1. Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does the next phrase promise that “death shall be no more”?

Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

If the consequences of sin could be compressed into one concept, that single concept would be death (Genesis 2:17). As representative of the effect of sin, death is the principal cause of tears. Promising the end of tears necessitates promising the end of death (Isaiah 25:8). Intimately connected to the promise, of course, is the Saviour’s triumph over the cause of death, that is, sin (Genesis 2:17). That triumph (illustrated in his resurrection) resulted in the forgiveness of sins and so the restoration of harmony between sinners and God.