Revelation 21:2 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Revelation 21:2

Comments

At the end of chapter 20, the forces of darkness are finally destroyed. The two remaining chapters of the book look beyond that final battle to a time when all trace of evil has been removed, God’s creation is restored to its original perfection and his people in particular are free to enjoy the bliss of heaven and the presence of God.John almost seems to say, ‘I, John, saw it with my own eyes’. It is a sight so marvellous, such a cause for exultation, so long delayed, but here it is at last. If only we could grasp how certain these things are to take place, we would be nerved for the fiercest trials. We would have an inner strength that knows that nothing can take us away from the love of Christ. We would not be troubled by the stings and arrows of outrageous fortune, but comforted that our heavenly Father will bring to safely to our journey’s end. The holy city, the new Jerusalem, will be a place of absolute purity, having nothing in common with the old Jerusalem. Jerusalem in the Old Testament was a type and symbol of the church of Christ. We may see this as taking place after the rapture, after the people of God are taken up to meet Christ in the air, returning with all the saints who have already died and gone before. They have been carried up into heaven. But in the vision, the new Jerusalem descends from heaven. Why? To emphasise that it's a work of God. The purification and the making of the new Jerusalem is entirely divine, and perfect, and wonderful, so it is seen in the vision as descending from heaven. ‘Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.’ It is Christ’s bride, his church. The new Jerusalem is all true believers: born-again Jews, born-again Gentiles, all who truly are united to Christ, and they are together prepared for Christ eternally.

Application

It is hard for us to imagine the glory that will belong to the church at that time. All eyes will gaze upon her with amazement. She is the product of the workmanship of the Son of God. She is certainly a creature but she is a creature that has had the utmost skill of God expended on her. She is the most magnificent display of the grace of God, for all remember – she too remembers – what was her origin. Her glory is enhanced by the amazing transformation that she has undergone. Now she has a beauty which surpasses the beauty of any other creature that God has made. The Lord describes her as he sees her in Psalm 45 and in the Song of Solomon. He has cast her sins into the sea of his forgetfulness and will count them against her no more. To him she is incomparably attractive, and this is no pretence but a reality. She has been justified, but she has also been sanctified. He is the perfect husband and perfectly carries out the duty given to earthly husbands (Ephesians 5:25-27). During earth’s history, the church was betrothed to the Lord, but only now is the marriage consummated.

Questions

She comes down to earth. Why? Because earth was created as a habitation for man. ‘The meek…shall inherit the earth’ (Matthew 5:5). The earth is not to be discarded as a failed part of God’s plan. It will be rejuvenated and exalted to its true glory. It will be reformed as a suitable habitation for glorified man; ‘the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God’ (Romans 8:21). Will the saints be in heaven or on the earth? Some Scriptures seem to say one thing and some another. The answer is that heaven and earth will be combined. Heaven will come down to meet the earth. God who dwells in heaven will be seen and known through Christ directly.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Revelation 21:2 Commentary and Bible Study