Revelation 21:10 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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¹⁰ And ^G2532 he carried ^G667 me ^G3165 away ^G667 in ^G1722 the spirit ^G4151 to ^G1909 a great ^G3173 and ^G2532 high ^G5308 mountain, ^G3735 and ^G2532 shewed ^G1166 me ^G3427 that great ^G3173 city, ^G4172 the holy ^G40 Jerusalem, ^G2419 descending ^G2597 out of ^G1537 heaven ^G3772 from ^G575 God, ^G2316

Cross Reference

Ezekiel 40:1-49 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

In the five ^H2568 and twentieth ^H6242 year ^H8141 of our captivity, ^H1546 in the beginning ^H7218 of the year, ^H8141 in the tenth ^H6218 day of the month, ^H2320 in the fourteenth ^H702 ^H6240 year ^H8141 after ^H310 that the city ^H5892 was smitten, ^H5221 in the selfsame ^H6106 day ^H3117 the hand ^H3027 of the LORD ^H3068 was upon me, and brought ^H935 me thither. In the visions ^H4759 of God ^H430 brought ^H935 he me into the land ^H776 of Israel, ^H3478 and set ^H5117 me upon a very ^H3966 high ^H1364 mountain, ^H2022 by which was as the frame ^H4011 of a city ^H5892 on the south. ^H5045 And he brought ^H935 me thither, and, behold, there was a man, ^H376 whose appearance ^H4758 was like the appearance ^H4758 of brass, ^H5178 with a line ^H6616 of flax ^H6593 in his hand, ^H3027 and a measuring ^H4060 reed; ^H7070 and he stood ^H5975 in the gate. ^H8179 And the man ^H376 said ^H1696 unto me, Son ^H1121 of man, ^H120 behold ^H7200 with thine eyes, ^H5869 and hear ^H8085 with thine ears, ^H241 and set ^H7760 thine heart ^H3820 upon all that I shall shew ^H7200 thee; for to the intent ^H4616 that I might shew ^H7200 them unto thee art thou brought ^H935 hither: declare ^H5046 all that thou seest ^H7200 to the house ^H1004 of Israel. ^H3478 And behold a wall ^H2346 on the outside ^H2351 of the house ^H1004 round about, ^H5439 and in the man's ^H376 hand ^H3027 a measuring ^H4060 reed ^H7070 of six ^H8337 cubits ^H520 long by the cubit ^H520 and an hand breadth: ^H2948 so he measured ^H4058 the breadth ^H7341 of the building, ^H1146 one ^H259 reed; ^H7070 and the height, ^H6967 one ^H259 reed. ^H7070 Then came ^H935 he unto the gate ^H8179 which looketh ^H6440 toward ^H1870 the east, ^H6921 and went up ^H5927 the stairs ^H4609 thereof, and measured ^H4058 the threshold ^H5592 of the gate, ^H8179 which was one ^H259 reed ^H7070 broad; ^H7341 and the other ^H259 threshold ^H5592 of the gate, which was one ^H259 reed ^H7070 broad. ^H7341 And every little chamber ^H8372 was one ^H259 reed ^H7070 long, ^H753 and one ^H259 reed ^H7070 broad; ^H7341 and between the little chambers ^H8372 were five ^H2568 cubits; ^H520 and the threshold ^H5592 of the gate ^H8179 by ^H681 the porch ^H197 of the gate ^H8179 within ^H1004 was one ^H259 reed. ^H7070 He measured ^H4058 also the porch ^H197 of the gate ^H8179 within, ^H1004 one ^H259 reed. ^H7070 Then measured ^H4058 he the porch ^H197 of the gate, ^H8179 eight ^H8083 cubits; ^H520 and the posts ^H352 thereof, two ^H8147 cubits; ^H520 and the porch ^H197 of the gate ^H8179 was inward. ^H1004 And the little chambers ^H8372 of the gate ^H8179 eastward ^H1870 ^H6921 were three ^H7969 on this