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. Ver. 1. _And I saw a new heaven_] New for form and state, but the same as before for matter and substance; as an old garment translated is called a new one; and as whoso is... [ Continue Reading ]
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Ver. 2. _The holy city_] The Church in glory, saith Diodate. The Church wayfaring and warfaring, saith Brightman, whose interpretation of this text, _Nitur coniectura optabi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _And I heard a great voice_] To confirm the vision, lest it should be thought a del... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _And God shall wipe away_] As mothers do their children's tears. "Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _Write; for these words are faithful_] Though few men will believe them; for if they did, what would they not do or forego to get heaven? Cleombrotus readi... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _It is done_] As the punishment of the wicked, Revelation 16:17; _See Trapp on "_ Rev 16:17 _"_ so the reward of the righteous... [ Continue Reading ]
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Ver. 7. _He that overcometh_] Gr. "He that is overcoming," or not yielding, though he hath not yet overcome; if he be but doing at it, and do not yield up the bucklers, ο νικων, _quasi_ μη εικων . _ Shall i... [ Continue Reading ]
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Ver. 8. _But the fearful_] Cowardly recreants, white livered milk s... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. _One of the seven angels_] The same, likely, that, Revelation 17:1, had showed him the damnation of... [ Continue Reading ]
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, Ver. 10. _To a great and high mountain_] As Moses was carried up into Mount Nebo that from thence he might view the promised land. He that would c... [ Continue Reading ]
Having the glory of God: and her light _was_ like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; Ver. 11. _Having the glory, of God_] Who putteth upon her his own comeliness, Ezekiel 16:9,13, as Rachel was decked with Isaac's jewels. _ Even like a jasper_] And so, like God... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 12. _And had a wall_] Far better than that of Babylon. Indeed this celestial China needs no wall to divide it... [ Continue Reading ]
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. Ver. 13. _On the east three gates_] The Church is collected and heaven filled from all quarters of the earth. Hence it is by one compared to the Samaritan's inn (πανδοχειον), because it reccive... [ Continue Reading ]
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Ver. 14. _And the wall_] A wall the Church hath about it, and a well within it, Revelation 21:6; "A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse a spring shut up, a fountain sealed," Song of Solomo... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. Ver. 15. _Had a golden reed_] Not those twelve Trent articles, or any human invention, but the word, as Revelation 11:1, wherewith is measured not the temple only, as there, but the city,... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _And the city lieth four square_] So was Babylon of old (as Herodotus describeth it), which... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 17. _An hundred and twenty four cubits_] A cubit is six handfuls. _ That is, of the angel_] That appeared as a man, but bigger and higher than ordinary; now... [ Continue Reading ]
And the building of the wall of it was _of_ jasper: and the city _was_ pure gold, like unto clear glass. Ver. 18. _Was of jasper_] A stone of great worth and glory, the beauty whereof, saith one, it is easier to admire than to declare. It hath a variety of sweetness in it; such as none of the most... [ Continue Reading ]
And the foundations of the wall of the city _were_ garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation _was_ jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; Ver. 19. _And the foundations_] The apostles and their faithful successors, who were _puriores c... [ Continue Reading ]
The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. Ver. 20. _The fifth, sardonyx_] Search is here made through all the bowels of the earth for something of worth to sh... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 21. _And the twelve gates_] _i.e._ Gatekeepers, preachers of the righteousness that is by faith. _ Were twelve pearls_] All which do receiv... [ Continue Reading ]
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Ver. 22. _No temple_] No need of external worships and ordinances; for they are all taught of God; they see his face and hear his voice. Now we see but in part, because we prophesy but in part, 1 Corinthians 1... [ Continue Reading ]
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb _is_ the light thereof. Ver. 23. _And the city had no need_] He saith not there shall be no sun or moon, but there shall be no such need of them as is now; for the Lamb shall... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 24. _And the nations_] See Isaiah 9:3; and that he speaketh of the life to come, seeRevelation 21:11; Revelation 21:18,19; Revelation 21:21 . _ Do bring t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. Ver. 25. _For there shall be no night there_] And so no need to fear a sudden surprise by the enemy watching his opportunity. Their day above is ανεσπερος ημερα, a nightless day, as a Father calls it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. Ver. 26. _And they_] _i.e._ The kings, as Revelation 21:24 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 27. _And there shall in no wise_] Though the serpent could wind himself into paradise, yet no unclean person can... [ Continue Reading ]