Revelation 21:8; And the Abominable

Revelation 21:8 (KJV)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

The next group excluded from the Holy City are the “abominable”. This is the verb “I pollute” used only here and in Romans 2:22 in the New Testament. This is the perfect passive participle.

Revelation 2:22 (KJV)  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

In this list it refers to those who have been defiled, particularly through the worship of the beast (Revelation 17:4-5; 21:27). This kind of person is not simply “detestable” as in Titus 1:16 in committing a single detestable act, but persons who have allowed their very natures to be permeated with the abominations they practiced throughout their lifetime.

Revelation 17:4-5 (KJV)  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

Revelation 21:27 (KJV)  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

The context suggests that these are not just idolatrous acts (cf. Revelation 17:4), but the unthinkable and unnatural vices of heathendom (Swete).

Revelation 17:4 (KJV)  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 451]