Revelation 21

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no…” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, first, heaven. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are…” Naming Write keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst…” Naming Alpha and Omega keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as…” Naming Having keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which…” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, gates, golden. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed…” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of…” The number hundred makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.” The line’s distinctive content terms include building, city, clear. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation…” The line’s distinctive content terms include chalcedony, city, emerald. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include amethyst, beryl, chrysolite. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure…” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Naming Almighty keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the…” Naming Lamb keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.