About This Chapter: In Revelation chapter twenty-one, John describes a new heaven and a new earth, followed by the holy city descending from heaven. He who sat upon the throne shares a message of encouragement for those who overcome and a somber warning for those who continue in unrighteous behaviors. The city is then described in detail, including its appearance, its gates, its foundations, and its measurements. The chapter concludes with details about the One who illuminates the great city and the offenses that will be excluded from it.
Revelation 21:1–4 — The New Heavens, and the New Earth
Revelation 21:5–8 — The Words from the Throne
Revelation 21:9–21 — The City Described
Revelation 21:22–27 — What Is and Is Not within the City
Revelation 21:1–4 — The New Heavens, and the New Earth
In today’s world of advance technology, system failures are an unavoidable reality for nearly everyone. From desktop workstations, to laptop computers, to mobile phones, to gaming consoles and other types of electronic devices, virtually everyone knows what it’s like to experience a system crash. In some instances, a system application will malfunction so badly that a user has no choice but to restart everything and begin anew.
To a small degree, those experiences offer a glimpse into what we will see over the course of Revelation chapter twenty-one. In it, God will create an entirely new “universal operating system” and restart His creation, so to speak…
“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. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:1-2).
This reference to the heavens and earth “passing away” may represent something of an understatement based on the following passage from the Biblical book of 2 Peter: “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10). That points to a cataclysmic end for this current order prior to its replacement with a new heaven and a new earth. And while “new” may simply refer to something different, this word conveys the idea of something fresh and unprecedented. (1)
This reference to “heaven” also has several meanings, depending on its context. For instance, this word may refer to the region within earth’s atmosphere, the area where birds fly and aircraft traverse the skies. It may also refer to outer reaches of space, the universal expanse where the sun, the moon, and the stars reside (Psalm 19:1). Finally, “heaven” is also used to identify the place where God dwells (Matthew 6:9) along with the angels (Mark 13:32).
These first two definitions appear to relate to the opening verses of Revelation chapter twenty-one. This passage thus looks forward to an entirely new planet and an entirely new universe. This new universe will presumably include new galaxies, stars, planets, and other celestial mysteries that are waiting to be discovered. However, one notable exception to this new landscape will be the complete absence of any seas. This does not mean that lakes, streams, and similar bodies of water will cease to exist; only that this new earth will be devoid of any oceans.
Image Attribution :Pablo Gómez from Puerto Montt, Chile, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
(1) G2537 – kainos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2537/kjv/tr/0-1/
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2).
These details from Revelation 21:2 offers some insight into the “new Jerusalem” mentioned here. First, the city will be “holy.” In other words, it will be a place that is morally perfect and completely removed from impurities of any kind. In contrast to a rural community or outlying area, the new Jerusalem will also be a city, a place of action and activity where residents live in relative proximity to one another. The name “Jerusalem” is also significant, for that name references a city of peace. (1) Finally, this city will descend directly from God.
Thus, we can make several important observations based on our text from Revelation 21:1-2. We can also say with certainty that the realm of heaven will remain, for the new Jerusalem descends from there. Even so, the following verse alerts us to a change of address for heaven’s most significant resident…
“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.’
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. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
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’” (Revelation 21:3-8).
While it’s easy to see the benefits that accrue to someone who enters a relationship with God through faith in Christ, one question remains: what’s in it for God? The person who places his or her faith in Christ can look forward to all the good things mentioned here in the first seven verses of Revelation chapter twenty-one. But what does God receive? In fact, what could mere human beings ever give the One who possesses everything? We’ll explore the answer to that question next.
(1) G2419 – ierousalem – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2419/kjv/tr/0-1/
Revelation 21:5–8 — The Words from the Throne
When it comes to purchasing gifts for others, there are some who must confront an age-old question: “What do you give to a person who has everything?” Since God is the ultimate personification of “someone who has everything,” what could we possibly give Him? The answer is we can offer Him the gift of ourselves. The New Testament book of Romans echoes this idea in a familiar portion of Scripture…
“So then, my friends, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer” (Romans 12:2 GNT).
Revelation 21:3 also touches upon this idea when it says, “…God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (NIV). Thus, God will restore His relationship with humanity to a state of unbroken fellowship, just as it was in the beginning.
In addition to God’s direct presence, the opening verses of Revelation chapter twenty-one tell us that there will be no further instances of death, mourning, crying, or pain. Those who may find such promises to be too good to be true can find assurance in God’s personal guarantee: “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:5 NLT).
