‏ Revelation of John 21

Summary for Rev 21:1-22:9: 21:1–22:9  ^a The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8  ^b) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27  ^c, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5  ^d, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1  ^e The vision involves God’s creation of the new heaven and earth (cp. Gen 1:1  ^f with Isa 65:17  ^g; 66:22  ^h). The old creation has disappeared—it was subject to decay (see Rom 8:20-21  ⁱ; 2 Pet 3:7  ^j, 10  ^k).

• the sea was also gone: The sea was associated with chaos or the abyss (see study note on Rev 9:1-12) and was sometimes portrayed as a roaring monster (see Pss 46:3  ^l; 74:14  ^m; see also Job 3:8  ⁿ; 41:1-34  ^o; Luke 21:25  ^p). The new creation will be free from all such evil.
21:2  ^q 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  ^r) contrasts starkly with the vision of Babylon (or Rome) as the prostitute (Rev 17:4-5  ^s; 18:2-3  ^t; see study note on 21:9–22:9).
21:3  ^u God’s home is now among his people! Old and New Testament expectations are fully and finally realized. Ever since humanity sinned (Gen 3  ^v), separation from God has been humanity’s greatest problem (Gen 3:23  ^w). 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  ^x; Exod 29:45-46  ^y; Pss 46:4-5  ^z; 95:7  ^aa; Jer 7:23  ^ab; 31:33  ^ac; Ezek 34:14  ^ad; 37:27  ^ae; Zech 8:8  ^af; John 14:2-3  ^ag; 17:24  ^ah). In the new heaven and new earth, God’s people will finally experience ultimate and everlasting fellowship with God.
21:4  ^ai no more death or sorrow or crying or pain: See Isa 25:8  ^aj; 1 Cor 15:54  ^ak. God’s people will know the creative wholeness and salvation that Christ brings (see 2 Cor 5:17  ^al; Gal 6:15  ^am).
21:6  ^an God restates Jesus’ final words from the cross, It is finished! (John 19:30  ^ao; cp. Rev 16:17  ^ap), connecting Christ’s death with the assurance of eternal life.

• I am the Alpha and the Omega: With the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, John portrays God as encompassing total reality and total truth. God was from the Beginning (see Gen 1:1  ^aq; cp. John 1:1-2  ^ar) and is also the End (see Rev 1:8  ^as; 22:13  ^at).

• Because Christ is supreme and in charge of all things (see Rom 9:5  ^au; 1 Cor 15:28  ^av; Eph 1:22-23  ^aw; 4:5-6  ^ax), he dispenses the water of life to all who are thirsty for it (see study note on Rev 7:16-17; see also Isa 55:1  ^ay; John 4:10  ^az; 7:37-38  ^ba).
21:7  ^bb All who are victorious: God’s children who persevere in life will inherit his blessings. Adoption is a covenant relationship; the language of adoption certifies their privileges and responsibilities (cp. Gen 17:8  ^bc; 2 Sam 7:14-16  ^bd; Jer 31:33  ^be; Ezek 34:24  ^bf).
21:8  ^bg This vice list summarizes sins described throughout Revelation. These sins characterize people who have not experienced adoption by God; their fate is the fiery lake (see Rom 1:29-32  ^bh; Gal 5:19-21  ^bi; 2 Tim 3:2-5  ^bj; cp. Exod 20:13-17  ^bk; see also study note on Rev 20:10).

• all liars: John apparently viewed deception as the root of sin; elsewhere he describes Satan as the “father of lies” (John 8:44  ^bl; 1 Jn 2:4  ^bm; see Rev 14:5  ^bn; 21:27  ^bo; 22:15  ^bp; cp. Matt 12:34  ^bq).
Summary for Rev 21:9: 21:9–22:9  ^br This symbolic vision of the new Jerusalem uses vivid word pictures to describe the bride, the wife of the Lamb—all those who respond to Christ’s message of salvation (see 21:2  ^bs; 22:17  ^bt; Eph 5:22-32  ^bu).
21:10  ^bv a great, high mountain: In Scripture, experiences with God frequently take place on the mountains (cp. Ezek 40:2  ^bw; see also Exod 3:1  ^bx; 19:10-25  ^by; Deut 34:1-4  ^bz; 1 Kgs 18:20-40  ^ca; 19:8-18  ^cb; Matt 5:1  ^cc; 15:29  ^cd; 17:1  ^ce; 24:3  ^cf; 28:16  ^cg).

