Revelation 21 Verses 22 to 27 Making Your Reservation in Heaven

Revelation 21 Verses 22 to 27 Making Your Reservation in Heaven

November 26, 2023 Class Presentation Notes AAAAAa Lesson 7

Background Scriptures:

1 John 5:13 (NASB) 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Main Idea:

· Your place in Heaven must be reserved in advance. The good news about your reservation in Heaven is that it can never be canceled! Once your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, it can never be erased.

Study Aim:

· To give believers assurance they are going to Heaven when they die.

Create Interest:

· Many adults have given little or no thought to Heaven or what makes it special. Of those who have thought about it, most base their view on human speculations rather than on the Word of God. As believers grasp the biblical picture of Heaven, they realize that it is far more precious and joyful than they realized. They see the glory and presence of God as central to Heaven.

· People use the word heaven to refer to the place the spirits of the blessed enter into at death without distinguishing this from the new Heaven and new earth at the end of time, even though the dead in Christ are already with the Lord, they will join living believers in looking for the new Heaven and new earth, which will be Heaven in eternity. This lesson focuses on that ultimate Heaven.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· John was granted a vision of the new Heaven and new earth. It was like a bride prepared for her groom and like an eternal tabernacle where God dwells with His people. It will have none of the things that blight life on this earth. God testified to the truth of this, In the Holy city there will be no temple because God is there. Other things that will not be there are the sun, the moon, night, and closed gates. God’s presence and glory will dominate it. There will be no more of the curse from Genesis, and the tree of life will be restored. Paradise lost will be regained.

· The Holy city, new Jerusalem, was introduced in verse 2. It is described in more detail in verses 9–27. The description uses things that people understand to describe realities that we have not yet experienced. The Holy city, for example, has streets of gold and gates of pearls. Some Bible students expect to literally walk on streets of gold. Others believe that God used gold in the description because humans place great value on gold. They expect the reality to be more beautiful and valuable than earthly gold. This positive image of the holy city shows a second way to answer the question about what Heaven will be like. Not only will things that blight human existence be absent but also everything that blesses us now will be there, only on a higher level.[1] Vs. 21 offers and example of that statement.

o Vs. 21: Revelation 21:21 (NASB) 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

§ As if just seeing the magnificent capital city of Heaven from a distance was not privilege enough, John’s angelic guide took him inside. As he entered the city, the apostle noted that the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The streets in New Jerusalem were made of the highest quality pure gold which, like everything else in the heavenly city, was transparent like glass. Translucent gold is not a material familiar to us on this earth. But everything there is transparent to let the light of God’s glory blaze unrestricted.[2]

Bible Study:

Revelation 21:22 (NASB) 22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

· John, a typical Jew, upon observing the city, looks immediately for the temple, but such is not to be found. The temple is no longer necessary because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb constitute the temple. To be in their presence is to be at the center of the worship of the universe.[3]

· At this point John demonstrates his independence from the prophet Ezekiel, whose imagery plays a prominent role in the Seer’s vision.

o Ezekiel spent seven chapters describing the restored temple and its ordinances (Ezek 40–46).

o For John there is no temple because symbols have given way to reality. The temple is replaced by “the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb.”

§ Jesus told the woman at the well that the day would come when worship of God would no longer be geographically circumscribed (John 4:21).

§ Paul later declared that the believing congregation was in fact the temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16–17; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21–22).

o The final state toward which this points is eternity itself, where the presence of God the Father and the Lamb permeates and sanctifies all that the heavenly Jerusalem symbolizes.[4]

· There is no temple in the heavenly city, for both God and Christ are there. Their presence will be so manifested …

o that the very atmosphere will be heavy with their spirit

o that every person will be perfectly filled with God’s Spirit.

o that every person will be perfectly conscious of God’s continued presence

· No believer will be without the full and perfect knowledge of God’s Spirit and presence. Therefore, there will be an unbroken worship, communication, and sharing with God and Christ. No matter what service or work the believer will be performing, and no matter where the believer is serving throughout the universe, he/she will be in unbroken fellowship and communion with God. Therefore, there is no need for a temple and its ceremonies and rituals to pull the human mind into the worship of God.[5]

o John 4:23-24 (NASB) 23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

o 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NASB) 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

o Revelation 19:1 (NASB) 1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;

A thought to soak on before moving on

· The presence of God and the Lamb are the supreme reality; so the city needs no outward reminder of God, a temple (v. 22).

