*REVELATION CHAPER 21-II
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BY WILLIE WONG
| Rev 21:1, “Then I saw a new Heaven and a New earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.” My working Bible is English Bible, not Chinese Bible.I usually use the “NASB,” “NAS,” “New American Standard Bible,” because it is accurate, good and common. When I believe the wording is wrong, I translate it myself. The Book of Revelation is what Apostle JOHN saw and heard. When we get to Heaven, I believe the saints will automatically be able to speak and understand the language of angeles, the universal language. Since the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament was written in Greek, the two languages will be eternal. I find Hebrew and Greek are more difficult than Chinese. Probably because I was exposed to Chinese since childhood, I find both Hebrew and Greek are more difficult than Chinese. I do not know which of the three languages is the most difficult for foreigners. I do not know if God will bless us with the ability to learn Hebrew and Greek fast and well. While English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, etc. will be abolished and vanished for good. |
I find the transliteration of Greek interesting. For example, Revelation in Greek’s transliteration is apokalypsis while in Greek is ἀποκαλύπτω, both writing and recognition are difficult. Will there be universities and professors in Heaven?
Theologians and Bible commentators are very dangerous people because they believe their opinions or interpretations are inspired and infallible. I have carefully studied Revelation Chapter 21 many times, and I do not see how the New Heaven and the New Earth symbolize anything. When the Bible says new, I believe it is new, not renewed or restored. Many do not know the first heaven and the first earth (the present heaven and the present earth) will pass away. When the Bible says there is no longer any sea. I believe there is no longer any sea.
According to the revelation, we know there are three levels of heaven. The first level of heaven is where birds and airplanes fly and where there are unaccountable stars. It is what we call the universe. Nobody knows how large is the first level of heaven because the Bible says the universe is expanding.
According to https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/atmosphere/layers-of-atmosphere
“Exosphere
This is the outermost layer of the atmosphere. It extends from about 375 miles (600 km) to 6,200 miles (10,000 km) above the earth. In this layer, atoms and molecules escape into space and satellites orbit the earth. At the bottom of the exosphere is a transition layer called the thermopause.
Thermosphere
Between about 53 miles (85 km) and 375 miles (600 km) lies the thermosphere, known as the upper atmosphere. While still extremely thin, the gases of the thermosphere become increasingly denser as one descends toward the Earth.
According to https://www.britannica.com/science/celestial-sphere
“celestial sphere, the apparent surface of the heavens, on which the stars seem to be fixed. For the purpose of establishing coordinate systems to mark the positions of heavenly bodies, it can be considered a real sphere at an infinite distance from the Earth. The Earth’s axis, extended to infinity, touches this sphere at the north and south celestial poles, around which the heavens seem to turn. The plane of the Earth’s Equator, extended to infinity, marks the celestial equator. See also hour circle; ecliptic; zenith.”
The Bible is silent about the second level of heaven. I surmise it is the abode or dwellings of angels. I could be wrong.
The third Heaven we know something through revelation.
2Co 12:2-4, “I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”
Apostle Paul never disclosed what he saw and heard in the third Heaven, the Paradise.
With the mortal body I know what I need on earth. With immortal and spiritual body, we do not know what we need in the New Heaven and New Earth.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth – Such a heaven and earth that they might properly be called new; such transformations, and such changes in their appearance, that they seemed to be just created. He does not say that they were created now, or anew; that the old heavens and earth were annihilated; but all that he says is, that there were such changes that they seemed to be new. If the earth is to be renovated by fire, such a renovation will give an appearance to the globe as if it were created anew, and might be attended with such an apparent change in the heavens that they might be said to be new. The description here Revelation 21:1 relates to scenes after the general resurrection and the judgment – for those events are detailed in the close of the previous chapter. In regard to the meaning of the language here, see the notes on 2 Peter 3:13. Compare, also, “The Religion of Geology and its Connected Sciences,” by Edward Hitchcock, D. D., LL. D., pp. 370-408.
For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away – They had passed away by being changed, and a renovated universe had taken their place. See the notes on 2 Peter 3:10.
| And there was no more sea – This change struck John more forcibly, it would appear, than anything else. Now, the seas and oceans occupy about three-fourths of the surface of the globe, and, of course, to that extent prevent the world from being occupied by people – except by the comparatively small number that are mariners. There, the idea of John seems to be, the whole world will be inhabitable, and no part will be given up to the wastes of oceans. In the present state of things, these vast oceans are necessary to render the world a fit abode for human beings, as well as to give life and happiness to the numberless tribes of animals that find their homes in the waters. In the future state, it would seem, the present arrangement will be unnecessary; and if man dwells upon the earth at all, or if he visits it as a temporary abode (see the notes on 2 Peter 3:13), these vast wastes of water will be needless. It should be remembered that the earth, in its changes, according to the teachings of geology, has undergone many revolutions quite as remarkable as it would be if all the lakes, and seas, and oceans of the earth should disappear. Still, it is not certain that it was intended that this language should be understood literally as applied to the material globe. The object is to describe the future blessedness of the righteous; and the idea is, that that will be a world where there will be no such wastes as those produced by oceans. |
| Rev 21:2, “And I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” |
Here it says Apotle John saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem. How in the world the Holy City, new Jerusalem would symbolize the Church of Jesus Christ? The Church is the abstract Body of Christ. The Holy City is a place; prepared as a bride adored for her husband.
Jhn 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I AM coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I AM, there you also will be.”
With all my heart I believe the Holy City, new Jerusalem, is the place that Jesus prepared. I also believe, 1Co 2:9, “but just as it is written:
“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
I also believe the Holy City, new Jerusalem is all that God has prepared for those who love Him. It is also written, Heb 11:16, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a City for them.”
All this is literally true statement, not figure of speech. I differ with those false theologians who pontificate that the Holy City symbolizes the Church. The Holy City is coming out of Heaven from God, the Church is out of this world. Two are different things.
So the Kingdom of Heaven is located in the Holy City, new Jerusalem, the New Heaven and the New Earth. When the false theologians and wrong commentators read the Holy City, new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God, they lost their minds. They question how God could do it — the Holy City is 1,400 miles in length, width and height. They could not believe God can do such a vast project! Read the following, they think it is absurb! I for one believe that this is literally true.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven – See the Analysis of the chapter. On the phrase “new Jerusalem,” see the Galatians 4:26 note, and Hebrews 12:22 note. Here it refers to the residence of the redeemed, the heavenly world, of which Jerusalem was the type and symbol. It is here represented as “coming down from God out of heaven.” This, of course, does not mean that this great city was “literally” to descend upon the earth, and to occupy any one part of the renovated world; but it is a symbolical or figurative representation, designed to show that the abode of the righteous will be splendid and glorious. The idea of a city literally descending from heaven, and being set upon the earth with such proportions – three hundred and seventy miles high Revelation 21:16, made of gold, and with single pearls for gates, and single gems for the foundations – is absurd. No man can suppose that this is literally true, and hence this must be regarded as a figurative or emblematic description. It is a representation of the heavenly state under the image of a beautiful city, of which Jerusalem was, in many respects, a natural and striking emblem.
Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband – See the notes on Isaiah 49:18; Isaiah 61:10. The purpose here is, to represent it as exceedingly beautiful. The comparison of the church with a bride, or a wife, is common in the Scriptures. See the Revelation 19:7-8 notes, and Isaiah 1:21 note. It is also common in the Scriptures to compare a city with a beautiful woman, and these images here seem to be combined. It is a beautiful city that seems to descend, and this city is itself compared with a richly-attired bride prepared for her husband,”
| Rev 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.” |
This is very serious. The tabernacle of God is among the people. I had never seen the tabernacle of God. God will dwell among His children. This is not figure of speech.
Verse 3. – And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying. Out of the throne is read in א, A, and others; out of heaven is the reading of B, P, etc. As usual, the voice is described as a great voice (cf. Revelation 19:17, etc.). It is not stated from whom the voice proceeds, but comp. Revelation 20:11. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them; literally, he shall tabernacle with them. Still the seer is influenced by the language of Ezekiel: “And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forevermore” (Ezekiel 37:28). Thus God makes his abode in his glorified Church – the New Jerusalem, among his spiritual Israel (cf. Revelation 7:15, where this vision has been already anticipated). And they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God; and they shall be his peoples, and himself shall be God with them, their God. The balance of authority is in favour of retaining the two last words, though they are omitted in א, B, and others. Evidently the same words as Ezekiel 37:27 (see above), “My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Cf. “God with them” with “Emmanuel” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). Now, the promise is redeemed in all its fulness. The plural “peoples” seems to point to the catholic nature of the New Jerusalem, which embraces many nations (cf. ver. 24; also Revelation 7:9). Revelation 21:3”
| Rev 21:4, “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”This is nothing figurative. God will make first things pass away including every tear, no longer any death; no longer any mourning, or crying or pain. What God has done is wonderful. These are the beauties of the Kingdom of Heaven. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- God shall wipe] Read simply, and shall wipe, or, and He shall wipe, according as it is thought necessary or not to begin a new sentence. The name of “God” is introduced from the parallel passage, Revelation 7:17 : in Isaiah 25:8 the names used are those traditionally represented by “the Lord God.”
there shall be no more death] More exactly, death shall be no more, having been destroyed in the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:14 : not that the personification is put forward here.
neither sorrow … any more pain] Better, neither shall there be sorrow, nor crying, nor pain any more. See Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 65:19.
for the former things are passed away] for should probably be omitted; and the word for “former” is literally, first.”
| Rev.21:5, “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I AM making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”When God says He is making all things new. We do not know “all things” include what or everything. We believe it because these words are faithful and true. They are literally true. EVERYTHING will be new. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- And he that sat upon the throne said] The first time that He speaks. The reference is rather to the eternal throne of Revelation 4:2 than to the judgement-throne of Revelation 20:11, so far as the two can be distinguished.
Behold, I make all things new] Some O. T. parallels are alleged, e.g. Isaiah 43:19; Jeremiah 31:22; but really the only close parallel is 2 Corinthians 5:17; and the meaning of this passage is, of course, even fuller than of that.
he said unto me] Read only, he saith. It is doubtful whether the speaker is still “He that sat on the throne;” for a similar command to “write” has been given already,—Revelation 14:13, Revelation 19:9; cf. Revelation 10:4—either by an impersonal “voice from heaven” or by the revealing angel. The question is best left open. The repetition of the words “He said unto me” in the next verse is a reason against ascribing all three speeches to Him that sat on the throne; the fresh mention of a revealing angel in Revelation 21:9 is perhaps a stronger one against supposing an angel to be speaking here; and the form of the words themselves against their referring to an impersonal voice.
Write: for] Or perhaps, “Write, ‘These words are’ ” &c.: lit. that these words are”.…
true and faithful] Read, faithful and true, as at Revelation 3:14, Revelation 19:11, and still more exactly Revelation 22:6.”
| Rev 21:6, “Then He said to me, “It is done. I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost.”God is almighty, all He said is done. He is Eternal. And He gives the spring of the water of life freely. I do not know whether we take once the water of life or as needed. This is real not symbolic. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
| It is done] We should read the plural: the word therefore is not an exact repetition of that in Revelation 16:17. If we ask, what is the subject to this verb, “They are come into being,” perhaps the best answer is “all things.” The new universe of which the creating Word has just gone forth, has now been made, “and God sees that it is good.” Alpha and Omega] As in Revelation 1:8 (not 11), Revelation 22:13. Here, as in the former passage, it is God the Father that speaks. of the fountain of the water of life] See Revelation 7:17 and note, Revelation 22:1 : also our Lord’s words in St John’s Gospel, John 4:14, John 7:38. The last quoted passage is, with a touching grotesqueness confounded with this in the Epistle describing the Martyrs of Gaul (Eus. H. E. v. i. 18). freely] i.e. not “abundantly,” but gratis: cf. Isaiah 55:1.” |
| Rev 21:7, “The one who overcomes will inheritthese things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”These things include a New Heaven and a New Earth, the Holy City, New Jerusalem, all new things: no tear, no death, no pain, no suffering, water of life, etc. The greatest thing is to be a son of God. |
Verse 7. – He that overcometh shall inherit all things. The correct reading makes the sense plain: He that overcometh shall inherit these things, i.e. the promises just enumerated. These words show the reason for the words of ver. 6; and may be called the text on which the Apocalypse is based (cf. Revelation 2.); for, though the words themselves do not often recur, yet the spirit of them is constantly appearing (cf. Revelation 12:11; see also John 16:33). And I will be his God, and he shall be my son (cf. Leviticus 26:12, “And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people”). Some have thought that these words prove the Speaker to be God the Father; but it is impossible to separate the Persons of the Blessed Trinity in these chapters. This promise, first made to David concerning Solomon (2 Samuel 7:14), received its mystical fulfilment in Christ (Hebrews 1:5), and is now fulfilled in the members of Christ (Alford). Revelation 21:7”
| Rev 21:8, “But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”The second death is for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars who will take part in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Clearly, liars will be in Hell. Do you know any politician and world leader who is not a liar? |
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable . . .—Better, But for the cowardly and unfaithful (or, unbelieving) and defiled with abominations, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and for all the false, their part (is) in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which thing is the second death. The list here given points to those classes of character which cannot find a place in the Holy City. Nothing that defileth shall enter in. The less glaring faults stand first, the cowardly and unbelieving. There is a high and holy fear in which the Christian passes the time of his sojourn here (1Peter 1:17); but there is a base and selfish fear, a fear of man, which brings a snare; those who have faith enter boldly the strife, following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, and conquering by faith. The cowardly sink into companionship with the faithless and unbelieving, with the workers of iniquity. The abominations spoken of here have reference to those mentioned in Revelation 17:4. The characters, it has been thought, form four pairs. Fear and unbelief go hand in hand (Deuteronomy 20:1-8; Matthew 8:26); the workers of abomination and the murderers, the fornicators and the sorcerers are united as those who sin in secret; the idolaters and the false, as those who change God’s truth into a lie. (Comp. Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5; Philippians 3:19.) These who are thus shut out from the heavenly city stand in contrast to those who are admitted; yet among those admitted arc such who have sinned through fear, faithlessness, and fleshliness. Sin indeed excludes from the city, but it is sin loved sin unrepented of, which alone can close the gate of the city whose gates lie open day and night.”
