The angel had already shown John that the city was two-dimensionally square: “its length the same as its width.” Now he adds a three-dimensional aspect: “Its length and width and height are equal.” We could picture John describing a cube of 12,000 stadia; we could also picture John describing a pyramid. Of interest is that the Most Holy Place in Solomon’s temple was a perfect cube (1 Kings 6:20), and that was seen as God’s dwelling place. It is also worth noting that the number 1000 (in 12,000) is 10 x 10 x 10, or 10 cubed. Something of the perfection of God is captured in the identicality of length and width and height. Ultimately, it does not matter whether we imagine here a cube or a pyramid (though the latter satisfies the imagination better), as long as we see here a symbolic expression of God’s perfection, or even his perfection perfected. The Bride, the wife of the Lamb, this holy city, images her God’s characteristics perfectly. We also need to realize that this divine city towers far above every human accomplishment (Genesis 11:4). Such is the splendour of the church, a splendour the church begins to display in our present dispensation (Acts 2:47; Acts 5:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.