Revelation21
New Living Translation
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.
2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
5And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
6And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.
7All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
8“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
9Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
11It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal.
12The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.
13There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west.
14The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
16When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.
17Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).
18The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.
19The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,
20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.
22I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
24The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory.
25Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there.
26And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city.
27Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names 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