Revelation 21:9 – 22:5 shows us a series of four vignettes about the New Jerusalem. The present paragraph is the first, setting before us the protection God grants to those within this city. The next paragraph, Revelation 21:15–21, shows us something of the glorious perfection of this most holy city. The third, Revelation 21:22–27, illustrates its global attraction. The last, Revelation 22:1–5, shows us the life-source of activity in the city. We will need to follow the angel as he progressively shows John more about the city. This first vignette has John, as it were, approaching the city from a distance for his initial look. What jumps at him is the city’s walls.
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”