Revelation Chapter 21 — The New Heaven and Earth
John describes the vision of a new heaven and earth where God dwells directly with humanity in the holy city of New Jerusalem.
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Notable Verses
Revelation 21:1
“I 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.”
This verse marks the definitive transition from the current world to the eternal state of the new creation.
Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more.”
This is one of the most cited verses in the Bible regarding the final comfort and restoration of humanity.
Revelation 21:22
“I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
It signifies the complete and unhindered access between God and His people, making a separate holy building unnecessary.
Chapter Summary
In Revelation 21, John witnesses the passing away of the first heaven and earth, replaced by a new creation where the sea exists no more. He sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, descending from God, prepared as a bride. A voice from the throne announces that God will now dwell directly with humanity, wiping away every tear and ending death, mourning, and pain. The One on the throne declares He is making all things new and identifies Himself as the Alpha and the Omega. An angel shows John the city's details, including its high walls made of jasper, its twelve gates of pearl, and its streets of pure gold. The city requires no sun or moon because the glory of God and the Lamb provide its light. There is no temple within the city because the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple. The nations walk in its light, and only those written in the Lamb’s book of life may enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
The New Jerusalem is described as a holy city coming down from heaven, characterized by its beauty, immense size, and walls made of precious stones. It is presented as the place where God’s people will live in His direct presence.
According to verse 4, death, mourning, crying, and pain will no longer exist in the new creation. God promises to wipe away every tear, signaling the end of the suffering associated with the first earth.
The text states that there is no temple because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple themselves. This implies that the entire city is a sacred space where the presence of God is constant and accessible to everyone.
The chapter specifies that nothing profane or anyone who practices abominations or lies can enter. Entrance is reserved specifically for those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Study Note
The measurements of the city as a perfect cube mirror the dimensions of the Holy of Holies in the ancient Israelite Tabernacle and Temple.
Related Chapters
Genesis Chapter 1
This chapter describes the original creation, which is mirrored and fulfilled by the new creation in Revelation 21.
Isaiah Chapter 65
Isaiah prophesied the coming of a new heaven and a new earth centuries before John's vision.
Ezekiel Chapter 48
Ezekiel provides a vision of a restored holy city that shares many architectural and symbolic features with the New Jerusalem.
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