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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 21:1-8

We have here a more general account of the happiness of the church of God in the future state, by which it seems most safe to understand the heavenly state. I. A new world now opens to our view (Rev. 21:1): I saw a new heaven and a new earth; that is, a new universe; for we suppose the world to be made up of heaven and earth. By the new earth we may understand a new state for the bodies of men, as well as a heaven for their souls. This world is not now newly created, but newly opened, and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 21:1

21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had gone; and the sea was no more. John has seen the doom of the wicked, and now he sees the bliss of the blessed. The dream of a new heaven and a new earth was deep in Jewish thought. "Behold," said God to Isaiah, "I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, or come into mind" ( Isaiah 65:17 ). Isaiah speaks of the new heaven and the new earth which God will... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 21:2

21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned for her husband. Here, again, is a dream of the Jews which never died--the dream of the restoration of Jerusalem, the holy city. Once again it has a double background. (i) It has a background which is essentially Greek. One of the great contributions to the world's philosophical thought was Plato's doctrine of ideas or forms. He taught that in the invisible world there existed the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 21:2

(ii) The second background of the conception of the new Jerusalem is entirely Jewish. In his synagogue form of prayer the Jew still prays: And to Jerusalem thy city return with compassion, and dwell therein as thou hast promised; and rebuild her speedily in our days, a structure everlasting; and the throne of David speedily establish there. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the builder of Jerusalem. John's vision of the new Jerusalem uses and amplifies many of the dreams of the prophets.... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 21:1

A new heaven and a new earth - See the notes on 2 Peter 3:13 ; : The ancient Jews believed that God would renew the heavens and the earth at the end of seven thousand years. The general supposition they founded on Isaiah 65:17 . There was no more sea - The sea no more appeared than did the first heaven and earth. All was made new; and probably the new sea occupied a different position and was differently distributed, from that of the old sea. However, with respect to these subjects... read more

Adam Clarke

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

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

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