. Pure gold streets like pure glass, 21:21b.
Within this structure too, there is a set of smaller patterns embedded in 21:12-14 and 21:15-17. 21:12-14 first:
A. Great and high wall, 21:12a.
B. Twelve gates with tribal names, 21:12b-13.
A’. Wall of the city, 21:14a.
B’. Twelve foundation stones with apostolic names, 21:14b.
And then 21:15-17:
A. Gold rod to measure the city, gates, wall, 21:15.
B. City is square, length and width the same, 21:16a.
C. Measured city: 12,000 stadia, 21:16b.
B’. Length and width and height equal, 21:16c.
C’. Measured wall: 144 cubits, 21:17a.
A’. Human and angelic measurements, 21:17b.
Similarly, the second “half” of the section (i.e., 21:22-22:5) has a chiastic shape, and is overlaid with sub-structures:
A. Glory of God and lamp of the Lamb, 21:22-23 (helios, photizo, luchnos).
B. Nations walk by light and kings bring glory, 21:24-27.
C. River of life flowing from throne, 22:1-2a.
D. Tree of life bearing fruit, leaves for healing, 22:2b
C’. No curse, throne of God and Lamb in it, 22:3a.
B’. Bond-servant (i.e., kings) serve Him and see His face, 22:3b-4.
A’. Lord will be light, 22:5 (luchnos, helios, photizo).
Within this sequence, there are further micr0structures. 21:22-23 is arranged in a triple parallelism:
A. No temple
B. Lord God almighty and
C. Lamb are temple.
A’. No need for sun or moon
B’. glory of God illuminates
C’. Lamb is the lamp.
21:24-27 is arranged chiastically:
A. Nations walk by the light of Lamb, 21:24a.
B. Kings bring glory into the city, 21:24b.
C. Daytime, 21:25a.
D. No night there, 21:25b.
C’. Gates never close, 21:25c.
B’. They shall bring glory of nations, 21:26.
A’. Nothing unclean enters, 21:27.
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