side, ^H6311 and three ^H7969 on that side; ^H6311 they three ^H7969 were of one ^H259 measure: ^H4060 and the posts ^H352 had one ^H259 measure ^H4060 on this side and on that side. And he measured ^H4058 the breadth ^H7341 of the entry ^H6607 of the gate, ^H8179 ten ^H6235 cubits; ^H520 and the length ^H753 of the gate, ^H8179 thirteen ^H7969 ^H6240 cubits. ^H520 The space ^H1366 also before ^H6440 the little chambers ^H8372 was one ^H259 cubit ^H520 on this side, and the space ^H1366 was one cubit ^H520 on that side: and the little chambers ^H8372 were six ^H8337 cubits ^H520 on this side, and six ^H8337 cubits ^H520 on that side. He measured ^H4058 then the gate ^H8179 from the roof ^H1406 of one little chamber ^H8372 to the roof ^H1406 of another: the breadth ^H7341 was five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 cubits, ^H520 door ^H6607 against door. ^H6607 He made ^H6213 also posts ^H352 of threescore ^H8346 cubits, ^H520 even unto the post ^H352 of the court ^H2691 round about ^H5439 the gate. ^H8179 And from the face ^H6440 of the gate ^H8179 of the entrance ^H2978 unto the face ^H6440 of the porch ^H197 of the inner ^H6442 gate ^H8179 were fifty ^H2572 cubits. ^H520 And there were narrow ^H331 windows ^H2474 to the little chambers, ^H8372 and to their posts ^H352 within ^H6441 the gate ^H8179 round about, ^H5439 and likewise to the arches: ^H361 and windows ^H2474 were round about ^H5439 inward: ^H6441 and upon each post ^H352 were palm trees. ^H8561 Then brought ^H935 he me into the outward ^H2435 court, ^H2691 and, lo, there were chambers, ^H3957 and a pavement ^H7531 made ^H6213 for the court ^H2691 round about: ^H5439 thirty ^H7970 chambers ^H3957 were upon the pavement. ^H7531 And the pavement ^H7531 by the side ^H3802 of the gates ^H8179 over against ^H5980 the length ^H753 of the gates ^H8179 was the lower ^H8481 pavement. ^H7531 Then he measured ^H4058 the breadth ^H7341 from the forefront ^H6440 of the lower ^H8481 gate ^H8179 unto the forefront ^H6440 of the inner ^H6442 court ^H2691 without, ^H2351 an hundred ^H3967 cubits ^H520 eastward ^H6921 and northward. ^H6828 And the gate ^H8179 of the outward ^H2435 court ^H2691 that looked ^H6440 toward ^H1870 the north, ^H6828 he measured ^H4058 the length ^H753 thereof, and the breadth ^H7341 thereof. And the little chambers ^H8372 thereof were three ^H7969 on this side and three ^H7969 on that side; and the posts ^H352 thereof and the arches ^H361 thereof were after the measure ^H4060 of the first ^H7223 gate: ^H8179 the length ^H753 thereof was fifty ^H2572 cubits, ^H520 and the breadth ^H7341 five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 cubits. ^H520 And their windows, ^H2474 and their arches, ^H361 and their palm trees, ^H8561 were after the measure ^H4060 of the gate ^H8179 that looketh ^H6440 toward ^H1870 the east; ^H6921 and they went up ^H5927 unto it by seven ^H7651 steps; ^H4609 and the arches ^H361 thereof were before ^H6440 them. And the gate ^H8179 of the inner ^H6442 court ^H2691 was over against the gate ^H8179 toward the north, ^H6828 and toward the east; ^H6921 and he measured ^H4058 from gate ^H8179 to gate ^H8179 an hundred ^H3967 