Rev 21:2-4 | TNotes | STEP | 21:2 coming down from God: The new creation is a gift from God. In the beginning, God created everything good, and in the end, God will create a new, unbroken world. • This picture of Jerusalem as a beautiful bride (see Isa 61:10 ) contrasts starkly with the vision of Babylon (or Rome) as the prostitute (Rev 17:4-5 ; 18:2-3 ; see study note on 21:9

21:2 ^a coming down from God: The new creation is a gift from God. In the beginning, God created everything good, and in the end, God will create a new, unbroken world.

• This picture of Jerusalem as a beautiful bride (see Isa 61:10 ^b) contrasts starkly with the vision of Babylon (or Rome) as the prostitute (Rev 17:4-5 ^c; 18:2-3 ^d; see study note on 21:9–22:9).
21:3 ^e God’s home is now among his people! Old and New Testament expectations are fully and finally realized. Ever since humanity sinned (Gen 3 ^f), separation from God has been humanity’s greatest problem (Gen 3:23 ^g). God has repeatedly called his people to himself through the prophets, through Jesus his Son, and through the presence of the Spirit (see Gen 17:8 ^h; Exod 29:45-46 ⁱ; Pss 46:4-5 ^j; 95:7 ^k; Jer 7:23 ^l; 31:33 ^m; Ezek 34:14 ⁿ; 37:27 ^o; Zech 8:8 ^p; John 14:2-3 ^q; 17:24 ^r). In the new heaven and new earth, God’s people will finally experience ultimate and everlasting fellowship with God.
21:4 ^s no more death or sorrow or crying or pain: See Isa 25:8 ^t; 1 Cor 15:54 ^u. God’s people will know the creative wholeness and salvation that Christ brings (see 2 Cor 5:17 ^v; Gal 6:15 ^w).