• the holy city ... descending out of heaven from God: God’s presence and eternal life cannot be reached by human effort but are received as a gift (Eph 2:8-9  ^ch; cp. 2 Cor 5:1  ^ci).
21:11  ^cj Like the true people of God, the glory of the city reflects God’s glory (cp. Exod 34:29-35  ^ck; 2 Cor 3:7-11  ^cl).

• Jasper (see also Rev 4:3  ^cm; 21:11  ^cn, 18  ^co) is opaque on earth; the heavenly jasper is clear as crystal, having a transparency that mirrors God’s purity and integrity.
Summary for Rev 21:12-14: 21:12-14  ^cp In this vision, the twelve tribes of Israel represent the redeemed people of God (see 7:4-8  ^cq; see also Rom 9:6-7  ^cr). The foundation for this community of God’s redeemed is the twelve apostles of the Lamb. In Jesus, God’s promise to bless all of the families of the earth through Abraham has been fully realized (Gen 12:3  ^cs).
Summary for Rev 21:15-17: 21:15-17  ^ct measure the city: Measuring defines accepted boundaries (contrast the unmeasured section of the Temple, 11:2  ^cu; see also Ezek 40:3–42:20  ^cv).
21:16  ^cw The city is described as a perfect cube. Each dimension is 1,400 miles (Greek 12,000 stadia); the number 12,000 symbolically represents the people of God (see thematic note for Symbolic Numbers at end of chapter).
21:17  ^cx In the ancient world, walls were important not only to the defense and boundary of a city, but also to its status. That these walls are 216 feet thick (Greek 144 cubits) indicates the strength of God’s redeemed people. The measurement of 144 cubits again uses a multiple of 12 to represent God’s people. A cubit was the length of a man’s forearm, with a standard length of about 18 inches.
21:18  ^cy The wall is built of jasper (see study note on 21:11; cp. 4:3  ^cz). The city is fashioned in gold, which is not opaque like earthly gold; rather, like God’s transformed people, the heavenly gold is clear and pure.
21:19  ^da The twelve precious stones adorning the foundation stones of the city’s wall are a reminder of the twelve stones on the high priests’ breastplate that represented the people of God (see Exod 28:17-20  ^db).
21:21  ^dc Things that are precious and luxurious on earth are common building materials in heaven.
21:22  ^dd I saw no temple: This apparent conflict with earlier visions (11:19  ^de; 14:15-17  ^df) is resolved by understanding each visionary picture in Revelation as a separate symbolic representation of God’s presence. There is no longer any need for a temple in heaven because God is present with his people.
21:23  ^dg The vitality, energy, and life of the city are not in institutions or physical sources of power and light, but in the glory of God and the Lamb. The sun and moon were features of the first creation (Gen 1:14-19  ^dh; see Isa 60:19-20  ^di).

• the Lamb is its light: Jesus is the light of the world (see John 8:12  ^dj; 9:5  ^dk; 12:35-36  ^dl).
Summary for Rev 21:24-25: 21:24-25  ^dm The nations: God’s promise to Abraham is fulfilled (Gen 12:3  ^dn; see Isa 2:3  ^do).

• In Revelation, the kings of the world usually refer to God’s enemies (Rev 6:15  ^dp; 17:18  ^dq; 18:3  ^dr, 9  ^ds). Now that the enemies have been destroyed (16:9  ^dt, 11  ^du; 19:1-2  ^dv, 19-21  ^dw), the picture is of God’s glory as reflected in those people who have repented (14:6-7  ^dx; cp. 11:13  ^dy) and walk with God (5:9  ^dz; 15:4  ^ea).

• The gates that are never ... closed contrast with the ancient scene in which closed gates protected cities from enemies, particularly at night. The people enjoy peace and security in God’s supremacy (see Isa 60:11  ^eb). God’s enemies have been destroyed, and fear and failure have ended (see Zech 14:7  ^ec; John 11:8-10  ^ed; 12:35-36  ^ee).
21:27  ^ef evil (or ceremonially unclean): Spiritual impurity is a basic concern in Revelation (see 21:8  ^eg). Evil is here generalized as idolatry and dishonesty (see Rev 14:5  ^eh; 21:8  ^ei; 22:15  ^ej). Those who fail to appear in the Book of Life are excluded from the city of God. Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life, the pure of heart (Matt 5:8  ^ek), will see God.

