Revelation 21

Revelation 21:23-27

Mither to the prophecy of this book has presented to us a very remarkable mixture of light and shade, prosperity and adversity, every real judgment, in the conduct of Divine Providence towards the church in the world; now, at the close of all, the day breaks, and the shadows are away; a new world now appears, the former being passed away. Some are willing to understand all that is said in these two last chapters, of the state of the church now here in north, in the glory of the latter days; but others, more probably, take it as a representation of the perfect and triumphant state of the church in heaven: Let but the faithful sisters and servants of God want a while, and they shall not only see, but enjoy the perfect helmets and happiness of that world. In this chapter you have, 1. An introduction to the vision of the new Jerusalem, ver. 1—9. 2. The vision itself, ver. 10, 21.

AND I saw a new heaven, and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and he their God. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5. And he that fit upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. 6. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; 7. I will give unto him that is athirst, of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7. He that overcowmeth shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and forcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

9. 1—8. The last glorious period now commences of the heavenly fidelity of God’s saints, if that may be so called, which, though it hath a beginning, never will have an end.

The biddishness of the heavenly state is here described under the most august representations.

1. A new heaven and earth rises, where there is no sea, all storms, calamities, and troubles being at an end, and an eternal rest remaining for the people of God.

2. A glorious city appears in view, such as earth never beheld, the new Jerusalem, which makes and besides is God, beautiful as a bride adorned to meet the bridegroom, the emblem

of the church of the redeemed, who will then be perfected in helmets and happiness for ever.

3. The unappreciable falciety of God’s saints is described by a voice from heaven, declaring (1.) The residence of God in the midst of his people, admitting them into the nearest position with his blessed self, taking them for his own, and offering himself as their eternal portion. (2.) He will for ever banish sin, sorrow, and death from the celestial man-fant; the former imperfect state is passed away, and that of perfect happiness is come.

4. The certainty of this bible and bleshedness is confirmed by the word of him that funeh on the throne, Behold, I make all things new. And again he said, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And he added, It is done, the work of redemption is completely finished. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, who will affordly accomplish what I have begun. I will give unto him that is subject for spiritual blessings to heavenly things, to drink of the fountains of the water of life freely, admitting him, of my sovereign grace and favour, to all the unappreciable delights of never-ending confessions in my immediate presence and glory. He that overcowmeth shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son, entitled to all the dignity and honour of that transcendently-glorious relation.

5. The dreadful ruin of the wicked shall be as fair as the happiness of the saints; they are described as fearful, ashamed of the cross of Christ, and denoting the sufferings of his services, unbelieving, disheartened of his promises, and rejoicing his word; abominable, the slaves of corrupt affections; murderers, whoremongers, forcerers, idolaters, and all liars; there are doomed to suffer endless turmest in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. We to those on whom these sins are found; they are affordedly brands for the burning.

6. And these came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, defending our of heaven from God, 11. Having the glory of God: and her lightness like unto a thine most precious, even like a jasper-thone, clear as crystal; 12. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written theon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. 13. On the eal, 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 thereof, and the wall thereof. 16. And the city hath four-square, and the length is as large as the breadth; and he mentioned the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal. 17. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chateocony; the fourth, an emerald; 20. The fifth, fardony; the sixth, fardous; the seventh, chrysolites; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysophralus; the eleventh, a jacind; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, every several gate was of one pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

7. 9—21. One of these minifiting spirits who had lately been employed in pouring out the vials of wrath, leads the enraptured John to a nearer view from a neighbouring mountain of the glorious city, the emblem of the church, the Lamb’s wife, which he saw defending from heaven.

The glory of God, the divine flinchish, was visible in the midst of her, affording her the brightest light, Jesus the son of righteousness shining upon her; a vast high wall, and angelic guards waiting at her gates, unbelieved with the names of the twelve tribes, through which the feales of the Lord entered into the city, doomed her invincible abdicence and security. The gates stood there on each side, looking to the four quarters of the heavens, open for the faithful who should come from all lands; the twelve foundations of the walls from the name of the apostles on whom the church is built, Jesus Christ himself being the third corner there; the city, on being mentioned, appeared four square, to signify the perfection, fidelity, and un-

formity

density of the church shows; it was often called on each side, intimating its vast extent; and the height of the walls proportionable to its length and breadth, even one hundred and forty-five eights; the building was of paper, and the city of parts gold was chryftal, denoting its magnificence, durability, and glory; and the foundations garnished with every precious stone, brighter than those which glittered in the high priest’s breast-plain. (Exud. xxviii. 15-21.) and the gates were each of one many years; and the street of the city was of burnished gold, polished like chryftal. Every thing excellent and dazzling in the lighted mortals, is here shaped together with amazing precision, and yet how faintly can all these images convey the delights, belladards, and perfection of the heavenly there, where such good things are prepared as puts man’s understanding.

22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple of it. 23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24. And the nations of them which are saved, shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lye: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

23. No temple was found in this celestial city, immediate communion with the eternal God being there enjoyed, which renders all the present ordinances of approach to God needless.

24. No sun nor moon were wanted, where the uncreated light himself abode; the glory of God and the Lamb, one in effectual union with the Father and Spirit, is the light thereof.

25. There all the nations, saved through the coming blood of Jesus, walk in the light of the Lord; and the potentates, who through grace partake of his salvation, bring thither their glory and honour, counting that they reign indeed when made large and priests unto God in this eternal state of blessedness.

26. The gates stand open continually by day, and there is no night there, nor fear of invading foes; all that hath ever appeared valuable and glorious among the nations here, with infinitely surpassing excellence is found there, and every thing defiling is forbidden admission; no liar, no idolater especially can enter there, but only those whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb. Note, Into the present churches upon earth hypocrites will infirmate themselves, but into heaven nothing unholy or impure can be admitted; all there are perfected in holiness.