Revelation 21:1-8

(a) The Distant View of the City.

Revelation 21:1. cf. Isaiah 65:17. sea is no more: To the apostolic age the ocean spoke of separation and isolation.. For this element of unrest, this fruitful cause of destruction and death, this divider of nations and churches, there could be no place in a world of social intercourse, deathless life, and unbroken peace (Swete). [Ultimately this probably goes back to the conception of the sea as God's turbulent enemy, which often finds expression in the OT and is based on the Babylonian myth of the conquest of the chaos monster which preceded the creation of the world. The last things are to be like the first, the creation of new heavens and new earth will be preceded by an even more splendid triumph, in which God's ancient enemy will be utterly destroyed. A. S. P.]

Revelation 21:2. new Jerusalem: see introductory remarks to this chapter. a bride: cf. Revelation 19:7; also, for the imagery. Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 62:5.

Revelation 21:3. the tabernacle: i.e. the abode of God; cf. John 1:14 mg., The Word. tabernacled among us.

Revelation 21:4. death: here personified as in Revelation 20:13. the first things: the former world.

Revelation 21:6. the Alpha and the Omega: Revelation 1:8 *.

Revelation 21:7. He that overcometh: this phrase occurs in each of the letters to the seven churches. All the great promises of Rev. are made to him that overcometh. the fearful: the cowards who failed in the contest with paganism. the abominable: those who took part in the abominations connected with the worship of the beast. sorcerers: dealers in magic. second death: Revelation 20:14 *.