· Every need of man is provided: safety, light, worship, beauty, food, drink, and healing.

o What the Creator causes man to need, he provides.[6]

Revelation 21:23 (NASB) 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

· As John observes the city, he also notes that the typical light sources, namely, the sun and the moon, are unnecessary.

· Just as there is no need of a sanctuary where God is, so there is no place for light alongside him. God’s glory is the illumination for the blessed (cf. Isa. 60:20). Sun and moon are superfluous. The city does not need them. The glory of God lights it up and the Lamb is its lamp. This latter probably does not mean anything greatly different from the preceding statement, but it is in harmony with the general picture when the Lamb is put on a level with God as the source of light for the heavenly city.[7]

Thought to Soak on

· In that city there will be no substitutes. When God ordered the affairs of our present world, He commanded the sun to rule the day, and the moon to rule the night. During the Millennium, “the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold” (Isa. 30:26).

· But the heavenly city will have need of neither, for it is to be lighted by the glory of God and the Lamb. The light that blazed from the face of Jesus on the mount of transfiguration will be the sole illumination in the heavenly Jerusalem. We shall walk in the light of His countenance![8]

Revelation 21:24 (NASB) 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

· The nations and the kings of the earth taken together stress the universality and the pre-eminence of the city. All look to it and bring their splendor into it (cf. Isa. 60). John does not envisage the salvation of a tiny handful and the destruction of the vast majority of mankind. He sees God as bringing ‘the Gentiles’ into his holy city. God’s purposes for mankind will not be frustrated.[9]

· The light of this city will illuminate earth; nations will walk in the light of it and kings of the earth will bring their glory and honor into it. Many commentators argue that since nations and kings are mentioned the scene must be millennial. This is to assume what has to be proved; there is no scriptural evidence to show that kings and nations will not exist after the millennium.

· This great city is the light center for earth and nations can conduct their business and order their daily living “by means of” (dia) the light streaming from this radiant city. “Walk” is the normal scriptural metaphor for the whole business of living. That this city is also the administrative capital of earth is seen in “the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into (eis) it.” The mandate for all rule comes from this city and the kings acknowledge this as they pay homage to God and the Lamb.[10]

Revelation 21:25 (NASB) 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;

· This right of access for all the inhabitants of earth is made clear in two ways. The very emphatic “by no means” that has echoed on various occasions in this book is heard again in connection with the shutting of the gates. The negative in the verb “shut” indicates that there can arise no possible emergency when the gates would have to be closed by day, and the following statement beginning with “for” explains why these gates would never be closed; they stand open forever.

· John knew that city gates were normally closed at sunset but these gates that would never face an emergency by day would stand open always for the very obvious reason that “there shall be no night there”.

· For this city, distinguished from earth’s cities by the things missing from it, this is the most triumphant negative of all! The literal translation is graphic “for night shall not be there.”

· It should be clear that time measurements have gone, the eternal day has dawned and that light from the very presence of God and the Lamb will never be dimmed or eclipsed.

o Likewise all that belonged to the night has gone forever.

Revelation 21:26-27 (NASB) 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

· Vs. 26: It is emphasized that the glory and honor of the nations, that is, of all who are saved, will be brought into the city.

