Revelation Chapter 21

Matthew Davis

Revelation Bible Study 2020-2021 • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Revelation 21

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Pastor Matt Davis, Commentary Revelation Chapters 21

For the past several weeks, fourteen weeks, we have been reading through the tribulation period of this book. We have seen the judgement and wrath of God poured out upon this earth and it’s inhabitants. Throughout that time period, we have seen very little good happening. This all came to an end last week with the final judgements taking place. This week, in our final study in Revelation, everything changes and is blessings. This week, we shall read of our eternal home.

Verses 1-5

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, gcoming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.[1]

Verse 1

New heaven and new earth – Last chapter, in the final judgements, the old heavens and earth fled away, and it says, “there was no place found for them.” This describes the actions that verse one here describes, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. This new heavens and earth is not the earth we are familiar with revamped, but is entirely new in its creation. The new heavens refers not to the abode of God, but to the earths atmosphere and the space regions of the heavens (the cosmos).

And there was no sea – The first thing we learn of this new earth, no sea. Even yet, we know there will be rivers, vegetation, and life. Although we are used to the sea as a beautiful part of God’s creation, the biblical people know the sea as the source of evil. In Revelation, the first beast arose forth from the sea. In the new creation, there will be no source of evil or rebellion against God.

Verse 2

The new city is described as the bride, adorned for her husband. This description tells us the new city is beautiful and suitable for the purpose and occasion.

Coming down from Heaven – This city is descending down from the skies onto the earth. This tells us two things: First, the city is heavenly and designed for it’s resurrected inhabitants. Second, in coming down to the earth, it shows us that dwelling upon the earth shall be the permanent residence of the believers in God. God originally designed men to live upon the earth, and will restore the earth to that purpose. This descriptions fulfills the prayer of Christ, “Your Kingdom come, on earth, as in heaven.”

Verse 3

A great voice – This is the last time an unidentified voice from the heavens will speak forth. This voice cannot be identified, but it can be identified as not the voice of God. God does not generally refer to Himself in the third person.

The tabernacle of God is with His people – The Old Testament peoples were familiar with the tabernacle as the dwelling place of God. In Revelation, this goes further than the tabernacle made with hands, for God Himself shall be with them. This finishes what Jesus started when He became flesh, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among men.” (John 1:14)

In the New Earth, people shall enjoy a intimate relationship with God. We shall see Him flesh to flesh with our eyes. We shall worship physically before Him, hug Him, talk with Him, and interact in all physical ways we can interact together here. This intimacy will be the final fulfillment of all God’s people’s desires, and shall perfectly fulfill what we were designed for.

Verse 4

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes – In heaven, there shall be no more tears of pain, sorrow, loss, and grief. God shall wipe away all those from us. Neither sorrow, crying, or pain, All of which are a result of sin and death. Without sin in the world, there is no place found for these things.

There shall be no more death – Death is also a result of sin, and sin, death, and hades were all cast into the lake of fire. As a result of ridding creation of sin, there shall be death no more.

For the former things are passed away – The order of creation that we know will cease to exist. It will be an entirely new order unified under God’s rule.

Verse 5

He that sat upon the throne said – For the first time since chapter three, we are hearing directly from God Himself.

I make all things new – God Himself now states as the angel as stated, that all things shall be new. When God speaks and says “all,” then we can be assured that He means all.

Write, for these words are true and faithful – What John is seeing and hearing is extraordinary. We are discussing the complete passing and remaking of all creation that we know. There shall be nothing left of the old. John then is commanded of God to write, because these things are true and shall come to pass.

Verses 6-8

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit yall things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and emurderers, and fwhoremongers, and gsorcerers, and idolaters, and hall liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.[2]

Verse 6

It is done – You may immediately be reminded of the words of Christ on the cross, “it is finished,” or “it is paid.” These are not the same words. These are rather the same words of which God spoke in Genesis creation, “and it was so.” At this point is everything finished. It is done, evil and sin are gone, death and hades are gone, pain and suffering are gone. We now dwell in the heavenly city and with our God. The only thing left if for John to describe it to us.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end – Christ was before creation and existed after the creation. He is the first and the last, of whom there was none before and none after.

