13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.13.On the east three gates,&c.The city was square (ver.16), and the same number of gates is assigned to each quarter. There does not appear to be any special significancy in this fact, unless it be to denote that there is access to this city from all quarters of the world, and that they who dwell there will have come from each of thegreat divisions of the earth—that is, from every land.
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
13.On the east three gates,&c.The city was square (ver.16), and the same number of gates is assigned to each quarter. There does not appear to be any special significancy in this fact, unless it be to denote that there is access to this city from all quarters of the world, and that they who dwell there will have come from each of thegreat divisions of the earth—that is, from every land.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and659in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.14.And the wall of the city had twelve foundations.It is not said whether these foundations were twelve rows of stones placed one above another under the city, and extending round it, or whether they were twelve stones placed at intervals. The former would seem to be the most probable, as the latter would indicate comparative feebleness and liability to fall. Compare Notes onver.19. ¶And in them.In the foundation of stones. That is, the names of the apostles were cut or carved in them so as to be conspicuous. ¶The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.Of the Lamb of God; the Messiah. For an illustration of this passage, see Notes onEp.ii.20.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and659in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
14.And the wall of the city had twelve foundations.It is not said whether these foundations were twelve rows of stones placed one above another under the city, and extending round it, or whether they were twelve stones placed at intervals. The former would seem to be the most probable, as the latter would indicate comparative feebleness and liability to fall. Compare Notes onver.19. ¶And in them.In the foundation of stones. That is, the names of the apostles were cut or carved in them so as to be conspicuous. ¶The names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.Of the Lamb of God; the Messiah. For an illustration of this passage, see Notes onEp.ii.20.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden660reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.15.And he that talked with me.The angel,ver.9. ¶Had a golden reed to measure the city.See Notes onch. xi.1. The reed, or measuring rod, here, is of gold, because all about the city is of the most rich and costly materials. The rod is thus suited to the personage who uses it, and to the occasion. Compare a similar description inEze.xl.3–5;xliii.16. The object of this measuring is to show that the city has proper architectural proportions. ¶And the gates thereof,&c.To measure every part of the city, and to ascertain its exact dimensions.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden660reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
15.And he that talked with me.The angel,ver.9. ¶Had a golden reed to measure the city.See Notes onch. xi.1. The reed, or measuring rod, here, is of gold, because all about the city is of the most rich and costly materials. The rod is thus suited to the personage who uses it, and to the occasion. Compare a similar description inEze.xl.3–5;xliii.16. The object of this measuring is to show that the city has proper architectural proportions. ¶And the gates thereof,&c.To measure every part of the city, and to ascertain its exact dimensions.
16 And the city lieth four-square, 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.16.And the city lieth four-square.It was an exact square. That is, there was nothing irregular about it; there were no crooked walls; there was no jutting out, and no indentation in the walls, as if the city had been built at different times without a plan, and had been accommodated to circumstances. Most cities have been determined in their outline by the character of the ground—by hills, streams, or ravines; or have grown up by accretions, where one part has been joined to another, so that there is no regularity, and so that the original plan, if there was any, has been lost sight of. The New Jerusalem, on the contrary, had been built according to a plan of the utmost regularity, which had not been modified by the circumstances, or varied as the city grew. The idea here may be, that the church, as it will appear in its state of glory, will be in accordance with an eternal plan, and that the great original design will have been fully carried out. ¶And the length, is as large as the breadth.The height also of the city was the same—so that it was an exact square. ¶And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.As eight furlongs make a mile, the extent of the walls, therefore, must have been three hundred and seventy-five miles. Of course, this must preclude all idea of there being such a city literally in Palestine. This is clearly a figurative or symbolical representation; and the idea is, that the city was on the most magnificent scale, and with the largest proportions, and the description here is adopted merely to indicate this vastness, without any idea that it would be understoodliterally. ¶The length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal.According to this representation, the height of thecity, not of thewalls(comp.ver.17), would be three hundred and seventy-five miles. Of course, thiscannotbe understood literally, and the very idea of a literal fulfilment of this shows the absurdity of that method of interpretation. The idea intended to be conveyed by this immense height would seem to be that it would contain countless numbers of inhabitants. It is true that such a structure has not existed, and that a city of such a height may seem to be out of all proportion; but we are to remember (a) that this is asymbol; and (b) that, considered as one mass or pile of buildings, it may not seem to be out of proportion. It is no uncommon thing that a house should be as high as it is long or broad. The idea ofvastnessand ofcapacityis the main idea designed to be represented. The image before the mind is, that the numbers of the redeemed will be immense.