cubits. ^H520 After that he brought ^H3212 me toward ^H1870 the south, ^H1864 and behold a gate ^H8179 toward ^H1870 the south: ^H1864 and he measured ^H4058 the posts ^H352 thereof and the arches ^H361 thereof according to these measures. ^H4060 And there were windows ^H2474 in it and in the arches ^H361 thereof round about, ^H5439 like those windows: ^H2474 the length ^H753 was fifty ^H2572 cubits, ^H520 and the breadth ^H7341 five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 cubits. ^H520 And there were seven ^H7651 steps ^H4609 to go up ^H5930 to it, and the arches ^H361 thereof were before ^H6440 them: and it had palm trees, ^H8561 one ^H259 on this side, and another ^H259 on that side, upon the posts ^H352 thereof. And there was a gate ^H8179 in the inner ^H6442 court ^H2691 toward ^H1870 the south: ^H1864 and he measured ^H4058 from gate ^H8179 to gate ^H8179 toward ^H1870 the south ^H1864 an hundred ^H3967 cubits. ^H520 And he brought ^H935 me to the inner ^H6442 court ^H2691 by the south ^H1864 gate: ^H8179 and he measured ^H4058 the south ^H1864 gate ^H8179 according to these measures; ^H4060 And the little chambers ^H8372 thereof, and the posts ^H352 thereof, and the arches ^H361 thereof, according to these measures: ^H4060 and there were windows ^H2474 in it and in the arches ^H361 thereof round about: ^H5439 it was fifty ^H2572 cubits ^H520 long, ^H753 and five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 cubits ^H520 broad. ^H7341 And the arches ^H361 round about ^H5439 were five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 cubits ^H520 long, ^H753 and five ^H2568 cubits ^H520 broad. ^H7341 And the arches ^H361 thereof were toward the utter ^H2435 court; ^H2691 and palm trees ^H8561 were upon the posts ^H352 thereof: and the going up ^H4608 to it had eight ^H8083 steps. ^H4609 And he brought ^H935 me into the inner ^H6442 court ^H2691 toward ^H1870 the east: ^H6921 and he measured ^H4058 the gate ^H8179 according to these measures. ^H4060 And the little chambers ^H8372 thereof, and the posts ^H352 thereof, and the arches ^H361 thereof, were according to these measures: ^H4060 and there were windows ^H2474 therein and in the arches ^H361 thereof round about: ^H5439 it was fifty ^H2572 cubits ^H520 long, ^H753 and five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 cubits ^H520 broad. ^H7341 And the arches ^H361 thereof were toward the outward ^H2435 court; ^H2691 and palm trees ^H8561 were upon the posts ^H352 thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up ^H4608 to it had eight ^H8083 steps. ^H4609 And he brought ^H935 me to the north ^H6828 gate, ^H8179 and measured ^H4058 it according to these measures; ^H4060 The little chambers ^H8372 thereof, the posts ^H352 thereof, and the arches ^H361 thereof, and the windows ^H2474 to it round about: ^H5439 the length ^H753 was fifty ^H2572 cubits, ^H520 and the breadth ^H7341 five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 cubits. ^H520 And the posts ^H352 thereof were toward the utter ^H2435 court; ^H2691 and palm trees ^H8561 were upon the posts ^H352 thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up ^H4608 to it had eight ^H8083 steps. ^H4609 And the chambers ^H3957 and the entries ^H6607 thereof were by the posts ^H352 of the gates, ^H8179 where they washed ^H1740 the burnt offering. ^H5930 And in the porch ^H197 of the gate ^H8179 were two ^H8147 tables ^H7979 on this side, and two tables ^H7979 on that side, to slay ^H7819 thereon the burnt offering ^H5930 and the sin offering ^H2403 and the trespass offering. ^H817 And at the side ^H3802 without, ^H2351 as one goeth up ^H5927 to the entry ^H6607 of the north ^H6828 gate, ^H8179 were two ^H8147 tables; ^H7979 and on the other ^H312 side, ^H3802 which was at the porch ^H197 of the gate, ^H8179 were two ^H8147 tables. ^H7979 Four ^H702 tables ^H7979 were on this side, and four ^H702 tables ^H7979 on that side, by the side ^H3802 of the gate; ^H8179 eight ^H8083 tables, ^H7979 whereupon they slew ^H7819 their sacrifices. And the four ^H702 tables ^H7979 were of hewn ^H1496 stone ^H68 for the burnt offering, ^H5930 of a cubit ^H520 and an half ^H2677 long, ^H753 and a cubit ^H520 and an half ^H2677 broad, ^H7341 and one ^H259 cubit ^H520 high: ^H1363 whereupon also they laid ^H3240 the instruments ^H3627 wherewith they slew ^H7819 the burnt offering ^H5930 and the sacrifice. ^H2077 And within ^H1004 were hooks, ^H8240 an ^H259 hand ^H2948 broad, fastened ^H3559 round about: ^H5439 and upon the tables ^H7979 was the flesh ^H1320 of the offering. ^H7133 And without ^H2351 the inner ^H6442 gate ^H8179 were the chambers ^H3957 of the singers ^H7891 in the inner ^H6442 court, ^H2691 which was at the side ^H3802 of the north ^H6828 gate; ^H8179 and their prospect ^H6440 was toward ^H1870 the south: ^H1864 one ^H259 at the side ^H3802 of the east ^H6921 gate ^H8179 having the prospect ^H6440 toward ^H1870 the north. ^H6828 And he said ^H1696 unto me, This ^H2090 chamber, ^H3957 whose prospect ^H6440 is toward ^H1870 the south, ^H1864 is for the priests, ^H3548 the keepers ^H8104 of the charge ^H4931 of the house. ^H1004 And the chamber ^H3957 whose prospect ^H6440 is toward ^H1870 the north ^H6828 is for the priests, ^H3548 the keepers ^H8104 of the charge ^H4931 of the altar: ^H4196 these are the sons ^H1121 of Zadok ^H6659 among the sons ^H1121 of Levi, ^H3878 which come near ^H7131 to the LORD ^H3068 to minister ^H8334 unto him. So he measured ^H4058 the court, ^H2691 an hundred ^H3967 cubits ^H520 long, ^H753 and an hundred ^H3967 cubits ^H520 broad, ^H7341 foursquare; ^H7251 and the altar ^H4196 that was before ^H6440 the house. ^H1004 And he brought ^H935 me to the porch ^H197 of the house, ^H1004 and measured ^H4058 each post ^H352 of the porch, ^H197 five ^H2568 cubits ^H520 on this side, and five ^H2568 cubits ^H520 on that side: and the breadth ^H7341 of the gate ^H8179 was three ^H7969 cubits ^H520 on this side, and three ^H7969 cubits ^H520 on that side. The length ^H753 of the porch ^H197 was twenty ^H6242 cubits, ^H520 and the breadth ^H7341 eleven ^H6249 ^H6240 cubits; ^H520 and he brought me by the steps ^H4609 whereby they went up ^H5927 to it: and there were pillars ^H5982 by the posts, ^H352 one ^H259 on this side, and another ^H259 on that side.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

