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Revelation21

World English Bible · Public Domain

1I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.

2I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

3I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people; and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”

5He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”

6He said to me, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

7He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.

8But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

10He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down 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;

12having a great and high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

13On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.

14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

15He who spoke with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.

16The city is square. Its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal.

17Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

18The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass.

19The foundations of the city’s wall 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 one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

22I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb.

24The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

25Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),

26and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.

27There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who 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.

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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.

Cross References

Revelation 21
v1Isaiah 65:17-19allusion

Old Testament prophetic foundation for the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v12 Peter 3:13thematic

New Testament promise of looking for new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Isaiah 25:8allusion

The prophetic promise that God will swallow up death and wipe away tears from all faces.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v4Revelation 7:17thematic

Parallel apocalyptic description of God wiping away all tears from the eyes of the redeemed.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v12Ezekiel 48:31-34allusion

Ezekiel's temple city vision detailing twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v23Isaiah 60:19allusion

Prophetic description of the city needing neither sun nor moon, illuminated by the Lord's glory.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Galatians 4:26thematic

Pauline reference to the 'Jerusalem which is above' as the mother of us all.

Supported by JFB

v2Hebrews 11:10thematic

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

v14Ephesians 2:20thematic

The church's foundation built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Revelation 11:1thematic

The command to measure the temple, echoing the golden reed used in this chapter.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v19Isaiah 54:11allusion

Old Testament promise of laying foundations with sapphires and building with precious stones.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v25Isaiah 60:11allusion

Prophecy that the city's gates shall be open continually and not shut by day or night.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Revelation 19:7thematic

The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Isaiah 52:1allusion

Call for Jerusalem to put on her beautiful garments as the holy, unpolluted city.

Supported by JFB

v3Leviticus 26:12allusion

The covenant promise that God will walk among His people and be their God.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v3John 1:14typology

The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us, foreshadowing God dwelling with men.

Supported by JFB

v6John 7:37thematic

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

v19Exodus 28:17-21typology

The breastplate of judgment containing twelve precious stones representing the tribes of Israel.

Supported by Matthew Henry