| Rev 21:9, “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”In this verse the angle is going to show John the bride, the wife of the Lamb. The Church is the bride, the wife of the Lamb. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Vision of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:9 to Revelation 22:5The Measure of the City, Revelation 21:9-179. And there came unto me &c.] As in Revelation 17:1. “unto me” should be omitted, so that the sentence as far as “vials” is verbatim the same as there. The identical form of introduction emphasizes the contrast between Babylon and Jerusalem, the harlot and the bride.
full] According to the correct text, this word is made to agree not with “the seven bowls” but with “the seven angels.” But probably it is a merely accidental grammatical inaccuracy of St John’s. There is a much worse “false concord” in Revelation 14:19.
in the Spirit] Revelation 17:3, Revelation 1:10. Cf. Ezekiel 3:14.
to a great and high mountain] Ezekiel 40:2. The preposition rendered “to” plainly implies that St John was set on the mountain; whether the city occupied the mountain itself, or another site within view. In Ezek. l.c. the city apparently occupies the southern slope of the mountain, whence the seer views it.
that great city, the holy Jerusalem] Read, the holy city Jerusalem.
descending … from God] Verbatim the same as in Revelation 21:2, according to the true text. The descent described here is no doubt the same as there, but St John’s vision of the descent is not exactly the same. He has seen, as it were in the distance, the appearance of the city: but his attention was absorbed in listening to the sayings of Revelation 21:3-8. Now, he is summoned to attend to the other, and finds it at the same stage where he noticed it in passing before.”
| Rev 21:10, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of Heavenfrom God.”In this verse, the angel compared the Holy City, Jerusalem as the bride, the wife of the Lamb.The angel showed the wife of the Lamb is like the Holy City, new Jerusalem, having the glory and splendor of God. |
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- And he carried me away in the spirit . . .—Better, He carried me away in spirit on to a mountain, great and high. It is not merely that the height gives a fine view-ground, the symbolism carries us further. The glimpse of God’s coming glories is best gained from the consecrated heights of self-surrender and prayer. On a mountain apart—the mountain of supplication and separation from the world—is the light and glory of God best seen. There are Beulah heights and transfiguration heights from which we may gain glimpses of the city and the glory of the Lord of the city. (Comp. Matthew 17:1-4.) The angel carried away the seer to a mountain great and high, and showed him (not “that great city,” but) the holy city Jerusalem descending out of the heaven from (having its origin from) God. The tempter showed to our Lord the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; the comforting angel shows to our Lord’s prophet the city that hath the foundations, and the glory of it—the city that is of God, its builder and maker. (Comp. Hebrews 11:10, where the right rendering is not “a city,” but the city which hath the foundations.)”
| Rev 21:11, “having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.’The glory of God is real, the very valuable stone is real. |
Having the glory of God – A glory or splendor such as became the dwelling place of God. The nature of that splendor is described in the following verses.
And her light – In Revelation 21:23 it is said that “the glory of God did lighten it.” That is, it was made light by the visible symbol of the Deity – the “Shekinah.” See the Luke 2:9 note; Acts 9:3 note. The word here rendered “light” – φωστὴρ phōstēr – occurs nowhere else in the New Testament except in Philippians 2:15. It means, properly, a light, a lightgiver, and, in profane writers, means commonly a “window.” It is used here to denote the brightness or shining of the divine glory, as supplying the place of the sun, or of a window.
Like unto a stone most precious – A stone of the richest or most costly nature.
Even like a jasper stone – On the jasper, see the notes on Revelation 4:3. It is used there for the same purpose as here, to illustrate the majesty and glory of God.
Clear as crystal – Pellucid or resplendent like crystal. There are various kinds of jasper – as red, yellow, and brown, brownish yellow, etc. The stone is essentially a quartz, and the word “crystal” here is used to show that the form of it referred to by John was clear and bright.”
| Rev 21:12, “It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.”It is true that the Holy City had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Isreal were written on the gates. |
And had a wall great and high – Ancient cities were always surrounded with walls for protection, and John represents this as enclosed in the usual manner. The word “great” means that it was thick and strong. Its height also is particularly noticed, for it was unusual. See Revelation 21:16.
And had twelve gates – Three on each side. The number of the gates correspond to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and to the number of the apostles. The idea seems to be that there would be ample opportunity of access and egress.
And at the gates twelve angels – Stationed there as guards to the New Jerusalem. Their business seems to have been to watch the gates that nothing improper should enter; that the great enemy should not make an insidious approach to this city as he did to the earthly paradise.
And names written thereon – On the gates.
Which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel – So in the city which Ezekiel saw in vision, which John seems also to have had in his eye. See Ezekiel 48:31. The inscription in Ezekiel denoted that that was the residence of the people of God; and the same idea is denoted here. The New Jerusalem is the eternal residence of the children of God, and this is indicated at every gate. None can enter who do not belong to that people; all who are within are understood to be of their number.”
| Rev 21:13, “There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.”It is no figurative, there were three gates on the east, on the north, on the south, and on the west each. |
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
21:9-21 God has various employments for his holy angels. Sometimes they sound the trumpet of Divine Providence, and warn a careless world; sometimes they discover things of a heavenly nature of the heirs of salvation. Those who would have clear views of heaven, must get as near to heaven as they can, on the mount of meditation and faith. The subject of the vision is the church of God in a perfect, triumphant state, shining in its lustre; glorious in relation to Christ; which shows that the happiness of heaven consists in intercourse with God, and in conformity to him. The change of emblems from a bride to a city, shows that we are only to take general ideas from this description. The wall is for security. Heaven is a safe state; those who are there, are separated and secured from all evils and enemies. This city is vast; here is room for all the people of God. The foundation of the wall; the promise and power of God, and the purchase of Christ, are the strong foundations of the safety and happiness of the church. These foundations are set forth by twelve sorts of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellence of the doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or the personal excellences of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven has gates; there is a free admission to all that are sanctified; they shall not find themselves shut out. These gates were all of pearls. Christ is the Pearl of great price, and he is our Way to God. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The saints in heaven tread gold under foot. The saints are there at rest, yet it is not a state of sleep and idleness; they have communion, not only with God, but with one another. All these glories but faintly represent heaven.”
