Rev. 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The removal of the first heaven and earth eliminates evil. Sin and suffering and death will not exist. This fulfills Isa. 65:17; 66:22. Scholars differ, however, as to how much and in what way the “first heaven and the first earth” will pass away and be changed into something new. They discuss whether this represents an entirely new creation or a “renewed” creation that has some continuity with the old order. It seems that “new” is best understood here as something that has been transformed in a fundamental way, rather than as a fresh creation. By comparison to what is coming to an end, the new cosmic order is radically different. It is a place where “righteousness will dwell” (2 Pet. 3:13). There God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 21:4; compare Isa. 25:8 and Rev. 7:17) and “death shall be no more” (21:4; compare Isa. 25:8 and 1 Cor. 15:26). There “the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay” (Rom. 8:21) and all that is “perishable” will be raised and transformed into a glorious new “imperishable” reality (1 Cor. 15:42–43). There the redeemed will rejoice in the eternal presence of “God and the Lamb” (Rev. 14:4; 22:1–5). The sea was no more refers to the source of earthly rebellion (13:1; Dan. 7:3).

Rev. 21:2 the holy city, new Jerusalem (compare Heb. 12:22–24). The church redeemed by Jesus Christ will be adorned as a bride.

Rev. 21:3 He will dwell with them. The greatest blessing of heaven will be constant fellowship with God himself. The goal of God’s covenant, “God with us” (Isa. 7:14, ESV footnote; Matt. 1:23), will be achieved. his people . . . their God. See Lev. 26:11–12; Ezek. 37:27.

Rev. 21:4 God will wipe away every tear and put an end to death, mourning, and pain (see Isa. 25:8; 65:19–20). He will reverse the curse that entered the world through human sin (Gen. 3:14–19).

Rev. 21:6 It is done! The destruction of God’s enemies (16:17) and the salvation of his saints are both completed. the Alpha and the Omega. First and last letters of the Greek alphabet (see 1:8; 22:13). The Lord is the one who “begins” and “ends” all things (Isa. 41:4; 44:6). The spring of the water of life flows from the throne of God and the Lamb (Rev. 22:1). This is a throne of grace (Heb. 4:16) because here the thirsty drink without payment, by God’s free gift (Isa. 55:1).

Rev. 21:7 The one who conquers. God has made promises to conquerors (2:7, 11, 17). These are summed up in this assurance that the new heaven and earth are their heritage as God’s children. he will be my son. This promise was made to David’s descendants (2 Sam. 7:14). It was fulfilled in Jesus (Heb. 1:5). It also includes those who belong to him (Gal. 3:26). On “son,” see note on Gal. 3:26.

Rev. 21:8 second death. Judgment awaits those who renounce their faith in Christ. sorcerers. On ancient magic, see note on Acts 13:6.

Rev. 21:12–14 The city’s high wall and twelve gates symbolize absolute protection. The gates bear the names of Israel’s twelve tribes, and the Lamb’s twelve apostles are named on the wall’s foundations (Eph. 2:20), signifying the unity of OT and NT believers.

Rev. 21:15–17 measuring rod of gold. See Ezek. 40:3. The city’s length and width and height are equal, having a cubic shape like the Most Holy Place in the OT sanctuary (1 Kings 6:20; Ezek. 41:4). Since the entire city is the Most Holy Place (the place of God’s presence), there is no temple in it (Rev. 21:22). The length, width, and height of the city (12,000 stadia, or 1,380 miles [2,221 km]) and the width of the city wall (144 cubits) are multiples of 12. This may indicate the literal dimensions of the city or it may symbolize the city’s perfection.

Rev. 21:18 Pure gold may be literal gold that shows the bride’s priceless value and purity, or it may simply be symbolic.

Rev. 21:19–21 The 12 jewels correspond to those engraved with the names of Israelite tribes on the high priest’s breastplate (Ex. 28:17–20). They also resemble stones associated with Eden (Ezek. 28:13–14).

Rev. 21:22 its temple is the Lord God . . . and the Lamb. Jesus himself is the tent and temple in which God lives among his people (John 1:14; 2:19–21).

Rev. 21:23 God the Father is the source and Christ is the mediator of the bride’s radiant light (her truth and purity). See Isa. 60:19–20.

Rev. 21:24–27 bring their glory into it. Compare Isa. 60:3–5. The city’s gates will never be shut because there are no opponents left to threaten it.

