Revelation 21:19-20 BSB

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 21:19-20

The apostle further explained the foundation stones of the city (Revelation 21:14). The foundation of a building is usually completely functional and not decorative, but these stones, which were at least partially visible above grade, were adorned with gems. [Note: Alford, 4:742.] Another view is that jewels did not cover the foundation stones, but the foundation stones were themselves jewels. [Note: Moffatt, 5:484.] These stones were of many different colors suggesting the extreme beauty of... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 21:1-27

The Holy CityThe enemies of the Lamb have been conquered. The Judgment is over. The old condition of things has passed away: cp. Revelation 20:11. Now St. John sees in a vision the blissful glory of heaven, in which the Lamb’s redeemed people will dwell for ever.1-8. The eternal dwelling-place prepared for the redeemed is seen from a distance (Revelation 21:1.), and the voice of God declares what it means (Revelation 21:3-6), and for whom its glories are (Revelation 21:7.).Three points come out... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Revelation 21:19

(19) And the foundations of the wall . . .—Better, The foundations of the wall of the city (were) adorned with every precious stone. We may compare the adornment of the harlot (Revelation 17:4). Her robe was decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls. The Bride, the Lamb’s wife, has her beautiful ornaments, richer and rarer than those which adorned the world-mistress. The comparison reminds us, in a vivid and figurative way, of our Master’s often-repeated teaching. He that saveth his... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Revelation 21:1-27

Revelation 21:1 While I think of it, why is the sea (in that apologue of Attar once quoted by Falconer) supposed to have lost God? Did the Persians agree with something I remember in Plato about the sea and all in it being of an inferior nature, in spite of Homer's 'Divine ocean,' etc. Fitzgerald's Letters, I. p. 320. Revelation 21:1 Will not one of the properties of the spiritual body be, that it will be able to express that which the natural body only tries to express? Is this a sensual view... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:1-27

CHAPTER XVII.THE NEW JERUSALEM. REV.Revelation 21:1-27; Revelation 22:1-5.THE first part of the final triumph of the Lamb has been accomplished, but the second has still to be unfolded. We are introduced to it by one of those preparatory or transition passages which have already frequently met us in the Apocalypse, and which connect themselves both with what precedes and with what follows: - "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Revelation 21:1-27

CHAPTER 21 Revelation 21:1-8 . And now the eternal state comes into view. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and the sea is no more.” This is the revelation concerning the final and eternal state of the earth. “Thou hast established the earth and it abideth” (Psalms 119:90 ); “But the earth abideth forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4 ). These divine statements are now fulfilled. Many Christians have a very vague conception of the eternal... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 21:1-27

The New Heaven and New Earth Revelation 20:11 has indicated that at the time of the Great White Throne the earth and the heaven flee away. Now John sees a new heaven and a new earth, and the earth had no more sea. The earth is transformed. It is not a different earth, but a renewed earth, just as a sinner being renewed becomes a new creation in Christ. The sea is typical both of the nations in constant tumult (Revelation 17:15) and of the flesh in its swelling unrest and vanity (Isaiah... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Revelation 21:1-27

THE SEVEN NEW THINGS The seven “new things” are the new heaven, earth, peoples, city, temple, luminary, and paradise. The “introduction” in this case covers the first two, the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 20:1-8 ). Observe the sequence of events suggested by Revelation 20:1 : In the present time, we have the church, in the Millennium will be the kingdom, and after that the new world where God shall be all in all (see 1 Corinthians 15:23-28 ). Man’s soul is redeemed by... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Revelation 21:12-23

(12) And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (13) On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. (14) And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (15) And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 21:9-21

9-21 God has various employments for his holy angels. Sometimes they sound the trumpet of Divine Providence, and warn a careless world; sometimes they discover things of a heavenly nature of the heirs of salvation. Those who would have clear views of heaven, must get as near to heaven as they can, on the mount of meditation and faith. The subject of the vision is the church of God in a perfect, triumphant state, shining in its lustre; glorious in relation to Christ; which shows that the... read more