Overlapping Structures in Revelation 21-22

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.