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Revelation 21

1

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

9

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

10

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

11

Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

12

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

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 in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15

And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

16

And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

17

And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

18

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

19

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

20

The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

21

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

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22

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

23

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

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24

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

25

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

1
26

And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

27

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

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Revelation 21

A new heaven and a new earth appear, for the first heaven and earth have passed away, and the sea is no more—the complete renewal of creation after the elimination of the old order. The holy city, the new Jerusalem, descends from heaven like a bride adorned for her husband, and God dwells with humanity in the most intimate communion: they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death, mourning, crying, and pain are no more—the complete reversal of the curse and the fulfillment of God's original design for creation and humanity in unbroken fellowship. The city is described as a perfect cube of 12,000 stadia (about 1,400 miles)—the dimensions of the Most Holy Place expanded to cosmic proportions—with walls of jasper, twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes, and twelve foundations inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles. There is no temple in the city, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, establishing that direct communion with God replaces the mediated access of the old covenant. The nations walk by the light of the Lamb, and the gates of the city will never be shut, indicating the full inclusion of redeemed humanity in God's eternal kingdom and the end of separation.

Revelation 21:13

There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west - the twelve gates are distributed equally on all four sides, indicating universal access and the completeness of God's purpose. All peoples may enter from every direction.

Revelation 21:14

The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb - the twelve foundations bear the names of the twelve apostles, signifying that the church is built on the apostolic witness and revelation of Christ. The apostles' testimony is the foundation.

Revelation 21:15

The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls - the angel uses a golden measuring rod, the instrument of divine precision and standard. The measurement underscores the perfect dimensions and intentional design of the new creation.

Revelation 21:16

The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide; the angel measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and as high as it is long - the city is a perfect cube (12,000 stadia = 2,400 kilometers on each side), echoing the Holy of Holies' cubic form. Twelve, the number of God's people, is multiplied by 1,000, suggesting the infinite perfection of God's dwelling.

Revelation 21:17

The angel measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by human measurement, which the angel was using - the wall is 144 cubits (12 x 12), matching the 144,000 sealed in Revelation 7. The wall's thickness (about 70 meters) is measured by human standard, grounding the vision in comprehensible terms.

Revelation 21:18

The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass - jasper (representing God's holiness and judgment) forms the wall; pure gold (representing worth and purity) forms the city itself. The transparency of glass emphasizes openness and clarity.

Revelation 21:19

The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst - the twelve foundations are adorned with twelve precious stones, each in its appointed place. The variety and value of the stones signify the glory and richness of God's redeemed people.

Revelation 21:20

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl; the great street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass - each gate is a single pearl, formed from a response to wounding (an oyster coating an irritant with nacre); the gates represent the beauty that comes through suffering. The golden street is transparent, indicating perfect visibility and openness.

Revelation 21:21

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple - the absence of a physical temple is profoundly significant: no mediating structure is needed because God's presence permeates the entire city. The distinction between sacred and secular space vanishes.

Revelation 21:22

'The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp' - God's glory and the Lamb's light replace the sun and moon, natural sources of illumination. The inhabitants live in eternal day, the light of God's presence.

Revelation 21:23

'The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it; its gates will never be shut, because there is no night there' - the nations and kings, rather than opposing God, now bring their treasures and honor to his city. The open gates (never shut) signify perfect security and perpetual welcome; there is no night, no hiding, no closure.

Revelation 21:24

'On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there is no night there; the glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it' - the repeated affirmation emphasizes the city's perpetual openness and the nations' willing contribution of their glory to God. The redeemed creation participates in the city's worship.

Revelation 21:25

'Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life' - the city's sanctity is absolute; only the redeemed, written in the Lamb's book of life, may dwell there. Impurity, shame, and deception are forever excluded.

Revelation 21:26

'The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it' - this verse continues the theme of verse 24, emphasizing that even the diversity and achievements of the nations find their proper place in God's renewed creation, consecrated to his worship.

Revelation 21:27

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life - the final word on the city repeats the requirement for purity and the necessity of being written in the Lamb's book of life. Only the redeemed, those whose allegiance and names belong to Christ, inherit eternal dwelling with God.

Revelation 21:6

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 water without cost from the spring of the water of life' - the completion is announced: all is finished, all purposes are fulfilled. God's self-designation as Alpha and Omega brackets all time and existence in his control. To the thirsty (spiritually parched), he offers freely the water of eternal life.

Revelation 21:7

'Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children; but the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur; this is the second death' - the victorious inherit the renewed creation and enter covenant relationship with God as his children. The cowardly and unfaithful face consignment to the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur; this is the second death - those who reject God, whether through fear, unbelief, wickedness, murder, immorality, sorcery, idolatry, or lies, face the lake of fire. The second death is final separation from God.

Revelation 21:9

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb' - the angel who administered judgment now reveals glory; the bride's beauty is unveiled. The same messenger moves from wrath to grace.

Revelation 21:10

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God - John is elevated to a high vantage point to behold the new Jerusalem descending. The perspective emphasizes the city's divine origin and descent.

Revelation 21:11

It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal - the city's radiance is God's own glory. The jasper, most precious, and crystal-clear imagery conveys perfect transparency and divine beauty.

Revelation 21:12

It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates; on the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel - the twelve gates represent the twelve tribes; all of redeemed Israel has access to the city. Angels guard the gates, signifying the city's holiness and security.

Revelation 21:1

Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth,' for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea - the old creation, marked by separation and chaos (the sea), is replaced by new creation. The new heaven and earth signal the restoration and renewal of all things in God's ultimate purpose.

Revelation 21:2

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband - the new Jerusalem descends from heaven as the bride adorned for her groom, realizing the union of God's dwelling with his people. The city itself is the perfected community of the redeemed.

Revelation 21:3

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with mankind, and he will dwell with them; they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God' - the covenant promise, 'I will be their God and they will be my people,' is finally and fully realized. God's presence, withdrawn in Eden, is permanently restored.

Revelation 21:4

'He will wipe every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away' - sorrow, death, pain, and suffering, the scars of the fallen world, are eradicated. The comfort of God's presence replaces all grief.

Revelation 21:5

He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' And he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true' - God himself announces the renewal of all things. His words are declared trustworthy and true, granting ultimate authority to this promise of restoration.