I knew ^G1492 a man ^G444 in ^G1722 Christ ^G5547 above ^G4253 fourteen ^G1180 years ^G2094 ago, ^G4253 (whether ^G1535 in ^G1722 the body, ^G4983 I cannot ^G3756 tell; ^G1492 or whether ^G1535 out ^G1622 of the body, ^G4983 I cannot ^G3756 tell: ^G1492 God ^G2316 knoweth;) ^G1492 such an one ^G5108 caught up ^G726 to ^G2193 the third ^G5154 heaven. ^G3772 And ^G2532 I knew ^G1492 such ^G5108 a man, ^G444 (whether ^G1535 in ^G1722 the body, ^G4983 or ^G1535 out ^G1622 of the body, ^G4983 I cannot ^G3756 tell: ^G1492 God ^G2316 knoweth;) ^G1492 How that ^G3754 he was caught up ^G726 into ^G1519 paradise, ^G3857 and ^G2532 heard ^G191 unspeakable ^G731 words, ^G4487 which ^G3739 it is ^G1832 not ^G3756 lawful ^G1832 for a man ^G444 to utter. ^G2980

Ezekiel 48:15-22 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

And the five ^H2568 thousand, ^H505 that are left ^H3498 in the breadth ^H7341 over against ^H6440 the five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 thousand, ^H505 shall be a profane ^H2455 place for the city, ^H5892 for dwelling, ^H4186 and for suburbs: ^H4054 and the city ^H5892 shall be in the midst ^H8432 thereof. And these shall be the measures ^H4060 thereof; the north ^H6828 side ^H6285 four ^H702 thousand ^H505 and five ^H2568 hundred, ^H3967 and the south ^H5045 side ^H6285 four ^H702 thousand ^H505 and five ^H2568 hundred, ^H3967 and on the east ^H6921 side ^H6285 four ^H702 thousand ^H505 and five ^H2568 hundred, ^H3967 and the west ^H3220 side ^H6285 four ^H702 thousand ^H505 and five ^H2568 ^H2568 hundred. ^H3967 And the suburbs ^H4054 of the city ^H5892 shall be toward the north ^H6828 two hundred ^H3967 and fifty, ^H2572 and toward the south ^H5045 two hundred ^H3967 and fifty, ^H2572 and toward the east ^H6921 two hundred ^H3967 and fifty, ^H2572 and toward the west ^H3220 two hundred ^H3967 and fifty. ^H2572 And the residue ^H3498 in length ^H753 over against ^H5980 the oblation ^H8641 of the holy ^H6944 portion shall be ten ^H6235 thousand ^H505 eastward, ^H6921 and ten ^H6235 thousand ^H505 westward: ^H3220 and it shall be over against ^H5980 the oblation ^H8641 of the holy ^H6944 portion; and the increase ^H8393 thereof shall be for food ^H3899 unto them that serve ^H5647 the city. ^H5892 And they that serve ^H5647 the city ^H5892 shall serve ^H5647 it out of all the tribes ^H7626 of Israel. ^H3478 All the oblation ^H8641 shall be five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 thousand ^H505 by five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 thousand: ^H505 ye shall offer ^H7311 the holy ^H6944 oblation ^H8641 foursquare, ^H7243 with the possession ^H272 of the city. ^H5892 And the residue ^H3498 shall be for the prince, ^H5387 on the one side and on the other of the holy ^H6944 oblation, ^H8641 and of the possession ^H272 of the city, ^H5892 over against ^H6440 the five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 thousand ^H505 of the oblation ^H8641 toward the east ^H6921 border, ^H1366 and westward ^H3220 over against ^H6440 the five ^H2568 and twenty ^H6242 thousand ^H505 toward the west ^H3220 border, ^H1366 over against ^H5980 the portions ^H2506 for the prince: ^H5387 and it shall be the holy ^H6944 oblation; ^H8641 and the sanctuary ^H4720 of the house ^H1004 shall be in the midst ^H8432 thereof. Moreover from the possession ^H272 of the Levites, ^H3881 and from the possession ^H272 of the city, ^H5892 being in the midst ^H8432 of that which is the prince's, ^H5387 between the border ^H1366 of Judah ^H3063 and the border ^H1366 of Benjamin, ^H1144 shall be for the prince. ^H5387

Commentary on Revelation 21 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 21

Hitherto the prophecy of this book has presented to us a very remarkable mixture of light and shade, prosperity and adversity, mercy and judgment, in the conduct of divine Providence towards the church in the world: now, at the close of all, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away; a new world now appears, the former having passed away. Some are willing to understand all that is said in these last two chapters of the state of the church even here on earth, in the glory of the latter days; but others, more probably, take it as a representation of the perfect and triumphant state of the church in heaven. Let but the faithful saints and servants of God wait awhile, and they shall not only see, but enjoy, the perfect holiness and happiness of that world. In this chapter you have,

