Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Revelation 21:2 - 21:2
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The holy city, new Jerusalem (tēn polin tēn hagian Ierousalēm kainēn). “The New Earth must have a new metropolis, not another Babylon, but another and greater Jerusalem” (Swete), and not the old Jerusalem which was destroyed a.d. 70. It was called the Holy City in a conventional way (Mat 4:5; Mat 27:53), but now in reality because it is new and fresh (kainēn), this heavenly Jerusalem of hope (Heb 12:22), this Jerusalem above (Gal 4:26.) where our real citizenship is (Phi 3:20).
Coming down out of heaven from God (katabainousan ek tou ouranou apo tou theou). Glorious picture caught by John and repeated from Rev 3:12 and again in Rev 21:10. But Charles distinguishes this new city of God from that in 21:9-22:2 because there is no tree of life in this one. But one shrinks from too much manipulation of this symbolism. It is better to see the glorious picture with John and let it tell its own story.
Made ready (hētoimasmenēn). Perfect passive participle of hetoimazō as in Rev 19:7. The Wife of the Lamb made herself ready in her bridal attire.
As a bride adorned (hōs numphēn kekosmēmenēn). Perfect passive participle of kosmeō, old verb (from kosmos ornament like our cosmetics), as in Rev 21:19. Only here the figure of bride is not the people of God as in Rev 19:7, but the abode of the people of God (the New Jerusalem).
For her husband (tōi andri autēs). Dative case of personal interest.