16 And the city lieth four-square, 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.
16.And the city lieth four-square.It was an exact square. That is, there was nothing irregular about it; there were no crooked walls; there was no jutting out, and no indentation in the walls, as if the city had been built at different times without a plan, and had been accommodated to circumstances. Most cities have been determined in their outline by the character of the ground—by hills, streams, or ravines; or have grown up by accretions, where one part has been joined to another, so that there is no regularity, and so that the original plan, if there was any, has been lost sight of. The New Jerusalem, on the contrary, had been built according to a plan of the utmost regularity, which had not been modified by the circumstances, or varied as the city grew. The idea here may be, that the church, as it will appear in its state of glory, will be in accordance with an eternal plan, and that the great original design will have been fully carried out. ¶And the length, is as large as the breadth.The height also of the city was the same—so that it was an exact square. ¶And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.As eight furlongs make a mile, the extent of the walls, therefore, must have been three hundred and seventy-five miles. Of course, this must preclude all idea of there being such a city literally in Palestine. This is clearly a figurative or symbolical representation; and the idea is, that the city was on the most magnificent scale, and with the largest proportions, and the description here is adopted merely to indicate this vastness, without any idea that it would be understoodliterally. ¶The length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal.According to this representation, the height of thecity, not of thewalls(comp.ver.17), would be three hundred and seventy-five miles. Of course, thiscannotbe understood literally, and the very idea of a literal fulfilment of this shows the absurdity of that method of interpretation. The idea intended to be conveyed by this immense height would seem to be that it would contain countless numbers of inhabitants. It is true that such a structure has not existed, and that a city of such a height may seem to be out of all proportion; but we are to remember (a) that this is asymbol; and (b) that, considered as one mass or pile of buildings, it may not seem to be out of proportion. It is no uncommon thing that a house should be as high as it is long or broad. The idea ofvastnessand ofcapacityis the main idea designed to be represented. The image before the mind is, that the numbers of the redeemed will be immense.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundredandfortyandfour cubits,according tothe measure of a man, that is, of the angel.17.And he measured the wall thereof.In respect to itsheight. Of course, itslengthcorresponded with the extent of the city. ¶An hundredandfortyandfour cubits.This would be, reckoning the cubit at eighteen inches, two hundred and sixteen feet. This is less than the height of the walls of Babylon, which Herodotus says were three hundred and fifty feet high. See Introduction toch. xiii.of Isaiah. As the walls of a city are designed to protect it from external foes, the height mentioned here gives all proper ideas of security; and we are to conceive of the city itself as towering immenselyabovethe walls. Its glory, therefore, would not be obscured by the wall that was thrown around it for defence. ¶According tothe measure of a man.The measure usually employed by men. This seems to be added in order to prevent any mistake as to the size of the city. It is anangelwho makes the measurement, and without this explanation it might perhaps be supposed that he used some measure not in common use among men, so that, after all, it would be impossible to form any definite idea of the size of the city. ¶That is, of the angel.That is, “which is the measure employed by the angel.” It was, indeed, an angel who measured the city, but the measure which he employed was that in common use among men.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundredandfortyandfour cubits,according tothe measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
17.And he measured the wall thereof.In respect to itsheight. Of course, itslengthcorresponded with the extent of the city. ¶An hundredandfortyandfour cubits.This would be, reckoning the cubit at eighteen inches, two hundred and sixteen feet. This is less than the height of the walls of Babylon, which Herodotus says were three hundred and fifty feet high. See Introduction toch. xiii.of Isaiah. As the walls of a city are designed to protect it from external foes, the height mentioned here gives all proper ideas of security; and we are to conceive of the city itself as towering immenselyabovethe walls. Its glory, therefore, would not be obscured by the wall that was thrown around it for defence. ¶According tothe measure of a man.The measure usually employed by men. This seems to be added in order to prevent any mistake as to the size of the city. It is anangelwho makes the measurement, and without this explanation it might perhaps be supposed that he used some measure not in common use among men, so that, after all, it would be impossible to form any definite idea of the size of the city. ¶That is, of the angel.That is, “which is the measure employed by the angel.” It was, indeed, an angel who measured the city, but the measure which he employed was that in common use among men.
