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"And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war. Their number is like that of the sand of the sea."
What the prophets in the Old Testament saw was mainly concerning the time up to the millennium. They were not clear about what would happen after the millennium. What is spoken of here, however, is concerning those things which will happen after the millennium.
Some may ask, "How can the people in the millennial kingdom still be so deceived after a thousand years?" We must realize that during the millennial kingdom there will be two kinds of people on earth:
(1) The Jews. Isaiah 60:21 says, "Then all of your people will be righteous."
(2) The good Gentiles. These are the Gentiles spoken of in Matthew 25:34 through 40 and 46, who have treated God's elect kindly and are represented by the sheep. They will enter into the kingdom. The evil Gentiles will have been killed (Rev. 19:21).
Although there are these two kinds of people in the millennial kingdom, the Jews have a much higher position than do the Gentiles.
These people are still human; they have flesh, and they continue to bear children. This first group of Gentiles that enter the kingdom are saved, but the children they bear may not necessarily be saved. Isaiah 65:20 mentions death; thus, we can see that sin still exists at this time.
Zechariah 14:17 indicates that there will still be some who do not want to worship the Lord. Revelation 2:27 says that the Lord and the Christians will shepherd the nations with an iron rod. Thus, in the millennium, the people will be subdued by force. If someone does not obey, he will be smitten to pieces. If someone is evil, he will be removed. When Satan comes, this group of people will be very susceptible to his deception.
"And they went up upon the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city; and fire came down out of heaven and devoured them."
"The camp of the saints" is where the Christians live. "The beloved city" is the city where the Jews on earth live. These people occupy the highest positions. Many people will attack the camp of the saints and the beloved city because of the temptation of jealousy.
The battle of Gog and Magog referred to in Ezekiel 38:2 is before the millennium. One of these names refers to a person, and the other, to a place. The battle of Gog and Magog in Revelation 20:8 is after the millennium, and these names refer either to two people or two places.
"Magog" is mentioned in Genesis 10:2, and "Gog" is seen in Numbers 24:7; "Agag" is translated "Gog" in the Septuagint. According to the Arabian records, Gog and Magog occupied the area from Russia and Mongolia unto the eastern part of Germany. The people were nomadic and fierce. Therefore, some say that they are Mongolians, that is, Tartars. Their ancestors hated the Jews from the very beginning.
"The earth" refers to the Jewish land. "Upon the breadth of the earth" means that their numbers are enough to fill the Jewish land.
"The camp of the saints" is where the believers live. Revelation 19:14 speaks of "the armies which are in heaven." In heaven they are the heavenly armies; they are on earth only temporarily. Hence, it is a camp, and since a camp is not lasting, we see that the millennial kingdom will pass away.
"And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where also the beast and the false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
The counterfeit trinity is now in the lake of fire. Some may ask, "How can there still be `day and night'?" In Revelation 21:23 we shall see that in the city there is "no need of the sun or of the moon that they should shine in it." It does not say that there is no sun or moon in the new heaven and new earth. Moreover, the tree of life will bear fruit every month. If there were neither sun nor moon, how could there be the monthly bearing of fruit?
"And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose face earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them."
This throne is different from the one in chapters four and five. Two adjectives are used to describe this throne:
(1) "Great." This judgment is extraordinary; thus, it is great and righteous.
(2) "White." This is the color that is especially related to the Lord. For example, the Lord Jesus' hair is white, and He rides on a white horse. White signifies being perfectly clean, absolutely righteous.
"Him who sat upon it." This is the Lord. There is much evidence for this in the New Testament, such as John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31 Romans 2:6; 1 Peter 4:5; and 2 Timothy 4:1.
"Earth and heaven fled away." Some say that the fleeing of the earth and the heaven is simply God's restructuring of the earth and the heaven. But the following clause, "And no place was found for them," shows that the old heaven and old earth are removed. Because the trace of sin can still be seen in the old heaven and old earth, the Lord now casts them away. This is what is prophesied in 2 Peter 3:7, 10, and 12. Probably at the same time that God sends down fire to devour the rebellious people, He will burn away the old heaven and old earth.
"And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened; and another scroll was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by the things which were written in the scrolls, according to their works."