I will give unto him that athirst of the fountain of life freely – Those who overcome shall receive the right to partake of the fountains of life without cost. We shall be filled spiritually by God Himself.

Verse 7

This is the first time Revelation has described heaven as something we inherit, although, the rest of the NT has done so frequently. Those shall be made sons of God, and He will be their God. There shall be a close and intimate relationship between us and Him.

Verse 8

But – There is another warning to the reader.

The fearful – The tribulation period specifically, but through all times, but express courage. The coward who gives into the threats of the beast and worships him rather than trusting in God shall not inherit the reward.

The unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, whoremonger, sorcerers, idolaters, liars – The traits of those who perish. Of such they shall not inherit the kingdom, but rather shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Their place shall be eternity in hell, a fitting punishment for their sins, a fitting punishment for our sins were it not for the blood of Christ.

This is the second death – This is known as the second death, eternal separation apart from God.

Verses 9-14

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 uOn the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.[3]

Verse 9

There came to me, one of the seven angels who had the vial judgements – One of the angels from chapter sixteen, which one unknown, who poured out judgement upon the land now takes John to show him the bride, the Lamb’s wife. As with earlier in the chapter, this refers once again to the great and heavenly city.

Verse 10

He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain – This does not mean that he was transported bodily. This describes the action of receiving a vision. The vision of the city he receives is a continuation of what he had seen earlier on.

Verse 11

Having the glory of God – This heavenly city will also be the residence of God. It is filled with His glory.

Cut like a precious stone, a clear jasper, clear as crystal – The jasper we know today is opaque and not clear. Either John is referring to a different jasper than we know or something else. A way we might explain it today is a beautifully cut diamond. The image John gives is a city that is as an expensively cut, beautifully designed stone.

Verse 12

The walls were great and high – Walls are generally for protection, of which, is not the case here. All enemies have been defeated and cast into the lake of fire. The walls here are for beautification, for majesty.

Twelve gates and twelve angels – Twelve will become a prominent number in this chapter. The thickness of the walls, as described in a moment, is a product of twelve. We shall see the twelve apostles, twelve fruits, twelve foundations, twelve pearls, all as a recurring theme. On the gates are written the names of the twelve tribes. It should be understood each gate including the name of a tribe member. We would have the Judah gate, the Levi gate, the Reuben gate, ect.

Verse 13

The gates, placed throughout the walls, three facing each compass direction, starting with the east. The reason for beginning with the east is unclear, however, corresponds with Ezekiel. It may be symbolic of east as the direction of blessing, but the meaning itself remains unknown.

Verse 14

The wall had twelve foundations – A wall can only stand and do its job properly if it is built upon a solid foundation. Each of the foundations bears upon it a name of the apostles. As with the gates, we should expect to see a Simon foundation, a John foundation, a James foundation, and so on.

In the gates and the foundations, the old a new testament people are included in the kingdom of God. In the names, we see the fulness of the people of God.

Verses 15-17

15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.[4]

Verse 15

He that talked with me – The angel from chapter sixteen mentioned earlier.

Had a golden reed to measure the city, the gates, the wall – As John was commanded earlier to measure the temple in chapter eleven, in a symbolism of security, this angel will measure the city to show the glory of God. The golden reed has been suggested to be about ten feet long, or roughly six and two-thirds cubits. Others have rejected the idea based on verse seventeen, the wall being measured out according to the measure of man, the cubit.

Verse 16

The city is described as a perfect square in length and width. The city is fourteen-hundred miles in each direction. In perspective, that is the distance between Dallas, Tx and Los Angela’s, CA. Such a city would be huge and unimaginable to us today.

