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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:
THE HOLY CITY NEW JERUSALEM

[“All Things New”]
Key Word: Jerusalem
Theme Verse: 2

Revelation 21:1-4 – Blessings in New Jerusalem

RV21:1 And then I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth 867 [Isaiah 65:17] for the first heaven and the first earth went off. 868 And the sea is no more. 869

867	A New Heaven and a New Earth: The phrase is straight out of Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22. Peter also quotes Isaiah at 2 Peter 3:13. In Isaiah the context is a newly created Jerusalem, thus a New Jerusalem. The City is highly associated with God’s People, the Israel of God, as one would expect.

868

The first heaven and the first earth went off: As discussed in 2 Peter 3:10, 12 likely a reference to that demonic “heaven” which appeared after the Deluge along with the “earth” of humankind that developed. (Ephesians 6:12) Literally in Greek they “went off.” This is variously rendered: KJV: passed away; KNX: vanished. When did this happen? In the Day of Jehovah according to Peter, likely the same as the Day of the Master Jesus upon his Return prior to the 1,000 Years. Both the Satanic heavens that have ruled the earth are gone as well as that Devilish structure which obtained on earth. The earth, along with its atmospheric heavens is to endure forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4; Psalm 78:69; 104:5; 119:90) as are the stellar heavens. (Psalm 72:5, 7; 89:37; 136:8, 9)

869

The sea is no more: Not the oceans for they are called “Seas” at Genesis 1:10. It is likely that “sea” out of which the Beast ascends in chapter 13 and Daniel chapter 7. Isaiah 57:20 likens the wicked to the sea. Habakkuk 1:14 echoes this: ‘You have made humankind like the fish of the sea that have no ruler.’ (JPS) Like the wild Sea Beast, the “sea” is an abstraction for those political and revolutionary entities from which such a tyrannical government could arise. The “sea is no more” from that moment when it can no longer produce such beasts. That is, at the Return of Christ (Revelation 11:15), or at that moment described by Daniel 7:22, 27 this “sea” ceases to exist.

RV21:2 Then I saw the Holy City 870 New Jerusalem 871 [Isaiah 52:1] descending down out of the Celestialum from The God. 872 It was prepared like a bride adorned [Isaiah 61:10] for her husband. 873 [2 Corinthians 11:2]

870	Holy City: The designation occurs 16 times: Revelation 3:12; 14:20; 20:9; 21:2, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 23; 22:3, 14, 19. The images echo Isaiah chapters 51, 65. The angelic realms as a corporate body are compared to a “heavenly Jerusalem.” [Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22-24]

871	New Jerusalem: The term occurs 3 times: Revelation 3:12; 21:2, 10. The celestial Jerusalem becomes a “new” Jerusalem upon the arrival of the glorified Saints who become the ruling body. [1 Corinthians 6:2]

872	Descending down out of the Celestialum from The God: There are four words to emphasize the direction of the movement from heaven to earth: descending, down, out of, from. Can there be any question the New Jerusalem is settling upon earth? Compare the Greek EPI at Revelation 5:10.

873

A bride adorned for her husband: When does this “descent” occur? The “city” exists as early as Revelation 11:2 before the three and a half years of Great Oppression. This is probably the same “city” of Revelation 14:20 outside of which the winepress of Armageddon is trodden. This is likely that same city for which the ancients longed. (Hebrews 11:10, 16) It may be that “city” toward which the early Christian Saints had come or approached, Heavenly Jerusalem. (Hebrews 12:22) That is, the “city to come.”(Hebrews 13:14) In this vision the City is “prepared as a bride” and is so seen in more graphic detail (Revelation 21:9, 10) where the City is called the Lamb’s Wife. Therefore, they must be married. This spiritual heavenly marriage must begin when the husband “receives home to himself” his Church. (Revelation 14:3; Ephesians 5:32; 2 Corinthians 11:3; John 3:29; 14:2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) The New Jerusalem could begin its descent after this “marriage” union in order for the Winepress to be “trodden outside the City.” (Revelation 14:20) This phrase is found again at Revelation 22:15 so the City must descend while these are still in existence. The sequence of events would seem to be: Jesus returns in glory, all dead Christians are raised and judged, the “goats” are destroyed, the living Saints are raptured and enter their home, the marriage feast occurs, then the New Jerusalem descends and takes action against Babylon the Great, with the War of Armageddon to follow.

