And I saw — So it runs, Revelation 19:11, Revelation 20:1, Revelation 20:4, Revelation 20:11, in a succession. All these several representations follow one another in order: so the vision reaches into eternity. A new heaven and a new earth — After the resurrection and general judgment. St. John is n... [ Continue Reading ]
And I saw the holy city — The new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem, are closely connected. This city is wholly new, belonging not to this world, not to the millennium, but to eternity. This appears from the series of the vision, the magnificence of the description, and the opposition of... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God — So shall the covenant between God and his people be executed in the most glorious manner.... [ Continue Reading ]
And death shall be no more — This is a full proof that this whole description belongs not to time, but eternity. Neither shall sorrow, or crying, or pain, be any more: for the former things are gone away — Under the former heaven, and upon the former earth, there was death and sorrow, crying and pai... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that sat upon the throne said — Not to St. John only. From the first mention of "him that sat upon the throne," Revelation 4:2, this is the first speech which is expressly ascribed to him. And he — The angel. Saith to me Write — As follows. These sayings are faithful and true — This includes... [ Continue Reading ]
And he — That sat upon the throne. Said to me, It is done — All that the prophets had spoken; all that was spoken, Revelation 4:1. We read this expression twice in this prophecy: first, Revelation 16:17, at the fulfilling of the wrath of God; and here, at the making all things new. I am the Alpha an... [ Continue Reading ]
He that overcometh — Which is more than, "he that thirsteth." Shall inherit these things — Which I have made new. I will be his God, and he shall be my son — Both in the Hebrew and Greek language, in which the scriptures were written, what we translate shall and will are one and the same word. The o... [ Continue Reading ]
But the fearful and unbelieving — Who, through want of courage and faith, do not overcome. And abominable — That is, sodomites. And whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters — These three sins generally went together; their part is in the lake.... [ Continue Reading ]
And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven phials — Whereby room had been made for the kingdom of God. Saying, Come, I will show thee the bride — The same angel had before showed him Babylon, Revelation 17:1, which is directly opposed to the new Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he carried me away in the spirit — The same expression as before, Revelation 17:3. And showed me the holy city Jerusalem — The old city is now forgotten, so that this is no longer termed the new, but absolutely Jerusalem. O how did St. John long to enter in! but the time was not yet come. Ezekie... [ Continue Reading ]
Having the glory of God — For her light, Revelation 21:23, Isaiah 40:1, Zechariah 2:5. Her window — There was only one, which ran all round the city. The light did not come in from without through this for the glory of God is within the city. But it shines out from within to a great distance, Revela... [ Continue Reading ]
Twelve angels — Still waiting upon the heirs of salvation.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb — Figuratively showing that the inhabitants of the city had built only on that faith which the apostles once delivered to the saints.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he measured the city, twelve thousand furlongs — Not in circumference, but on each of the four sides. Jerusalem was thirtythree furlongs in circumference; Alexandria thirty in length, ten in breadth. Nineveh is reported to have been four hundred furlongs round; Babylon four hundred and eighty. B... [ Continue Reading ]
And the building of the wall was jasper — That is, the wall was built of jasper. And the city — The houses, was of pure gold.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the foundations were adorned with precious stones — That is, beautifully made of them. The precious stones on the high priest's breastplate of judgment were a proper emblem to express the happiness of God's church in his presence with them, and in the blessing of his protection. The like ornamen... [ Continue Reading ]
A sardonyx is red streaked with white; a sardius, of a deep red; a chrysolite, of a deep yellow; a beryl, sea — green; a topaz, pale yellow; a chrysoprase is greenish and transparent, with gold specks; a jacinth, of a red purple; an amethyst, violet purple.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord God and the Lamb are the temple of it — He fills the new heaven and the new earth. He surrounds the city and sanctifies it, and all that are therein. He is "all in all.... [ Continue Reading ]
The glory of God — Infinitely brighter than the shining of the sun.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the nations — The whole verse is taken from Isaiah 60:3. Shall walk by the light thereof — Which throws itself outward from the city far and near. And the kings of the earth — Those of them who have a part there. Bring their glory into it — Not their old glory, which is now abolished; but such a... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall bring the glory of the nations into it — It seems, a select part of each nation; that is, all which can contribute to make this city honourable and glorious shall be found in it; as if all that was rich and precious throughout the world was brought into one city.... [ Continue Reading ]
Common — That is. unholy. But those who are written in the Lamb's book of life — True, holy, persevering believers. This blessedness is enjoyed by those only; and, as such, they are registered among them who are to inherit eternal life.... [ Continue Reading ]