How glorious, how bright it shines (Hymn 979)

Verse 1: How glorious, how bright it shines, The holy, new Jerusalem; It is God's dwelling place with man, The spotless bride of Christ, the Lamb. Verse 2: Saints of the Old and of the New, Heirs of the promise God bestowed, Components of the city are, Together built for God's abode. Verse 3: Perfectly square the city lies, All sides are equal—length, width, height; No measurement more long or short, No part oblique, it stands upright. Verse 4: The city with its street pure gold As clear as glass transparent is, Showing that God's transcendent life Its quality and nature is. Verse 5: Twelve city gates are each one pearl; Thus man is through redemption shown Reborn and as a pearl transformed, Entering to a realm God's own. Verse 6: The twelve foundations of its wall Are with twelve precious stones adorned; Through fire and pressure recomposed And with eternal value formed. Verse 7: The wall of jasper, crystal clear, God's glory by it fully shown; His glorious light through it does shine, And He appears as jasper stone. Verse 8: The wall a separation makes, Excluding all that is unclean; Gold, pearls, and precious stones alone The holy city has within. Verse 9: God and the Lamb the Temple are! We shall behold His glorious face; His presence never will depart, We'll worship Him thru endless days. Verse 10: The city needs no sun nor moon For God's own glory is its light; The Lamb's the lamp the city bears, In all directions blazing bright. Verse 11: Out from the throne of God and the Lamb Flows midst the street a living stream, And on its banks, on either side, The tree of life is thriving seen. Verse 12: This signifies the life of God Not just for food or water flows, But carries God's authority As it throughout the city goes. Verse 13: The street of purest gold therein God's nature as the way doth show; A river in it flows for drink And fruits of life abundant grow. Verse 14: The number twelve means government, Perfection which eternal is; God blent with man it also tells— Three multiplied by four shows this. Verse 15: Darkness and death shall be no more, Sorrow and pain shall pass away, Old will be gone and all be new, God will abide with man for aye. Verse 16: The city has God's image full, It rules for Him, the sovereign King, Fulfilling His eternal plan, Complete content to Him to bring.