I. An introduction to the vision of the new Jerusalem (v. 1-9).
II. The vision itself (v. 10-27)

Rev 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 (v. 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 filled with all those who were the heirs of it. The new heaven and the new earth will not then be distinct; the very earth of the saints, their glorified bodies, will now be spiritual and heavenly, and suited to those pure and bright mansions. To make way for the commencement of this new world, the old world, with all its troubles and commotions, passed away.
II. In this new world the apostle saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, not locally, but as to its original: this new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and perfect state, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, beautified with all perfection of wisdom and holiness, meet for the full fruition of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory.
III. The blessed presence of God with his people is here proclaimed and admired: I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, etc., v. 3. Observe,
- 1. The presence of God with his church is the glory of the church.
- 2. It is matter of wonder that a holy God should ever dwell with any of the children of men.
- 3. The presence of God with his people in heaven will not be interrupted as it is on earth, but he will dwell with them continually.
- 4. The covenant, interest, and relation, that there are now between God and his people, will be filled up and perfected in heaven. They shall be his people; their souls shall be assimilated to him, filled with all the love, honour, and delight in God which their relation to him requires, and this will constitute their perfect holiness; and he will be their God: God himself will be their God; his immediate presence with them, his love fully manifested to them, and his glory put upon them, will be their perfect happiness; then he will fully answer the character of the relation on his part, as they shall do on their part.
IV. This new and blessed state will be free from all trouble and sorrow; for,
- 1. All the effects of former trouble shall be done away. They have been often before in tears, by reason of sin, of affliction, of the calamities of the church; but now all tears shall be wiped away; no signs, no remembrance of former sorrows shall remain, any further than to make their present felicity the greater. God himself, as their tender Father, with his own kind hand, shall wipe away the tears of his children; and they would not have been without those tears when God shall come and wipe them away.
- 2. All the causes of future sorrow shall be for ever removed: There shall be neither death nor pain; and therefore no sorrow nor crying; these are things incident to that state in which they were before, but now all former things have passed away.
V. The truth and certainty of this blessed state are ratified by the word and promise of God, and ordered to be committed to writing, as matter of perpetual record, v. 5, 6. The subject-matter of this vision is so great, and of such great importance to the church and people of God, that they have need of the fullest assurances of it; and God therefore from heaven repeats and ratifies the truth thereof. Besides, many ages must pass between the time when this vision was given forth and the accomplishment of it, and many great trials must intervene; and therefore God would have it committed to writing, for perpetual memory, and continual use to his people. Observe,
- 1. The certainty of the promise averred: These words are faithful and true; and it follows, It is done, is as sure as if it were done already. We may and ought to take God's promise as present payment; if he has said that he makes all things new, it is done.
- 2. He gives us his titles of honour as a pledge or surety of the full performance, even those titles of Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. As it was his glory that he gave the rise and beginning to the world and to his church, it will be his glory to finish the work begin, and not to leave it imperfect. As his power and will were the first cause of all things, his pleasure and glory are the last end, and he will not lose his design; for then he would no longer be the Alpha and Omega. Men may begin designs which they can never bring to perfection; but the counsel of God shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure.
- 3. The desires of his people towards this blessed state furnish another evidence of the truth and certainty of it. They thirst after a state of sinless perfection and the uninterrupted enjoyment of God, and God has wrought in them these longing desires, which cannot be satisfied with any thing else, and therefore would be the torment of the soul if they were disappointed but it would be inconsistent with the goodness of God, and his love to his people, to create in them holy and heavenly desires, and then deny them their proper satisfaction; and therefore they may be assured that, when they have overcome their present difficulties, he will give them of the fountain of the water of life freely.
VI. The greatness of this future felicity is declared and illustrated,
- 1. By the freeness of it-it is the free gift of God: He gives of the water of life freely; this will not make it less but more grateful to his people.
- 2. The fulness of it. The people of God then lie at the fountain-head of all blessedness: they inherit all things (v. 7); enjoying God, they enjoy all things. He is all in all.
- 3. By the tenure and title by which they enjoy this blessedness-by right of inheritance, as the sons of God, a title of all others the most honourable, as resulting from so near and endeared a relation to God himself, and the most sure and indefeasible, that can no more cease than the relation from which it results.
- 4. By the vastly different state of the wicked. Their misery helps to illustrate the glory and blessedness of the saints, and the distinguishing goodness of God towards them, v. 8. Here observe,
  - (1.) The sins of those who perish, among which are first mentioned their cowardliness and unbelief. The fearful lead the van in this black list. They durst not encounter the difficulties of religion, and their slavish fear proceeded from their unbelief; but those who were so dastardly as not to dare to take up the cross of Christ, and discharge their duty to him, were yet so desperate as to run into all manner of abominable wickedness-murder, adultery, sorcery, idolatry, and lying.
  - (2.) Their punishment: They have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
    - [1.] They could not burn at a stake for Christ, but they must burn in hell for sin.
    - [2.] They must die another death after their natural death; the agonies and terrors of the first death will consign them over to the far greater terrors and agonies of eternal death, to die and to be always dying.
    - [3.] This misery will be their proper part and portion, what they have justly deserved, what they have in effect chosen, and what they have prepared themselves for by their sins. Thus the misery of the damned will illustrate the blessedness of those that are saved, and the blessedness of the saved will aggravate the misery of those that are damned.