Rev. 21:14,
| And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are:Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot. Who replaced Judas Iscariot? I do not want to waste time and effort with those who promote Matthias.I just want to quote the Scripture:1Ti 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope.”If you believe the Holy Bible, that settles the dispute.There are 27 BOOKS in the New Testament, Apostle Paul wrote 14 of them. I believe Apostle Paul was the most knowledgeable because he had direct revelations from Christ. | ||
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- And the wall … twelve foundations] Probably each of the twelve sections into which the wall is divided by the gates rests on an enormous jewel, reaching from gate to gate. This symbolises the solidity as well as the beauty of the divine structure: and was itself symbolised by the enormous size of the stones used in the foundations of the earthly temple. See St Mark 13:1 and parallels. Had is literally having, a solecism like that of Revelation 21:12.
twelve names of the twelve apostles] Expressing the same doctrine as St Paul in Ephesians 2:20, and (probably) our Lord in St Matthew 16:18. It is absurd to suppose that there is any pointed insistance on the Apostles being only twelve, St Paul being excluded: to introduce thirteen or fourteen would have spoilt the symmetry characteristic of the whole vision. We might just as well say, that there ought to be thirteen gates for the thirteen tribes; counting Ephraim, Manasseh and Levi all as coordinate with the rest. Really, it is idle to ask whether the twelfth name was that of St Paul or St Matthias. St John does not notice his own name being written there, though of course it was (cf. St Luke 10:20); the Apostles are here mentioned in their collective and official, not in their individual character. (See on Revelation 5:5.)
of the Lamb] His identity is taken for granted with the Jesus of the earthly ministry, as in Revelation 14:1 with the Son of God.”
Rev. 21:15
| And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.If it is a parable or symbol, why you had a golden reed to measure the City, and the gates and the wall thereof? |
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
THE MEASUREMENT OF THE CITY.
- And he that talked with me . . .—Or, better, And he who was talking with me had a golden reed . . . The allusion here is to the angel mentioned in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 15:3); the reed, or measuring rod, is of gold, that used in Revelation 11:1 was not said to be of gold; the measurement there was the symbol of preservation amid impending danger; the measuring here is more glorious—it is measuring which exhibits the beauty and proportion of the city which is now dwelling at peace. Gold is one of the features of the city; the street is gold (Revelation 21:18; Revelation 21:21); it may stand, as a token of the wealth (Psalm 72:15; 1Kings 10:14-21) of the royal city; but the wealth of that city is love. (Comp. Note on Revelation 3:18.)”
Rev. 21:16
| The city is laid out as a square, its length being the same as its width; and he measured the city with his rod—twelve thousand stadia (about 1,400 miles); its length and width and height are equal.I use the Amplified Bible because it coverts stadia. |
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And the city lieth four square,…. To the four corners of the world, from whence its inhabitants come, and denotes the regularity, uniformity, perfection, and immovableness of it.
And the length is as large as the breadth; this church state will be all of a piece, perfect, entire, and wanting nothing.
And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; or fifteen hundred miles; a monstrously large city indeed! such an one as never was upon earth; see Ezekiel 48:35 and which shows, that this is not to be understood literally, but mystically; and intends the capaciousness of it, here being room enough for all the twelve tribes of Israel; that is, for all the elect of God; for as in Christ’s Father’s house, so in this kingdom state of his, there will be many mansions, or dwelling places, enough for all his people. This city will hold them all. The Jews (h) say of Jerusalem, that in time to come it shall be so enlarged, as to reach to the gates of Damascus, yea, to the throne of glory.
The length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal. A perfectly uniform state! according to the Ethiopic version, it is in length twelve thousand furlongs, and every measure equal, so that it is so many furlongs in length, breadth, and height.
(h) Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 24. 1.”
Rev. 21:7
| He measured its wall also—a hundred forty-four cubits (about 200 feet), according to man’s measurements, which are angelic measurements.”I also use Amplified Bible because it converts cubits. It is interesting if it is symbolic, why the measurement needs to be exact as man’s measurements which are also angelic measurement. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- he measured the wall] We should naturally understand, the height of it. The walls of the historical Babylon are differently stated as having been 200, 300, or nearly 340 feet high. But we are told that they were about 80 feet in breadth (Hdt. I. 178:5: cf. Jeremiah 51:58): so if we do admit that the City here is conceived as 340 miles high, there is a sort of proportion in making its walls not less than 73 yards thick.
according to … the angel] Rather, of an angel. Angels use, he means, a cubit of the same length as men—viz. the average length of the forearm, from the elbow to the finger-tip. It is perhaps implied, that angels are not of superhuman stature.”
Rev 21:18-27, “The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation
stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx;
the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations
will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;
and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
There are so-called Christian organizations who sell subscriptions and ask for donations. Many of them have money and influence. Some even call themselves evangelicals. But they insiste to have figurative or symbolic interpretations of Revelation Chapter 21. They do not believe in a real, literal New Heavens and New Earth. When they realize the Bible says the Holy City, New Jerusalem is 1,400 miles long, wide and high — it is coming down from Heaven, they say it is not literal as if such giant city is impossible for even God. I hold the priinciples there are parables in the Bible. Parables have to be interpreted as parables or figure of speech. But the Bible insterprets itself. There are many literal statements of facts in the Bible. The Kingdom of Heaven is real, its headquarters is the Holy City, New Jerusalem, in New Heavens and New Earth. When God says new, I believe it is new, not renewed or restored. There are many things in the Bible I do not know. Even Apostle Paul said he looked at things like through a miror. When the Perfect Lord returns, we will know everything.
I do not sell subscription. I do not make money by preaching the Word of God. I do believe the Holy City, New Jerusalem, is the place the Lord Jesus prepared, John 14:2-3. It is what God prepared, 1Co 2:9,
“but just as it is written: “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT
GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
IT is a miracle that the New Earth is able to uphold The Holy City, New Jerusalem which is 1,400 miles long, 1,400 miles wide and 1,400 mile high — such as mega, superstructure. The Holy City can house about 2 billion saints with each comfortable mansion. I believe what is described in Revelation Chapter 21 is lietrally true and I thank God for the Holy City, New Jerusalem.
You may inherit the Kingdom of Heaven if you repent of your sins and believe in the Great God Jesus Christ and the Savior of mankind. You can do it now.
WILLLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
*REVELATION CHAPER 21-II
*Our mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free.
We do not want donation. We only want you to know the truth.
BY WILLIE WONG
| BbB |
| Rev 21:1, “Then I saw a new Heaven and a New earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.” My working Bible is English Bible, not Chinese Bible.I usually use the “NASB,” “NAS,” “New American Standard Bible,” because it is accurate, good and common. When I believe the wording is wrong, I translate it myself. The Book of Revelation is what Apostle JOHN saw and heard. When we get to Heaven, I believe the saints will automatically be able to speak and understand the language of angeles, the universal language. Since the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament was written in Greek, the two languages will be eternal. I find Hebrew and Greek are more difficult than Chinese. Probably because I was exposed to Chinese since childhood, I find both Hebrew and Greek are more difficult than Chinese. I do not know which of the three languages is the most difficult for foreigners. I do not know if God will bless us with the ability to learn Hebrew and Greek fast and well. While English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, etc. will be abolished and vanished for good. |
I find the transliteration of Greek interesting. For example, Revelation in Greek’s transliteration is apokalypsis while in Greek is ἀποκαλύπτω, both writing and recognition are difficult. Will there be universities and professors in Heaven?
