The Strand Study Bible

REVELATION

2178

Written From the Island of Patmos

Bible notes:

In the Bible there are three deaths: (1) physical death, separation of body and spirit; (2) spiritual death, separation of the individual from God; and (3) eternal death, the final estate of the lost person in the “lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10,14; termed the “second death,” separation from God forever). 1

20:14b According to Luke 12:4-5, death is two-fold: man will die once physically, and then a second time spiritually… twice (Rev 21:8). This is why our LORD pleads with us to trust in Him for salvation (Jn 3:1-5 and I Jn 5:1). Whereas he that is born once, dies twice; he that is born twice, dies only once (Rev 20:6). 20:15 If you want a spot in Heaven, you’ve got to get your name written on Heaven’s ledger (the Book of Life – Lk 10:20, Exo 32:32, Psa 69:28, Isa 4:2-3, Dan 12:1, Phil 4:3, Heb 12:23 and Rev 13:8 & 21:27), that is, you must be born again (Jn 3:1-5). Revelation 21 Subject Head There are 11 verses that prophesy about the Eternal State : * 4 verses are from the OT - Psa 48:8 and Isa 25:8 & 65:17 & 66:22 * 7 verses are from the NT - Mt 12:32, I Cor 15:26, Heb 11:10,16 & 13:14, II Pet 3:13 and Rev 3:12 Sometimes referred to as “ the world to come ,” the Eternal State is comprised of seven wonders: 1. The absence of division amongst the sea of humanity (no more sea) (Rev 21:1 & Isa 65:17 & 66:22 & Mt 12:32) 2. The presence of Deity (Rev 21:2-3 & 22:4 & Psa 48:8 & Heb 11:10,16 & Rev 3:12) 3. The absence of distress, depression, and disease ( i.e, wipe away all tears, sorrow, sickness and pain) (Rev 21:4 & 22:1-2 & Isa 25:8) 4. The absence of death (Rev 21:4 & Isa 25:8 & I Cor 15:26) 5. The absence of former difficulties (no more curse; a trouble free environment) (Rev 21:4 & 20:1-3 & 22:3 & Heb 13:14) 6. The absence of darkness (Rev 22:5) (See also - Isa 24:23 & 60:19-20) 7. The absence of the Devil, the world and the flesh (II Pet 3:13) (See also - Rev 20:10, Ezk 28:11-19, I Jn 2:15-17, I Cor 15:53-57, II Cor 5:1-4 and Rom 8:18-23) 21:1 This word ( new ) means fresh ; refurbished ( Mk 16:17c ). The earth that John is describing here is not a brand new earth, but a refurbished one ( Isa 65:17 ). Henry M. Morris in The Revelation Record notes: 21:4 The "wiping away of all tears" here deals with the beginning of eternity (right after the end of the 1000-year Millennial reign of CHRIST ) and is different than the "wiping away of tears" found in Isaiah 25:8 & 30:19 & 35:10 & 65:19, Matthew 5:4 and Revelation 7:17. Whereas the former deals with all resurrected saints, the later deals with Israel and the people who enter the millennium after the Seven-Year Tribulation Period. NOTE - According to the Bible, God is going to wipe away “all” tears after the 1000-year Millennial reign of CHRIST . Which means: Resurrected believers in their new bodies will still be able to experience “tears of regret” over lost opportunities for good and for God for up to a thousand years after the Rapture of the Church ( I Cor 3:14,15 a , b and II Cor 5:10-11) . Robert Farrar Capon in The Parables of Judgment notes: Every tear will be wiped away. But in the meantime, for as long as the world insists on its own oversight–for as long as we will not abandon our domestic madness and our public folly–judgment will inevitably seem sovereign over grace. 3 Common sense says: Seeing that tears will not be wiped away for resurrected saints until after the Millennium (at the beginning of eternity), there must be a reason to cry during the Millennium. 21:7 Just as unsaved people who “overcome” inherit Heaven ( I Jn 5:4-5 ), so saved people who “overcome” inherit earth ( Rev 2:7 a , b , Mt 5:5 a , b & 19:29 and Gal 5:21 ), hence, the meaning behind, “ He that overcometh shall inherit all things .” 21:8a This word ( fearful ) is the Greek word δε L λο L ς δε ( deilois-de ) and normally denotes cowardice and timidity. However, here in Revelation 21:8, the word deals more with those who are more fearful of the disapproval of men than of the MASTER . Henry M. Morris in The Revelation Record notes: 21:8b This word ( whoremongers ) is the Greek word πορνοις ( pornois ), from which we get our word “pornographic.” It refers to illicit sexual behavior, such as: incest (I Cor 5:1-5); prostitution (I Cor 6:15-18); excessive passion between non-married couples (I Cor 7:1-2); alternative lifestyles (I Cor 7:2 - let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband ); orgies (I Cor 10:8), etc. NOTE - Sex outside the boundaries of God-ordained standards is costly indeed ( Heb 13:4 a , I Cor 5:5 a, 11 and Gen 13:13 ). Revelation 21:9 Subject Head There is a difference between the New Jerusalem and the “Millennial Jerusalem.” Whereas the Millennial Jerusalem will be set up on earth, the New Jerusalem (Holy Jerusalem – vs 2,10) will come down at the beginning of the Millennium and will be suspended in “cube form” above the Millennial Jerusalem, which is positioned on earth. It appears that the New Jerusalem will be the meeting place of all the redeemed during eternity (vs 1-8). In spite of the long interruption occasioned by sin, we can be sure either that everything that was good in the first creation will be restored in the new creation, or else that something better will be provided in its place. The earth and its heaven once again will be very good. 2 The catalog here of sinners inhabiting hell is vivid and most instructive. At the head of the list are the “fearful.” This is not primarily a reference to physical cowardice, but rather to lack of trusting faith in the Lord. Christ used it in Mark 4:40. “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” 2

1 The King James Study Bible . Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson Pub., 1988. Print. 2 Morris, Henry M. The Revelation Record , Carol Stream, ILL, Tyndale, 1983. Print. 3 Capon, Robert Farrar. The Parables of Judgment , Grand Rapids, MI, Eerdmans Pub., 1989. Print.