"The dead" in 20:12 are "the rest of the dead" mentioned in 20:5. "Standing before the throne." Standing is an indication of being alive. Since they are standing, they are resurrected.
Will there be anyone who is saved at the great white throne? The answer is yes for the following reasons:
(1) This is a judgment. To judge is not only for judging, but also for distinguishing. If all are unsaved, they should simply receive punishment; why would they still need to be judged?
(2) Not only the scrolls are opened (which record the deeds) but also the book of life (he who has his name here is saved). This tells us that some names are in the scrolls, and some are in the book of life.
(3) The Lord Jesus clearly says that some will be saved at the end in the day of resurrection: "An hour is coming in which..: those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have practiced evil, to the resurrection of judgment" (John 5:28-29).
(4) Practically speaking, it is impossible to say that there are no saved ones here, because:
(a) Death still exists in the kingdom. If these people are resurrected at this time, how can they not be saved?
(b) There are many people who have no part in the first resurrection before the kingdom age. If they appear at this time, how can they not be the saved ones?
(c) The spirits of those believers who had been excommunicated by the church (those who did not repent until the end) can be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. If they are resurrected at this time, how can we say that they are not saved?
(d) The Bible clearly says that if any man denies Christ before man, Christ will also deny him before the angels of God (Luke 12:8-9). These will have no part in the kingdom. If they are resurrected at this time, how can they not be saved?
(e) In the Old Testament time many were saved, yet they were not worthy to reign with the Lord. If they are resurrected at this time, how can we say that they are not saved?
(f) Also there are many babies. If they are not saved at this time, when will they be saved?
(5) Besides the dead that are resurrected, there are also the living people of Israel (in fact, the whole nation) who will stand before the throne. Can we say that they are not saved? Moreover, we have the living Gentiles of the nations. When Satan deceives the nations, we cannot say that they will all follow Satan. Can we say that those who do not follow Satan are not saved at this time?
"Scrolls" is plural. "According to their works" has two meanings: (1) "By means of," which means that the deeds constitute the basis of judgment; and (2) "Based upon," which means that the degree of their punishment is decided by the degree of good and evil in their deeds.
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, each of them, according to their works."
"Death and Hades gave up the dead" means that the spirits of men are delivered up. Some say that the words "the sea gave up the dead" also refer to the spirits of men. Yet we have never heard that one's spirit goes to the sea after he dies. "The sea gave up the dead" means that the sea gives up the spirits of those who died in the previous world. Because the abyss is connected with the sea, it is actually the place where dead spirits are imprisoned.
"They were judged, each of them, according to their works." The future judgment is based solely on works. Hence, this is mentioned twice (20:12-13).
"And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire."
Death is the last enemy (1 Cor. 15:25-26).
"And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire."
The opposite of this verse means that if anyone's name is recorded in the book of life, he must be saved. The judgment at the great white throne is according to certain principles. Those who perish, perish because of their evil deeds (not because of their good deeds), and those who are saved, are saved because their names are written in the book of life (not because of their good deeds either).
(Please pay close attention to the following sub-headings.)
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea is no more."
The old heaven, the old earth, and the old sea have all passed away. Now there is only the new heaven and the new earth; there is no mention of a new sea. Isaiah 65:17 says that God will create a new heaven and a new earth, but that which follows verse 17 concerns the millennial kingdom. The main purpose of Isaiah 65 is to compare the people who are blessed by God with other people. Verse 17 says that God will create a new heaven and a new earth; this is a proclamation. Verses 18 through 25 describe the conditions in Jerusalem in the millennial kingdom. Also, the new heaven and new earth mentioned in 2 Peter 3:13 are the same as those mentioned in Revelation 21:1.
"And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
This city is holy. Formerly, God had only a temple, but not a holy city. He lived in that temple; but now, the holy city replaces the temple, and all of its people are priests. The old Jerusalem was made by men and has become old; the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven and is new. In the millennium the New Jerusalem will be in the air; it will not come down to the earth, because at that time there will still be the old Jerusalem on earth. But when the New Jerusalem does come down out of heaven, she will still be wearing her new adornment. At the wedding dinner of the Lamb, she is the bride. Now it seems that by adorning herself a little bit, she becomes the wife of the Lamb for eternity.
