Revelation 21:2

Holy city. Ancient Jerusalem contained the Temple, where God could manifest His presence to His people (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chron. 5:13, 14; 7:2, 3), even as He had done at the door of the tabernacle in the desert (Ex. 29:43–46; 40:34–38). The city was described as “holy” (Dan. 9:24; Matt. 27:53), but in the course of time the spiritual degradation of God’s people became so great that Jesus pronounced the Temple a “den of thieves” (Matt. 21:13), and predicted the fall of the city (Matt. 22:7; Luke 21:20). Now God promises a new kind of Jerusalem, which John describes as the “new Jerusalem.”

New. Gr. kainos, new in kind and quality (see on v. 1). Compare Gal. 4:26; Heb. 11:10; 12:22; 13:14.

Coming down. In vision John beheld the city as it descended.

From God. God is the author, the originator, the source.

Out of heaven. Its place of origin (cf. chs. 3:12; 21:10).

Prepared. The form of the word thus translated suggests that the preparation had been initiated in the past and brought to perfection, so that the city now stands fully prepared.

Bride. The city is here represented as the bride (see on ch. 19:7).

Adorned. Gr. kosmeō, “to arrange,” “to furnish,” “to adorn.” The English word “cosmetics” is derived from kosmeō. The form of the Greek verb suggests that the adorning had begun in the past and had by now been brought to completion.

Husband. That is, the Lamb, Christ (ch. 19:7).