Revelation 21

John seeth a new heaven a new earth 2 with the new Jerusalem adorned as the bride of Christ 3 he heareth a voice from heaven whereby God promiseth that he will be their God wipe away all their tears from their eyes and give them the inheritance of all things 8 out threateneth that the fearful and other impenitent sinners shall have portion in the lake of fire one of the angels of those vials carrieth John up into the high mountains and sheweth him more clearly the whole form of the new Jerusalem 11 her glory 12 her wall with twelve gates according to the names of the children of Israel 14 her twelve foundation according to the names of the twelve apostle 16 her length and breadeth 18 her materials of Gold 19 twelve foundation of twelve precious stones 21 gates of twelve pearls 22 her temple God himself and the lamb 23 God glory instead of sun and moon 24 her inhabitation all blessed people yea even the blessed king 25 her gates always open 27 that no man that commiteth uncleanness entereth into it.

1. And I saw [namely after the last judgment was held whereof was spoken in the end of the former chapter] a new heaven and a new earth [that is renewed heaven and earth as is further noted 2Peter 3.10 some expositors understand this also a new condition of the Jews whereof more was spoken in the former chapter but this opinion is confuted and that is spoken of the triumphant church of Jesus Christ in heaven and of the condition thereof at the last judgment will sufficiently appear at the last exposition especially by the 4 verse and the 22 and the following verse which can not be applied to the estate of the church of Christ in the world as also almost orthodox interpreters expound it so]for the first heaven and the first earth was passed away [namely in respect of their present state and for as much as it serveth the use of men which lead there a natural life and in respect of the amity which is in subject to for men’s sins see Romans 8.19etc.] and there was no more sea [some conceive here that the sea shall be consumed and dried up by the fire seeing there shall be no more use of it but that heaven and earth renewed and glorified shall always to be a common habitation of holy angels and blessed men as it also at present the angels do sometimes appear upon the earth though the heaven be their proper habitation this is an uncertain opinion.]

2. And I John saw the holy city and the new Jerusalem [though the church of Christ in general b also sometime so called as appeareth Galatians 4:26 Hebrews 12:22 because Jerusalem was a type and figure thereof yet hereby the triumphant church of Christ and the place of her habitation is so called because then that shall be perfected in her which was begun in her in this world see 132.14] coming down from God out of heaven [not that the habitation of the blessed saints shall be hereafter out o heaven for the contrary is testified John 14:2 ,3 Philippians 3:20 1 Thessalonians 4:17 but this is said of a type of the vision which John saw thereof in respect of the power whereby all this was effected and wrought see Hebrews 11:10 and Revelations 13.12] prepared as a bride that is adorned of her husband [namely was said in the former 19 chapter verse 7 that she prepared herself as a bride namely against the coming of Christ so its she said here that she was always prepared that is fully adorned and glorified to remain united forever with Christ her bridegroom see Ephesians 5:27.]

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying behold the Tabernacle of God [that is the habitation of God] is with men and he will dwell with them [namely not only by his grace and spirit as is also done here on earth in hi church John 14:23 2 Corinthians 6:10 but also by his perfect glory and joy he shall be all in all 1 Corinthians 15:28 a figurative phrase taken from the pattern of the Tabernacle in the old testament see Leviticus 26:11] and they shall b his people and Go himself with them and be their God [namely who shall deliver them from all evil and because them to bound with al good both in body and soul see Corinthians 2.9 and 13.12 and 15.43 2 Corinthians 2:9 and 13.12 and 15.43 2 Corinthians 3:18 Philippians 3. Verse 21.]

4. And God shall wipe off all tears from their eyes [see Isaiah 25:8 and above chapter 7.17] and death shall b no more [namely among those that dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem otherwise death remianeth forever in the lake of fire whereunto it was cast before chapter 20.14] neither mourning nor crying neither shall there be any more trouble [or labor] for former things [namely crosses and afflictions incident to believers and all other miseries and troubles of the present] are passed away.

5. And he that sat upon the throne said behold I make all things new and he said unto me writ for these things are true and faithful .

6. And he said unto me [it is come to pass or it hath been it is done that is al things are fulfilled that were foretold by the prophet in the old and by the apostle in the new see chapter 16.17] I am alpha and omega the beginning and the end [see before chapter 18] I will give unto the thirsty of the well of the waters of life [John took this place out of the words of Christ in his gospel chapter 7.37 whereof see there] for naught [that is o free grace without any merits of theirs Ephesians 2:8.]

