Revelation 21:9
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Revelation 21:9
one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls with the seven last plagues
The seven last plagues were called last because “in them the wrath of God is complete” (Rev. Rev. 15:1+). This may be the same angel which showed John the Great Harlot (Rev. Rev. 17:1+).
Come, I will show you
The angel, having one of the seven bowls, refers back to the seventh bowl itself which destroyed Babylon (Rev. Rev. 16:19+) and invites a comparison between two great cities : Babylon, the Harlot and the New Jerusalem, the bride (Rev. Rev. 21:10+).
the bride, the Lamb’s wife
Bride is νύμφην [nymphēn] , used of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven (Rev. Rev. 21:2+). Wife is γυναῖκα [gynaika] , used of the wife of the Lamb at His marriage (Rev. Rev. 19:7+). Concerning Jesus’ title as Lamb, see commentary on Revelation 5:6. See commentary on Revelation 21:2. See commentary on Revelation 19:7. See Jerusalem Married to God. Some expositors take the remainder of this chapter and the first part of the following chapter as a recapitulation which describes the participation of the New Jerusalem within the Millennial Kingdom hovering over the earth.1 They interpret the nations on the earth (Rev. Rev. 21:24-26+) as being millennial nations which access the New Jerusalem above. In particular, they point to the existence of the tree of life in the New Jerusalem as evidence that the millennial nations will receive healing from it. There are significant problems with the recapitulation view:
The seven last plagues were called last because “in them the wrath of God is complete” (Rev. Rev. 15:1+). This may be the same angel which showed John the Great Harlot (Rev. Rev. 17:1+).
Come, I will show you
The angel, having one of the seven bowls, refers back to the seventh bowl itself which destroyed Babylon (Rev. Rev. 16:19+) and invites a comparison between two great cities : Babylon, the Harlot and the New Jerusalem, the bride (Rev. Rev. 21:10+).
the bride, the Lamb’s wife
Bride is νύμφην [nymphēn] , used of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven (Rev. Rev. 21:2+). Wife is γυναῖκα [gynaika] , used of the wife of the Lamb at His marriage (Rev. Rev. 19:7+). Concerning Jesus’ title as Lamb, see commentary on Revelation 5:6. See commentary on Revelation 21:2. See commentary on Revelation 19:7. See Jerusalem Married to God. Some expositors take the remainder of this chapter and the first part of the following chapter as a recapitulation which describes the participation of the New Jerusalem within the Millennial Kingdom hovering over the earth.1 They interpret the nations on the earth (Rev. Rev. 21:24-26+) as being millennial nations which access the New Jerusalem above. In particular, they point to the existence of the tree of life in the New Jerusalem as evidence that the millennial nations will receive healing from it. There are significant problems with the recapitulation view:
- If the millennial nations have access to the tree of life , why then is there still death during the thousand years (Isa. Isa. 65:20)? Although, the millennial nations will have access to all kinds of trees (plural) which provide fruit for food and leaves for medicinal purposes, these are not the tree of life (Eze. Eze. 47:12). Nor do the location of these trees correspond with that of the tree of life in the eternal city (Rev. Rev. 22:2+).
- Within this vision of the city, the curse is said to be no more (Rev. Rev. 22:3+). Yet the curse continues during the Millennium (Isa. Isa. 65:20; Rev. Rev. 20:8-9+).
Notes
1 [Walter Scott, Exposition of The Revelation (London, England: Pickering & Inglis, n.d.)], [Arno C. Gaebelein, The Revelation (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1961)].
2 It is analogous to the way in which Genesis Gen. 2:1 expands upon the creation of man on day six of Genesis Gen. 1:1.