Theologians and Bible commentators are very dangerous people because they believe their opinions or interpretations are inspired and infallible. I have carefully studied Revelation Chapter 21 many times, and I do not see how the New Heaven and the New Earth symbolize anything. When the Bible says new, I believe it is new, not renewed or restored. Many do not know the first heaven and the first earth (the present heaven and the present earth) will pass away. When the Bible says there is no longer any sea. I believe there is no longer any sea.
According to the revelation, we know there are three levels of heaven. The first level of heaven is where birds and airplanes fly and where there are unaccountable stars. It is what we call the universe. Nobody knows how large is the first level of heaven because the Bible says the universe is expanding.
According to https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/atmosphere/layers-of-atmosphere
“Exosphere
This is the outermost layer of the atmosphere. It extends from about 375 miles (600 km) to 6,200 miles (10,000 km) above the earth. In this layer, atoms and molecules escape into space and satellites orbit the earth. At the bottom of the exosphere is a transition layer called the thermopause.
Thermosphere
Between about 53 miles (85 km) and 375 miles (600 km) lies the thermosphere, known as the upper atmosphere. While still extremely thin, the gases of the thermosphere become increasingly denser as one descends toward the Earth.
According to https://www.britannica.com/science/celestial-sphere
“celestial sphere, the apparent surface of the heavens, on which the stars seem to be fixed. For the purpose of establishing coordinate systems to mark the positions of heavenly bodies, it can be considered a real sphere at an infinite distance from the Earth. The Earth’s axis, extended to infinity, touches this sphere at the north and south celestial poles, around which the heavens seem to turn. The plane of the Earth’s Equator, extended to infinity, marks the celestial equator. See also hour circle; ecliptic; zenith.”
The Bible is silent about the second level of heaven. I surmise it is the abode or dwellings of angels. I could be wrong.
The third Heaven we know something through revelation.
2Co 12:2-4, “I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or
apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
was caught up into Paradise and heard
inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”
Apostle Paul never disclosed what he saw and heard in the third Heaven, the Paradise.
With the mortal body I know what I need on earth. With immortal and spiritual body, we do not know what we need in the New Heaven and New Earth.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth – Such a heaven and earth that they might properly be called new; such transformations, and such changes in their appearance, that they seemed to be just created. He does not say that they were created now, or anew; that the old heavens and earth were annihilated; but all that he says is, that there were such changes that they seemed to be new. If the earth is to be renovated by fire, such a renovation will give an appearance to the globe as if it were created anew, and might be attended with such an apparent change in the heavens that they might be said to be new. The description here Revelation 21:1 relates to scenes after the general resurrection and the judgment – for those events are detailed in the close of the previous chapter. In regard to the meaning of the language here, see the notes on 2 Peter 3:13. Compare, also, “The Religion of Geology and its Connected Sciences,” by Edward Hitchcock, D. D., LL. D., pp. 370-408.
For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away – They had passed away by being changed, and a renovated universe had taken their place. See the notes on 2 Peter 3:10.
| And there was no more sea – This change struck John more forcibly, it would appear, than anything else. Now, the seas and oceans occupy about three-fourths of the surface of the globe, and, of course, to that extent prevent the world from being occupied by people – except by the comparatively small number that are mariners. There, the idea of John seems to be, the whole world will be inhabitable, and no part will be given up to the wastes of oceans. In the present state of things, these vast oceans are necessary to render the world a fit abode for human beings, as well as to give life and happiness to the numberless tribes of animals that find their homes in the waters. In the future state, it would seem, the present arrangement will be unnecessary; and if man dwells upon the earth at all, or if he visits it as a temporary abode (see the notes on 2 Peter 3:13), these vast wastes of water will be needless. It should be remembered that the earth, in its changes, according to the teachings of geology, has undergone many revolutions quite as remarkable as it would be if all the lakes, and seas, and oceans of the earth should disappear. Still, it is not certain that it was intended that this language should be understood literally as applied to the material globe. The object is to describe the future blessedness of the righteous; and the idea is, that that will be a world where there will be no such wastes as those produced by oceans. |
| Rev 21:2, “And I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” |
Here it says Apotle John saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem. How in the world the Holy City, new Jerusalem would symbolize the Church of Jesus Christ? The Church is the abstract Body of Christ. The Holy City is a place; prepared as a bride adored for her husband.
Jhn 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I AM coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I AM, there you also will be.”
With all my heart I believe the Holy City, new Jerusalem, is the place that Jesus prepared. I also believe, 1Co 2:9, “but just as it is written:
“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT
ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD
HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
I also believe the Holy City, new Jerusalem is all that God has prepared for those who love Him. It is also written, Heb 11:16, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a City for them.”
All this is literally true statement, not figure of speech.
So the Kingdom of Heaven is located in the Holy City, new Jerusalem, the New Heaven and the New Earth. When the false theologians and wrong commentators read the Holy City, new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God, they lost their minds. They question how God could do it — the Holy City is 1,400 miles in length, width and height. They could not believe God can do such a vast project! Read the following, they think it is absurb! I for one believe that this is literally true.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven – See the Analysis of the chapter. On the phrase “new Jerusalem,” see the Galatians 4:26 note, and Hebrews 12:22 note. Here it refers to the residence of the redeemed, the heavenly world, of which Jerusalem was the type and symbol. It is here represented as “coming down from God out of heaven.” This, of course, does not mean that this great city was “literally” to descend upon the earth, and to occupy any one part of the renovated world; but it is a symbolical or figurative representation, designed to show that the abode of the righteous will be splendid and glorious. The idea of a city literally descending from heaven, and being set upon the earth with such proportions – three hundred and seventy miles high Revelation 21:16, made of gold, and with single pearls for gates, and single gems for the foundations – is absurd. No man can suppose that this is literally true, and hence this must be regarded as a figurative or emblematic description. It is a representation of the heavenly state under the image of a beautiful city, of which Jerusalem was, in many respects, a natural and striking emblem.
Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband – See the notes on Isaiah 49:18; Isaiah 61:10. The purpose here is, to represent it as exceedingly beautiful. The comparison of the church with a bride, or a wife, is common in the Scriptures. See the Revelation 19:7-8 notes, and Isaiah 1:21 note. It is also common in the Scriptures to compare a city with a beautiful woman, and these images here seem to be combined. It is a beautiful city that seems to descend, and this city is itself compared with a richly-attired bride prepared for her husband,”
| Rev 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.” |
This is very serious. The tabernacle of God is among the people. I had never seen the tabernacle of God. God will dwell among His children. This is not figure of speech.
