Revelation 21

Revelation 21 presents a vision of the new heavens and new earth, where God will dwell with humanity in perfect communion. It symbolizes the complete restoration of all things, the final defeat of death, and the eternal reign of righteousness and peace. This chapter reveals the culmination of God's redemptive plan and the hope for all believers.

Revelation 21:1 (NKJV)
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

John witnesses a new creation, a heaven and earth entirely free from the corruption of the former world. The passing away of the first heaven and earth signifies the end of the old order of things—sin, death, and suffering. The absence of the sea is symbolic, as the sea often represented chaos and separation from God. This new creation is a place of perfect peace and harmony, with no more division or destruction.

Revelation 21:2 (NKJV)
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

John sees the New Jerusalem, representing the people of God, descending from heaven. This city, beautifully prepared like a bride for her husband, reflects the intimate relationship between God and His people. The imagery of a bride highlights the purity, beauty, and love that God has for His redeemed. The New Jerusalem symbolizes the perfect communion between God and humanity in a renewed creation.

Revelation 21:3-4 (NKJV)
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

God’s presence among His people is the centerpiece of this new creation. The word “tabernacle” emphasizes God's dwelling place with humanity, recalling the intimate communion once experienced in Eden. God will personally comfort His people by removing every source of pain—death, sorrow, and suffering will no longer exist. The old order of things, characterized by sin and suffering, is gone forever, making way for eternal peace and joy.

Revelation 21:5-6 (NKJV)
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”

God, seated on the throne, declares the renewal of all things. His promise is trustworthy and true, and He commands John to record these words to assure future generations. The proclamation “It is done” marks the completion of God’s redemptive plan. As the Alpha and Omega, God transcends time, being the source and fulfillment of all things. The offer of the water of life symbolizes eternal life, freely given to all who desire it.

Revelation 21:7 (NKJV)
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

Those who remain faithful, overcoming the trials of this life through their faith in Christ, will inherit the blessings of the new creation. This verse affirms the intimate relationship between God and His people. God promises to be their Father, and they will be His children, enjoying the fullness of His love and provision for eternity.

Revelation 21:8 (NKJV)
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

In contrast to the promise of eternal life for the faithful, those who reject God and persist in sinful lifestyles will face the second death, which is eternal separation from God. This judgment is final, and it serves as a warning to those who continue in rebellion. The “second death” represents not just physical death but spiritual death, marked by the complete absence of God's presence and grace.

Revelation 21:9-10 (NKJV)
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

John is invited by one of the angels to witness the "bride," which is a symbolic representation of the New Jerusalem, the holy city. This city is described as the "Lamb’s wife," signifying its deep connection with Christ. Being carried in the Spirit to a high mountain indicates a divine revelation, as mountains often symbolize closeness to God. The New Jerusalem, descending from heaven, portrays the ultimate union between heaven and earth, where God’s presence permanently dwells among His people.

Revelation 21:11-12 (NKJV)
Having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Also, she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

The New Jerusalem shines with the radiant glory of God, described as a light like jasper, emphasizing its purity and brilliance. The city’s high walls and twelve gates signify its strength and protection, while the presence of twelve angels at the gates highlights its divine protection. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on the gates reflect God’s covenant relationship with His people, connecting both the Old and New Testament believers in this eternal city.

Revelation 21:13-14 (NKJV)
Three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The twelve gates, evenly distributed on all sides of the city, symbolize the universal access to the New Jerusalem, where people from all directions are welcome. The city’s wall is built upon twelve foundations, which bear the names of the twelve apostles. This imagery signifies the unity of the old covenant (the twelve tribes of Israel) and the new covenant (the twelve apostles) as the foundation of God’s eternal kingdom. Both groups represent the faithful people of God throughout history.

Revelation 21:15-16 (NKJV)
And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

The angel uses a gold reed to measure the dimensions of the city, signifying the perfection and divine order of the New Jerusalem. Its layout as a perfect square, with equal length, breadth, and height, suggests complete symmetry and balance. The measurement of twelve thousand furlongs reflects an immense size, symbolizing the vastness of God’s eternal dwelling. This perfect design further emphasizes the glory and majesty of the new creation.

Revelation 21:17-18 (NKJV)
Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

The wall of the city, measured at 144 cubits, highlights its strength and impenetrability, yet this measurement also points to divine protection. The use of jasper for the wall and pure gold for the city itself reflects the radiant beauty and purity of this new creation. The image of gold being as transparent as glass suggests the city’s flawless, pure nature, unhindered by the corruption of the old world.

Revelation 21:19-20 (NKJV)
The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

The twelve foundations of the city's wall are decorated with a variety of precious stones, each unique and beautiful. This extensive array of gemstones symbolizes the beauty, diversity, and glory of God’s eternal kingdom. The individual stones are representative of the many facets of God’s character and the richness of His covenant with humanity. These stones reflect the brilliance and majesty of the city, where everything radiates the glory of God.

Revelation 21:21 (NKJV)
The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The twelve gates, each made of a single pearl, symbolize the immense value and beauty of the entrance into God's eternal kingdom. The pearl, formed through suffering and trial, is a fitting representation of the believers who have overcome. The streets, made of pure gold as clear as glass, signify the purity and transparency of life in the new creation. Nothing is hidden or tarnished; everything reflects the glory of God.

Revelation 21:22-23 (NKJV)
But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

In this new creation, there is no need for a physical temple, as God Himself and the Lamb (Christ) are the temple. This represents the perfect, direct communion between God and His people, without the need for mediators or structures. The absence of the sun and moon emphasizes the sufficiency of God’s presence, whose glory illuminates the entire city. Christ, as the Lamb, is the light that guides and sustains His people eternally.

Revelation 21:24-25 (NKJV)
And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

The nations, representing people from all over the world, walk in the light of God’s glory. This symbolizes the inclusion of all who are saved, regardless of background or status. The kings bringing their glory into the city highlights the acknowledgment of Christ’s reign by all earthly powers. The open gates signify the eternal security and access to God’s presence, and the absence of night represents the continuous presence of God’s light and peace.

Revelation 21:26-27 (NKJV)
And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

All the nations will bring their honor and glory into the city, acknowledging the sovereignty of God. However, only those who are pure and have been redeemed—those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life—can enter. This final verse emphasizes the holiness of the new creation and the exclusion of anything corrupt or sinful, ensuring that the New Jerusalem is a place of perfect righteousness and eternal life.