Revelation 21:1-10 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:1

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth ,.... This vision relates to a glorious state of the church, not in the times of the apostles, or first dispensation of the Gospel; when the old Jewish church state, with its ordinances, rites, and ceremonies, passed away, and a new church state, a new dispensation, new ordinances, and a new people, took place; and when saints came not to Mount Sinai, but to Mount Sion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and when God tabernacled and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:2

And I John saw the holy city ,.... The same with the beloved city in Revelation 20:9 the church of God: sometimes the church militant is called a city, of which the saints are now fellow citizens, governed by wholesome laws, and enjoying many privileges; but here the general assembly and church of the firstborn, or all the elect of God, are intended, the whole body and society of them, being as a city, compact together; called holy, not only because set apart to holiness by God the Father,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:3

And I heard a great voice out of heaven ,.... Either of an angel, or rather of Christ, or God himself; since the Alexandrian copy and Vulgate Latin version read, "out of the throne", saying, behold the tabernacle of God is with men ; in allusion to the tabernacle being with the Israelites, and the "Shechinah", or divine Majesty, being in the midst of them, and as an accomplishment of the promise in Ezekiel 37:27 in the fullest sense of it; and designs something distinct from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ,.... Occasioned by sin, Satan, the hidings of God's face, and afflictive dispensations of Providence; for these will be no more: and there shall be no more death ; natural or violent; there will be no more putting of the saints to death, or persecution of them unto death, as in former times; nor will they die a natural death any more; these children of the resurrection, and inhabitants of the new heaven and earth, will be like the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:5

And he that sat upon the throne said ,.... By whom is meant, either God the Father, who is often represented in this book as sitting on the throne, and as distinguished from Christ the Lamb; see Revelation 4:2 Revelation 5:13 and who may seem the more to be intended, since he is by adopting grace the God and Father of his people, and they are his sons and daughters; or rather Christ, who not only is set down on the same throne with his Father, but has a throne of his own, called the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:6

And he said unto me, it is done ,.... The end of all things is come; it is all over with the first heaven and earth; these are no more, and the new heaven and earth are finished: there seems to be an allusion to the old creation, he spake, and it was done, Psalm 33:9 . The whole election of grace is completed; every individual vessel of mercy is called by grace; all the saints are brought with Christ, and their bodies raised, and living saints changed, and all together are as a bride... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:7

He that overcometh ,.... All spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, and the world, the antichristian beast, his image, mark, and number of his name; who is more than a conqueror through Christ; one that perseveres to the end, notwithstanding all temptations, trials, and difficulties; See Gill on Revelation 2:7 , shall inherit all things ; the kingdom of Christ in the new Jerusalem state, and all things in it; heaven, eternal glory and happiness, and everlasting salvation; yea, God himself, who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:8

But the fearful ,.... Not the timorous sheep and lambs of Christ, the dear children of God, who are sometimes of a fearful heart, on account of sin, temptation, and unbelief; but such who are of cowardly spirits, and are not valiant for the truth, but who, through fear of men, either make no profession of Christ and his Gospel, or having made it, drop it, lest they should be exposed to tribulation and persecution; these are they that are afraid of the beast, and live in servile bondage to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:9

And there came unto me one of the seven angels ,.... Either the first of them, as one of the four beasts is the first of them, Revelation 6:1 or it may be the last, and very likely the same as in Revelation 17:1 which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues ; that is, the wrath of God poured out by them on the antichristian party; see Revelation 15:1 . And talked with me, saying, come hither ; see Revelation 17:1 . I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife .... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:10

And he carried me away in the Spirit ,.... John was in an ecstasy, as in Revelation 1:10 and in the thoughts and apprehensions of his mind and spirit, it seemed to him as if he was carried away from one place to another; for this was not a corporeal sight, nor were any of the visions he had, but what was represented to his mind or spirit; it being with him as it was with the Apostle Paul when he was caught up to the third heaven, who knew not whether he was in the body or out of the body.... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:10

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