Verse 3. – And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying. Out of the throne is read in א, A, and others; out of heaven is the reading of B, P, etc. As usual, the voice is described as a great voice (cf. Revelation 19:17, etc.). It is not stated from whom the voice proceeds, but comp. Revelation 20:11. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them; literally, he shall tabernacle with them. Still the seer is influenced by the language of Ezekiel: “And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forevermore” (Ezekiel 37:28). Thus God makes his abode in his glorified Church – the New Jerusalem, among his spiritual Israel (cf. Revelation 7:15, where this vision has been already anticipated). And they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God; and they shall be his peoples, and himself shall be God with them, their God. The balance of authority is in favour of retaining the two last words, though they are omitted in א, B, and others. Evidently the same words as Ezekiel 37:27 (see above), “My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Cf. “God with them” with “Emmanuel” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). Now, the promise is redeemed in all its fulness. The plural “peoples” seems to point to the catholic nature of the New Jerusalem, which embraces many nations (cf. ver. 24; also Revelation 7:9). Revelation 21:3”
| Rev 21:4, “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”This is nothing figurative. God will make first things pass away including every tear, no longer any death; no longer any mourning, or crying or pain. What God has done is wonderful. These are the beauties of the Kingdom of Heaven. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- God shall wipe] Read simply, and shall wipe, or, and He shall wipe, according as it is thought necessary or not to begin a new sentence. The name of “God” is introduced from the parallel passage, Revelation 7:17 : in Isaiah 25:8 the names used are those traditionally represented by “the Lord God.”
there shall be no more death] More exactly, death shall be no more, having been destroyed in the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:14 : not that the personification is put forward here.
neither sorrow … any more pain] Better, neither shall there be sorrow, nor crying, nor pain any more. See Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 65:19.
for the former things are passed away] for should probably be omitted; and the word for “former” is literally, first.”
| Rev.21:5, “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I AM making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”When God says He is making all things new. We do not know “all things” include what or everything. We believe it because these words are faithful and true. They are literally true. EVERYTHING will be new. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- And he that sat upon the throne said] The first time that He speaks. The reference is rather to the eternal throne of Revelation 4:2 than to the judgement-throne of Revelation 20:11, so far as the two can be distinguished.
Behold, I make all things new] Some O. T. parallels are alleged, e.g. Isaiah 43:19; Jeremiah 31:22; but really the only close parallel is 2 Corinthians 5:17; and the meaning of this passage is, of course, even fuller than of that.
he said unto me] Read only, he saith. It is doubtful whether the speaker is still “He that sat on the throne;” for a similar command to “write” has been given already,—Revelation 14:13, Revelation 19:9; cf. Revelation 10:4—either by an impersonal “voice from heaven” or by the revealing angel. The question is best left open. The repetition of the words “He said unto me” in the next verse is a reason against ascribing all three speeches to Him that sat on the throne; the fresh mention of a revealing angel in Revelation 21:9 is perhaps a stronger one against supposing an angel to be speaking here; and the form of the words themselves against their referring to an impersonal voice.
Write: for] Or perhaps, “Write, ‘These words are’ ” &c.: lit. that these words are”.…
true and faithful] Read, faithful and true, as at Revelation 3:14, Revelation 19:11, and still more exactly Revelation 22:6.”
| Rev 21:6, “Then He said to me, “It is done. I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost.”God is almighty, all He said is done. He is Eternal. And He gives the spring of the water of life freely. I do not know whether we take once the water of life or as needed. This is real not symbolic. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
| It is done] We should read the plural: the word therefore is not an exact repetition of that in Revelation 16:17. If we ask, what is the subject to this verb, “They are come into being,” perhaps the best answer is “all things.” The new universe of which the creating Word has just gone forth, has now been made, “and God sees that it is good.” Alpha and Omega] As in Revelation 1:8 (not 11), Revelation 22:13. Here, as in the former passage, it is God the Father that speaks. of the fountain of the water of life] See Revelation 7:17 and note, Revelation 22:1 : also our Lord’s words in St John’s Gospel, John 4:14, John 7:38. The last quoted passage is, with a touching grotesqueness confounded with this in the Epistle describing the Martyrs of Gaul (Eus. H. E. v. i. 18). freely] i.e. not “abundantly,” but gratis: cf. Isaiah 55:1.” |
| Rev 21:7, “The one who overcomes will inheritthese things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”These things include a New Heaven and a New Earth, the Holy City, New Jerusalem, all new things: no tear, no death, no pain, no suffering, water of life, etc. The greatest thing is to be a son of God. |
Verse 7. – He that overcometh shall inherit all things. The correct reading makes the sense plain: He that overcometh shall inherit these things, i.e. the promises just enumerated. These words show the reason for the words of ver. 6; and may be called the text on which the Apocalypse is based (cf. Revelation 2.); for, though the words themselves do not often recur, yet the spirit of them is constantly appearing (cf. Revelation 12:11; see also John 16:33). And I will be his God, and he shall be my son (cf. Leviticus 26:12, “And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people”). Some have thought that these words prove the Speaker to be God the Father; but it is impossible to separate the Persons of the Blessed Trinity in these chapters. This promise, first made to David concerning Solomon (2 Samuel 7:14), received its mystical fulfilment in Christ (Hebrews 1:5), and is now fulfilled in the members of Christ (Alford). Revelation 21:7”
| Rev 21:8, “But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”The second death is for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars who will take part in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Clearly, liars will be in Hell. Do you know any politician and world leader who is not a liar? |
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable . . .—Better, But for the cowardly and unfaithful (or, unbelieving) and defiled with abominations, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and for all the false, their part (is) in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which thing is the second death. The list here given points to those classes of character which cannot find a place in the Holy City. Nothing that defileth shall enter in. The less glaring faults stand first, the cowardly and unbelieving. There is a high and holy fear in which the Christian passes the time of his sojourn here (1Peter 1:17); but there is a base and selfish fear, a fear of man, which brings a snare; those who have faith enter boldly the strife, following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, and conquering by faith. The cowardly sink into companionship with the faithless and unbelieving, with the workers of iniquity. The abominations spoken of here have reference to those mentioned in Revelation 17:4. The characters, it has been thought, form four pairs. Fear and unbelief go hand in hand (Deuteronomy 20:1-8; Matthew 8:26); the workers of abomination and the murderers, the fornicators and the sorcerers are united as those who sin in secret; the idolaters and the false, as those who change God’s truth into a lie. (Comp. Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5; Philippians 3:19.) These who are thus shut out from the heavenly city stand in contrast to those who are admitted; yet among those admitted arc such who have sinned through fear, faithlessness, and fleshliness. Sin indeed excludes from the city, but it is sin loved sin unrepented of, which alone can close the gate of the city whose gates lie open day and night.”