Rev 21:9-27

We have already considered the introduction to the vision of the new Jerusalem in a more general idea of the heavenly state; we now come to the vision itself, where observe,

I. The person that opened the vision to the apostle-one of the seven angels, that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, v. 9. God has a variety of work and employment for his holy angels. Sometimes they are to sound the trumpet of divine Providence, and give fair warning to a careless world; sometimes they are to pour out the vials of God's anger upon impenitent sinners; and sometimes to discover things of a heavenly nature to those that are the heirs of salvation. They readily execute every commission they receive from God; and, when this world shall be at an end, yet the angels shall be employed by the great God in proper pleasant work to all eternity.
II. The place from which the apostle had this glorious view and prospect. He was taken, in ecstasy, into a high mountain. From such situations men usually have the most distinct views of adjacent cities. Those who would have clear views of heaven must get as near heaven as they can, into the mount of vision, the mount of meditation and faith, whence, as from the top of Pisgah, they may behold the goodly land of the heavenly Canaan.
III. The subject-matter of the vision-the bride, the Lamb's wife (v. 10); that is, the church of God in her glorious, perfect, triumphant state, under the resemblance of Jerusalem, having the glory of God shining in its lustre, as uxor splendit radiis mariti-the bride comely through the comeliness put on her by her husband; glorious in her relation to Christ, in his image now perfected in her, and in his favour shining upon her. And now we have a large description of the church triumphant under the emblem of a city, far exceeding in riches and splendour all the cities of this world; and this new Jerusalem is here represented to us both in the exterior and the interior part of it.
- 1. The exterior part of the city-the wall and the gates, the wall for security and the gates for entrance.
  - (1.) The wall for security. Heaven is a safe state; those that are there are enclosed with a wall, that separates them and secures them from all evils and enemies: now here, in the account of the wall, we observe,
    - [1.] The height of it, which, we are told, is very high, seventy yards (v. 17), sufficient both for ornament and security.
    - [2.] The matter of it: It was as jasper; a wall all built of the most precious stones, for firmness and lustre, v. 11. This city has a wall that is impregnable as well as precious.
    - [3.] The form of it was very regular and uniform: It was four-square, the length as large as the breadth. In the new Jerusalem all shall be equal in purity and perfection. There shall be an absolute uniformity in the church triumphant, a thing wanted and wished for on earth, but not to be expected till we come to heaven.
    - [4.] The measure of the wall (v. 15, 16): Twelve thousand furlongs each way, each side, which is forty-eight thousand furlongs in the whole compass, or fifteen hundred German miles. Here is room sufficient for all the people of God-many mansions in their Father's house.
    - [5.] The foundation of the wall, for heaven is a city that hath her foundations (v. 19); the promise and power of God, and the purchase of Christ, are the strong foundations of the church's safety and happiness. The foundations are described by their number-twelve, alluding to the twelve apostles (v. 14), whose gospel doctrines are the foundations upon which the church is built, Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; and, as to the matter of these foundations, it was various and precious, set forth by twelve sorts of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellency of the doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or the personal excellencies of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  - (2.) The gates for entrance. Heaven is not inaccessible; there is a way opened into the holiest of all; there is a free admission to all those that are sanctified; they shall not find themselves shut out. Now, as to these gates, observe,
    - [1.] Their number-twelve gates, answering to the twelve tribes of Israel. All the true Israel of God shall have entrance into the new Jerusalem, as every tribe had into the earthly Jerusalem.
    - [2.] Their guards which were placed upon them-twelve angels, to admit and receive the several tribes of the spiritual Israel and keep out others.
    - [3.] The inscription on the gates-the names of the twelve tribes, to show that they have a right to the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city.
    - [4.] The situation of the gates. As the city had four equal sides, answering to the four quarters of the world, east, west, north, and south, so on each side there were three gates, signifying that from all quarters of the earth there shall be some who shall get safely to heaven and be received there, and that there is as free entrance from one part of the world as from the other; for in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, nor free. Men of all nations, and languages, who believe on Christ, have by him access to God in grace here and in glory hereafter.
    - [5.] The materials of these gates-they were all of pearls, and yet with great variety: Every gate one pearl, either one single pearl of that vast bigness, or one single sort of pearl. Christ is the pearl of great price, and he is our way to God. There is nothing magnificent enough in this world fully to set forth the glory of heaven. Could we, in the glass of a strong imagination, contemplate such a city as is here described, even as to the exterior part of it, such a wall, and such gates, how amazing, how glorious, would the prospect be! And yet this is but a faint and dim representation of what heaven is in itself.