Thematic note: Symbolic Numbers
Numbers used in Scripture have often inspired wild speculation. An understanding of the symbolism of numbers in the ancient world can help ground our interpretation. Such symbolism, however, is not rigid or exact, so great care must be exercised when numbers are used in interpretation, so as not to push fanciful predictions about future events.
The number one can refer to God’s oneness (Deut 6:4  ^el; Gal 3:20  ^em; Jas 2:19  ^en). Two is the minimum number required to give a legitimate witness (Deut 17:6  ^eo; Rev 11:3  ^ep), and three can imply divine representation (Gen 18:1-2  ^eq; 2 Cor 13:14  ^er; Rev 1:4-5  ^es). Four can stand for the known world, represented in Revelation by living creatures, horsemen, winds, and angels (Rev 4:6-8  ^et; 6:1-8  ^eu; 7:1  ^ev) and in Genesis  ^ew by four rivers (Gen 2:10-14  ^ex). When three and four are added to make seven, they represent perfection or divine fulfillment, indicating that God and the world are in harmony. The multiplication of three by four yields twelve, the number associated with God’s people (Gen 35:22-26  ^ey; Exod 24:4  ^ez; 28:21  ^fa; Num 17:2  ^fb; Josh 4:3-8  ^fc; 1 Kgs 18:31  ^fd; Matt 10:1-4  ^fe; 19:28  ^ff; Jas 1:1  ^fg; Rev 12:1  ^fh; 21:12–22:2  ^fi. The number five and its multiples, such as ten, represent human completeness (e.g., five fingers per hand); and six carries a negative sense or implication of evil, being neither humanly complete (five) nor divinely complete (seven).
Multiples of ten (e.g., forty) are a symbolic way to indicate many, whereas three sixes (666) imply supreme evil (Rev 13:18  ^fj). One thousand is regarded as the foundational large number; 12,000 indicates a large number of God’s people (Rev 7:5-8  ^fk); and 144,000 represents the complete people of God (Rev 7:4  ^fl; 14:1  ^fm). The number 10,000 and its multiples are probably best transliterated from Greek as myriads, since they really mean “a huge number” rather than a precise count.
While some of the numbers in the Bible have symbolic meanings, using numbers to speculate on the time of Christ’s return or of the end of the world is highly dubious—only God possesses that knowledge (Mark 13:32  ^fn). God did not intend for the symbolic numbers in Revelation to help us predict the future; rather, their symbolic meanings help to explain the significance of the visions. Because the numbers are symbolic, sometimes when we translate them into contemporary sizes, distances, and numbers for our ease of reading, it can result in the loss of theological significance. The use of these symbolic numbers can illuminate a vision’s relationship to the world or to the people of God.


Passages for Further Study
Gen 2:2-3  ^fo; 4:15  ^fp; 15:13  ^fq; 41:53-54  ^fr; Exod 20:6  ^fs; 25:31-37  ^ft; 32:15  ^fu; Lev 16:14  ^fv; 23:16  ^fw; 2 Sam 24:13  ^fx; 1 Kgs 4:26  ^fy; 17:21  ^fz; 18:31  ^ga, 43-44  ^gb; Job 1:2  ^gc; Ps 90:4  ^gd; Jer 15:3  ^ge; 49:36  ^gf; Ezek 14:21  ^gg; Dan 4:16  ^gh, 23-25  ^gi; 7:3  ^gj, 17  ^gk, 24  ^gl; Zech 4:2  ^gm; 6:1  ^gn; Matt 10:1-5  ^go; 12:40  ^gp; 18:21-22  ^gq; Mark 6:7  ^gr; Luke 15:8  ^gs; Acts 6:3  ^gt; 10:16  ^gu; 1 Cor 8:6  ^gv; Eph 4:4-6  ^gw; 2 Pet 3:8  ^gx; Rev 1:16  ^gy; 2:10  ^gz; 4:4  ^ha; 6:1  ^hb; 7:1  ^hc, 4-8  ^hd; 12:1  ^he, 3  ^hf; 13:1  ^hg; 17:3-14  ^hh; 20:2-7  ^hi; 21:12-21  ^hj

