Revelation21

John beholds a new heaven and a new earth, with the holy city, New Jerusalem, descending from God. A divine voice declares God's dwelling among humanity, where all tears, death, sorrow, and pain are abolished. The One on the throne proclaims the making of all things new, offering eternal life to the faithful and warning of the second death for the unrighteous.

The New Heaven and New Earth

1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. ​
2
Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ​
3
I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God. ​
4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.” ​
5
Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’” ​
6
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life. ​
7
He who wins the victory will receive these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. ​
8
But as for the cowardly, the untrustworthy, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those involved with the occult and with drugs, idol-worshippers, and all liars — their destiny is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, the second death.” ​

The Glory of the Holy City

9
One of the seven angels having the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues approached me and said, “Come! I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.” ​
10
He carried me off in the Spirit to the top of a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God.
11
It had the Sh’khinah of God, so that its brilliance was like that of a priceless jewel, like a crystal-clear diamond.
12
It had a great, high wall with twelve gates; at the gates were twelve angels; and inscribed on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of Isra’el.
13
There were three gates to the east, three gates to the north, three gates to the south and three gates to the west.
14
The wall of the city was built on twelve foundation-stones, and on these were the twelve names of the twelve emissaries of the Lamb. ​
15
The angel speaking with me had a gold measuring-rod with which to measure the city, its gates and its wall.
16
The city is laid out in a square, its length equal to its width. With his rod he measured the city at 1,500 miles, with length, width and height the same. ​
17
He measured its wall at 216 feet by human standards of measurement, which the angel was using. ​
18
The wall was made of diamond and the city of pure gold resembling pure glass.
19
The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all kinds of precious stones — the first foundation stone was diamond, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ​
20
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh turquoise and the twelfth amethyst.
21
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate made of a single pearl. The city’s main street was pure gold, transparent as glass.

God and the Lamb Are the Temple

22
I saw no Temple in the city, for Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, is its Temple, as is the Lamb. ​
23
The city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s Sh’khinah gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. ​
24
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ​
25
Its gates will never close, they stay open all day because night will not exist there,
26
and the honor and splendor of the nations will be brought into it.
27
Nothing impure may enter it, nor anyone who does shameful things or lies; the only ones who may enter are those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. ​

Study Notes for Revelation 21

Verse 1

Echoing Isaiah 65:17, the new creation signifies a radical transformation and purification of the cosmos, not necessarily annihilation. The absence of the sea, often symbolizing chaos and evil in apocalyptic literature (cf. Rev 13:1), emphasizes total peace and order.

Verse 2

The New Jerusalem represents the perfected community of God’s people (the Church), descending from God as a gift. It is prepared 'as a bride,' symbolizing purity, beauty, and intimate union with Christ, the Lamb.

Verse 3

This declaration fulfills the core promise of the Old Covenant—God dwelling among his people (Exodus 25:8). This is the ultimate realization of Emmanuel (“God with us”), establishing permanent, personal fellowship.

Verse 4

This promise of the removal of tears, death, sorrow, and pain is a complete reversal of the curse of the Fall (Genesis 3). It underscores the total restoration of *shalom* (peace and well-being) in the eternal state.

Verse 5

The one sitting on the throne (God) declares His sovereign power to bring about this radical renewal. John is commanded to write these words down, emphasizing their absolute truth and dependability for the persecuted believers.

Verse 6

'It is done' (Gk. *Gegonen*) confirms the finality and completion of God's redemptive plan. The title 'Alpha and Omega' affirms God’s eternal sovereignty over all time and history.

Verse 7

The 'overcomer' is a consistent theme throughout Revelation (chapters 2 and 3), referring to those who maintain faithfulness to Christ despite the pressures of persecution and apostasy.

Verse 8

This list contrasts the destiny of the faithful with those who fail to persevere. The 'fearful' (those who lack faith and prioritize safety over fidelity) are listed first, indicating that unbelief is the root sin leading to exclusion.

Verse 9

The guiding angel is one who previously executed judgment (vial plagues), showing that the same divine authority that brings justice also reveals ultimate salvation. The city is identified as 'the Bride,' confirming that the people of God and their dwelling are one unified reality.

Verse 14

The twelve foundations (apostles) and the twelve gates (tribes of Israel) confirm the continuity of God's covenant history, uniting the redeemed people of the Old and New Covenants into one perfect community.

Verse 16

The city’s dimensions are a perfect cube, mirroring the shape of the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament temple (1 Kings 6:20). This signifies that the entire city is consecrated space where God dwells fully and completely. The massive size (12,000 furlongs) emphasizes its perfection and vastness.

Verse 17

The wall measurement (144 cubits, or 12x12) symbolizes the perfection of the people of God. The measure is 'of a man, that is, of the angel,' indicating that the divine standard of perfection applies to humanity.

Verse 19

The use of twelve distinct precious stones for the foundations echoes the breastplate of the High Priest (Exodus 28:15–21), symbolizing God’s people being borne before Him in holiness and radiance.

Verse 22

The absence of a physical temple signifies that God’s presence is no longer localized or mediated by rituals or structures. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb themselves provide immediate, constant access and presence.

Verse 23

God’s glory replaces all natural light sources (cf. Isaiah 60:19). The Lamb is identified as the light, linking this vision to Christ's self-declaration as the light of the world (John 8:12).

Verse 24

This verse emphasizes the universal scope of salvation. The nations and their kings bring their honor into the city, signifying that the New Jerusalem is the spiritual center for all redeemed humanity.

Verse 27

The city’s gates are always open (v. 25), yet its purity is absolute; nothing sinful or defiling may enter. The only qualification for citizenship is having one’s name recorded in the Lamb's book of life, emphasizing divine grace and election.

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