RV21:3 I heard a great voice out of the Throne, 874 saying: “The Tent of The God is with the humans. 875 [Leviticus 26:11] He will tent with them. They will be His Peoples and The God will be with them. [Leviticus 26:11; Ezekiel 37:27]

874	A great voice out of the Throne: Would this be understood to be God Almighty? Later He is identified as “the One on the Throne” so it is possible this is the voice of the Son of God.

875

The Tent of The God is with the humans: Or, God’s dwelling. This whole section is a compound or conflate from several sources which all deal with the Saints. Leviticus 26:12: ‘I will walk among you and be your God and you will be my People’ (quoted in 2 Corinthians 6:16). Ezekiel 37:26-28: ‘I will establish my sanctuary in the midst of them forever. And my tabernacle shall be among them and I will be to them a God and they will be my people.’ (quoted in 2 Corinthians 6:16) Jeremiah 31:33: ‘Then I will be their God and they shall be my People.’ (quoted in Hebrews 8:10) Compare Zechariah 13:9. All of these sources apply to Israel in a covenant relationship with God and not to humankind in general. Therefore, the context of Revelation 21:3 must have the Saints in mind.

RV21:4 He will wipe out every tear from their eyes. 876 [Isaiah 25:8] Death will be no more. 877 [Isaiah 25:8] Nor mourning, outcry, or pain will be any more. 878 [Isaiah 65:17] The former things passed away.” 879 [Isaiah 65:17]

876	He will wipe out every tear from their eyes: Whose “tears”? Judging from Isaiah 25:8 they are those of “my People Israel” and applied by Paul to the Saints. (1 Corinthians 15:54)

877

Death will be no more: This and the related phrase regarding tears is a paraphrase from Isaiah 25:9 which has been alluded to in Revelation 7:17. In Isaiah the context is “Israel” and Paul quotes this in application to those who gain immortality in the heavenly kingdom at 1 Corinthians 15:54. It must have reference to “death” among those Saints within the City of God, New Jerusalem. Second Death still has authority over the “nations” alive on the New Earth during the 1,000 Years. (Revelation 20:6) If Isaiah 65:17-20 applies to this period, then: ‘Neither an old man who shall not complete his time and the sinner who dies at a hundred years shall also be accursed.’ “Death” is still effective among men and is not destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) until after the 1,000 Years. (Revelation 20:12-14) So, the “death” here is during the Thousand Years.

878	Nor mourning, outcry, or pain will be any more: This phrase is from Isaiah 65:19 and the context within the City of God.

879	The former things passed away: Or, first things. This is also from Isaiah 65:17

Revelation 21:5-8 – I Make All Things New

RV21:5 And then the One sitting upon the Throne, [Isaiah 6:1] said: “Look, I am making all things new! 880 [Isaiah 43:19] Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 881

880	I am making all things new: This may be limited to the City of God as it is in Isaiah 65:17-24.

881	These words are faithful and true: Who could doubt the voice from the Throne?

RV21:6 And he continued: “These [words] have been fulfilled! 882 I am the Alpha and the Omega, 883 the Beginning 884 and the End. 885 I shall give to the one thirsting [Isaiah 55:1] from the Fountain of the Water [Isaiah 49:10] of Life as a free gift. 886

882	These [words] have been fulfilled: Or, it is done; it has been accomplished. The Greek is the same as Revelation 16:17 and thus “The end has come!” This also places the context of the descent of the City of God before Armageddon.

883	The Alpha and the Omega: God Almighty of Revelation 1:8 and Revelation 4:8.

884	The Beginning: It is the Greek ARCHE just as it is at Revelation 3:14, but here it is clearly God Almighty who is the Absolute Beginner, including that life of the Son as His first creature. (John 5:26) The Origin and the Fulfiller.

885	The End: As in A to Z. The purposeful, linear view of the Hebrews not the circular, cyclic Egyptian view of the Universe.

886

The Fountain of the Water of Life as a free gift: There is much in the phrases here identical to those in John’s Gospel. Compare the Greek here DOREAN, EGO DOS, PEGE HYDATOS, ZOEN AIONION with John 4:10, 14; 10:14. It may be asked what kind of “everlasting life” would the Nazarene put before the Samaritan woman? Heavenly or earthly? It would appear this woman would have full opportunity to become a follower of Christ with the hope of everlasting life in heaven. The Fountain is the same of Revelation 7:17, an allusion to Isaiah 49:10. The Fountain is not the same as the River of Revelation 22:1. All the images deal with the Saints and the City of God.