18 And the building of the wall of it wasofjasper; and the citywaspure gold, like unto clear glass.18.And the building of the wall of it.The material of which the wall was composed. This means the wallabovethe foundation, for that was composed of twelve rows of precious stones,ver.14, 19, 20. The height of the foundation is not stated, but the entire wall above was composed of jasper. ¶Was of jasper.See Notes onch. iv.3. Of course, this cannot be takenliterally; and an attempt to explain all this literally would show that that method of interpreting the Apocalypse is impracticable. ¶And the citywaspure gold.The material of which the edifices were composed. ¶Like unto clear glass. The word renderedglassin this place—ὕαλος—occurs in the New Testament only here and inver.21 of this chapter. It means, properly, “anything transparent like water;” as, for example, any transparent stone or gem, or as rock-salt, crystal, glass (Rob.Lex.). Here the meaning is, that the golden city would be so bright and burnished that it would seem to be glass reflecting the sunbeams. Would the appearance of a city, as the sun is setting, when the reflection of its beams from thousands of panes of glass gives it the appearance of burnished gold, represent the idea here? If we were to suppose a city made entirely of glass, and the setting sunbeams falling on it, it might convey the idea represented here. It is certain that, as nothing could be more magnificent, so nothing could more beautifully combine the two ideas referred to here—that ofgoldandglass. Perhaps the reflection of the sunbeams from the “Crystal Palace,” erected for the late “industrial exhibition” in London, would convey a better idea of what is intended to be represented here than anything which our world has furnished. The following description from one who was an eye-witness, drawn up by him at the time, and without any reference to this passage, and furnished at my request, will supply a better illustration of the passage before us than any description which I could give:—“Seen as the morning vapours rolled around its base—its far-stretching roofs rising one above another, and its great transept, majestically arched, soaring out of the envelope of clouds—its pillars, window-bars, and pinnacles, looked literally like a castle in the air; like some palace, such as one reads of in idle tales of Arabian enchantment, having about it all the ethereal softness of a dream. Looked at from a distance at noon, when the sunbeams came pouring upon the terraced and vaulted roof, it resembles a regal palace of silver, built for some Eastern prince;when the sun at eventide sheds on its sides his parting rays, the edifice is transformed into a temple of gold and rubies; and in the calm hours of night, when the moon walketh in her brightness, the immense surface of glass which the building presents looks like a sea, or like throwing back, in flickering smile, the radiant glances of the queen of heaven.”
18 And the building of the wall of it wasofjasper; and the citywaspure gold, like unto clear glass.
18.And the building of the wall of it.The material of which the wall was composed. This means the wallabovethe foundation, for that was composed of twelve rows of precious stones,ver.14, 19, 20. The height of the foundation is not stated, but the entire wall above was composed of jasper. ¶Was of jasper.See Notes onch. iv.3. Of course, this cannot be takenliterally; and an attempt to explain all this literally would show that that method of interpreting the Apocalypse is impracticable. ¶And the citywaspure gold.The material of which the edifices were composed. ¶Like unto clear glass. The word renderedglassin this place—ὕαλος—occurs in the New Testament only here and inver.21 of this chapter. It means, properly, “anything transparent like water;” as, for example, any transparent stone or gem, or as rock-salt, crystal, glass (Rob.Lex.). Here the meaning is, that the golden city would be so bright and burnished that it would seem to be glass reflecting the sunbeams. Would the appearance of a city, as the sun is setting, when the reflection of its beams from thousands of panes of glass gives it the appearance of burnished gold, represent the idea here? If we were to suppose a city made entirely of glass, and the setting sunbeams falling on it, it might convey the idea represented here. It is certain that, as nothing could be more magnificent, so nothing could more beautifully combine the two ideas referred to here—that ofgoldandglass. Perhaps the reflection of the sunbeams from the “Crystal Palace,” erected for the late “industrial exhibition” in London, would convey a better idea of what is intended to be represented here than anything which our world has furnished. The following description from one who was an eye-witness, drawn up by him at the time, and without any reference to this passage, and furnished at my request, will supply a better illustration of the passage before us than any description which I could give:—“Seen as the morning vapours rolled around its base—its far-stretching roofs rising one above another, and its great transept, majestically arched, soaring out of the envelope of clouds—its pillars, window-bars, and pinnacles, looked literally like a castle in the air; like some palace, such as one reads of in idle tales of Arabian enchantment, having about it all the ethereal softness of a dream. Looked at from a distance at noon, when the sunbeams came pouring upon the terraced and vaulted roof, it resembles a regal palace of silver, built for some Eastern prince;when the sun at eventide sheds on its sides his parting rays, the edifice is transformed into a temple of gold and rubies; and in the calm hours of night, when the moon walketh in her brightness, the immense surface of glass which the building presents looks like a sea, or like throwing back, in flickering smile, the radiant glances of the queen of heaven.”