‏ Revelation of John 22

Summary for Rev 22:1-2: 22:1-2  ^hk This part of John’s vision of the city deals with God’s provision of water and food for his people (cp. Exod 16:4  ^hl, 22-24  ^hm; Ezek 47:1-12  ^hn; John 4:10  ^ho; 6:32-35  ^hp). Although God originally made a “garden of delight” (Eden) for Adam and Eve, they disobeyed him and lost it (Gen 2–3  ^hq). Now Eden is refashioned and united to the celestial city as God’s marvelous gift for his faithful people. 22:1  ^hr the water of life: See 7:17  ^hs; John 4:10-15  ^ht; cp. Exod 17:1-7  ^hu; Isa 55:1  ^hv; Ezek 47:1-10  ^hw; Zech 14:8  ^hx.
22:2  ^hy Although humans were denied access to the tree of life after they sinned (see Gen 3:22-24  ^hz), it is now freely available. The tree on each side of the river (cp. Ezek 47:12  ^ia) shows that there is no wrong side of the river in heaven. The tree produces a fresh crop of fruit each month, demonstrating God’s constant provision.
22:3  ^ib No longer ... a curse: Ever since the first sin (Gen 3:14-19  ^ic), humanity has been cursed because of their rebellion against God (see 1 Cor 16:22  ^id). Now rebellion, sin, and the curse are gone forever.

• his servants will worship him: Revelation gives glimpses of authentic worship (see Rev 4–5  ^ie; 7:9-17  ^if).
22:4  ^ig The human fears of death and of seeing God (see Gen 16:13  ^ih; 32:30  ⁱⁱ; Judg 6:22  ^ij; Isa 6:5  ^ik) will be removed. God’s people will bear his name and will see his face with joy (see Matt 5:8  ^il; 2 Cor 3:18  ^im; 1 Jn 3:2-3  ⁱⁿ).
22:5  ^io They will reign with God forever (see 20:4  ^ip; see also 5:10  ^iq) in his radiant light that banishes night and the need for lamps (see Isa 60:19-20  ^ir).
Summary for Rev 22:6-21: 22:6-21  ^is This epilogue to Revelation contains utterances by an angel (22:6  ^it, 8-11  ^iu) and Christ (22:7  ^iv, 12-19  ^iw) followed by a concluding plea for Christ’s return (22:20  ^ix) and a closing benediction (22:21  ^iy). The epilogue has a number of direct verbal connections with the introduction to the book (1:1-11  ^iz), and it sums up important themes such as encouraging faithful perseverance, warning evildoers, affirming the authenticity of the prophetic message, and restating the nearness of Christ’s return. 22:6  ^ja Everything that John records in Revelation is trustworthy and true because God, who has all authority (cp. Matt 28:18  ^jb), has sent the messenger. But it does not mean these visions are easy to understand.
22:7  ^jc Blessed: The sixth blessing of Revelation (see 1:3  ^jd; 14:13  ^je; 16:15  ^jf; 19:9  ^jg; 20:6  ^jh; 22:14  ^ji) is for those who obey. Obedience is key to God’s blessing.
Summary for Rev 22:8-9: 22:8-9  ^jj The earlier warning against false worship (see 19:10  ^jk) is reiterated when John again falls at the feet of the angel. Only God deserves our worship (cp. John the Baptist in relation to Jesus; John 1:6-8  ^jl, 26-27  ^jm; 3:27-35  ^jn).
22:10  ^jo Do not seal up: The angel expands John’s initial instruction to “write in a book” (1:11  ^jp) and warns against curtailing its communication. Although some things are sealed—God does not reveal everything (cp. 10:4  ^jq)—what has been written must be communicated so that people will understand the seriousness of the message and that the time is near (see 1:1  ^jr, 3  ^js; 22:6-7  ^jt; cp. Dan 12:4  ^ju).
22:11  ^jv Vile people who refuse to accept God’s forgiveness will continue to be vile (see 16:9  ^jw), yet John reminds the righteous to maintain their integrity. This verse is a warning to evildoers, and it calls the righteous to recognize the crucial significance of Christ’s return relative to their commitments and their actions.
22:12  ^jx Christ is coming soon . . . to repay all people, not just on the basis of their profession of faith, but according to their deeds (see 2:23  ^jy; 11:18  ^jz; 14:13  ^ka; 20:12-13  ^kb; see also Prov 24:12  ^kc; Matt 16:27  ^kd; 2 Cor 5:10  ^ke). Not every statement of belief is genuine (John 2:23-25  ^kf); faith will show itself in actions (Jas 2:14-26  ^kg). We are indeed saved by the grace and power of God in Christ. Our works do not save us, but they do indicate the seriousness of our confession and provide a just basis for our ultimate reward or punishment.
22:14  ^kh Blessed are those: In response to the connection between actions and ultimate results (22:12  ^ki), the seventh blessing of Revelation (see also 1:3  ^kj; 14:13  ^kk; 16:15  ^kl; 19:9  ^km; 20:6  ^kn; 22:7  ^ko) promises acceptance for those who wash their robes—those who have been purified by trusting in Christ and following him faithfully (3:5  ^kp; 6:11  ^kq; 7:9-10  ^kr, 14  ^ks; 19:13  ^kt; Eph 5:26  ^ku; Heb 10:22  ^kv).