7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things [that is the fullness of eternal and spiritual riches both in soul and body see Romans 8 verse 17,29 1 John3.2] and I will be a God unto him and he shall be a son unto me.

8. But the fearful [these are here opposed to them of whom is said in the former verse that they overcame namely valiantly steadfastly all troubles that befell them for the profession of the gospel see Romans 8.37these fearful ones then are those that through fear fall away in the times of persecution and affliction Matthew 13:21] and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and isolators and all liars their part is in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death [see chapter 20.14.]

9. And there came unto me the seven angels [namely that had carried John into the wilderness before chapter 17.3 and shewed him the judgment of the great whore who now sheweth him Christ’s and heavenly Jerusalem as followeth as the end of all visions]which had the seven vials which had been full of the seven last plagues and talked with me saying come with me hither I will shew ye thee the bride the lambs wife[that is glorified church of Christ with her dwelling places see before chapter 19.7 whence it appeareth that in this vision there is not only shewed the glory o the place where the elect shall always rejoice with Christ but also especially the glory of the church of Christ itself with her properties as she shall be hereafter in heaven.]

10. And he carried me away in the spirit [that is in a trance or in a vision see chapter 1.10] to a great and high mountain [namely that he might be better able to view from thence this heaven Jerusalem whereof in the sequel with all its situation as from the top of the mountain Sion the city of Jerusalem which was a type hereof could b most conveniently beheld Psalms 24:3 and Isaiah 2:2 etc.] and he shewed me the great city and the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God [see before the annotations on verse 2.]

11. And it had the glory of God [namely which shined upon it and glorified it as God himself is said to possess an inaccessible light 1Timothy 6.16] and her light [or shining] was like unto the most precious stone namely like the jasper stone shining as the crystal.

12. And had a great high wall [hereby is signified the invincible strength and safety of the glorified church of God in heaven who by his omnipotence is and will ever remain as a strong wall bout it see Zach. 2.5 Matthew 15:18] and had twelve gates [namely at each side three gates as is shewed in the sequel whereby is signified that all believers from all quarters of the world shall have access unto this city as Christ also speaketh Matthew 8:11] and at the gates twelve angels [namely to be faithful watchmen to wit the naught might go out or into this city but that which was clean and pertained to it as is shewed hereafter in the 27 verse as is also related of the entrance in paradise Genesis 3:24] and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve families [or tribes] of the children of Israel [namely of the children of God chosen and gathered together out of families of the earth see Romans 11:26 and above chapter 7.4.]

13. On the east were three gates on the north three gates in the south three gates on the west three gates [this hath not respect to the outward Jerusalem which on one side had no gates seeing it lay upon on steep place but either to the Jerusalem of the new testament which Ezekiel also saw after that manner but in a lesser proportion chapter 48.31 or also the camp of the Israelites in the wilderness which lay foursquare and had a gate for every tribe see Numbers 2:2 etc.]

14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations [namely of precious stones fitly laid upon or next tone another as is shewed verse 19 and 20 whereby is signified the doctrine of the twelve apostles whose outermost cornerstone is Jesus Christ upon whom this church of Christ here is built and shall remain rebuilt forever as Paul testified Ephesians 2:20] and in them the names o the twelve apostles of the lamb [a similitude as it seemeth taken from the practice of the workmen in great buildings which for a memorial are wont to engrave or carve their names upon the corner stones so is here spoken of the twelve apostles because all of them built on this city and laid no other foundation but Jesus Christ but in a different measure and luster as these precious stones are a luster and as Paul also speaketh of himself and others 1Corinthians 3.10,11.]

15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure and the gates thereof and the walls thereof[this hath respect to Ezekiel 40:3 where the like measure of the new Jerusalem and of the temple is taken to shew that all things are here done according to Gods ordering and disposing.]

16. And the city lay four square [Gr. lieth four corners this is said so because this figure of all others is t strongest and most moveable] and the length thereof was as great as the breath thereof and he measured the city with the reed twelve thousand furlongs [eight furlongs making an Italian mile and three Italian miles one league whereby is signified that the church of Christ in heaven shall exceeding great and yet so as that her proper habitation as an heavenly paradise shall be and continuous severed from other places .]