Rev. 22:1–2 The river of the water of life and the tree of life recall Eden before the fall into sin (Gen. 2:8–10; 3:22–24; see Rev. 2:7). It also echoes Ezekiel’s vision of a future glorious temple (Ezek. 47:1–12; see Zech. 14:8). Refreshment and life flow from the throne of God and of the Lamb, carried by the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised (John 4:10–14; 7:38–39; see also Isa. 44:3; Ezek. 36:25–27). Believers have this life-giving water even now (Rev. 7:17; 22:17), but its fullness awaits the new heaven and earth. This ever-flowing river portrays an unending stream of abundant blessings and joy. The healing of the nations occurs through the destruction of death (20:14; see Ezek. 47:12).

Rev. 22:3 anything accursed. Earth was cursed for Adam’s sin (Gen. 3:17). Guilt, strife, struggle for survival, sickness, sorrow, and death resulted. In the new creation, these will not remain (Rev. 21:4). God’s throne will make the entire city a temple (21:22). There his servants will worship him as his priests.

Rev. 22:4 Moses could not see the Lord’s face and live (Ex. 33:20–23; 34:29–35). Yet God’s redeemed people will see his face. His name . . . on their foreheads sealed them as his protected property through history’s turmoil and trials (Rev. 3:11–12; 7:2–8; 14:1).

Rev. 1:9–22:5 Body. John begins the main part of his letter with a vision of “one like a son of man.” This person praises and corrects his seven churches.

4:1–22:5 “Things that shall take place after this”: Christ’s defense of his church and destruction of its enemies. Having identified the strengths and weaknesses of the seven Asian churches, which represent “all the churches” (2:23), Jesus speaks again. He summons John “in the Spirit” to heaven, to receive visions that portray the future working out of his victory on the cross. The ultimate victory will come in the new heaven and earth at the end of history.

Rev. 21:1–22:5 The destruction of death will lead to the renewal of the entire created order. It will become the perfect home in which the Lamb will live forever with his bride, the people he has redeemed through his atoning death.

Rev. 21:9–22:5 An angel with one of the seven bowls helps John see the bride, the wife of the Lamb. She is the holy city Jerusalem. Some take this as a literal description of this new city. Others understand it as symbolic of life in heaven.

Rev. 22:5 Since night has been banished (see 21:25), God’s servants will bask in light from God’s radiant glory and truth (see 21:23–24). In union with Jesus their king, believers will worship as priests and reign as kings over the new earth forever and ever (5:10).

Rev. 22:6–7 These words are trustworthy and true. The truthfulness of God’s word is affirmed seven times in the last two chapters of Revelation (21:5; 22:6, 7, 9, 10, 18, 19). Blessed is the one who keeps the words of . . . this book. See 1:3 and note.

Rev. 22:8–9 Human beings must not worship even the angels who inflict the last plagues (15:1; 21:9). Angels are fellow servants. God alone must be worshiped. Since the Lamb is rightly worshiped (5:8–14), he is God.

Rev. 22:11 Let the evildoer still do evil . . . and the righteous still do right. Patterns of behavior, whether controlled by unbelief or by faith, will eventually be irreversible (compare Dan. 12:10).

Rev. 22:13 the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. See note on 21:6.

Rev. 22:10–15 John must not “seal” his prophecy as Daniel did his (Dan. 12:4, 9). Unlike Daniel’s prophecy, the fulfillment of John’s visions was “near” to his first-century readers. It remains near today.

Rev. 22:14–15 Blessed. The final of the seven benedictions of Revelation (see chart) is for those who wash their robes in the conscience-cleansing blood of the Lamb (7:14; Heb. 9:14). They have access to the tree of life within God’s city. Outside the gates in eternal torment will be everyone who loves Satanic falsehood, sensuality, and murder (compare Rev. 21:8, 27).

Rev. 22:12–16 Christ will come to repay each one for what he has done. He will reward each faithful servant and punish each unbeliever. Recompense (“wages,” “reward”) indicates degrees of reward and punishment (see Luke 12:47–48).

Rev. 22:16 the root and the descendant of David. Jesus is both David’s “son” and his Lord (5:5; Isa. 11:1, 10; Mark 12:35–37). bright morning star. See note on Rev. 2:26–28.

Rev. 22:16–17 As promised in 1:1, Jesus has given his revelation through his angel and through John to his churches for their comfort and warning.

Rev. 22:17 God invites the spiritually thirsty to take the water of life without price. It is freely provided by God’s grace (21:6; Isa. 55:1).

Rev. 22:6–21 Epilogue. John reaffirms the truthfulness of the revelation he received. He pronounces blessing on those who keep its words, and promises that Jesus will soon return.

Rev. 22:18–21 I warn is the same verb as testifies in v. 20. No human may add to or take away from God’s words. Doing so brings the plagues described in this book (compare Deut. 4:2; 12:32; also Deut. 18:20–22). When Jesus testifies once more, Surely I am coming soon, his church responds, Come, Lord Jesus! (compare 1 Cor. 16:22).