Revelation 21: A New Heaven and a New Earth
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 more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
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 of the fountain of the water of life freely.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
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.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of 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 Lamb is the light thereof.
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 and honour into it.
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
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.
Revelation 21 unveils a breathtaking vision of the eternal state, a world completely cleansed of sin and suffering, where God dwells intimately with His people. It’s a chapter of hope, promising a future far beyond our current comprehension, a future worth eagerly anticipating. This chapter follows the defeat of Satan and the final judgment, as depicted in Revelation 20, setting the stage for a new beginning. Chapter 22 will further elaborate on this perfect eternity and relay final messages from Jesus.
The Passing Away of the Old (Revelation 21:1-4)
The familiar world, marred by sin and decay since Genesis 3, gives way to something entirely new. Revelation 21:1 declares, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." Scholars debate the extent of this transformation – will creation be utterly destroyed and re-made, or will it be gloriously renewed? The language suggests a profound re-conditioning, a restoration to its original, perfect state.
Tony Evans notes that God will "un-create" the universe as we know it because every part of it has been affected by sin. This doesn't mean annihilation, but rather a glorious replacement of the old with the new, completely free from sin’s consequences. Notably, the sea is "no more," suggesting vast expanses of previously underwater areas will become habitable for God’s people.
John then witnesses the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, a symbol of God's presence and the restored relationship between God and humanity (Revelation 21:2). A powerful voice from the throne proclaims the end of suffering, pain, and death for all eternity (Revelation 21:3-4). God Himself will dwell among His people, wiping away every tear. All sadness, hurt, and disappointment will vanish as we live alongside our Creator. This is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to be "Immanuel," God with us.
The Faithful and True Promise (Revelation 21:5-8)
The magnitude of God's promise to make "everything new" might seem too incredible to be true. Yet, God Himself affirms its certainty: "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true'" (Revelation 21:5). This is a declaration of absolute certainty, a promise upon which we can stake our lives.
In this new creation, God’s people will experience complete satisfaction, symbolized by the image of thirst being quenched from the spring of the water of life (Revelation 21:6). The refreshing satisfaction of a cold drink on a hot day pales in comparison to the spectacular satisfaction to come.
Those who overcome, those who remain faithful to Christ, will inherit this new creation and enjoy an even deeper intimacy with God, like a father with his son (Revelation 21:7).
However, this glorious vision is juxtaposed with a stark reminder of the fate awaiting those who reject God. Revelation 21:8 lists the "cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars" whose place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur, the "second death." This is a sobering truth, emphasizing the importance of choosing God over sin. Unbelievers will enter a place where every problem from this life will be amplified without any hope of improvement.
The Splendor of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-21)
One of the seven angels who held the bowls filled with the seven last plagues reveals the New Jerusalem to John (Revelation 21:9-10). While believers will inhabit the entire new creation, the angel focuses on the capital city, a place of unimaginable beauty and glory.
The city shines with the glory of God, radiating like a precious jewel, clear as crystal (Revelation 21:11). To describe this splendor, John uses earthly terms, struggling to convey the indescribable. He mentions precious materials like gold and jasper, but describes them with properties that defy our current understanding. Gold is "clear," and jasper is radiant. This highlights the limitations of human language in capturing the divine reality.
The city's massive wall signifies the identity of its inhabitants (Revelation 21:12). The names of the twelve tribes of Israel are inscribed on the gates, representing believers from the Old Testament. The twelve foundations bear the names of the twelve apostles, symbolizing believers from the New Testament church (Revelation 21:14). This signifies that Old and New Covenant followers of the Lord will dwell together in the new creation.
The angel measures the city, revealing its perfect symmetry: a cube of 12,000 stadia (approximately 1,400 miles) in length, width, and height (Revelation 21:15-16). This includes the height! The walls are 144 cubits (about 72 yards) thick. These dimensions defy our comprehension, emphasizing the vastness and grandeur of the New Jerusalem.
The materials used in the city's construction are equally awe-inspiring: walls of jasper, a city of pure gold, foundations adorned with every kind of jewel (Revelation 21:18-20). Each of the twelve gates is a single pearl, and the main street is paved with pure gold (Revelation 21:21). This is where we get the idea of streets of gold in our eternal home!
The Presence of God (Revelation 21:22-27)
John notes a surprising absence: "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Revelation 21:22). Temples, priests, and rituals are necessary when humanity is separated from God. But in the New Jerusalem, there is no separation. We will have direct, unmediated access to God Himself.
There is also no need for sun or moon, for "the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp" (Revelation 21:23). God's radiant presence replaces the need for any created light source. The fact that there will be no night suggests our glorified bodies will never tire and need to sleep.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:24). This suggests ongoing activity and purpose in the new creation. There will be nations and kings functioning in a national context and bringing their glory and honor into the city (Revelation 21:26). Everyone will come to the new Jerusalem as a highlight of their lives on the new earth.
However, entrance to this glorious city is not automatic. "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life" (Revelation 21:27). The invitation is universal, but the requirements are specific: faith in Jesus Christ and a life transformed by His grace.
Revelation 21 offers a glimpse into a future beyond our wildest dreams, a future of perfect communion with God, free from sin, suffering, and death. It is a future worth striving for, a future secured by faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb who is the light of the world.
