Revelation 21:2

“And I John saw the holy city, etc.] The same with the beloved city in (<662009>Revelation 20:9) the church of God: sometimes the church militant is called a city, of which the saints are now fellow citizens, governed by wholesome laws, and enjoying many privileges; but here the general assembly and church of the firstborn, or all the elect of God, are intended, the whole body and society of them, being as a city, compact together; called holy, not only because set apart to holiness by God the Father, and their sins expiated by the blood of Christ, or because he is made sanctification to them, or because internally sanctified by the Spirit of God, which now is but in part; but because they…”

“And I John--"John" is omitted in A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS; also the "I" in the Greek of these authorities is not emphatic. The insertion of "I John" in the Greek would somewhat interfere with the close connection which subsists between "the new heaven and earth," Rev 21:1, and the "new Jerusalem" in this verse. Jerusalem . . . out of heaven-- (Rev 3:12; Gal 4:26, "Jerusalem which is above"; Heb 11:10; Heb 12:22; Heb 13:14). The descent of the new Jerusalem out of heaven is plainly distinct from the earthly Jerusalem in which Israel in the flesh shall dwell during the millennium, and follows on the creation of the new heaven and earth. John in his Gospel always writes…”

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven - See the Analysis of the chapter. On the phrase “new Jerusalem,” see the Galatians 4:26 note, and Hebrews 12:22 note. Here it refers to the residence of the redeemed, the heavenly world, of which Jerusalem was the type and symbol. It is here represented as “coming down from God out of heaven.” This, of course, does not mean that this great city was “literally” to descend upon the earth, and to occupy any one part of the renovated world; but it is a symbolical or figurative representation, designed to show that the abode of the righteous will be splendid and glorious. The idea of a city literally descending from…”

“And I saw the holy city - The new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem, are closely connected. This city is wholly new, belonging not to this world, not to the millennium, but to eternity. This appears from the series of the vision, the magnificence of the description, and the opposition of this city to the second death, Rev 20:11-12; Rev 21:1-2, Rev 21:5, Rev 21:8-9; Rev 22:5. Coming down - In the very act of descending. Revelation 21:3”

“21:2 coming down from God: The new creation is a gift from God. In the beginning, God created everything good, and in the end, God will create a new, unbroken world. • This picture of Jerusalem as a beautiful bride (see Isa 61:10) contrasts starkly with the vision of Babylon (or Rome) as the prostitute (Rev 17:4-5; 18:2-3; see study note on 21:9–22:9).”

“I: Rev 1:1, Rev 1:4, Rev 1:9 the holy: Rev 3:12; Psa 48:1-3, Psa 87:3; Isa 1:21, Isa 52:1; Jer 31:23; Heb 11:10, Heb 12:22; Heb 13:14 coming: Rev 21:10; Gal 4:25, Gal 4:26 as: Rev 19:7, Rev 19:8; Psa 45:9-14; Isa 54:5, Isa 61:10, Isa 62:4; Joh 3:29; Co2 11:2; Eph 5:25-27, Eph 5:30-32 Revelation 21:3”