19 And the661foundations of the wall of the cityweregarnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundationwasjasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;19.And the foundations of the wall of the city.Notes onver.14. ¶ Weregarnished. Were adorned, or decorated. That is, the foundations werecomposedof precious stones, giving them this highly ornamented and brilliant appearance. ¶The first foundation.The firstrow,layer, orcourse. Notes onver.14. ¶Wasjasper.See Notes onch. iv.3. ¶The second, sapphire.This stone is not elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament. It is a precious stone, next in hardness to the diamond, usually of an azure or sky-blue colour, but of various shades. ¶The third, a chalcedony.This word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The stone referred to is an uncrystallized translucent variety of quartz, having a whitish colour, and of a lustre nearly like wax. It is found covering the sides of cavities, and is a deposit from nitrated silicious waters. When it is arranged instripes, it constitutesagate; and if the stripes are horizontal, it is theonyx. The moderncarnelianis a variety of this. The carnelian is of a deep flesh red, or reddish-white colour. Thenamechalcedony is fromChalcedon, a town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzantium, or Constantinople, where this stone was probably first known (Webster’sDict.). ¶The fourth, an emerald.See Notes onRe.iv.3. The emerald is green.
19 And the661foundations of the wall of the cityweregarnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundationwasjasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
19.And the foundations of the wall of the city.Notes onver.14. ¶ Weregarnished. Were adorned, or decorated. That is, the foundations werecomposedof precious stones, giving them this highly ornamented and brilliant appearance. ¶The first foundation.The firstrow,layer, orcourse. Notes onver.14. ¶Wasjasper.See Notes onch. iv.3. ¶The second, sapphire.This stone is not elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament. It is a precious stone, next in hardness to the diamond, usually of an azure or sky-blue colour, but of various shades. ¶The third, a chalcedony.This word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The stone referred to is an uncrystallized translucent variety of quartz, having a whitish colour, and of a lustre nearly like wax. It is found covering the sides of cavities, and is a deposit from nitrated silicious waters. When it is arranged instripes, it constitutesagate; and if the stripes are horizontal, it is theonyx. The moderncarnelianis a variety of this. The carnelian is of a deep flesh red, or reddish-white colour. Thenamechalcedony is fromChalcedon, a town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzantium, or Constantinople, where this stone was probably first known (Webster’sDict.). ¶The fourth, an emerald.See Notes onRe.iv.3. The emerald is green.