The city is then described as being as tall as it is wide. Scholars are mixed on whether the city is then cubed, or in a pyramid shape. Some commentators have pointed out that if it were cubed, it would continue the theme of twelve, as a cube also has twelve edges.

To put the height into perspective, the ISS orbits at two-hundred and fifty miles above the earths surface. The height of this city would then extend to nearly six times the distance.

Verse 17

The thickness of the wall, measured in cubits, is a hundred and forty-four thousand. A cubit is roughly eighteen inches, making this wall roughly two hundred and sixteen feet thick.

The reference to mans measurement simply means that although the angel is measuring the city, it is according to the measurements of man.

Verses 18-21

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, jsapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an lemerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, oberyl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. [5]

Verse 18

The building of the wall was of jasper – Although already mentioned once, it is now identified as the building element of the wall itself.

The city was pure gold, like unto clear glass – The city itself was constructed of gold. We must assume this gold is not as we know gold. The gold we know is soft and malleable, unsuitable for construction. In addition, we know not of gold that is clear as glass. The impression of this city is of one that is beautiful beyond mans imagination.

Verses 19-20

Here it will be described each of the walls are make of a different stone.

Jasper – Normally a green stone, a green quartz.

Sapphire – Bue, like the lapis or modern sapphire.

Chalcedony – Come in both gray and green.

Emerald – Also a green stone.

Sardonyx – banded, think something like agate.

Carnelian – A stone that is red in color.

Chrysolite – A stone yellow in color.

Beryl – A Stone blue and green in color.

Topaz – Can be either yellow or brown in color.

Chrysoprase – A yellow-green, similar to many quarts we can find today.

Jacinth – Blue in color.

Amethyst – A stone purple in color.

Together, we see a brilliant and vibrant city and foundation in color.

Verse 21

On each gate it is said to be of one pearl. Imagine a pearl big enough to produce a gate of those sizes. The pearl is a costly and prized possession, both in Johns day and ours today. The harlot is described as being adorned in the pearl, though, the pearl itself is not inherently evil.

John than turns his eyes back to the city, and notices the streets, made of pure gold and clear as glass. His emphasis on clear as glass should not escape us. Though we are accustomed to clear and perfect glass, those of his time were not. It was near impossible to make perfectly clear glass in his day, and such glass, if made, would be greatly expensive to purchase.

John gives an image of a city that is expensive beyond human comprehension.

Verses 22-27

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for xthe glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.[6]

Verse 22

No temple therein – In the new heavens and earth, there will be no temple nor need for a temple. God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. They shall make their physical dwelling place within the city with us and the need to come to a temple to approach them shall be no more.

Verse 23

The city had no need of the sun, nor the moon, to shin in it – Many commentators have mentioned there is no sun, nor moon, nor stars in the new earth. Though it is easy to specify that, it is not directly said, nor it that notion confirmed. The scriptures merely state that there is no need of the sun.

For the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb – God is described throughout the scriptures as being light “In Him was life and the life was the light of man.” (John 1:4). Scriptures have said that to walk with God is to walk in light, and to walk not with God is to walk in darkness. In the new earth, God’s glory alone will be enough to light the city.

Verse 25

Gates in the ancient times would be closed by night to assist in protect the inhabitants of the city. In this city, there shall be no night because God’s glory will always shine. With no night, there is no need of gates to close.

Verse 27

Many have taken this verse to signify that there would be, in the new heavens and earth, unsaved people living on the outside of this city. This shall not be the case. Revelation twenty made it clear that those sinners would never repent and have found their reward eternally in the lake of fire. Rather, the people of Johns day would have understood the protection and influence of such a great city and wall, that this portrays a clear image of protection and ending of all evil influences.

The book of life in this verse is finally identified as the Lambs book of life. Those in that book are there solely by the work of Christ and those who Christ has confessed before the Father.

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 21:1–5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 21:5–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 21:9–14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 21:15–17). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 21:18–21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 21:22–27). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

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