Jan Lambrecht, «Final Judgments and Ultimate Blessings: The Climactic Visions of Revelation 20,11-21,8», Vol. 81 (2000) 362-385
Rev 20,11-15 and 21,1-8 contain the last two vision reports. The first does not deal with a general resurrection followed by a general judgment with respectively reward and condemnation. Attention is negatively focused on the final judgments of Death and Hades, as well as of those whose names are not found written in the book of life. In the second vision John sees a new heaven and a new earth and, more specifically, the new Jerusalem, i.e., the church universal of the end-time. The voice from the throne and God himself climactically proclaim final blessings. The covenant formula announces God's dwelling among the peoples, the adoption formula even a divine filial relationship: these are the main content of the ultimate blessings. Hermeneutical reflection on annihilation or transformation, on theocentrism versus human responsibilty and on the expectation of Christ's imminent parousia conclude the study.
Ezek 37,27b and c)32. The covenant of peace or everlasting covenant of Ezek 37,26 is not mentioned nor, of course, the sanctuary in the midst of them of 37,26.28. Yet the covenant formula of 37,27 is prominent, in its edited form, i.e., without any particularism.
Isaiah. Two specific passages of the book of Isaiah appear to have influenced John in 21,1-8, namely Isa 65,17-2033 and 25,7-8. In the first passage five parallelisms can be pointed out; they stand, moreover, in the same sequence: (1) I am about to create new heavens and a new earth (65,17a34; cf. Rev 21,1a; in 21,5b God himself radicalizes and universalizes this vision: i)dou_ kaina_ poiw= pa/nta); (2) the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind (65,17b; cf. Rev 21,1b); (3) Jerusalem is mentioned in 65,18-19 (cf. Rev 21,2); (4) no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress (65,19a; cf. Rev 21,4a); (5) (possible) no more shall there be (65,20a; cf. Rev. 21,4b and c)35.
The second passage contains two allusions: (1) he [the Lord] will swallow up death forever (25,8a; cf. Rev. 21,4b); (2) then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces (25,8b; cf. Rev 21,4a). Here, the order is inverted, yet in both Isaiah and Revelation the texts are found together. The disappearance of sorrow is brought about by the abolition of death. As usual John does not quote literally; but in v. 4ab, too, his dependence on both Isa 25,8 and 65,19-20 can hardly be doubted36.
2 Samuel. In Rev 21,7bc the adoption formula is cited. In 2 Sam 7, the Lord, through the prophet Nathan, explains to David that not he