· Vs. 27: While the gates are always open, there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither anyone who practices abomination, or a lies: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. In the Septuagint the Greek words for abomination and lie are both used for idols. There will be no idolatry, material or immaterial, in heaven. God alone will be loved and worshiped. Only those whose names are in the book of life can enter the New Jerusalem.[11]

As a special treat for you and for you to be assured of clear thinking on Revelation 21:27, Dr. Taylor Sandlin is a guest presenter on this lesson immediately following my thoughts. Many thanks to him for his introspective approach for us to give us special clarity, confidence, and comfort we can share with others

· We just read the verse in question and it was discussed that no one is perfect/without any sin…and the sins that are mentioned about idols can be interpreted as worship other things besides Yahweh/Elohim. A concern was discussed about how could someone with those flaws be allowed to be in Heaven….So here goes: Buckle up and complete the ride worthy of your time!

· Expressed by Dr. Jim Denison in an excerpt from his Daily Article 11-20-2023 I quote, “It is when we are “in Christ” that we become a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is “Christ in you” that is our “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The Bible says of Christ, “in [him] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). His Spirit produces the “fruit” that our secularized society so desperately lacks, the “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” that we need for cultural flourishing (Galatians 5:22–23).”

· We would all agree that we are a work in progress! The defense offered by Dr. Denison is ideal, but it would be impossible for an imperfect individual (that is any human) to die without having unconfessed sins.

· As such I submit the following that gives me comfort and hopefully will you.

o God has desired that all come to a saving knowledge of Him/Christ/The Holy Spirit.

§ Romans 8:36-39 (NKJV) 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

o God has given us His Word to help us better understand Him in our limited abilities.

§ Psalm 103:8-13 (NKJV) 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities hischildren, So the LORDpities those who fear Him.

o I believe that God in is grace and infinite love will pardon those that love Him for all their unconfessed sins when they appear before Him.

§ Psalm 103:2-6 (NKJV) 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.

· Now put all this in your bonnet and wear it with confidence as you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you all the days of your life and nudge you back on track when you go astray and live your life as if each day were your last.

· I truly believe we should live daily with the goal that God would say to you when He forgives you and rewards you, perhaps drawing from His Word:

o Matthew 25:23 (NKJV) 23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

· Fresh and sinless as a new born babe you would receive the following:

o Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Dr. Taylor Sandlin, Senior Pastor of Sugar Land Baptist Church, gave his response to my request for clarification on Revelation 21:27 Nov. 20, 2023.

Ø What a blessing it is to have someone with his depth to lead our church and who would take the time to give such a thorough response!

It is true that many of us will die with at least a few unconfessed sins. Catholics attempt to resolve this issue with last rites and with the doctrine of Purgatory.

Protestants have, in general, not considered dying with unconfessed sins as a complication to salvation since we believe God's forgiveness in Christ covers our sins both past, present, and future. This is not an excuse to continue to deliberately sin (see Romans 6), but it does provide us with an assurance that God's grace is greater than our sin.

How then do we view the passages like you mention in Rev 21:27?

Paul says something similar in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Paul has a strong word here about the fact that evildoers don't inherit the kingdom of God. The Corinthians used to be evildoers, but God's grace has made them righteous. Interestingly, he will spend much of the rest of the letter challenging them not to do wrong! So which is it are they wrongdoers or not?

Paul's argument (You have been made righteous now act like it!) only make sense if we understand the already/not yet nature of our salvation. As Luther put it we are simul justus et peccator - both simultaneously righteous and sinner.

We are righteous. In Christ, our status has changed. His blood makes us right with God no matter who we are, what we've done, or where we've come from. We are sinners. Our behavior doesn't always change. Christians can still struggle with sin. The situation is not hopeless. We can choose to not sin through the power of the Spirit, but in this life, we will still remain prone to sin even as we put our faith in Christ. This is why Paul is constantly challenging his readers to put off the old self and put on the new.

What we count on in faith is that our struggle with sinning will not go with us into glory. We will be ultimately sanctified, that is, made perfect in the transition from this life to the life to come. The sins I struggle with in this life will not continue to have any hold on me when I enter glory.

