Revelation 21
Revelation 21 is a very important turning point in the book of Revelation as a whole. In this chapter, after all suffering and judgment, a new heaven and a new earth appear. The former heaven and earth—and the sea—pass away, revealing a complete order that God creates anew. The New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, and the true union between God’s people and God begins.
1verseI 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.
2verseI saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3verseI 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.
4verseHe 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.”
5verseHe 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.”
6verseHe 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.
7verseHe who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.
8verseBut 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.”
9verseOne 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.”
10verseHe 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,
11versehaving the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12versehaving 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.
13verseOn the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
14verseThe wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
15verseHe who spoke with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.
16verseThe 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.
17verseIts wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18verseThe construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass.
19verseThe 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,
20versethe fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21verseThe 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.
22verseI saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23verseThe 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.
24verseThe nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
25verseIts gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),
26verseand they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.
27verseThere 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.
The Appearance and Symbolism of the New Jerusalem
The New Jerusalem mentioned in this chapter is described in terms of magnificent jewels and a clear river, emphasizing that it is a place filled with God’s glory. With twelve gates on every side and twelve foundation stones, it symbolizes the completeness and wholeness of God’s redeeming work. There will be no more suffering, death, or sorrow; God promises that He will dwell with them personally. (See verses 3–4).
An Everlasting Walk with God
Chapter 21 shows that the ultimate goal of faith is to live with God forever. God is with people themselves, and wipes away every tear from their eyes. Along with the promise to give freely a spring of the water of life to those who are thirsty, to the one who conquers is given the privilege of becoming God’s child.
The Meaning of the New Heaven and the New Earth
Revelation 21 presents ultimate hope to the faithful who pass through an age of suffering. Evil disappears completely, and the state of a new creation is proclaimed. Sin and death can no longer gain a foothold, and the kingdom of God is brought to completion. This kind of imagining is not limited to a particular time or region; it conveys the completion of the restoration of universal scope that God promised.
Meditation Points
- Let us think about what the kingdom of God I hope for looks like.
- What meaning does the promise that God will be with us personally have for me?
- Even amid the difficulties encountered in a life of faith, let us meditate on how hope for a new heaven and a new earth holds me fast.
Applying It to Myself
- Let us reflect on how we are experiencing in our lives God’s gift of being His children and the grace of the water of life promised to ‘the one who conquers.’
- Let us entrust our sorrow and tears to the Lord, and think about the practical parts of how we should live today within ultimate hope.