- 2. The interior part of the new Jerusalem, v. 22-27. We have seen its strong wall, and stately gates, and glorious guards; now we are to be led through the gates into the city itself; and the first thing which we observe there is the street of the city, which is of pure gold, like transparent glass, v. 21. The saints in heaven tread upon gold. The new Jerusalem has its several streets. There is the most exact order in heaven: every saint has his proper mansion. There is converse in heaven: the saints are then at rest, but it is not a mere passive rest; it is not a state of sleep and inactivity, but a state of delightful motion: The nations that are saved walk in the light of it. They walk with Christ in white. They have communion not only with God, but with one another; and all their steps are firm and clean. They are pure and clear as gold and transparent glass. Observe,
  - (1.) The temple of the new Jerusalem, which was no material temple, made with men's hands, as that of Solomon and Zerubbabel, but a temple altogether spiritual and divine; for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof. There the saints are above the need of ordinances, which were the means of their preparation for heaven. When the end is attained the means are no longer useful. Perfect and immediate communion with God will more than supply the place of gospel institutions.
  - (2.) The light of this city. Where there is no light, there can be no lustre nor pleasure. Heaven is the inheritance of the saints in light. But what is that light? There is no sun nor moon shining there, v. 23. Light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is to behold the sun. What a dismal world would this be if it were not for the light of the sun! What is there in heaven that supplies the want of it? There is no want of the light of the sun, for the glory of God lightens that city, and the Lamb is the light thereof. God in Christ will be an everlasting fountain of knowledge and joy to the saints in heaven; and, if so, there is no need of the sun or moon, any more than we here need to set up candles at noon day, when the sun shineth in its strength.
  - (3.) The inhabitants of this city. They are described here several ways.
    - [1.] By their numbers-whole nations of saved souls; some out of all nations, and many out of some nations. All those multitudes who were sealed on earth are saved in heaven.
    - [2.] By their dignity-some of the kings and princes of the earth: great kings. God will have some of all ranks and degrees of men to fill the heavenly mansions, high and low; and when the greatest kings come to heaven they will see all their former honour and glory swallowed up of this heavenly glory that so much excels.
    - [3.] Their continual accession and entrance into this city: The gates shall never be shut. There is no night, and therefore no need of shutting up the gates. Some one or other is coming in every hour and moment, and those that are sanctified always find the gates open; they have an abundant entrance into the kingdom.
  - (4.) The accommodations of this city: All the glory and honour of the nations shall be brought into it. Whatever is excellent and valuable in this world shall be there enjoyed in a more refined kind, and to a far greater degree-brighter crowns, a better and more enduring substance, more sweet and satisfying feasts, a more glorious attendance, a truer sense of honour and far higher posts of honour, a more glorious temper of mind, and a form and a countenance more glorious than ever were known in this world.
  - (5.) The unmixed purity of all who belong to the new Jerusalem, v. 27.
    - [1.] There the saints shall have no impure thing remaining in them. In the article of death they shall be cleansed from every thing that is of a defiling nature. Now they feel a sad mixture of corruption with their graces, which hinders them in the service of God, interrupts their communion with him, and intercepts the light of his countenance; but, at their entrance into the holy of holies, they are washed in the laver of Christ's blood, and presented to the Father without spot.
    - [2.] There the saints shall have no impure persons admitted among them. In the earthly Jerusalem there will be a mixed communion, after all the care that can be taken. Some roots of bitterness will spring up to trouble and defile Christian societies; but in the new Jerusalem there is a society perfectly pure.
      - First, Free from such as are openly profane. There are none admitted into heaven who work abominations. In the churches on earth sometimes abominable things are done, solemn ordinances profaned and prostituted to men openly vicious, for worldly ends; but no such abominations can have place in heaven.
      - Secondly, Free from hypocrites, such as make lies, say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie. These will creep into the churches of Christ on earth, and may lie concealed there a long time, perhaps all their days; but they cannot intrude into the new Jerusalem, which is wholly reserved for those that are called, and chosen, and faithful, who are all written, not only in the register if the visible church, but in the Lamb's book of life.

Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Revelation » Chapter 21 » Verse 10

Revelation 21:10 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

Cross Reference

Ezekiel 40:1-49 STRONG

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 STRONG

Ezekiel 48:15-22 STRONG

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 21

Commentary on Revelation 21 Matthew Henry Commentary

Chapter 21