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1Then 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.
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.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the
dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will
be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
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."
Revelation 21:1-4
Explanation:
The earth as we know it will not last forever, but after God's great
judgment, he will create a new earth (see Romans 8:18-21;2 Peter
3:7-13). God had also promised Isaiah that he would create a new
eternal earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). The sea in John's time was
viewed as dangerous and changeable. It was also the source of the
beast (13:1). We don't know how the new earth will look or where
it will be, but God and his followers--those whose names are written
in the book of life--will be united to live there forever. Will
you be there? The new Jerusalem is where God lives among his people.
Instead of our going up to meet him, he comes down to be with us,
just as God became man in Jesus Christ and lived among us (John
1:14). Wherever God reigns, there is peace, security, and love.
Have you ever wondered what eternity will be like? The "Holy
City, the new Jerusalem" is described as the place where God
will "wipe every tear from their eyes." Forevermore, there
will be no death, pain, sorrow, or crying. What a wonderful truth!
No matter what you are going through, it is not the last word--God
has written the final chapter, and it is about true fulfillment
and eternal joy for those who love him. We do not know as much as
we would like, but it is enough to know that eternity with God will
be more wonderful than we could ever imagine.
5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything
new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words
are trustworthy and true."
6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to
drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God
and he will be my son.
8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the
sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and
all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
This is the second death."
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."
Revelation 21:5-9
Explanation:
God is the Creator. The Bible begins with the majestic story of
his creation of the universe, and it concludes with his creation
of a new heaven and a new earth. This is a tremendous hope and encouragement
for the believer. When we are with God, with our sins forgiven and
our future secure, we will be like Christ. We will be made perfect
like him. Just as God finished the work of creation (Genesis 2:1-3)
and Jesus finished the work of redemption (John 19:30), so the Trinity
will finish the entire plan of salvation by inviting the redeemed
into a new creation. For more about the water of life, see the note
on 22:1. The "cowardly" are not those who are fainthearted
in their faith or who sometimes doubt or question, but those who
turn back from following God. They are not brave enough to stand
up for Christ; they are not humble enough to accept his authority
over their lives. They are put in the same list as the unbelieving,
the vile, the murderers, the liars, the idolaters, the sexually
immoral, and those practicing magic arts. People who overcome stand
firm to the end (Mark 13:13). They will receive the blessings that
God promised: (1) eating from the tree of life (2:7), (2) escaping
from the lake of fire (the second death, 2:11), (3) receiving a
special name (2:17), (4) having authority over the nations (2:26),
(5) being included in the book of life (3:5), (6) being a pillar
in God's spiritual temple (3:12), and (7) sitting with Christ on
his throne (3:21). Those who can endure the testing of evil and
remain faithful will be rewarded by God. The lake is explained in
the notes on 19:20 and 20:14. The second death is spiritual death,
meaning either eternal torment or destruction. In either case, it
is permanent separation from God.
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.
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.
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.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three
on the south and three on the west.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were
the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure
the city, its gates and its walls.
16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide.
He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia
in length, and as wide and high as it is long.
17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement,
which the angel was using.
Revelation 21:10-17
Explanation:
The rest of the chapter is a stunning description of the new city
of God. The vision is symbolic and shows us that our new home with
God will defy description. We will not be disappointed by it in
any way. The new Jerusalem is a picture of God's future home for
his people. The 12 tribes of Israel (21:12) probably represent all
the faithful in the Old Testament; the twelve apostles (21:14) represent
the church. Thus, both believing Gentiles and Jews who have been
faithful to God will live together in the new earth. The city's
measurements are symbolic of a palace that will hold all God's people.
These measurements are all multiples of 12, the number for God's
people; there were 12 tribes in Israel, and 12 apostles who started
the church. The walls are 144(12x12) cubits (200 feet) thick; there
are 12 layers in the walls, and 12 gates in the city; and the height,
length, and breadth are all the same, 12,000 stadia (1,400 miles).
The new Jerusalem is a perfect cube, the same shape as the Most
Holy Place in the temple (1 Kings 6:20). These measurements illustrate
that this new home will be perfect for us.
18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure
as glass.
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 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
jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single
pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent
glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are its temple.
23 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.
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth
will bring their splendor into it.
25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night
there.
26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.
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.
Revelation 21:18-27
Explanation:
The picture of walls made of jewels reveals that the new Jerusalem
will be a place of purity and durability--it will last forever.
The temple, the center of God's presence among his people, was the
primary place of worship. No temple is needed in the new city, however,
because God's presence will be everywhere. He will be worshipped
throughout the city, and nothing will hinder us from being with
him. Not everyone will be allowed into the new Jerusalem, but 'only
those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life'. (The
book of life is explained in the notes on 3:5 and 20:12-15) Don't
think that you will get in because of your background, personality,
or good behavior. Eternal life is available to you only because
of what Jesus, the Lamb, has done. Trust him today to secure your
citizenship in this new creation.
