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Scott's Reference Library
November 2, 2003 | November 5, 2006 | November 1, 2009
Revelation 21:1 through Revelation 21:6a (NIV)
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City,
the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride
beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They
will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will
wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he
said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 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.