Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Revelation 21

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

a new heaven and a new earth

2Pe 3:13; Isa 65:17; 66:22.

the first heaven and the first earth

Heb 12:26-27; 2Pe 3:10-12.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

the holy city

Rev 22:19; Rev 21:10, 27.

prepared as a bride

Rev 19:7-8; cf. Eph 5:25-27; cf. Psa 45:13-15.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

the throne

Kingdom (N.T.). Rev 21:1-6; 1Co 15:28. (Luk 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28).

for these words are true and faithful

Inspiration. Rev 22:17-19. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

second death

Death (the second). (Jhn 8:21.)

Second death, Summary: "The second death" and the "lake of fire" are identical terms (Rev 20:14) and are used of the eternal state of the wicked. It is "second" relative to the preceding physical death of the wicked in unbelief and rejection of God; their eternal state is one of eternal "death" (i.e. separation from God) in sins (Jhn 8:21, 24). That the second death is not annihilation is shown by a comparison of Rev 19:20 with Rev 20:10. After one thousand years in the lake of fire the Beast and False Prophet are still there, undestroyed. The words "forever and forever" ("to the ages of the ages") are used in Heb 1:8 for the duration of the throne of God, eternal in the sense of unending.

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

the bride

Bride (of Christ). Rev 19:6-8.

Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

spirit

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Rev 22:17. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

light

brightness.

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

angel [See also Rev 21:17.]

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.

the names of the twelve tribes

Israel (prophecies). Rom 11:1-27. (Gen 12:2, 3; Rom 11:26.)

twelve tribes

Cf. Eze 48:31-34.

children

sons.

Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

twelve foundations

Cf. Heb 11:10.

the names

twelve names.

apostles of the Lamb

Cf. Eph 2:20; cf. Luk 22:29-30.

Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

reed

A reed = about 10 ft.; also Rev 21:16.

Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

foursquare

Cf. 1Ki 6:20.

furlong

One furlong = 582 ft.

Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

pure gold

Cf. 2Ch 3:8.

Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

pearls

Mat 13:45-46 with Eph 5:25.

the street of the city

Rev 22:2; cf. Rev 3:4.

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

and the Lamb are the temple of it

is the temple of it and the Lamb.

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

the glory of God

Isa 60:19.

light

lamp.

Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

saved

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

shall walk in the light of it

shall walk by the light of it.

into

unto.

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

there shall in no wise enter

Cf. Rev 22:15.

whatsoever

he that.

they which

they only, which.

book of life

Life (eternal). Rev 21:6, 27; 22:1-2, 14, 17, 19. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)