"And I heard a loud voice out of the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them and be their God."
"A loud voice." This may still be the Lord's voice. "He will tabernacle with them." Hereafter, there will no longer be any distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles. God now only cares for men. "The tabernacle of God is with men." The New Jerusalem on the earth is the tabernacle of God. Formerly, when the Israelites were on earth, the tabernacle of God was set up among the people. Now there is no distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles, so the tabernacle of God is with men. God is now dwelling with men. "They will be His peoples" means that, hereafter, they will belong to God and take delight in Him and listen to His word. "And God Himself will...be their God" means that God will take care of them according to what He purposes and will give grace to them (Jer. 24:7; Ezek. 11:20).
"And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death will be no more, nor will there be sorrow or crying or pain anymore; for the former things have passed away."
"Every tear." Tears are a common experience for the people of the earth. But now God wipes away their tears by wiping away the causes of tears, such as death, sadness, pain, and so forth, which all come from sin. Therefore, when these things are wiped away, there will no longer be any trace of sin.
Although these portions, Revelation 21:2-4 and 21:5-8, are closely related to each other, the people in the second half of verse 6 are totally different from those in verse 3.
"And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true."
"He who sits on the throne" is probably God. "Write" means to write this in a book. We can see from the way this is spoken, that this section is especially important.
"And He said to me, They have come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to him who thirsts from the spring of the water of life freely."
The second sentence in verse 5 says, "Write," and the first sentence of verse 6 says, "They have come to pass." Even though the words "They have come to pass" are said ahead of time, all that is spoken in this book will be fulfilled. God will restore the heavens and the earth to their original condition. He is "the Alpha and the Omega"; therefore, all will be accomplished.
"He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be God to him, and he will be a son to Me."
The overcoming here is different from that in chapters two and three of this book. In chapters two and three it is the overcoming in the matter of conduct, that is, the overcoming that involves a comparing of believers with believers. But the overcoming here is the overcoming that involves a comparison of believers with unbelievers in the world (1 John 5:4).
What is the difference between the people in verses 6 through 7 and those in verse 3?
(1) According to verse 3, John saw in a vision that the tabernacle of God is with men, that is, God is dwelling with many people on the earth. The people in the second half of 21:6 are those who are thirsty after hearing the gospel preaching mentioned previously.
(2) The people in verse 3 are the people of God who live on the new earth; those in verse 7 are the sons of God who live in the new city.
(3) The people in verse 3 simply receive the common, entire portion of those on the earth, which is to be the people of God. But the people in verse 7 are not only the sons of God, but also His servants and kings (22:3, 5).
(4) "They will be His peoples" in verse 3 indicates something corporate and common. "He will be a son" in verse 7 refers to something particular and intimate.
(5) "They will be His peoples" in verse 3 is spoken in the third person; it is said by men. "I will be God to him, and he will be a son to Me" in verse 7 is spoken by God directly.
(6) The people in verse 3 dwell on God's new earth, but those in verse 7 dwell in God's house.
Differences in position among Christians are limited to the millennial kingdom. In the new heaven and new earth, all believers will be equal.
"But the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and all the false, their part will be in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
"The cowardly." These are the ones who know that they can be saved through believing, but dare not believe for fear of persecution. The "unbelieving" are those who do not believe. The "abominable" are not necessarily the idol worshippers. All those who worship the host of heavenly bodies are also included. "Idolaters" means those who worship images made of gold, silver, brass, and so forth. "Sorcerers" are those who are involved with demons. "The lake which burns with fire." There is no sea in the new heaven and new earth, but there is a lake of fire.
"And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Now the name of the wife of the Lamb is given. Many people say that the wife of the Lamb is the church. They say that there cannot be a real Jerusalem in the future, but there is much evidence that New Jerusalem is a literal new city:
(1) At that time the church will no longer be the church, but a part of the redeemed ones.
(2) This is a book of revelation. Since chapters two and three explicitly mention the church, why should the New Jerusalem in chapter twenty-one be a sign of the church and not simply the New Jerusalem?
(3) According to 3:12 of this book, the New Jerusalem is what the church hopes for. If we say that the New Jerusalem is the church, then the church would be hoping for the church. This would not make sense.
