Revelation 21

Revelation 21:1

N. The New Heaven and the New Earth (21:1-22:5) 21:1 There is a question whether chapters 21 and 22 deal with the Eternal State alone or whether they alternate between the Millennium and the Eternal State. Since the Millennium and eternity are similar in many ways, it is not surprising if they seem to merge at times in the writings of the Apostle John. Here the Eternal State is called a new heaven and a new earth. These are not to be confused with the new heaven and earth described in Isa_65:17-25. There the Millennium is in view, because sin and death are still present. These will be completely excluded from the Eternal State. 21:2 John sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The fact that it is never said to land on the earth leads some to see it as hovering over the new earth. The fact that the names of the tribes of Israel are on the gates indicates that redeemed Israel will have access to the city, even if they are not part of the church itself. The distinction between the church (the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife, v. 9), Israel (v. 12), and the Gentile nations (v. 24) is maintained throughout. 21:3 John hears an announcement from heaven that the tabernacle of God is with men and that He will dwell with them. As His people they will enjoy communion with Him closer than ever dreamed of. God Himself will be with them and be their God in a nearer and dearer relationship. 21:4, 5 The expression God will wipe away every tear from their eyes does not mean that there will be tears in heaven. It is a poetic way of saying that there will not be! Neither will there be death, nor sorrow, nor crying. For God’s people, these will be forever ended. The One who sits on the throne will make all things new. His words are true and faithful, and will surely come to pass. 21:6 The ushering in of the Eternal State marks the conclusion of God’s purposes for the earth on which we live. As Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, so He is the Beginning and the End, the Creator and the Object of creation, the One who began and the One who finishes, the Eternal One. It is He who gives the water of life (salvation) freely to whoever thirsts for it. 21:7 It is He who blesses the over comer with total inheritance and a new intimacy as between Father and son. As mentioned previously, an overcomer is one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1Jo_5:5). By faith he overcomes the world (1Jo_5:4). 21:8 But not all are overcomers. Some are cowardly, afraid to confess Christ; unbelieving, unwilling to trust the sinner’s Savior; sinners (NKJV marginal reading found in most mss.), all those who remain in their sins, whether guilty of the gross iniquities listed here or not; abominable, given over to disgusting immorality; murderers, malicious and savage killers; sexually immoral, practicing fornication and other forms of sexual sins; sorcerers, those who traffic with evil spirits; idolaters, insulting God by worshiping images; and all liars, compulsive deceivers. These will be assigned to the lake of fire as their final destiny. 21:9 One of the seven angels involved in the bowl judgments offered to give John a further, more detailed view of the New Jerusalem, which he called the bride, the Lamb’s wife. This may mean that the city is the residence of the bride. 21:10, 11 Carried away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, John again saw Jerusalem descending out of heaven, radiant with the glory of God and sparkling like a costly gem. 21:12, 13 It was surrounded by a massive wall in which were twelve gates, graced by twelve angels and bearing the names of the twelve tribes of … Israel. Three gates faced each direction of the compass. The number twelve is used twenty-one times in this book and seven times in this chapter. It is commonly understood to stand for government or administration. 21:14 The twelve foundations of the walls bore the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. This may have reference to the fact that they laid the foundation of the church in what they taught concerning Christ (Eph_2:20). 21:15, 16 With a gold measuring rod, the angel determined that the city was approximately twelve thousand furlongs (1400-1500 miles) in length, breadth, and height. Whether shaped like a cube or a pyramid, it extended far beyond the bounds of restored Israel. 21:17 The wall was one hundred and forty-four cubits thick. The expression according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel means that the angel of verses 9 and 15 used units of measure employed by man. 21:18 The description of the wall (jasper) and the city (pure gold), while hard for us to visualize, is designed to create an image of magnificence and brilliance. In that, it succeeds. 21:19, 20 The twelve foundations were adorned with twelve precious stones, similar to those on the breastplate of the high priest that represent the twelve tribes of Israel. It is not possible to identify all the jewels with precision or to determine their spiritual meaning. 21:21 The twelve gates are twelve pearls, a reminder that the church is the pearl of great price for which the Savior sold all that He had (Mat_13:45-46). The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass, which speaks of unspotted glory. 21:22, 23 Certain things are missing from the city. No temple is necessary because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are there. There is no sun or moon because the glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is the lamp. 21:24 Gentile nations will enjoy its beauty, and the kings of the earth will come with their tribute to the Lord. 21:25 There are no closed gates because there is perfect security and freedom of access. There is no night there; it is a land of fadeless day. 21:26 As mentioned, the wealth of the nations will flow to the city, all their glory and honor. 21:27 Nothing unclean will ever enter there, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.