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.20.The fifth, sardonyx.This word does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. Thenameis derived fromSardis, a city in Asia Minor (Notes onch. iii.1), andὄνυξ,a nail—so named, according to Pliny, from the resemblance of its colour to the flesh and the nail. It is a silicious stone or gem, nearly allied to the onyx. The colour is a reddish yellow, nearly orange (Webster,Dict.). ¶The sixth, sardius.This word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It is also derived fromSardis, and the name was probably given to the gem because it was found there. It is a stone of a blood-red or flesh colour, and is commonly known as acarnelian. It is the same as thesardinestone mentioned inRe.iv.3. SeeNoteson that place. ¶The seventh, chrysolite.This word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It is derived fromχρυσὸς,gold, andλίθος,stone, and meansgolden stone, and was applied by the ancients to all gems of a golden or yellow colour, probably designating particularly the topaz of the moderns (Rob.Lex.). But in Webster’sDict.it is said that its prevalent colour is green. It is sometimes transparent. This is themodernchrysolite. The ancients undoubtedly understood by the name ayellowgem. ¶The eighth, beryl.This word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The beryl is a mineral of great hardness, and is of a green or bluish-green colour. It is identical with the emerald, except in the colour, the emerald having a purer and richer green colour, proceeding from a trace of oxide of chrome. Prisms of beryl are sometimes found nearly two feet in diameter in the state of New Hampshire (Webster). ¶The ninth, a topaz.This word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. The topaz is a well-known mineral, said to be so called fromTopazos, a small island in the Arabian Gulf. It is generally of a yellowish colour, and pellucid, but it is also found of greenish, bluish, or brownish shades. ¶The tenth, a chrysoprasus.This word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It is derived fromχρυσὸς,gold, andπράσον,a leek, and denotes a precious stone of greenish golden colour, like a leek; that is, “apple-green passing into a grass-green” (Rob.Lex.). “It is a variety of quartz.It is commonly apple-green, and often extremely beautiful. It is translucent, or sometimes semi-transparent; its hardness little inferior to flint” (Webster,Dict.). ¶The eleventh, a jacinth.The word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It is the same word ashyacinth—ὑάκινθος—and denotes properly the well-known flower of that name, usually of a deep purple or reddish blue. Here it denotes a gem of this colour. It is ared variety ofzircon. See Webster’sDict.under the wordhyacinth. ¶The twelfth, an amethyst.This word, also, is found only in this place in the New Testament. It denotes a gem of a deep purple or violet colour. Thewordis derived fromα,priv., andμεθύω, to be intoxicated, became this gem was supposed to be an antidote against drunkenness. It is a species of quartz, and is used in jewelry.
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
20.The fifth, sardonyx.This word does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. Thenameis derived fromSardis, a city in Asia Minor (Notes onch. iii.1), andὄνυξ,a nail—so named, according to Pliny, from the resemblance of its colour to the flesh and the nail. It is a silicious stone or gem, nearly allied to the onyx. The colour is a reddish yellow, nearly orange (Webster,Dict.). ¶The sixth, sardius.This word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It is also derived fromSardis, and the name was probably given to the gem because it was found there. It is a stone of a blood-red or flesh colour, and is commonly known as acarnelian. It is the same as thesardinestone mentioned inRe.iv.3. SeeNoteson that place. ¶The seventh, chrysolite.This word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It is derived fromχρυσὸς,gold, andλίθος,stone, and meansgolden stone, and was applied by the ancients to all gems of a golden or yellow colour, probably designating particularly the topaz of the moderns (Rob.Lex.). But in Webster’sDict.it is said that its prevalent colour is green. It is sometimes transparent. This is themodernchrysolite. The ancients undoubtedly understood by the name ayellowgem. ¶The eighth, beryl.This word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The beryl is a mineral of great hardness, and is of a green or bluish-green colour. It is identical with the emerald, except in the colour, the emerald having a purer and richer green colour, proceeding from a trace of oxide of chrome. Prisms of beryl are sometimes found nearly two feet in diameter in the state of New Hampshire (Webster). ¶The ninth, a topaz.This word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. The topaz is a well-known mineral, said to be so called fromTopazos, a small island in the Arabian Gulf. It is generally of a yellowish colour, and pellucid, but it is also found of greenish, bluish, or brownish shades. ¶The tenth, a chrysoprasus.This word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It is derived fromχρυσὸς,gold, andπράσον,a leek, and denotes a precious stone of greenish golden colour, like a leek; that is, “apple-green passing into a grass-green” (Rob.Lex.). “It is a variety of quartz.It is commonly apple-green, and often extremely beautiful. It is translucent, or sometimes semi-transparent; its hardness little inferior to flint” (Webster,Dict.). ¶The eleventh, a jacinth.The word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It is the same word ashyacinth—ὑάκινθος—and denotes properly the well-known flower of that name, usually of a deep purple or reddish blue. Here it denotes a gem of this colour. It is ared variety ofzircon. See Webster’sDict.under the wordhyacinth. ¶The twelfth, an amethyst.This word, also, is found only in this place in the New Testament. It denotes a gem of a deep purple or violet colour. Thewordis derived fromα,priv., andμεθύω, to be intoxicated, became this gem was supposed to be an antidote against drunkenness. It is a species of quartz, and is used in jewelry.