(4) In Revelation 19:7-10, the New Jerusalem is the bride, and the church is but a guest. Hence, we see that the church is not the New Jerusalem.
(5) There must be a new city in the new heaven and the new earth. Since many people will want to come before God, there must be a dwelling place for them. The Lord clearly said, "In My Father's house are many abodes" (John 14:2).
(6) The woman in Revelation 12:1 refers to Jerusalem, and the great harlot in 17:1 refers to the city of Rome. Therefore, the wife of the Lamb in 21:9 must also be a real city.
(7) After the blowing of the seventh trumpet, the kingdom will arrive, and all the mysteries will be fulfilled. How can the New Jerusalem, which is after the kingdom and is in the new heaven and the new earth, be mysterious and not be real?
(8) In Revelation 17, John wonders greatly when he sees the great Babylon. It is a mystery which needs an angel to explain it to him. But here, John neither wonders nor needs an angel to explain anything, because this city is real.
(9) Some say that the wife of the Lamb must be the church because they regard eternity as something spiritual. They do not realize that in the new heaven and new earth everything is real. God selected the gold and silver used by Solomon to build the temple. Therefore, we cannot say that there would be no use of gold and silver for the building in the new heaven and new earth.
(10) At that time many people will be resurrected bodily, that is, they will possess a spiritual body. There must also be a city for them to dwell in.
(11) Here we are given the shape, size, and all the building materials of the city of New Jerusalem. How can this description be used for the church?
(12) Revelation 21:27 clearly says that many people will enter the city. If the city is the church, how can people enter into people? Also, 21:25 says that the gates of the city shall not be shut by day. Can we say that this speaks about the church?
(13) In 21:9 the wife of the Lamb is shown to John. If "the wife of the Lamb" is a mystery and the New Jerusalem is the explanation, how can we not take the New Jerusalem literally?
(14) The New Jerusalem is in contrast to the old Jerusalem. As the old Jerusalem is a city, so also is the New Jerusalem. Therefore, how can we say that the New Jerusalem is the church?
(15) Galatians 4:26 clearly tells us that there is a heavenly Jerusalem. This Jerusalem is different from the church. Hence, Paul said it (this heavenly Jerusalem) is our (the church's) mother. Therefore, how can we say that the New Jerusalem is the church?
(16) Hebrews 11:10 says, "For he eagerly waited for the city which has the foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God." The New Jerusalem is truly a city with foundations. Was Abraham looking for the church? At that time Abraham could not even have known that there was going to be a church.
(17) Hebrews 12:22 speaks of the heavenly Jerusalem, myriads of angels, and "the universal gathering." Verse 23 mentions "the church of the firstborn, who have been enrolled in the heavens" (referring to the church); "God, the Judge of all"; and "the spirits of righteous men who have been made perfect" (referring to the Old Testament saints). Here we have God, the angels, the Old Testament saints, the church, and the heavenly Jerusalem. Thus, the church is clearly different from the heavenly Jerusalem. How can we say that the New Jerusalem is the church?
"And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God."
"And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain" is in contrast to "And he carried me away in spirit into a wilderness" in 17:3.
"Having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal."
This city especially has the glory of God. In ancient times the glory of God in the temple was not obvious since it appeared like a cloud.
"Her light." Is this light the glory of God? The answer is no, because in verse 23 "the glory of God illumined it" and the Lamb is the lamp of the city. The illumination of the glory of God is upon everything, but the shining of the lamp is limited to one place. Formerly, the shining in the Holy of Holies was by the glory of God, while the shining in the Holy Place was by the seven lamps. In 4:5 of this book, the seven lamps of fire are mentioned in relation to the Holy Spirit before the throne. Concerning the Holy Spirit's being sent forth into all the earth, it is the seven Spirits.
"Crystal" is transparent. Today the shining of the sun is not even universal, but the light of the new city in that day will be transparent. We do not know what color this light will be. All that we know is that it will be beautiful.
"It had a great and high wall and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. On the east three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates."
Both verses 12 and 21 mention "twelve gates." According to verse 21 the street is singular in number. Since there are twelve gates, it should follow that there are twelve streets. How can there be only one street? The street in verse 21 is like a square in the middle of the city, around which are roads. Since every side of the city has three gates, every side must also have three roads. "And at the gates twelve angels." The angels here are not kings; they are the guards of the gates of the new city. "And names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel." Israel represents the law of God. "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls" (21:21). Pearl represents the righteousness of God. Thus, we can see that one enters the gates of God according to God's law and righteousness.
"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who spoke with me had a golden reed as a measure that he might measure the city and its gates and its wall. And the city lies square, and its length is as great as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed to a length of twelve thousand stadia; the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel."
Verse 14 says, "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations." Verse 16 says, "He measured the city with the reed to a length of twelve thousand stadia; the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal." Then verse 17 says, "He measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits." The city is twelve thousand stadia in length, width, and height. (One stadia is equal to 606.75 feet.) The total height of the city is twelve thousand stadia, but the height of the wall is one hundred forty-four cubits. The height of twelve thousand stadia is measured from the bottom foundation all the way to the throne of God. The numbers in this chapter are either twelve or multiples of twelve. Twelve thousand stadia is a multiple of twelve, and twelve is the number of eternal completion.
The wall of the city has twelve foundations. Each layer probably is smaller than the layer under it, similar to the shape of a pyramid. Thus, all twelve layers can be seen.
On the foundations are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (v. 14). The apostles represent the grace of God; therefore, the grace of God makes up the foundations of the wall of the city.
"And the building work of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone: the first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eight, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was, respectively, of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass."
"And the city was pure gold, like clear glass." The gold here is transparent and is different from ordinary gold.
"And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone." The twelve precious stones have twelve colors. Some say that these colors are: (1)green, (2)blue, (3)blue, (4)green, (5)red, (6)red, (7)yellow, (8)sea green, (9)yellow, (10)golden green, (11)purple, and (12) purple.
The combination of these twelve colors is very beautiful. The blending of the eight colors from the fifth through the twelfth produces a rainbow appearance.
"And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."
There is no temple in the new city. In the Old Testament times, only the temple was holy; no place outside of it was considered holy. At the time of the Lord Jesus, the temple was still on the earth. During the time of the church, there is a temple in heaven, but none on earth. In the millennium, however, there will be a temple in heaven as well as one on earth. In the new heaven and new earth there will be no temple since there will be no sin and, hence, no need to offer sacrifices. The entire new city is holy. In the ancient times, men fellowshipped with God through the temple. Here all who live in the city can fellowship with God directly, because He and the Lamb have become the center of the new city.
"And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon that they should shine in it, for the glory of God illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb."
It says here that the new city does not need the sun or the moon to shine in it. It does not say, however, that there will be no sun or moon in the new heaven and new earth. The light of the sun and the moon may shine upon the city, but the city itself has no need of this, because the glory of God illumines it and its lamp is the Lamb.
"And the nations will walk by its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it."
The nations will walk in the light of the city. All those who live in the city have a resurrected body, whereas all those who live on the new earth, that is, the nations, still have a body of flesh and blood. These are the people of the nations. At that time, there will be nations, but no tribes (no distinction of race), no tongues (no distinction of language), and no Jews. The nations are the people who will still be alive after the millennial kingdom but were not deceived by Satan.
The saved ones in the city include the believers, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, who are saved by the blood of the Lord (because the gates of the new city have the names of the twelve tribes and the foundations of its wall have the names of the twelve apostles).
Those in the city are sons (21:7) and kings (22:5). The ones who live on the new earth are the living people who have passed through the millennial kingdom. They are the peoples on the new earth (21:3).
"The kings of the earth" are those who rule the nations in eternity. They are a little greater among those of the nations, yet they are very different from the kings in the city. Our Lord is the King of kings, and we are these kings.
"Walk" implies travel. At the time of the millennium, the earthly Jerusalem will be the capital of the whole world. Once every few years, the Gentiles will come to it. In eternity the Gentiles will also travel to the New Jerusalem. Their travel will be guided by the light of the city; thus, they need no other guidance. (The light shall guide them in the same way that the star in Matthew 2:9 guided the magi from the east.) The city will have no need of the light of the earth, but the people on the earth will need the light of the city.
According to the Old Testament, the glory here is the best produce of all the earth. If we read Genesis 31:1, we will immediately understand that the glory there refers to riches, or to the best produce of the earth. Here they "bring their glory into it," which means that on the new earth, the kings of the earth will present the good things from their land as offerings to God and to the city (Esth. 1:4).
"And its gates shall by no means be shut by day, for there will be no night there."
According to this verse there will still be day and night in the new heaven and new earth (because the opposite of "day" is "night"). The kings of the earth may travel to the new city during the day, but there is no night in the new city. The condition of the inhabitants of the new heaven and new earth will be like that of Adam and Eve, because they will still have bodies of flesh and blood.
"Day and night" or "night" is mentioned five times in this book in regard to eternity (7:15; 14:11; 20:10; 21:25; 22:5). Therefore, there must still be day and night in the new heaven and new earth. Nevertheless, there is no night in the city; hence, the people there can serve God day and night. Because those who live in the new city have resurrected bodies, they will never get tired. Therefore, they can serve God day and night.
"And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it."
"They" refers to the kings in verse 24. The kings of the earth bring their glory into the city. Also, the people of the nations follow them to do the same thing. This is something done absolutely in peace.
"And anything common and he who makes an abomination and a lie shall by no means enter into it, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life."
"Anything common" can also be translated "anything that is cheap." Cheap things are not worth much. "He who makes an abomination" means he who worships idols. "He who makes...a lie" means he who practices sorcery. This does not mean that, at that time, there are still those who practice such abominations and lies. It is only an indication of how clean, solemn, and noble this city is.
"Those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." Two kinds of people live in the new heaven and new earth. One kind will be those of us who have been saved by the blood of the Lord and who live in the new city; the other kind will be the living people who have passed through the millennial kingdom and have become the inhabitants of the new earth. Our names are written in the book of life; we may live in the city forever. The inhabitants of the new earth also have their names in the book of life, but they do not live in the city. Instead, they can only go in and out of the new city.
In the millennium, only the ones who are invited may take part in the new city, but in eternity this privilege is given to all who have their names written in the book of life.
The eating, drinking, and living of the inhabitants of the new earth will be the same as that of Adam before he sinned (but these will not sin); in eternity they will still have a physical body. There is much evidence in the Bible to support this:
(1) The Lord said, "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage" (Matthew 22:30). Only those with resurrected bodies will not be given in marriage. Since the inhabitants of the new earth do not have resurrected bodies, they will still be given in marriage.
(2)The new heaven and new earth are the restoration to the situation before Adam committed sin. Therefore, the people will be fruitful and will multiply; they will eat, drink, and live in the same way that Adam did.
(3)One of the Ten Commandments says, "And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments" (Exo. 20:6). [Note: "unto thousands" should be translated "unto a thousand generations."] If man could never pass through a thousand generations, why did God ever say such a thing? From Adam to the Lord Jesus, there were only seventy-six generations. (Luke 3:23-38 shows that if we include God as one generation, the total is seventy-seven generations.) From Adam to the Lord, there were only four thousand years. Four thousand years was only seventy-six generations. How many generations have there been from the Lord Jesus until now? According to scientific calculations, one generation is, on the average, thirty years. Therefore, two thousand years would only be seventy or eighty generations. In the millennium a man's life span will be greater, so there will be even fewer generations. If we assume that there will be twenty to thirty generations, the total of these three periods will be only two hundred generations. Taking two hundred generations from one thousand, we still have eight hundred. Where are these remaining generations? Therefore, the inhabitants of the new earth must still multiply, except there will be no more death.
"And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street."
This verse continues to speak about the new city. "Its street" should be a square patch of ground in the center as in 21:21. The former paradise had four rivers only. However, in the new city there will be a river of water of life, bright as crystal. Therefore, this scene is better than that of the former paradise.
"The throne." This book speaks of the throne in the different ages:
(1) During the gospel age God sits on the throne, and the Lord sits with God (3:21b).
(2) During the millennium God sits on the throne in heaven, while the Lord Jesus also has a throne on earth (3:21a).
(3) The time of the great white throne is like the gospel age again; the Son sits on the Father's throne (20:11).
(4) In the new city there is only one throne, which is "the throne of God and of the Lamb" (22:1). There is no longer this distinction between the Father and the Son.
In eternity the Lord's name will forever be the Lamb. This name will remind men that there was sin in the world but that the Lord came into the world as the redeeming Lamb. It will also remind men that they can now eat the fruit of the tree of life and drink the water of the river of life because the Lord once became a Lamb.
"And on this side and on that side of the river was the tree of life, producing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
The "tree of life" is real. Although in Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, 13:12, and 15:4 the tree of life is a sign, it cannot be interpreted that way here. In 17:15 when "waters" are mentioned, the angel immediately explains what they refer to. Therefore, if the river of water of life and the tree of life in 22:2 are also signs, the angel would have immediately explained them too. But here the angel does not explain; hence, these are not signs.
Revelation 2:7 says that the tree of life is in the Paradise of God. Revelation 22:2 says that the river is in the midst of the street of the city. This indicates that the New Jerusalem is the Paradise of God. The garden in Genesis 2:8 is the paradise of man, but this is the Paradise of God. Hence, this shows us that God is bringing man to a better place.
"The tree of life" here is singular. How then can one tree grow on both sides of the river? This should not be difficult to understand because even with the banyan tree we find that it can grow several trunks out of one root system and can therefore spread afar. "Yielding its fruit each month" indicates that there still will be months. The days and nights in 21:25 are determined by the sun, and the months here are determined by the moon. A day is twelve hours, a night is twelve hours, and there are twelve months. The number for eternity is always twelve. "And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." Revelation 21:4 says that the former things are passed away and that there will be no more pain or death. This also indicates that there will be no more sickness. However, it does not say that there will be no more infirmity. We can see in Matthew 8:17 that sickness and infirmity are different. Where will these infirmities come from? Since the men here have bodies of flesh and blood, they cannot be absolutely exempt from infirmities. Then how can they live forever? It must be that the leaves of the tree of life heal their infirmities continuously, so that they are never tired.
Some may ask whether or not the inhabitants of the earth in the new heaven and new earth can gain eternal life as well. This verse does not give a clear word regarding this. (The tree of life is clearly in the paradise of Genesis 2:9. And from this verse we see that the tree of life is also in the new heaven and the new earth. However, we do not know if the people of the nations will eat of it.)
"And there will no longer be a curse. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His slaves will serve Him."
"And there will no longer be a curse." This guarantees that there will be no more committing of sins in the new heaven and new earth. The work of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil will be over. Before Adam committed sin in the paradise, his conscience was not functioning, but in the new heaven and new earth, everyone will have a conscience which will be able to distinguish between good and evil. Also the devil shall be no more.
Hence, there shall be no more curse because:
(1) The curse on the world came from the angels' committing of sins. In eternity, however, the angels will no longer rule; we will be ruling instead.
(2) There is no mention of animals being in the new heaven and new earth, because the snake was used by the devil.
(3) Besides the tree of life, there is no mention of any other plant being in the new heaven and new earth. This is because the wine from the vine caused Lot to be drunk, bringing a curse to a certain part of humanity.
"And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it." Seven times in this book the relationship between the Lord Jesus and the new city is mentioned and is based on the name of the Lamb (21:9, 14, 22, 23, 27; 22:1, 3).
"His slaves" are the same as those mentioned in 1:1. They include not only us who are saved, but also all the prophets and saints in the Old Testament age. "Will serve Him" here does not mean to serve as laborers, but to serve as priests. Revelation 20:6 says that the overcomers will be priests and kings in the millennium. Since there will be no more sin in eternity, neither will there be priests as there were in the millennium. Therefore, priests are not explicitly mentioned here. Nevertheless, there will still be many ways to serve God. This indicates that we will not be lazy in eternity. In the millennium, only the overcomers can be priests; but in eternity all who are saved will serve God.
"And they will see His face, and His name will be on their forehead."
"And they will see His face." To continually see God is a special privilege. Fallen men are forever kept away from the Lord's face and from the glory of His strength (2 Thes. 1:9). In the Old Testament, Moses was the only one allowed to see even the back of God (Exo. 33:18-23). In the millennium, only the overcomers can see God's face (Heb. 12:14), but in the new city, all those who are saved will see God's face and will draw near to Him.