| Rev 21:9, “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”In this verse the angle is going to show John the bride, the wife of the Lamb. The Church is the bride, the wife of the Lamb. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Vision of the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:9 to Revelation 22:5The Measure of the City, Revelation 21:9-179. And there came unto me &c.] As in Revelation 17:1. “unto me” should be omitted, so that the sentence as far as “vials” is verbatim the same as there. The identical form of introduction emphasizes the contrast between Babylon and Jerusalem, the harlot and the bride.
full] According to the correct text, this word is made to agree not with “the seven bowls” but with “the seven angels.” But probably it is a merely accidental grammatical inaccuracy of St John’s. There is a much worse “false concord” in Revelation 14:19.
in the Spirit] Revelation 17:3, Revelation 1:10. Cf. Ezekiel 3:14.
to a great and high mountain] Ezekiel 40:2. The preposition rendered “to” plainly implies that St John was set on the mountain; whether the city occupied the mountain itself, or another site within view. In Ezek. l.c. the city apparently occupies the southern slope of the mountain, whence the seer views it.
that great city, the holy Jerusalem] Read, the holy city Jerusalem.
descending … from God] Verbatim the same as in Revelation 21:2, according to the true text. The descent described here is no doubt the same as there, but St John’s vision of the descent is not exactly the same. He has seen, as it were in the distance, the appearance of the city: but his attention was absorbed in listening to the sayings of Revelation 21:3-8. Now, he is summoned to attend to the other, and finds it at the same stage where he noticed it in passing before.”
| Rev 21:10, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of Heavenfrom God.”In this verse, the angel compared the Holy City, Jerusalem as the bride, the wife of the Lamb.The angel showed the wife of the Lamb is like the Holy City, new Jerusalem, having the glory and splendor of God. |
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
- And he carried me away in the spirit . . .—Better, He carried me away in spirit on to a mountain, great and high. It is not merely that the height gives a fine view-ground, the symbolism carries us further. The glimpse of God’s coming glories is best gained from the consecrated heights of self-surrender and prayer. On a mountain apart—the mountain of supplication and separation from the world—is the light and glory of God best seen. There are Beulah heights and transfiguration heights from which we may gain glimpses of the city and the glory of the Lord of the city. (Comp. Matthew 17:1-4.) The angel carried away the seer to a mountain great and high, and showed him (not “that great city,” but) the holy city Jerusalem descending out of the heaven from (having its origin from) God. The tempter showed to our Lord the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; the comforting angel shows to our Lord’s prophet the city that hath the foundations, and the glory of it—the city that is of God, its builder and maker. (Comp. Hebrews 11:10, where the right rendering is not “a city,” but the city which hath the foundations.)”
| Rev 21:11, “having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.’The glory of God is real, the very valuable stone is real. |
Having the glory of God – A glory or splendor such as became the dwelling place of God. The nature of that splendor is described in the following verses.
And her light – In Revelation 21:23 it is said that “the glory of God did lighten it.” That is, it was made light by the visible symbol of the Deity – the “Shekinah.” See the Luke 2:9 note; Acts 9:3 note. The word here rendered “light” – φωστὴρ phōstēr – occurs nowhere else in the New Testament except in Philippians 2:15. It means, properly, a light, a lightgiver, and, in profane writers, means commonly a “window.” It is used here to denote the brightness or shining of the divine glory, as supplying the place of the sun, or of a window.
Like unto a stone most precious – A stone of the richest or most costly nature.
Even like a jasper stone – On the jasper, see the notes on Revelation 4:3. It is used there for the same purpose as here, to illustrate the majesty and glory of God.
Clear as crystal – Pellucid or resplendent like crystal. There are various kinds of jasper – as red, yellow, and brown, brownish yellow, etc. The stone is essentially a quartz, and the word “crystal” here is used to show that the form of it referred to by John was clear and bright.”
| Rev 21:12, “It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.”It is true that the Holy City had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Isreal were written on the gates. |
And had a wall great and high – Ancient cities were always surrounded with walls for protection, and John represents this as enclosed in the usual manner. The word “great” means that it was thick and strong. Its height also is particularly noticed, for it was unusual. See Revelation 21:16.
And had twelve gates – Three on each side. The number of the gates correspond to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and to the number of the apostles. The idea seems to be that there would be ample opportunity of access and egress.
And at the gates twelve angels – Stationed there as guards to the New Jerusalem. Their business seems to have been to watch the gates that nothing improper should enter; that the great enemy should not make an insidious approach to this city as he did to the earthly paradise.
And names written thereon – On the gates.
Which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel – So in the city which Ezekiel saw in vision, which John seems also to have had in his eye. See Ezekiel 48:31. The inscription in Ezekiel denoted that that was the residence of the people of God; and the same idea is denoted here. The New Jerusalem is the eternal residence of the children of God, and this is indicated at every gate. None can enter who do not belong to that people; all who are within are understood to be of their number.”
| Rev 21:13, “There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.”It is no figurative, there were three gates on the east, on the north, on the south, and on the west each. |
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
21:9-21 God has various employments for his holy angels. Sometimes they sound the trumpet of Divine Providence, and warn a careless world; sometimes they discover things of a heavenly nature of the heirs of salvation. Those who would have clear views of heaven, must get as near to heaven as they can, on the mount of meditation and faith. The subject of the vision is the church of God in a perfect, triumphant state, shining in its lustre; glorious in relation to Christ; which shows that the happiness of heaven consists in intercourse with God, and in conformity to him. The change of emblems from a bride to a city, shows that we are only to take general ideas from this description. The wall is for security. Heaven is a safe state; those who are there, are separated and secured from all evils and enemies. This city is vast; here is room for all the people of God. The foundation of the wall; the promise and power of God, and the purchase of Christ, are the strong foundations of the safety and happiness of the church. These foundations are set forth by twelve sorts of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellence of the doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or the personal excellences of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven has gates; there is a free admission to all that are sanctified; they shall not find themselves shut out. These gates were all of pearls. Christ is the Pearl of great price, and he is our Way to God. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The saints in heaven tread gold under foot. The saints are there at rest, yet it is not a state of sleep and idleness; they have communion, not only with God, but with one another. All these glories but faintly represent heaven.”
