Revelation21
New King James Version
1Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
7He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
16The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
17Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
24And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
25Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
26And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
27But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 21.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A new heaven, and new earth: the new Jerusalem where God dwells, and banishes all sorrow from his people. (1–8). Its heavenly origin, glory, and secure defence. (9–21). Its perfect happiness, as enlightened with the presence of God and the Lamb, and in the free access of multitudes, made holy. (22–27).
vv1-8
The new heaven and the new earth will not be separate from each other; the earth of the saints, their glorified, bodies, will be heavenly. The old world, with all its troubles and tumults, will have passed away. There will be no sea; this aptly represents freedom from conflicting passions, temptations, troubles, changes, and alarms; from whatever can divide or interrupt the communion of saints. This new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and perfect state, the church triumphant. Its blessedness came wholly from God, and depends on him. The presence of God with his people in heaven, will not be interrupt as it is on earth, he will dwell with them continually. All effects of former trouble shall be done away. They have often been in tears, by reason of sin, of affliction, of the calamities of the church; but no signs, no remembrance of former sorrows shall remain. Christ makes all things new. If we are willing and desirous that the gracious Redeemer should make all things new in order hearts and nature, he will make all things new in respect of our situation, till he has brought us to enjoy complete happiness. See the certainty of the promise. God gives his titles, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, as a pledge for the full performance. Sensual and sinful pleasures are muddy and poisoned waters; and the best earthly comforts are like the scanty supplies of a cistern; when idolized, they become broken cisterns, and yield only vexation. But the joys which Christ imparts are like waters springing from a fountain, pure, refreshing, abundant, and eternal. The sanctifying consolations of the Holy Spirit prepare for heavenly happiness; they are streams which flow for us in the wilderness. The fearful durst not meet the difficulties of religion, their slavish fear came from their unbelief; but those who were so dastardly as not to dare to take up the cross of Christ, were yet so desperate as to run into abominable wickedness. The agonies and terrors of the first death will lead to the far greater terrors and agonies of eternal death.
vv9-21
God has various employments for his holy angels. Sometimes they sound the trumpet of Divine Providence, and warn a careless world; sometimes they discover things of a heavenly nature of the heirs of salvation. Those who would have clear views of heaven, must get as near to heaven as they can, on the mount of meditation and faith. The subject of the vision is the church of God in a perfect, triumphant state, shining in its lustre; glorious in relation to Christ; which shows that the happiness of heaven consists in intercourse with God, and in conformity to him. The change of emblems from a bride to a city, shows that we are only to take general ideas from this description. The wall is for security. Heaven is a safe state; those who are there, are separated and secured from all evils and enemies. This city is vast; here is room for all the people of God. The foundation of the wall; the promise and power of God, and the purchase of Christ, are the strong foundations of the safety and happiness of the church. These foundations are set forth by twelve sorts of precious stones, denoting the variety and excellence of the doctrines of the gospel, or of the graces of the Holy Spirit, or the personal excellences of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven has gates; there is a free admission to all that are sanctified; they shall not find themselves shut out. These gates were all of pearls. Christ is the Pearl of great price, and he is our Way to God. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The saints in heaven tread gold under foot. The saints are there at rest, yet it is not a state of sleep and idleness; they have communion, not only with God, but with one another. All these glories but faintly represent heaven.
vv22-27
Perfect and direct communion with God, will more than supply the place of gospel institutions. And what words can more full express the union and co-equality of the Son with the Father, in the Godhead? What a dismal world would this be, if it were not for the light of the sun! What is there in heaven that supplies its place? The glory of God lightens that city, and the Lamb is the Light thereof. God in Christ will be an everlasting Fountain of knowledge and joy to the saints in heaven. There is no night, therefore no need of shutting the gates; all is at peace and secure. The whole shows us that we should be more and more led to think of heaven as filled with the glory of God, and enlightened by the presence of the Lord Jesus. Nothing sinful or unclean, idolatrous, or false and deceitful, can enter. All the inhabitants are made perfect in holiness. Now the saints feel a sad mixture of corruption, which hinders them in the service of God, and interrupts their communion with him; but, at their entrance into the holy of holies, they are washed in the laver of Christ's blood, and presented to the Father without spot. None are admitted into heaven who work abominations. It is free from hypocrites, such as make lies. As nothing unclean can enter heaven, let us be stirred up by these glimpses of heavenly things, to use all diligence, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God.
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εἴδω (eídō): used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι) and G3708 (ὁράω); properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
καινός (kainós): new
οὐρανός (ouranós): the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
γῆ (gē): soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)
γάρ (gár): properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
πρῶτος (prōtos): foremost (in time, place, order or importance)
ἀπέρχομαι (apérchomai): to go off (i.e. depart), aside (i.e. apart) or behind (i.e. follow), literally or figuratively
θάλασσα (thálassa): the sea (genitive case or specially)
ἐστί (estí): he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
Cross References
Revelation 21Old Testament prophetic foundation for the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament promise of looking for new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The prophetic promise that God will swallow up death and wipe away tears from all faces.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel apocalyptic description of God wiping away all tears from the eyes of the redeemed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Ezekiel's temple city vision detailing twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Prophetic description of the city needing neither sun nor moon, illuminated by the Lord's glory.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Pauline reference to the 'Jerusalem which is above' as the mother of us all.
Supported by JFB
The city with foundations that Abraham looked for, designed and built by God.
Supported by JFB
Defines the lake of fire as the second death, which awaits the wicked.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The church's foundation built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The command to measure the temple, echoing the golden reed used in this chapter.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Old Testament promise of laying foundations with sapphires and building with precious stones.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophecy that the city's gates shall be open continually and not shut by day or night.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Call for Jerusalem to put on her beautiful garments as the holy, unpolluted city.
Supported by JFB
The covenant promise that God will walk among His people and be their God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us, foreshadowing God dwelling with men.
Supported by JFB
Jesus' invitation for anyone who is thirsty to come to Him and drink.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts the clean citizens inside the city with sorcerers, whoremongers, and liars outside.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The breastplate of judgment containing twelve precious stones representing the tribes of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry