Rev 21:10-11 | TNotes | STEP | 21:10 a great, high mountain: In Scripture, experiences with God frequently take place on the mountains (cp. Ezek 40:2 ; see also Exod 3:1 ; 19:10-25 ; Deut 34:1-4 ; 1 Kgs 18:20-40 ; 19:8-18 ; Matt 5:1 ; 15:29 ; 17:1 ; 24:3 ; 28:16 ). • 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 ; cp. 2 Cor 5:1 ).

21:10 ^a a great, high mountain: In Scripture, experiences with God frequently take place on the mountains (cp. Ezek 40:2 ^b; see also Exod 3:1 ^c; 19:10-25 ^d; Deut 34:1-4 ^e; 1 Kgs 18:20-40 ^f; 19:8-18 ^g; Matt 5:1 ^h; 15:29 ⁱ; 17:1 ^j; 24:3 ^k; 28:16 ^l).

• 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 ^m; cp. 2 Cor 5:1 ⁿ).
21:11 ^o Like the true people of God, the glory of the city reflects God’s glory (cp. Exod 34:29-35 ^p; 2 Cor 3:7-11 ^q).

• Jasper (see also Rev 4:3 ^r; 21:11 ^s, 18 ^t) is opaque on earth; the heavenly jasper is clear as crystal, having a transparency that mirrors God’s purity and integrity.