RV21:7 The one conquering 887 will inherit these things. 888 I shall be his God 889 and he will be My son. [2 Samuel 7:14]

887	Conquering: A word highly associated with the Saints, the inhabitants of the City of God. The word occurs 12 times and usually applied to the Saints.

888	Inherit these things: “Inherit” is a word associated with the Saints. (1 Corinthians 15:50; Matthew 25:34) “These things” with regard to the City.

889	I shall be his God: This is a phrase that echoes the Davidic covenant. 2 Samuel 7:14, ‘I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a son.’ The language is that between God and the Saints.

RV21:8 But the cowards, the unbelieving, the disgusting, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the spiritistic druggers, the idolaters, and all the liars, their part will be in the Lake burning with fire and sulfur, 890 which is the Second Death.”

890	Their part will be in the Lake burning with fire and sulfur: A short list of those who reject God and continue in their practices. These are mention at Revelation 21:17 and Revelation 22:15 as being “outside the City.” These could include those “sinners” (Isaiah 65:20) during the 1,000 Years.

Revelation 21:9-14 – New Jerusalem Described

RV21:9 Then one of the 7 angels having the 7 bowls full of the 7 last plagues 891 came out and spoke with me, saying: “Come here. I shall show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.” 892

891	Full of the 7 last plagues: This may suggest the descent of the New Jerusalem before the plagues. This would be consistent with what has been discussed above.

892

The Wife of the Lamb: Or, woman of the Lamb. As in many languages the word “woman” may mean “wife” when the possessive is present. The Lamb is now married otherwise he could not have a wife. So the events of Revelation 19:6-9 have already occurred where the marriage feast is, before the Lamb and his armies proceed to war.

RV21:10 And then he carried me off in spirit 893 to a great and high mountain. 894 [Ezekiel 40:1] He showed me the Holy City Jerusalem [Isaiah 52:1] descending down out of the Celestialum from The God.

893	He carried me off in spirit: This is similar to Ezekiel 40:2. If these two visions are connected to the New Jerusalem then it would appear the City of God settles down in the “land of Israel.” John has traveled to heaven, to a wilderness, and now to a great mountain in his visions.

894	A great and high mountain: Imagine the view from Mount Everest, looking to the West, as this bright cube enters the upper atmosphere and begins to land over in the Middle East.

RV21:11 It had the glory of The God. 895 Its illumination was like a most precious gem, like a diamond crystal clear. 896

895	Glory of The God: Compare Isaiah 60:1, 2.

896	Its illumination was like a most precious gem, like a diamond crystal clear: The main light source is compared to a jasper or diamond with crystal clarity.

RV21:12 She had a great and high wall 897 with 12 gates and upon the gates 12 angels. The names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel 898 [Ezekiel 48:31-34] were inscribed on the gates –

897	A great and high wall: The protective walls of Babylon were renowned. Walls are unnecessary if someone could get into the City. Not everyone can get into this City.

898	The 12 tribes of the sons of Israel: That list in Revelation 7:4-8.

RV21:13 from the sunrising 3 gates and from the north 3 gates, from the sunsetting 3 gates and from the south 3 gates. 899 [Ezekiel 48:31-34]

899	Gates: This phrase is out of Ezekiel 48:31-35 showing more and more a link between the two visions. The details in Ezekiel are too thorough to be just an abstraction and not a real and literal future Temple.

RV21:14 The wall of the City had 12 foundation stones, 900 and upon each the 12 names of the 12 Apostles of the Lamb. [Matthew 10:2; Isaiah 53:7]

900	12 foundation stones: Why would a foundation be necessary for a heavenly City unless it settles down upon earth? Compare Ephesians 2:20.

Revelation 21:15-21 – Description and Measurements

RV21:15 The angel speaking with me had a golden measure-reed [Ezekiel 40:3, 5] so he might measure the City, the Gates, and the Wall. RV21:16 The City lies foursquare. 901 [Ezekiel 43:16] Its length is equal to the breadth. He measured the City with his reed: 902 12,000 stadia. 903 Its length, breadth and height are equal. 904

901	Foursquare: The City is a Cube.

902	He measured the City with his reed: Compare Revelation 11:1

903	12,000 stadia: The number of the New Israel times 1,000.

904	Length, breadth and height are equal: A cube-like diamond 300 miles by 300 miles by 300 miles. The foundation would fit easily in the land of Israel and the height of the City would reach into what would be considered “heaven” by the ancients.