Revelation 22:3 speaks "of God and of the Lamb," but verse 4 says only "His face." This shows that the Lord and the Father are one. The Father and the Son are distinct but not separate. "And His name will be on their forehead." During the millennium the one hundred and forty-four thousand alone have His name on their foreheads (14:1). Now all the saved ones have His name on their foreheads.
"And night will be no more; and they have no need of the light of a lamp and of the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine upon them; and they will reign forever and ever."
At this time, there will be no need for either the natural light or the man-made light because the Lord God Himself will shine on them. "And they will reign forever and ever." This is the second thing the believers will do in eternity (the first being to serve God). In the millennium, only the overcomers will be kings and only for a thousand years. Now, however, all who are saved will be kings for eternity.
Some famous expositors say that Revelation 21:9—22:5 does not refer to the scene in the new heaven and new earth but, rather, describes the millennium. The reason for their interpretation is that according to 22:2, which says that "the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations," there will still be sickness and, therefore, death on earth. Hence, this would refer to the millennial kingdom. However, they may be proved wrong by the following reasons:
(1) According to 21:2 the New Jerusalem comes down only after the former heaven and earth have passed away (v. 1). Before the old earth passes away, the New Jerusalem cannot come down, because the New Jerusalem cannot come down upon the old earth.
(2) According to 21:2 and 10, the Jerusalem here is new, and it comes down out of heaven from God. But during the millennium, the old Jerusalem will still be on the earth. Should the New Jerusalem come down at that time, then would there not be two Jerusalems on earth? The New Jerusalem cannot come down before the old Jerusalem passes away.
(3) In 21:1 and 2, John first sees the new heaven and new earth, and then he sees the New Jerusalem. How can one say that the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth is in the kingdom? Some would then say that though 21:1-8 does refer to the new heaven and new earth, Revelation 21:9—22:5 refers back to the scene of the New Jerusalem in the millennial kingdom. But both 21:2 and 10 clearly say that the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven from God. Therefore, we see that the New Jerusalem in verse 10 is the same city as in verse 2.
(4) Since 21:5 says that all things are made new, how can the New Jerusalem be something that was in the millennial kingdom before everything is made new?
(5) The people in 21:8 are cast into the lake of fire after the millennial kingdom and after being judged. The new city stands in opposition to the lake of fire. How then can one say that the new city comes first, whereas these people are cast into the lake of fire after the millennium?
(6) "And I saw no temple in it" (21:22), but we know there will be a temple during the millennium. Ezekiel 40:48 clearly tells how the temple will look in the millennial kingdom.
(7) "The city has no need of the sun or of the moon that they should shine in it" (21:23), but we know that the Bible states that during the millennium "the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days" (Isa. 30:26). How can we say that the New Jerusalem descends during the millennium?
(8) In 21:24 and 26 there is the word "into." This word proves that men may come into the city. But during the millennium the city is suspended in the air; therefore, men of flesh and blood cannot enter into it.
(9) The Lamb's book of life (21:27) appears after the millennium (20:15). How can those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's book of life, which appears only after the millennium, go in and out of the city during the millennium?
(10) There will be no more curse in the new heaven and new earth (22:3), but in the millennium such curses as sickness, pain, death, and so forth will still exist. How then can we say that Revelation 21:9—22:5 describes the millennium?
(11) Revelation 22:3 speaks of "the throne of God and of the Lamb." During the millennium there is only the throne of the Lord Jesus on earth, not the "throne of God and of the Lamb." Hence, how can one say that Revelation 21:9—22:5 describes the things in the millennium?
(12) According to 22:1-3, the throne of God and of the Lamb is in the center of the new city. Nevertheless, Ezekiel says that the glory of God fills the Holy of Holies (43:5; 44:4). If the New Jerusalem does indeed descend during the millennium, will the center of man's worship then be the new city, or will it be the Holy of Holies? Where will God dwell?
Our conclusion is that Revelation 6:1—21:8 covers the prophetic part of this book; Revelation 21:9—22:5 speaks about the New Jerusalem; and Revelation 22:6-21 is not the main body of prophecy but, rather, the epilogue of this book.
