And he that talked with me
One of the seven angels, ( Revelation 21:9 ) for not a man is the measurer of this city, as in ( Ezekiel 40:3 ) nor John, as of the temple, ( Revelation 11:1 ) but an angel, the same that showed to John this great sight:
had a golden reed;
not a common measuring reed, or rod, as in ( Ezekiel 40:4 ) ( Revelation 11:1 ) but one covered with gold, denoting the present glorious state of the church, being without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing:
to measure the city;
the new Jerusalem, its length and breadth; see ( Zechariah 2:1 Zechariah 2:2 ) to show how exactly conformable this church state will be to the rule of God's word, even to perfection: and the gates thereof; to signify who had a right to enter into it, and who not:
and the wall thereof;
its height, it being exceeding high.