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 more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
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 of the fountain of the water of life freely.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
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.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of 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 Lamb is the light thereof.
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 and honour into it.
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
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.
Revelation 21 unveils a breathtaking vision of the eternal state, a world completely cleansed of sin and suffering, where God dwells intimately with His people. It’s a chapter of hope, promising a future far beyond our current comprehension, a future worth eagerly anticipating. This chapter follows the defeat of Satan and the final judgment, as depicted in Revelation 20, setting the stage for a new beginning. Chapter 22 will further elaborate on this perfect eternity and relay final messages from Jesus.
The Passing Away of the Old (Revelation 21:1-4)
The familiar world, marred by sin and decay since Genesis 3, gives way to something entirely new. Revelation 21:1 declares, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." Scholars debate the extent of this transformation – will creation be utterly destroyed and re-made, or will it be gloriously renewed? The language suggests a profound re-conditioning, a restoration to its original, perfect state.
Tony Evans notes that God will "un-create" the universe as we know it because every part of it has been affected by sin. This doesn't mean annihilation, but rather a glorious replacement of the old with the new, completely free from sin’s consequences. Notably, the sea is "no more," suggesting vast expanses of previously underwater areas will become habitable for God’s people.
John then witnesses the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, a symbol of God's presence and the restored relationship between God and humanity (Revelation 21:2). A powerful voice from the throne proclaims the end of suffering, pain, and death for all eternity (Revelation 21:3-4). God Himself will dwell among His people, wiping away every tear. All sadness, hurt, and disappointment will vanish as we live alongside our Creator. This is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to be "Immanuel," God with us.
The Faithful and True Promise (Revelation 21:5-8)
The magnitude of God's promise to make "everything new" might seem too incredible to be true. Yet, God Himself affirms its certainty: "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true'" (Revelation 21:5). This is a declaration of absolute certainty, a promise upon which we can stake our lives.
In this new creation, God’s people will experience complete satisfaction, symbolized by the image of thirst being quenched from the spring of the water of life (Revelation 21:6). The refreshing satisfaction of a cold drink on a hot day pales in comparison to the spectacular satisfaction to come.
Those who overcome, those who remain faithful to Christ, will inherit this new creation and enjoy an even deeper intimacy with God, like a father with his son (Revelation 21:7).
However, this glorious vision is juxtaposed with a stark reminder of the fate awaiting those who reject God. Revelation 21:8 lists the "cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars" whose place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur, the "second death." This is a sobering truth, emphasizing the importance of choosing God over sin. Unbelievers will enter a place where every problem from this life will be amplified without any hope of improvement.
The Splendor of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-21)
One of the seven angels who held the bowls filled with the seven last plagues reveals the New Jerusalem to John (Revelation 21:9-10). While believers will inhabit the entire new creation, the angel focuses on the capital city, a place of unimaginable beauty and glory.
The city shines with the glory of God, radiating like a precious jewel, clear as crystal (Revelation 21:11). To describe this splendor, John uses earthly terms, struggling to convey the indescribable. He mentions precious materials like gold and jasper, but describes them with properties that defy our current understanding. Gold is "clear," and jasper is radiant. This highlights the limitations of human language in capturing the divine reality.
The city's massive wall signifies the identity of its inhabitants (Revelation 21:12). The names of the twelve tribes of Israel are inscribed on the gates, representing believers from the Old Testament. The twelve foundations bear the names of the twelve apostles, symbolizing believers from the New Testament church (Revelation 21:14). This signifies that Old and New Covenant followers of the Lord will dwell together in the new creation.
The angel measures the city, revealing its perfect symmetry: a cube of 12,000 stadia (approximately 1,400 miles) in length, width, and height (Revelation 21:15-16). This includes the height! The walls are 144 cubits (about 72 yards) thick. These dimensions defy our comprehension, emphasizing the vastness and grandeur of the New Jerusalem.
The materials used in the city's construction are equally awe-inspiring: walls of jasper, a city of pure gold, foundations adorned with every kind of jewel (Revelation 21:18-20). Each of the twelve gates is a single pearl, and the main street is paved with pure gold (Revelation 21:21). This is where we get the idea of streets of gold in our eternal home!
The Presence of God (Revelation 21:22-27)
John notes a surprising absence: "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Revelation 21:22). Temples, priests, and rituals are necessary when humanity is separated from God. But in the New Jerusalem, there is no separation. We will have direct, unmediated access to God Himself.
There is also no need for sun or moon, for "the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp" (Revelation 21:23). God's radiant presence replaces the need for any created light source. The fact that there will be no night suggests our glorified bodies will never tire and need to sleep.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:24). This suggests ongoing activity and purpose in the new creation. There will be nations and kings functioning in a national context and bringing their glory and honor into the city (Revelation 21:26). Everyone will come to the new Jerusalem as a highlight of their lives on the new earth.
However, entrance to this glorious city is not automatic. "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life" (Revelation 21:27). The invitation is universal, but the requirements are specific: faith in Jesus Christ and a life transformed by His grace.
Revelation 21 offers a glimpse into a future beyond our wildest dreams, a future of perfect communion with God, free from sin, suffering, and death. It is a future worth striving for, a future secured by faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb who is the light of the world.