Revelation 21:5

And he that sat upon the throne said The first time that He speaks. The reference is rather to the eternal throne of Revelation 4:2 than to the judgement-throne of Revelation 20:11, so far as the two can be distinguished.

Behold, I make all things new Some O. T. parallels are alleged, e.g. Isaiah 43:19; Jeremiah 31:22; but really the only close parallel is 2 Corinthians 5:17; and the meaning of this passage is, of course, even fuller than of that.

he said unto me Read only, he saith. It is doubtful whether the speaker is still "He that sat on the throne;" for a similar command to "write" has been given already, Revelation 14:13; Revelation 19:9; cf. Revelation 10:4 either by an impersonal "voice from heaven" or by the revealing angel. The question is best left open. The repetition of the words "He said unto me" in the next verse is a reason against ascribing all three speeches to Him that sat on the throne; the fresh mention of a revealing angel in Revelation 21:9 is perhaps a stronger one against supposing an angel to be speaking here; and the form of the words themselves against their referring to an impersonal voice.

Write: for Or perhaps, "Write, -These words are" " &c.: lit. that these words are ".…

true and faithful Read, faithful and true, as at Revelation 3:14; Revelation 19:11, and still more exactly Revelation 22:6.