Rev. 21:14,
| And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are:Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot. Who replaced Judas Iscariot? I do not want to waste time and effort with those who promote Matthias.I just want to quote the Scripture:1Ti 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope.”If you believe the Holy Bible, that settles the dispute.There are 27 BOOKS in the New Testament, Apostle Paul wrote 14 of them. I believe Apostle Paul was the most knowledgeable because he had direct revelations from Christ. | ||
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- And the wall … twelve foundations] Probably each of the twelve sections into which the wall is divided by the gates rests on an enormous jewel, reaching from gate to gate. This symbolises the solidity as well as the beauty of the divine structure: and was itself symbolised by the enormous size of the stones used in the foundations of the earthly temple. See St Mark 13:1 and parallels. Had is literally having, a solecism like that of Revelation 21:12.
twelve names of the twelve apostles] Expressing the same doctrine as St Paul in Ephesians 2:20, and (probably) our Lord in St Matthew 16:18. It is absurd to suppose that there is any pointed insistance on the Apostles being only twelve, St Paul being excluded: to introduce thirteen or fourteen would have spoilt the symmetry characteristic of the whole vision. We might just as well say, that there ought to be thirteen gates for the thirteen tribes; counting Ephraim, Manasseh and Levi all as coordinate with the rest. Really, it is idle to ask whether the twelfth name was that of St Paul or St Matthias. St John does not notice his own name being written there, though of course it was (cf. St Luke 10:20); the Apostles are here mentioned in their collective and official, not in their individual character. (See on Revelation 5:5.)
of the Lamb] His identity is taken for granted with the Jesus of the earthly ministry, as in Revelation 14:1 with the Son of God.”
Rev. 21:15
| And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.If it is a parable or symbol, why you had a golden reed to measure the City, and the gates and the wall thereof? |
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
THE MEASUREMENT OF THE CITY.
- And he that talked with me . . .—Or, better, And he who was talking with me had a golden reed . . . The allusion here is to the angel mentioned in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 15:3); the reed, or measuring rod, is of gold, that used in Revelation 11:1 was not said to be of gold; the measurement there was the symbol of preservation amid impending danger; the measuring here is more glorious—it is measuring which exhibits the beauty and proportion of the city which is now dwelling at peace. Gold is one of the features of the city; the street is gold (Revelation 21:18; Revelation 21:21); it may stand, as a token of the wealth (Psalm 72:15; 1Kings 10:14-21) of the royal city; but the wealth of that city is love. (Comp. Note on Revelation 3:18.)”
Rev. 21:16
| The city is laid out as a square, its length being the same as its width; and he measured the city with his rod—twelve thousand stadia (about 1,400 miles); its length and width and height are equal.I use the Amplified Bible because it coverts stadia. |
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And the city lieth four square,…. To the four corners of the world, from whence its inhabitants come, and denotes the regularity, uniformity, perfection, and immovableness of it.
And the length is as large as the breadth; this church state will be all of a piece, perfect, entire, and wanting nothing.
And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; or fifteen hundred miles; a monstrously large city indeed! such an one as never was upon earth; see Ezekiel 48:35 and which shows, that this is not to be understood literally, but mystically; and intends the capaciousness of it, here being room enough for all the twelve tribes of Israel; that is, for all the elect of God; for as in Christ’s Father’s house, so in this kingdom state of his, there will be many mansions, or dwelling places, enough for all his people. This city will hold them all. The Jews (h) say of Jerusalem, that in time to come it shall be so enlarged, as to reach to the gates of Damascus, yea, to the throne of glory.
The length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal. A perfectly uniform state! according to the Ethiopic version, it is in length twelve thousand furlongs, and every measure equal, so that it is so many furlongs in length, breadth, and height.
(h) Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 24. 1.”
Rev. 21:7
| He measured its wall also—a hundred forty-four cubits (about 200 feet), according to man’s measurements, which are angelic measurements.”I also use Amplified Bible because it converts cubits. It is interesting if it is symbolic, why the measurement needs to be exact as man’s measurements which are also angelic measurement. |
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
- he measured the wall] We should naturally understand, the height of it. The walls of the historical Babylon are differently stated as having been 200, 300, or nearly 340 feet high. But we are told that they were about 80 feet in breadth (Hdt. I. 178:5: cf. Jeremiah 51:58): so if we do admit that the City here is conceived as 340 miles high, there is a sort of proportion in making its walls not less than 73 yards thick.
according to … the angel] Rather, of an angel. Angels use, he means, a cubit of the same length as men—viz. the average length of the forearm, from the elbow to the finger-tip. It is perhaps implied, that angels are not of superhuman stature.”
Rev 21:18-27, “The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation
stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx;
the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations
will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;
and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
There are so-called Christian organizations who sell subscriptions and ask for donations. Many of them have money and influence. Some even call themselves evangelicals. But they insiste to have figurative or symbolic interpretations of Revelation Chapter 21. They do not believe in a real, literal New Heavens and New Earth. When they realize the Bible says the Holy City, New Jerusalem is 1,400 miles long, wide and high — it is coming down from Heaven, they say it is not literal as if such giant city is impossible for even God. I hold the priinciples there are parables in the Bible. Parables have to be interpreted as parables or figure of speech. But the Bible insterprets itself. There are many literal statements of facts in the Bible. The Kingdom of Heaven is real, its headquarters is the Holy City, New Jerusalem, in New Heavens and New Earth. When God says new, I believe it is new, not renewed or restored. There are many things in the Bible I do not know. Even Apostle Paul said he looked at things like through a miror. When the Perfect Lord returns, we will know everything.
I do not sell subscription. I do not make money by preaching the Word of God. I do believe the Holy City, New Jerusalem, is the place the Lord Jesus prepared, John 14:2-3. It is what God prepared, 1Co 2:9,
“but just as it is written: “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH
HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT
GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
IT is a miracle that the New Earth is able to uphold The Holy City, New Jerusalem which is 1,400 miles long, 1,400 miles wide and 1,400 mile high — such as mega, superstructure. The Holy City can house about 2 billion saints with each comfortable mansion. I believe what is described in Revelation Chapter 21 is lietrally true and I thank God for the Holy City, New Jerusalem.
You may inherit the Kingdom of Heaven if you repent of your sins and believe in the Great God Jesus Christ and the Savior of mankind. You can do it now.
WILLLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
JANUARY 1, 2026
Copyright © 2018 – 2026 by Willie Wong
JANUARY 1, 2026
Copyright © 2018 – 2026 by Willie Wong
Pakistan, Global South, undeveloped and insolvent nations have consumed much of China’s financial resources. China needs to stop all foreign aid in order to pay for modernization.
UKRANIAN PRESIDENT ATTACKED THE RESIDENCE OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, WITH INTENTION OF KILLING PUTIN. THE UKRAINIAN LEADER COMMITTED WAR CRIMES, HE IS CORRUPT AND ABUSIVE OF POWER TO BE EXECUTED TO END THE WAR AND UKRAINE TO BE DISCARDED.
All African nations, South America, Asia and the world, where can you find a country which does not have large national debts and deficits? Africa is different because for 500 years, not one country has become self-sufficient and solvent, they glorify with their primitive cultures and brag about their scientists and experts, joy to kill each other. International aid actually fuel their official corruption. Any nation that shares destinies with Africa will be doomed! No resources can fill the Black holes! The international community should leave Africa alone, let them do or die.
China modernization must focus that every village will have:
- ELECTRICTY
- RUNNING WATER TO DRINK AND WASH
- GAS TO COOK & HEAT
- INTERNET
- LIVELIHOOD
- NEW TOILET BY LAW