Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Revelations Ch.21 / 22 Ch.s
RE:21
* A new heaven, and new earth: the new Jerusalem where God
dwells, and banishes all sorrow from his people. (1-8) Its
heavenly origin, glory, and secure defence. (9-21) Its perfect
happiness, as enlightened with the presence of God and the Lamb,
and in the free access of multitudes, made holy. (22-27)
#1-8 The new heaven and the new earth will not be separate from
each other; the earth of the saints, their glorified, bodies,
will be heavenly. The old world, with all its troubles and
tumults, will have passed away. There will be no sea; this aptly
represents freedom from conflicting passions, temptations,
troubles, changes, and alarms; from whatever can divide or
interrupt the communion of saints. This new Jerusalem is the
church of God in its new and perfect state, the church
triumphant. Its blessedness came wholly from God, and depends on
him. The presence of God with his people in heaven, will not be
interrupt as it is on earth, he will dwell with them
continually. All effects of former trouble shall be done away.
They have often been in tears, by reason of sin, of affliction,
of the calamities of the church; but no signs, no remembrance of
former sorrows shall remain. Christ makes all things new. If we
are willing and desirous that the gracious Redeemer should make
all things new in order hearts and nature, he will make all
things new in respect of our situation, till he has brought us
to enjoy complete happiness. See the certainty of the promise.
God gives his titles, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the
End, as a pledge for the full performance. Sensual and sinful
pleasures are muddy and poisoned waters; and the best earthly
comforts are like the scanty supplies of a cistern; when
idolized, they become broken cisterns, and yield only vexation.
But the joys which Christ imparts are like waters springing from
a fountain, pure, refreshing, abundant, and eternal. The
sanctifying consolations of the Holy Spirit prepare for heavenly
happiness; they are streams which flow for us in the wilderness.
The fearful durst not meet the difficulties of religion, their
slavish fear came from their unbelief; but those who were so
dastardly as not to dare to take up the cross of Christ, were
yet so desperate as to run into abominable wickedness. The
agonies and terrors of the first death will lead to the far
greater terrors and agonies of eternal death.
#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 happiness
of heaven consists in intercourse with God, and in conformity to
him. The change of emblems from a bride to a city, shows that we
are only to take general ideas from this description. The wall
is for security. Heaven is a safe state; those who are there,
are separated and secured from all evils and enemies. This city
is vast; here is room for all the people of God. The foundation
of the wall; the promise and power of God, and the purchase of
Christ, are the strong foundations of the safety and happiness
of the church. These foundations are set forth by twelve sorts
of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellence of the
doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or
the personal excellences of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven has
gates; there is a free admission to all that are sanctified;
they shall not find themselves shut out. These gates were all of
pearls. Christ is the Pearl of great price, and he is our Way to
God. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent
glass. The saints in heaven tread gold under foot. The saints
are there at rest, yet it is not a state of sleep and idleness;
they have communion, not only with God, but with one another.
All these glories but faintly represent heaven.
#22-27 Perfect and direct communion with God, will more than
supply the place of gospel institutions. And what words can more
full express the union and co-equality of the Son with the
Father, in the Godhead? What a dismal world would this be, if it
were not for the light of the sun! What is there in heaven that
supplies its place? The glory of God lightens that city, and the
Lamb is the Light thereof. God in Christ will be an everlasting
Fountain of knowledge and joy to the saints in heaven. There is
no night, therefore no need of shutting the gates; all is at
peace and secure. The whole shows us that we should be more and
more led to think of heaven as filled with the glory of God, and
enlightened by the presence of the Lord Jesus. Nothing sinful or
unclean, idolatrous, or false and deceitful, can enter. All the
inhabitants are made perfect in holiness. Now the saints feel a
sad mixture of corruption, which hinders them in the service of
God, and interrupts their communion with him; but, at their
entrance into the holy of holies, they are washed in the laver
of Christ's blood, and presented to the Father without spot.
None are admitted into heaven who work abominations. It is free
from hypocrites, such as make lies. As nothing unclean can enter
heaven, let us be stirred up by these glimpses of heavenly
things, to use all diligence, and to perfect holiness in the
fear of God.