21 And the twelve gatesweretwelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the citywaspure gold, as it were transparent glass.21.And the twelve gates.Ver.12. ¶ Weretwelve pearls.See Notes onch. xvii.4;Mat.xiii.46. ¶Every several gate was of one pearl.Each gate. Of course, this is not to be understood literally. The idea is that of ornament and beauty, and nothing could give a more striking view of the magnificence of the future abode of the saints. ¶And the street of the city was pure gold.Was paved with gold; that is, all the vacant space that was not occupied with buildings was of pure gold. See Notes onver.18.
21 And the twelve gatesweretwelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the citywaspure gold, as it were transparent glass.
21.And the twelve gates.Ver.12. ¶ Weretwelve pearls.See Notes onch. xvii.4;Mat.xiii.46. ¶Every several gate was of one pearl.Each gate. Of course, this is not to be understood literally. The idea is that of ornament and beauty, and nothing could give a more striking view of the magnificence of the future abode of the saints. ¶And the street of the city was pure gold.Was paved with gold; that is, all the vacant space that was not occupied with buildings was of pure gold. See Notes onver.18.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.22.And I saw no temple therein.No structure reared expressly for the worship of God; no particular place where he was adored. It wasalltemple—nothing but a temple. It was not like Jerusalem, where there was but one house reared expressly for divine worship, and to which the inhabitants repaired to praise God; it was all one great temple reared in honour of his name, and where worship ascended from every part of it. With this explanation, this passage harmonises with what is said inch. ii.12:vii.15. ¶For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.They are present in all parts of it in their glory; they fill it with light; and the splendour of their presence may be saidto bethe temple. The idea here is, that it would be a holy world—allholy. No particular portion would be set apart for purposes of public worship, but in all places God would be adored, and every portion of it devoted to the purposes of religion.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
22.And I saw no temple therein.No structure reared expressly for the worship of God; no particular place where he was adored. It wasalltemple—nothing but a temple. It was not like Jerusalem, where there was but one house reared expressly for divine worship, and to which the inhabitants repaired to praise God; it was all one great temple reared in honour of his name, and where worship ascended from every part of it. With this explanation, this passage harmonises with what is said inch. ii.12:vii.15. ¶For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.They are present in all parts of it in their glory; they fill it with light; and the splendour of their presence may be saidto bethe temple. The idea here is, that it would be a holy world—allholy. No particular portion would be set apart for purposes of public worship, but in all places God would be adored, and every portion of it devoted to the purposes of religion.
23 And the city662had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and663the Lambisthe light thereof.23.And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it.This imagery seems to be derived fromIs.lx.19, 20. See Notes on those verses. No language could give a more striking or beautiful representation of the heavenly state than that which is here employed. ¶For the glory of God did lighten it.By the visible splendour of his glory. See Notes onver.11. That supplied the place of the sun and the moon. ¶And the Lamb is the light thereof.The Son of God; the Messiah. See Notes onch. v.6;Is.lx.19.
23 And the city662had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and663the Lambisthe light thereof.
23.And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it.This imagery seems to be derived fromIs.lx.19, 20. See Notes on those verses. No language could give a more striking or beautiful representation of the heavenly state than that which is here employed. ¶For the glory of God did lighten it.By the visible splendour of his glory. See Notes onver.11. That supplied the place of the sun and the moon. ¶And the Lamb is the light thereof.The Son of God; the Messiah. See Notes onch. v.6;Is.lx.19.
