Revelation 21:1-3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 21:2

And I John - The writer of this book; whether the evangelist and apostle, or John the Ephesian presbyter, has been long doubted in the Church. New Jerusalem - See the notes on Galatians 4:24-27 ; (note). This doubtless means the Christian Church in a state of great prosperity and purity; but some think eternal blessedness is intended. Coming down from God - It is a maxim of the ancient Jews that both the tabernacle, and the temple, and Jerusalem itself, came down from heaven. And... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 21:3

The tabernacle of God is with men - God, in the most especial manner, dwells among his followers, diffusing his light and life everywhere. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 21:1

And I saw. The usual introduction to a new vision (cf. Revelation 20:11 , etc.). Having described the origin and progress of evil in the world, the final overthrow of Satan and his adherents, and the judgment when every man is rewarded according to his works, the seer now completes the whole by portraying the eternal bliss of the redeemed in heaven (cf. on Revelation 20:10 ). The description is based upon Isaiah 60:1-22 . and Ezekiel 40:1-49 ., et seq.; especially the latter,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 21:1

"No more sea." We must remember that, to the ancient Jews, the sea was an object of almost unmixed terror. Nearly all the allusions to it in the Bible tell of its destructive power and of its peril. The Jews were never a seafaring people. They dreaded the sea. An added element of terror is given to the solemn warning addressed to them ( Deuteronomy 28:68 ), when it is said, in case of their sin, that not only should they be taken back to Egypt to their old bondage, but that they should... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 21:1

The world without a sea. "There was no more sea." A world without a physical sea, we confess, does not strike us as attractive. The sea is one of the grandest and most beneficent parts of this world. It is to the earth what the blood is to the body; it circulates through its every part, animates and beautifies the whole. The negation is to be understood in a spiritual sense. Division, mutation, agitation, are ideas we associate with the sea. In heaven these things will not be. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 21:1-4

The new heavens and earth. The retribution of God has fallen on the enemies of Christ and his Church. Death and hell, Satan, the beast, and the false prophet, have been cast into the lake of fire. The thunders of God's vengeance are hushed; the manifestations of his love to his redeemed now only remain to be told. And here their ultimate and eternal blessedness is shown to us. Their abode and condition are described as "new heavens and a new earth." Let us inquire— I. WHEREFORE ARE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 21:1-4

The fifth scene in the history of redeemed humanity: the unending age of blessedness. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth," etc. The retributive process is over; the characters of all have been tried, and the doom of all pronounced. The wicked are driven away into punishment, but the righteous have entered into life eternal. These words suggest two thoughts in relation to this final state— I. THAT IT WILL BE IN A SENSE A NEW STATE . "A new heaven and a new earth,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 21:1-8

The spiritual kingdom. Now , to the eye of the weary seer—and in him to the eye of the weary, suffering Church—there appear new scenes. The darkness is past. The judgments of the Lord upon the evil powers, and upon all who take part with them as antagonists of the good, the pure, and the true, are passed away. And to the comfort of the waiting, faithful ones, who endure "as seeing him who is invisible," the vision of the blessedness of the righteous in the kingdom of their Father is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 21:2

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem. "John" must be omitted, according to all the best manuscripts. "The holy city" is the Church of God (see on Revelation 11:2 ), now glorified and prepared for perfect communion with her Redeemer (cf. the promise in Revelation 3:12 , which is now fulfilled; cf. also Galatians 4:26 ; Hebrews 11:10 , Hebrews 11:16 ). Contrast this figure of the holy city with that of Babylon (see on Revelation 18:1-24 .). Coming down from God out of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 21:3

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... read more

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