It is puzzling that Paul has our sanctification as a present, already accomplished reality in 1 Cor 6:11 when elsewhere it is considered an ongoing process (Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Ephesians 4:20-24; Hebrews 10:14). I think this just goes to show the reality of the already/not yet tension in our lives. God will complete his work in us so we can sometimes talk about it as if it has already happened, but in truth, we await the completion of that salvation at either our deaths or Christ's second coming.

Back to Revelation. The evildoers in Revelation 21 are those who insist on choosing perpetual sin over Christ. They will not let go of their sin (and idolatry is ultimately what this is about) even if letting go of their sin will lead to their redemption.

C.S. Lewis's speculation on the afterlife and judgment can be helpful. In his strange little book The Great Divorce, the gates of hell are not locked. People could leave if they choose since Christ's death has covered all sin. Those who choose to insist on holding onto their sins do so to their own damnation.

The flipside of that sad truth is the good news that even those who struggled with sin in this life can know a sin free life if they let go of wanting to be their own king and submit to the saving kingship of Christ.

Lewis' book is speculative and not to be taken at face value, but it is an exercise in understanding the Judgment of Christ. Those who insist on their own way will get it - a life without God. Those who submit to Christ's lordship, even imperfectly, will be counted as and then made righteous.

We can take heart. Even with our current struggles with sin, through the blood of Christ, the Father views us as righteous. In some mysterious way, at our deaths or Christ's return, Christ will liberate us from our propensity to sin so that we will not enter glory as sinners, but as what we truthfully already are in Christ, the redeemed, righteous people of God.

Grace and peace,

Taylor

· These are the redeemed of all ages. All others will be in outer darkness, completely outside the entire new heavens and new earth.

o First, what will never enter the city are specified here as anything that defiles. This will include anything unclean, impure, or common (in the sense of being touched by any kind of impurity), that is, not cleansed by God (Acts 10:15, 28; 11:9, 18).

o Second, they will include whatever works abomination, whatever practices abomination, or whatever is detestable in God’s sight.

o Third, they will include whatever or whoever makes a lie or practices falsehood or false religion or makes a false profession of loyalty to Christ.

o God keeps records, and the names of all those who can enter the New Jerusalem will be in the Lamb’s Book of Life.[12]

Thought to Soak on before we close

· God’s presence, which penetrates everything with its light, makes the city a dwelling place of purity and clarity in which there is no more room for the impure and the untrue. As in v. 8, an ethical instruction undertone resonates in this reference to the possibility of remaining excluded: whoever does not now risk full, undivided obedience and engages in bogus/false compromises with the evil powers will not be admitted to the city of God.[13]

· I pray all readers of this will join me in Heaven with certainty from now on.

o Revelation 21:8 (NASB) 8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

· When Jesus told the disciples He was leaving and they became confused and troubled, He reassured them with these words:

· Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. (Jn 14:1–3)

o Jesus said more about Himself than this place. As believers, we will be with Him. His glory will far outshine the glories of the new Jerusalem—as magnificent as it is![14]

What are the lasting lessons about the new Heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21:22–27?

1. God Himself will be present in the new Jerusalem so there will be no need of a temple to represent His presence.

2. God’s glory will illumine the new Jerusalem so there will be no need of the sun or the moon.

3. The gates of the new Jerusalem will never close because all enemies will be gone.

4. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be in the new Jerusalem.[15]

Just about when you thought you were finished, N.T. Wright submitted this global thought worthy of reading more than once and allowing to soak into your core being

· It thus appears that the new Jerusalem, in John’s vision, is not the whole of the new creation. It is the centerpiece and glory of it, the fountain from which there flows freely all that the world could need.

o It is the holy of holies, but actually the whole earth is to be full of God’s glory, is to be the ultimate temple. This is what is meant when John describes the servants of God and the lamb not only worshipping (verse 3), not only seeing his face (verse 4), but also reigning ‘for ever and ever’ (verse 5).

o From the start of the book we were told that the lamb’s followers were to be a royal priesthood, and now we see what this means.

§ It is from the city, the city which is the bride, the bride which is the lamb’s followers, that healing, restorative stewardship is to flow.