RV21:17 He measured the Wall [Ezekiel 40:3, 5; Zechariah 2:1, 2] of the City: 144 cubits, 905 the measure of a man equaling an angel.

905	144 cubits: This measurement is curious because there were 144 cherubs on the tabernacle tapestry walls and ceilings. These angelic cherubs were the measure of a man, six feet.

RV21:18 The structure of the City’s Wall is diamond. The City is like pure gold, like clear glass. 906

906	The City is like pure gold, like clear glass: The overall appearance of this gigantic cube is compared to the most precious gem, jasper or diamond with those rainbow bursts of light something similar to the Throne. (Revelation 4:3) Imagine such a gem, a perfect cube, with such dimensions.

RV21:19 The foundation stones of the Wall 907 were adorned with every precious gem. 908 [Isaiah 54:11] The first foundation gem was diamond, 909 the second sapphire, 910 the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

907	The foundation stones of the Wall: These may each represent a different Apostle. Possibly beginning with Peter as the jasper or diamond.

908	Adorned with every precious gem: There is something of the High Priest’s breastplate here. (Exodus 25:7; 28:15-21)

909	Diamond: Peter?

910	Sapphire: John?

RV21:20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chryoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst. RV21:21 And the 12 gates were pearls; each one of the gates was made of one pearl. 911 The broad way 912 of the City was clean gold, like glass shining through it. 913

911	Pearl: Occurs only 4 times, twice outside of the Apocalypse.

912	The broad way: Or, main street on the ground floor. This has appeared before at Revelation 11:8 regarding the Great City.

913	Like glass shining through it: The whole description is one of Light in its purest form, just as the Throne of God in chapter 4. That “God is Light” is reflected in this Holy City.

Revelation 21:22-27 – The Center of Worship

RV21:22 I saw no temple in the City, 914 for YHWH, The God, The Almighty, 915 is the City’s Divine Habitat. And so is the Lamb. 916

914	No temple in the City: Or, the NAON, Divine Habitat. There is no need as the whole cube is likened to a Temple with God has the Prime Resident.

915	YHWH, The God, The Almighty: It would seem YHWH would be appropriate here. KYRIOS is without the article. It comes from the mouth of a celestial being.

916	Lamb: Note the Holy Spirit is missing here.

RV21:23 The City has no need of the sun or moon, 917 for the glory of The God illuminated the City. The lamp of the City is the Lamb.

917	No need of the sun or moon: It is not that these do not exist but are not needed within the City. The sun and moon will continue to divide night and day. (Psalm 72:5, 7; 89:37; 148:3)

RV21:24 And the nations will walk by the City’s illumination. 918 [Isaiah 63:3, 11] The kings of the earth will bring their glory into the City. 919

918	The nations will walk by the City’s illumination: Compare Isaiah 60:3, 11. These are those non-Jewish “nations” no longer misled by Satan. (Revelation 20:3) These “nations” will walk by means of this new illumination, a spiritual one.

919	The kings of the earth will bring their glory into the City: Not all “kings” for some perished at Armageddon. They exist here as survivors. Compare Zechariah 14:2, 14, 16.

RV21:25 The gates of the City will remain open day and night. 920 Night will not exist in the City. 921

920	The gates of the City will remain open day and night: For access into the City by the “gates” on the earth proper. Revelation 22:14 lists those who may not enter. The City has 24-hour, around the clock, access. The KJV adds: “And the nations of them which are saved.” (Lamsa)

921	Night will not exist in the City: This resembles many modern buildings with lights on around the clock.

RV21:26 The kings of the earth will bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City. 922 [Isaiah 60:1, 6, 10, 13, 19]

922	The kings of the earth will bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City: They have access to the City.

RV21:27 No common thing will enter the City, 923 nor the disgusting or the liar. 924 Only those written in the Lamb’s Little Book of Life. 925 [Psalm 69:28]

923	No common thing will enter the City: Or, nothing unclear, unholy, impure. There are those who may enter the City and those who may not. Both come from earth’s inhabitants during the 1,000 Years. This is also rendered: unhallowed; not sacred.

924	Nor the disgusting or the liar: The liar and idol worshipper. These are the “unclean” outside the City. (Revelation 22:15)

925	Only those written in the Lamb’s Little Book of Life: May it be that during the 1,000 Years some among those “nations” qualify to be recorded in the Book of Life as those are at the end? (Revelation 20:14) Those who qualify during the 1,000 Years may have access to the Holy City.

Review Questions on Chapter Twenty-One