Revelation 21:1-6
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Lakeview United Church, Argyle, New Brunswick .
- Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible - KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary (Matthew Henry, Wesley's Notes, Geneva Notes, etc) & sermons.
- Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
- V.XXXV.2, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
- VI.16, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- Chapter XXXIV, Against Hermogenes, Tertullian (c. 205)
- III.25, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 209)
- Chapter LVIII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh, Tertullian (c. 211)
- VI.XXIII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
- XIV.13, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
- From the
Geneva Notes.
- "In the general these things are common, that the Church is holy, new, the workmanship of God, heavenly, most glorious, the spouse of Christ, and partaker of his glory in this verse."
- From
Matthew
He nry's Commentary.
- "The new heaven and the new earth will not be separate from each other; the earth of the saints, their glorified, bodies, will be heavenly."
- From Wesley's
Notes.
- "All these several representations follow one another in order: so the vision reaches into eternity."
- The New Creation
(Rev 21:5). Sermon by John Wesley.
- "What a strange scene is here opened to our view! How remote from all our natural apprehensions! Not a glimpse of what is here revealed was ever seen in the heathen world. Not only the modern, barbarous, uncivilized Heathens have not the least conception of it; but it was equally unknown to the refined, polished Heathens of ancient Greece and Rome. And it is almost as little thought of or understood by the generality of Christians: I mean, not barely those that are nominally such, that have the form of godliness without the power; but even those that in a measure fear God, and study to work righteousness."
- From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- "As the world of nations is to be pervaded by divine influence in the millennium, so the world of nature shall be, not annihilated, but transfigured universally in the eternal state which follows it. The earth was cursed for man's sake; but is redeemed by the second Adam. Now is the Church; in the millennium shall be the kingdom; and after that shall be the new world wherein God shall be all in all."
- From
The
People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
- "This chapter presents a vision of the final condition of the redeemed and triumphant church. This vision points out the contrast between the beginning and the final condition of our race. The career of man began in a garden, the fitting home of a race few in numbers. It ends, as revealed by the prophet, in a city, the home where multitudes gather. Of this city Jerusalem was a type. The redeemed and holy Church, washed by the Savior's blood, and obedient to his will as a faithful bride to her husband, is the new Jerusalem."
- Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
- "All Things New," Janet H Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2019.
- "How do you hear the promises in Revelation today? Are they to be fulfilled in some far distant future or might we get glimmers of them coming true even now?"
- Commentary,
Revelation 21:1-6, Israel Kamudzandu, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org,
2016.
- "In Revelation 21, people do not go to heaven as most people have been taught but rather God comes down to earth to dwell with mortals -- "the new Jerusalem descends from heaven," and God makes a home among mortals (21:2-3)."
- The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2016.
- Pulpit Fiction, with podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2016.
- Commentary, Revelation 21:1-6 | Danny Quanstrom | Pastor, Hastings Church of the Nazarene | A Plain Account, 2016
- "While some may claim Revelation has an otherworldly or escapist theological bent, we see in this pericope just how poor that interpretation really is. As we're coming to the culmination of the Revelation we see that it's not about us being pulled away from this earth, it's about God drawing close to this earth! "
- Commentary,
Revelation 21:1-6, Greg Carey, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org,
2015.
- "Revelation envisions a renewal, not an escape."
- "A City Beautiful Like No Other," Commented Bible Passages from Taize, 2013.
- Commentary,
Revelation 21:1-6, Barbara Rossing, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org,
2013.
- "Contrary to popular apocalyptic thinking, there is no 'rapture' or a future snatching of Christians up from the earth in Revelation. Instead, it is God who is 'raptured' down to earth to take up residence among us."
- "What on Earth?" Earth Day, God, And the Apocalypse, Adam J. Copeland, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2013.
- Lectionary Greek, Rob Myallis, 2013.
- "Heaven is Descent" Clint Schnekloth, The Hardest Question, 2013.
- "It condescends by descending to us."
- Pulpit Fiction, podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2013.
-
Commentary,
Revelation 21:1-6, Brian Peterson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org,
2010.
- "On this Fifth Sunday of Easter, we continue to celebrate and to ponder the mystery of Jesus' resurrection."
- Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
-
"First
Thoughts on Epistle Passages in the Lectionary,"
Easter 5, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in
Australia.
- "This passage is a tapestry of Old Testament images of hope."
- "God's Dwelling (Tent) Is with Us," God's Song of Revelation: From Easter to Pentecost in the Apocalypse, Wendell W. Frerichs , Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1986.
- "An Authorized Look into the Life Beyond," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Apocalyptic Vision" Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2010. (Revelation 21:1-8)
- "'The Lamb Who Was Slain Has Begun His Reign. Amen!' Texts from the Revelation to John for the Sundays of Easter," James H. Burtness, Word & World, 1992.
- "Heaven Is Our Home," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Heaven and Hell," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2002.
-
Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion,
Revelation 21:1-6, Wesley White. "A place of
conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
- "G*D is among the unclean - already, before we knew it."
- "God Will Wipe Away All Our Tears," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
- "The Eternal
State (Revelation 21:1 - 22:5)," by J. Hampton Keathley III at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
- "The new heaven and earth is not simply the old renovated but an act of new creation (cf. Rev. 20:1f with 20:11 and 2 Pet. 3:10, which describes the dissolving of the old heaven and earth). The word ?new? here is kainos which means fresh, new in quality and character. Further, in the Greek text the words ?heaven? and ?earth? are without the article stressing the aspect of quality rather than identity."
- "The New Heaven and the New Earth," from The Most Revealing Book of the Bible, Vernard Eller
- "All Things New," Janet H Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2019.
-
Recommended articles
from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are
linked below.
ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of
selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
- Beale, Gregory K., "Eden, the Temple, and the
Church's Mission in the New Creation," Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society, 2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Bediako, Kwame,
"The Ultimate Vision: New Heaven and New Earth," Mission Studies,
1988.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Bonhoeffer, Dietrich,
"The Coming of Jesus in Our Midst," The Living Pulpit, 1997.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Brown, William P., and John T. Carroll,
"The Garden and the Plaza," Interpretation, 2000.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Burtness, James H.,
"'The Lamb Who Was Slain Has Begun His Reign. Amen!' Texts from the
Revelation to John for the Sundays of Easter," Word & World,
1992.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Cloete, G.D., and D.J. Smit,
"Exegesis and Proclamation: 'And I Saw a New Heaven and a New Earth, for the
First...Were Passed Away...' (Revelation 21:1-8)," Journal of
Theology for Southern Africa, 1992.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Frerichs, Wendell W.,
"God's Song of Revelation: From Easter to Pentecost in the Apocalypse,"
Word & World, 1986.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Gundry, Robert H.,
"The New Jerusalem: People As Place, Not Place for People," Novum
Testamentum, 1987.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Guthrie, Suzanne,
"The Hidden Kingdom," The Christian Century, 1991.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Hayes, Richard B.,
"An Emergency Directive," The Christian Century, 1992.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Kersten, Phyllis, "Living by the Word: Revelation 21:1-6, John 11:32-44," The Christian Century,
2009.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Macchia, Frank D.,
"The Covenant of the Lamb's Bride: A Subversive Paradigm," The Living
Pulpit, 2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - MacLeod, David J.,
"The Seventh 'Last Thing': The New Heaven and the New Earth (Rev. 21:1-8),"
Bibliotheca Sacra, 2000.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Miller, Kevin,
"The Nuptial Eschatology of Revelation 19-22," Catholic Biblical
Quarterly, 1998.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Peterson, Dwight N.,
"Barriers, Boundaries, Limits: Revelation 21:1-4," Ex Auditu,
2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Poling, Travis Edward Turner, "Every Time the World Ends,
John 21:1-25; Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5," Brethren Life and Thought,
2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Porter, Mary M.,
"God's Beloved," Journal for Preachers, 1999.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Raber, Rudolph W.,
"Revelation 21:1-8," Interpretation, 1986.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Read, David H.C.,
"Communicating Joy," The Living Pulpit, 1996.
(see
Joy issue focus of The Living Pulpit, 5.4, 1996.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Roche, Mary M. Doyle,
"A Little Child Shall Lead Them," The Living Pulpit, 2003.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Schellenberg, Ryan S., "Seeing the World Whole:
Intertextuality and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22)," Perspectives
in Religious Studies, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Thomas, Robert L., "Promises to Israel in the
Apocalypse," Master's Seminary Journal, 2008.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Beale, Gregory K., "Eden, the Temple, and the
Church's Mission in the New Creation," Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society, 2005.
- Sermons:
- "Being Saints of God," the Right Rev. Keith Whitmore, Day 1, 2009.
- "I'm With the Band," the Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Day 1, 2009.
- With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Easter 5C, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2016.
- Storypath, Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story, Union Presbyterian Seminary, 2016.
- "I Am Alpha and Omega," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- "A New Heaven and a New Earth," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
- Drama:
- Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- Clip Art, Revelation 21:1, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
- Images for this week's readings, New Jerusalem, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
- Revelation 21:6, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
- No More Tears, After Eden Cartoons, Dan Lietha, Answers in Genesis.
- Hymns and Music:
- "God, Creation Sings Your Praises," Carolyn Winfrey Gillette's new hymn based on Easter 5C readings (Psalm 148, John 13 & Revelation 21) and the call to responsible care of God's creation. This hymn was commissioned for the UCC's Keep It In The Ground. Tune: BEACH SPRING 8.7.8.7 D ("God Whose Giving Knows No Ending").
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Revelation 21:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The Cyber Hymnal.
- At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
- Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Study Links and Resources for the Book of Revelation