• enter through the gates of the city: See study note on Rev 21:24-25.
22:15  ^kw This verse again lists those who are not admitted to contrast with those admitted in 22:14  ^kx (see 21:8  ^ky, 27  ^kz; 22:11  ^la). These unrepentant sinners remain outside the city; it is another warning to those who do not repent that they will not be allowed to enter the city of God (22:14  ^lb).

• The reference to sinners as dogs was a familiar Jewish designation for rejected outsiders (see Matt 7:6  ^lc; Phil 3:2  ^ld; also 2 Sam 3:8  ^le; 2 Kgs 8:13  ^lf); Jews used this term to refer to Gentiles (see Mark 7:26-28  ^lg).
22:16  ^lh I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne: Jesus validates the message of Revelation (cp. John 21:24  ^li) by swearing that he is simultaneously the source of David (see Rev 5:5  ^lj; Isa 11:10  ^lk) and David’s heir (see Ezek 37:23-24  ^ll; Rom 1:3  ^lm).

• The morning star was a name for the Messiah (see Num 24:17  ^ln; 2 Pet 1:19  ^lo; cp. Luke 1:78-79  ^lp).
22:17  ^lq Come is a repeated invitation and a confession (see 22:20  ^lr).

• the bride: The Lamb’s wife (see 21:9  ^ls) is the church, the people of God.

• The thirsty can drink freely from God’s provision (see 21:6  ^lt; 22:1  ^lu; Ps 42:1  ^lv; Isa 55:1  ^lw; John 4:10-14  ^lx).
Summary for Rev 22:18-19: 22:18-19  ^ly I solemnly declare: John issues an oath to protect the integrity of the book of Revelation. He declares a curse upon anyone who alters the contents of the book or its message (cp. Deut 4:2  ^lz; 12:32  ^ma). The curse contrasts with the statement of blessing on all who read aloud, listen to, and obey the prophecy (Rev 1:3  ^mb). At the time Revelation was written, scribes would sometimes alter books to suit their own views. Early Christians quickly developed means of authenticating both messages and messengers (see John 21:24  ^mc; 1 Cor 16:21  ^md; Gal 6:11  ^me; Col 4:18  ^mf; 2 Thes 3:17  ^mg; 1 Jn 4:1-3  ^mh).

• Since the time of the early church, the scope and content of the New Testament has been established as the measure of the Christian proclamation. Yet the church continues to be plagued by those who would attempt to reconstruct the borders of Scripture by adding other works that they believe are of equal status with the Bible or by arguing that certain segments of the Bible are unreliable creations of human effort and perception. The genuine church has rejected and will continue to reject efforts to redefine the boundaries of the canon as human and even demonic attempts to alter the basis of the Christian faith.
22:20  ^mi I am coming soon! See 3:11  ^mj.

• Come, Lord Jesus! Paul uttered the same response (1 Cor 16:22  ^mk; see also Phil 4:5  ^ml).
22:21  ^mm Revelation closes with a benediction similar to those in Paul’s letters (e.g., Rom 15:33  ^mn; 1 Cor 16:23-24  ^mo).

• The fitting final sentence invokes the grace of the Lord Jesus, the foundation of our forgiveness and the basis of our eternal hope.