Revelation 21: The New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem
The New Heaven and the New Earth
Chapter with Audio
21 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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
The New Jerusalem
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Chapter Analysis
Revelation 21: The New Heaven, New Earth, And New Jerusalem
All Things Made New
📖 Revelation 21:1–4
¹ John saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea.
² Then John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
³ A loud voice from heaven declared that the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. They shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
⁴ God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain, because the former things have passed away.
🔹 The Truth
God will create a new heaven and a new earth.
The New Jerusalem comes from God, not from man.
The greatest blessing is that God Himself will dwell with His people.
🔹 The Promise
God will wipe away every tear, and death, sorrow, crying, and pain will be gone forever.
✅ Conclusion
Revelation 21 begins with the hope of all things made new. God’s redeemed people will live with Him forever.
The Faithful And True Words Of God
📖 Revelation 21:5–8
⁵ He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” He told John to write, because these words are true and faithful.
⁶ He said, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give the fountain of the water of life freely to the one who thirsts.
⁷ The one who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
🔹 The Truth
God’s words are true and faithful.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
Those who reject God remain under judgment and face the second death.
🔹 The Promise
God freely gives the water of life to the thirsty, and the overcomer will inherit all things.
✅ Conclusion
God offers life freely, but He also warns clearly. Eternal life is found in Him, and the second death is real.
The Bride, The Lamb’s Wife
📖 Revelation 21:9–14
⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and told John he would show him the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
¹⁰ He carried John away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed him the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
¹¹ She had the glory of God, and her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
¹² The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates. The names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel were written on the gates.
¹³ There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west.
¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
🔹 The Truth
The New Jerusalem is holy, glorious, and from God.
The city is connected with both the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
God’s redeemed people are brought together in His eternal purpose.
🔹 The Promise
God’s city is prepared, secure, and filled with His glory.
✅ Conclusion
The New Jerusalem displays the glory of God and the faithfulness of His promises.
The Glory And Measurements Of The City
📖 Revelation 21:15–21
¹⁵ The angel who spoke with John had a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
¹⁶ The city was laid out as a square, and its length, breadth, and height were equal. The angel measured the city: twelve thousand furlongs.
¹⁷ He measured its wall: one hundred forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
¹⁹ The foundations of the wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald,
²⁰ sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst.
²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
🔹 The Truth
The city is measured, ordered, and perfect.
Its beauty reflects God’s glory, purity, and majesty.
Everything valuable on earth is surpassed by the glory of what God prepares.
🔹 The Promise
God’s eternal dwelling place for His people will be glorious beyond earthly comparison.
✅ Conclusion
The New Jerusalem is not poor, weak, or temporary. It is radiant, ordered, secure, and filled with the splendor of God.
No Temple, No Sun, And Nothing Unclean
📖 Revelation 21:22–27
²² John saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
²³ The city had no need of the sun or moon to shine in it, because the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.
²⁴ The nations of those who are saved will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honor into it.
²⁵ Its gates shall not be shut by day, and there shall be no night there.
²⁶ They shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
²⁷ But nothing that defiles, causes abomination, or makes a lie shall enter it, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
🔹 The Truth
God and the Lamb are the temple of the city.
The glory of God gives light, and the Lamb is its light.
Nothing unclean will enter the New Jerusalem.
🔹 The Promise
Those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter the holy city and dwell in God’s light forever.
✅ Conclusion
The New Jerusalem is filled with God’s presence, God’s light, and God’s holiness. Only the redeemed may enter.
Summary Conclusion
Revelation 21 reveals the new heaven, new earth, and New Jerusalem. God will dwell with His people, wipe away every tear, and remove death, sorrow, crying, and pain forever. The holy city shines with God’s glory, the Lamb is its light, and nothing unclean will enter it. Only those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will dwell there.
Final Questions For You
- What does it mean that God Himself will dwell with His people?
- Why is it important that death, sorrow, crying, and pain will be gone forever?
- Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?