The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (310 page)

21:8 the second death:
The spiritual death of the wicked (20:14). For similar lists of damning vices, see 1 Cor 6:9-10 and Gal 5:19-21. 
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21:9-22:5
A dazzling description of the heavenly Jerusalem. • The vision draws from the architectural blueprint of the glorified Temple-city in Ezek 40-48. The city is seen from a
high mountain
(21:10; Ezek 40:2); it is filled with divine
glory
(21:11; Ezek 43:5); it has twelve
gates
named after the
sons of Israel
(21:12; Ezek 48:30-34); it is measured with a
measuring rod
(21:15; Ezek 40:3); its dimensions are
foursquare
(21:16; Ezek 42:15-19); it is the place of God's
throne
(22:1; Ezek 43:7); and it is the source of life-giving
water
(22:1; Ezek 47:1-9), which causes the trees along its banks to bear fruit
each month
and put forth
healing
leaves (22:2; Ezek 47:12). Other visions of Jerusalem adorned with
gold
and
every jewel
(21:18-21) are found in Tob 13:16-17 and Is 54:1112, and as a city bathed in
light
with
gates
always open (21:23-25) in Is 60:1-3, 11. 
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21:10 in the Spirit:
On this expression,
see note on Rev 17:3
. 
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21:14 the twelve apostles:
The apostolic foundations laid by Christ (Mt 16:18; Eph 2:20). Inscribed with the names of the OT tribes and the NT apostles, heaven is the dwelling of all the righteous of covenant history. 
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21:16 length . . . breadth . . . height are equal:
The eternal city is pictured as an enormous cube, each side measuring nearly 1,500 miles and its walls measuring over 200 feet thick. • The city is modeled after the innermost room of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, which was an all-gold chamber with a cubic shape (1 Kings 6:20). 
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21:22 its temple is the Lord:
The Trinity is the sanctuary of the heavenly city, which is encompassed by the Father (Lord) and the Son (Lamb) and filled with the glory of the Spirit (light). If the old Jerusalem was built around the Temple, the new Jerusalem stands within a Temple, and one that no longer has partitions or veils to prevent access. In theological terms, this means that communion with God in heaven will be unmedi-ated, exceeding in closeness and directness the access to God's presence once enjoyed in the sanctuary of Israel. 
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22:1 the water of life:
Symbolic of the Spirit flowing through the main street of the city (21:6; Jn 7:38-39). • The imagery alludes to the river of Eden (Gen 2:10), the river that gladdens the city of God (Ps 46:4), and the fountain of living water springing from Jerusalem (Zech 14:8). For the primary allusion to Ezek 47:1-9,
see note on Rev 21:9-22:5
. • The water issuing from the Lord and the Lamb is an apocalyptic expression of a trinitarian mystery: in eternity, the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
See note on Jn 15:26
. • A single stream issues from the throne of God, and that is the grace of the Holy Spirit in the stream of the Scriptures. That stream has two banks, the Old Testament and the New, and the tree planted on either side is Christ (St. Jerome,
Tractate on the Psalms
1).
the throne:
According to 3:21, the Father and the Son share the same throne. 
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22:2 the tree of life:
The reappearance of this tree, not seen in the Bible since Gen 3:24, hints that heaven is the celestial counterpart to Eden, i.e., a place of intimate fellowship with God, uncorrupted by sin and death.
See note on Rev 2:7
. 
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22:4 shall see his face:
The direct vision of God is the great hope of biblical spirituality (Ps 11:7; 42:2) and the preeminent blessing of heaven (Mt 5:8; 1 Cor 13:12). Seeing the face of God points to a profound personal intimacy with him; it is an experience of knowing God that is the fulfillment of human existence. Tradition calls this the Beatific Vision (CCC 102328). 
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22:6-9
The book draws to a close by restating ideas from the introduction (1:1-3). Once again, the sense that Christ is fast approaching dominates the tone (22:6-7, 10, 12, 20).
See note on Rev 1:1
. 
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22:7 I am coming soon:
Jesus is speaking, as also in 22:12 and 22:20.
Blessed:
The sixth of seven beatitudes in Revelation.
See note on Rev 1:3
. 
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22:8 I John:
Probably John the Apostle. See introduction:
Author.
 
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22:9 Worship God:
Recalls the earlier incident in 19:10. 
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22:10 Do not seal up:
John is forbidden to seal the scroll shut. The urgency of his message makes reading it a top priority for his churches. • This is in deliberate contrast to Dan 12:4, where the prophet was instructed to seal up his prophecy because the time of its fulfillment was still in the distant future. 
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22:13 the Alpha . . . the Omega:
Christ gives himself the same title given to God in 1:8, showing that he, too, is the divine Lord over history and the world. 
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22:14 Blessed:
The last of seven beatitudes in Revelation.
See note on Rev 1:3
. 
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22:15 Outside:
The heavenly city is protected from sinful contamination, with evildoers kept far outside its walls. 
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22:16 the root and the offspring:
Jesus is the Davidic Messiah (5:5). • The heir to David's throne is called the "root" of Jesse in Is 11:10 and the "offspring" of David in 2 Sam 7:12.
morning star:
See notes on Rev 2:28 and 2 Pet 1:19. 
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22:17 the Bride:
The Church wedded to Christ (19:7-8). She joins the Spirit in summoning the world to salvation (CCC 2550). 
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22:18-19
A warning not to tamper with the Book of Revelation, whose contents were carefully dictated by heavenly visions (1:11). Strictly speaking, this is not a general warning against tampering with the Bible, though that, too, is certainly wrong. Moreover, it does not exclude the possibility that there may be Christian revelation outside the books of Scripture, such as in unwritten traditions handed down by the apostles (1 Cor 11:2; 2 Thess 2:15). • Moses used similar words to caution Israel against adding or subtracting from the Book of Deuteronomy (Deut 4:2). 
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