24 And the664nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the665kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.24.And the nations of them which are saved.All the nations that are saved; or all the saved consideredasnations. This imagery is doubtless derived from that in Isaiah, particularlych. lx.8–9. See Notes on that passage. ¶Shall walk in the light of it.Shall enjoy its splendour, and be continually in its light. ¶And the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.All that they consider as constituting their glory, treasures, crowns, sceptres, robes. The idea is, that all these will be devoted to God in the future days of the church in its glory, and will be, as it were, brought and laid down at the feet of the Saviour in heaven. The language is derived, doubtless, from the description inIs.lx.3–14.Comp.Is.xlix.28.
24 And the664nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the665kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
24.And the nations of them which are saved.All the nations that are saved; or all the saved consideredasnations. This imagery is doubtless derived from that in Isaiah, particularlych. lx.8–9. See Notes on that passage. ¶Shall walk in the light of it.Shall enjoy its splendour, and be continually in its light. ¶And the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.All that they consider as constituting their glory, treasures, crowns, sceptres, robes. The idea is, that all these will be devoted to God in the future days of the church in its glory, and will be, as it were, brought and laid down at the feet of the Saviour in heaven. The language is derived, doubtless, from the description inIs.lx.3–14.Comp.Is.xlix.28.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day; for666there shall be no night there.25.And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day.It shall be constantly open, allowing free ingress and egress to all who reside there. The language is derived fromIs.lx.11. See Notes on that place. Applied to the future state of the blessed, it would seem to mean, that while this will be their permanentabode, yet that the dwellers there will not beprisoners. The universe will be open to them. They will be permitted to go forth and visit every world, and survey the works of God in all parts of his dominions. ¶For there shall be no night there.It shall be all day; all unclouded splendour. When, therefore, it is said that the gates should not be “shutby day,” it means that they wouldneverbe shut. When it is said that there would be nonightthere, it is, undoubtedly, to be taken as meaning that there would be noliteraldarkness, and nothing of which night is the emblem: no calamity, no sorrow, no bereavement, no darkened windows on account of the loss of friends and kindred.Comp.Notes onver.4.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day; for666there shall be no night there.
25.And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day.It shall be constantly open, allowing free ingress and egress to all who reside there. The language is derived fromIs.lx.11. See Notes on that place. Applied to the future state of the blessed, it would seem to mean, that while this will be their permanentabode, yet that the dwellers there will not beprisoners. The universe will be open to them. They will be permitted to go forth and visit every world, and survey the works of God in all parts of his dominions. ¶For there shall be no night there.It shall be all day; all unclouded splendour. When, therefore, it is said that the gates should not be “shutby day,” it means that they wouldneverbe shut. When it is said that there would be nonightthere, it is, undoubtedly, to be taken as meaning that there would be noliteraldarkness, and nothing of which night is the emblem: no calamity, no sorrow, no bereavement, no darkened windows on account of the loss of friends and kindred.Comp.Notes onver.4.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.26.And they shall bring,&c.See Notes onver.24. That blessed world shall be made up of all that was truly valuable and pure on the earth.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
26.And they shall bring,&c.See Notes onver.24. That blessed world shall be made up of all that was truly valuable and pure on the earth.
27 And667there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neitherwhatsoeverworketh abomination, ormaketha lie: but they which are written in the668Lamb’s book of life.27.And there shall in no wise.On no account; by no means. This strong language denotes the absolute exclusion of all that is specified in the verse. ¶Anything that defileth.Literally, anything “common.” See Notes onAc.x.14. It means here that nothing will be found in that blessed abode which is unholy or sinful. It will be a pure world,2 Pe.iii.13. ¶Neitherwhatsoeverworketh abomination, ormaketha lie.See Notes onver.8. ¶But they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.Whose names are there recorded. See Notes onch. iii.5.Comp.Notes onver.8.
27 And667there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neitherwhatsoeverworketh abomination, ormaketha lie: but they which are written in the668Lamb’s book of life.
27.And there shall in no wise.On no account; by no means. This strong language denotes the absolute exclusion of all that is specified in the verse. ¶Anything that defileth.Literally, anything “common.” See Notes onAc.x.14. It means here that nothing will be found in that blessed abode which is unholy or sinful. It will be a pure world,2 Pe.iii.13. ¶Neitherwhatsoeverworketh abomination, ormaketha lie.See Notes onver.8. ¶But they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.Whose names are there recorded. See Notes onch. iii.5.Comp.Notes onver.8.