17. And he measured the wall thereof [that is the height of that wall]and hundred forty and four ells [Gr. cubits taken from geometrical foot and a half making together two hundred an sixteen geometrical feet a great height arising from twelve times twelve multiplied together a four square number according to the number of the twelve apostles and of the twelve tribes of Israel here named whereby is signified not only the fruitfulness the signification and multiplication of he members of Christ by the doctrine of the apostles but also the ability and stability and safety of this church in heaven] according to the measure of men which was of the angel [that is which a man is wont to use in whose shape the angel here appeared unto John.]

18. And the building of the wall of it was jasper and the city was pure gold being like unto pyre glass [earthly gold is not in itself transparent but only bright and pure but this gold hath moreover the property of pure glass and is joined to the jasper and other precious stones which are related one after another to intimate thereby that all the parts of the heavenly Jerusalem both within and without all the inhabitants thereof shall be very most pure most glorious most holy and most acceptable before God and among themselves according to the gift measure of Christ .]

19. And the foundation of the wall of the city [namely whereon the wall was founded whereof see before verse 14] where adorned all manner of precious stones the first foundation was jasper the second Saphir the third Chalcedony and the fourth emerald.

20. The fifth Sardonix the sixth Sadius the seventh Chrysolite the eight Beryl the ninth Topas the tenth Crysophasas the eleventh Jacinth the twelveth Amethyst.

21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls [these gates are said to be twelve according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel as was shewed verse 12 and thereby may fitly be understood the multitude of all faithful teachers and other leaders of the church which like pearls surpass the common gold thereby as God instrument according to the example of the twelve apostles the true Israelites both of the old and the new testament always came to the fellowship of the church of Christ see 1 Corinthians 3:8] every gate was each of one pearl and the street city was pure gold like transparent glass [the streets or the markets the plains whereby is ordinarily understood that place of the city where the meeting so f the citizens and the courts of justice are kept which is also said to be the pure gold and transparent like glass because all will go peaceable uprightly and without any difference among the members of the church .]

22. For I saw the temple therein for the Lord almighty God is the temple is the temple thereof [I saw no temple namely no outward temple or temple ornament as the outward Jerusalem had adorned also with gold and precious stones for this served as a good figure o the things to come or it saved also the preaching of the word of God the administration of the sacraments the sacraments and the performance o such like divine worships and service therein all which tings shall then cease when they shall be all taught of God alone Jeremiah 31:34 and when he himself shall be all in all] and the lamb [that is Christ himself whom as the true God with the father and the holy ghost will glorify his church and be all in all.]

23. and the city hath no need of the sun neither o the moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the lamb is the candle thereof [this city hath no need of either sun nor moon namely to measure thereby the difference of the days and times sith there shall be no night but an everlasting light as the next verse declareth neither to lighten us outwardly forasmuch as Gods glory and his inaccessible light which he inhabiteth will darken all other lights and this place hath respect to Isaiah 60:19 where the like I prophesied not only of the times of the new testament compared with the times of the old testament but especially of the fulfilling which shall be done hereafter.]

24. And the nations which are saved shall walk in the light of it [that is shall also be partakers of the glory of the whole church as Christ saith Matthew 8:11 that they shall sit down with Abraham , Isaac and Jacob in he kingdom of God] and the kings of the earth [namely that are become believers] do bring their glory and honor unto it these words are also taken out of Isaiah 60:3 not that this kingly power shall continue therefore the contrary is testifieth by Paul 1Corinthians 15.24 but that even kings tat there were here n great glory shall also have their portion in the glory of this church in such measure as God shall please to communicate unto them .]

25. And the gates hereof shall not be shut by day [this phrase is also taken out of Isaiah 60:11 and signified and all the elect shall always have access thither and shall be such peace and quietness that they need not to fear their enemies nor anything that may hurt either them and theirs] for there shall be no night.

26. And they shall bring glory and honor of the nations into it [see before verse 24.]

27. And there shall no enter into anything that defileth [or commiteth uncleanness as Paul also declareth 1 Corinthians 6:9] or commiteth abominations or speaketh a lie but they which are written in the lambs book of life [that is they which from eternity were freely chosen thereunto and were in the efficaciously called and brought unto it see Romans 8:29,30 and Revelations 13.8.]