§ This is how the creator God will show, once and for all, that his creation was good, and that he himself is full of mercy.

· John’s vision, then, is of a new Eden; but it is a city, not simply a garden. All the elements of the garden are still there but enshrined and enhanced within and around the city.

o We know in our bones that we were made for both, though the romantic idyll of the countryside on the one hand and the developers’ dream of the city on the other hand both routinely fail to hit the mark.

o The new creation, drawing the double vision together, transforms and heals both. As heaven and earth come together, as the bride and the lamb come together—both of them signs that the dualities in Genesis are at last united, as was always intended—so the garden and the city come together as well. Humans, in community with one another and with God, are to exercise their delighted and wise stewardship over the earth and its fruits, in the glorious light that comes from the throne.

· Like other aspects of this vision of the ultimate future, this, too, is to be anticipated in the present.[16] Grace and peace as you go your way😊

Note the following is added for historical reference for all who past this way.

Don Johnstonis a special friend, deacon, ABF teacher, author who, almost 90, submitted his response to my request for clarity to Rev. 21:27.

John,

Taylor’s answer was very thorough; however, since my reply was nearly finished before his email arrived, here it is.

In many years of teaching, I’ve had this discussion a number of times. My “standard” answer is as follows:

First I state, “The Bible does not teach that believers will be judged to see if they enter Heaven or not.”

Then, I add, “However, they will be judged to see what rewards they will receive in Heaven.”

My “proof texts” are as follows:

Our Rewards

2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

All commentaries I use indicate this verse describes judgment of the believers' works, not their sins. This passage goes well with 1 Cor. 3:11-15 which describes the works as gold, silver, precious stones (good works) or wood, hay and stubble (worthless works). Moreover, it says everyone’s works will be tested by fire, and the one whose works are burned up “…shall be saved, yet as by fire.”

· 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NKJV) 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Our Eternal Security

The best eternal security passage in the Bible is John 10:27-30.

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and the Father are one.”

Verse 29 is easy to understand–it says that no one can snatch us from the Father’s hand. If someone (Satan or anybody else) can, this verse is not true.

2 Cor. 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This verse is a chiasmus. It says that our sin “crosses over to Jesus,” and His righteousness “crosses over to us.” So, when God sees us–though we are sinners–He sees the righteousness of Jesus, who has paid the price for our sins (past, present, and future).

In addition, several verses in the New Testament say we are “in Christ.” Surely, that is a safe place to be.

Several years ago, Gene Wofford told me (this is somewhat of a paraphrase), “In cases where passages of scripture seem to contradict each other, we have to go on the preponderance of evidence.”

I believe the preponderance of evidence indicates that, as believers, we are secure in Christ and will not be judged to determine whether we can enter Heaven or not.

Blessings,

Don Johnston 11-21-23

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[1]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Summer 2008, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 83. [2]John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 12–22, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), 284. [3]Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 373–374. [4]Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 395. [5]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Revelation, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 290. [6]William B. Coble, “Revelation,”in The Teacher’s Bible Commentary, ed. H. Franklin Paschall and Herschel H. Hobbs (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1972), 817. [7]Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 241–242. [8]John Phillips, Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Re 21:15–27. [9]Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 242. [10]James Allen, Revelation, What the Bible Teaches (John Ritchie, 1997), 525–526. [11]Ralph Earle, “The Book of the Revelation,” in Beacon Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation, vol. 10, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1967), Re 21:27. [12]Ralph W. Harris, ed., Revelation, The Complete Biblical Library: Study Bible (World Library Press, 1989), 339. [13]Jürgen Roloff, A Continental Commentary: The Revelation of John (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993), 245–246. [14]Gene A. Getz, Life Essentials Study Bible: Biblical Principles to Live By (B&H, 2011), Re 21:9–22:5. [15]Robert J. Dean, Family Bible Study, Summer 2005, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, 2005), 133–134. [16]Tom Wright, Revelation for Everyone, For Everyone Bible Study Guides (London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Knox, 2011), 200–201.