Revelation 21:7 continues by saying, “Those who emerge victorious will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my sons and daughters” (CEB). This reference to “Those who are victorious…” (NIV), captures the idea of someone who subdues, conquers, or prevails over something. It also relates to an observation from earlier in our study of Revelation chapter two, one that involves three obstacles that every God-honoring person must overcome.
The first obstacle involves daily life in a world that functions as if God did not exist. The second obstacle stems from our natural inclination to prioritize our personal desires over God’s plan and purpose for our lives. The final obstacle is embodied by Satan, a formidable, unseen spiritual adversary. These obstacles are collectively known as the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Those who prayerfully overcome these obstacles can look forward to the eternal inheritance promised here in Revelation chapter twenty-one. As the Biblical book of Hebrews concludes…
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).
Although life’s obstacles may present a formidable challenge, the promise of our eternal inheritance from Revelation 21:3-7 offers a positive incentive to overcome them. But along with that positive incentive, Revelation 21:8 presents us with another kind of motivation that is decidedly negative…
“But as for the cowards, the faithless and the corrupt, the murderers, the traffickers in sex and sorcery, the worshippers of idols and all liars—their inheritance is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8 Phillips).
To refer to someone as a coward is a great affront to that person’s dignity. Yet, Revelation chapter twenty-one does not hesitate to adopt that language. This word signifies “timidity” and always carries a negative connotation. (1) Therefore, those who are too cowardly to commit to Christ now will face serious repercussions later.
This passage follows with another negative attribute in referencing the unbelieving (KJV). This encompasses those who refuse to place their faith in Christ. One source associates this idea with false or treacherous individuals. (2) Next comes those who are vile (HCSB), abominable (ASV), or detestable (ESV). In the original language of this passage, these traits likely derive from a root word meaning “to stink.” (3) The New Testament book of Titus employs this word in a similar manner…
“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:15-16 NIV).
This reference to those detestable individuals who “…claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” is closely related to the word that is translated “vile” or “abominable” here in Revelation chapter twenty-one. (4) It also illustrates God’s disdain for hypocrisy, a characteristic that will find no place of acceptance within His eternal kingdom.
Revelation 21:8 then follows with a reference to “murderers.” Murder refers to the unlawful taking of another person’s life. Since that action violates the sixth Commandment, an unrepentant murderer should not expect to spend eternity with the Author of life.
Finally, our text from Revelation 21: 8 speaks of the “sexually immoral.” The creation account from the book of Genesis establishes a “one man-one woman” model as God’s standard for marital relationships. That model defines marriage as a monogamous relationship between a genetic male and a genetic female as God’s intended norm. Other physical relationships that fall outside that standard are broadly associated with the term “sexual immorality.” (5)
Image Attribution: A black and white poster with the words negative positive Public Domain, via pixabay
(1) G1169 – deilos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1169/kjv/lxx/0-1/. See related reference to G1167 Fear, fearful, fearfulness – Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?topic=VT0001014
(2) G571 apistos (n.d.). billmounce.com. https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/apistos
(3) G948 – bdelysso – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g948/kjv/mgnt/0-1/
(4) G947 – bdelyktos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g947/kjv/tr/0-1/
(5) See beginning here for a detailed discussion concerning this topic.
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8 ESV).
Our brief review of Revelation 21:8 continues with a reference to “those who practice magic arts“ (NIV). This would encompass those who engage in fortune telling, astrology, divination, tarot card readings, Ouija board use, necromancy, “psychic communications,” or similar occultic practices. It also offers an important lesson for today, for those who are searching for knowledge and enlightenment through such means would do well to abandon those pursuits and turn instead to God for guidance and direction.
We should also note that this reference to “sorcery” is derived from the word pharmakeus in the original language of this passage. Pharmakeus refers to the administration or use of drugs, and serves as the precursor of contemporary terms such as “pharmacy” or “pharmaceutical.” In the context of Revelation 21:8, this involves the ritualistic drug use, or an effort to chemically alter one’s state of consciousness. Thus, any religion, philosophy, or spiritual teaching that endorses those practices cannot be of God.
Next comes a reference to “idolaters, ” a term that has reappeared several times in our study of the book of Revelation. An idol may be defined as anything that supplants God’s place within our lives. Those who travel the path of idolatry now should know that it ultimately leads to the eternal destination outlined here in Revelation 21:8.
Finally, “all liars” will be denied access to this eternal realm. “Lying” involves a deliberate attempt to deceive by falsehood. While there may be many who are highly skilled at masking their falsifications, no lie (however sophisticated), can deceive God. Therefore, those who engage in such behaviors are sure to follow the originator of that practice to his eternal destiny.
The New Testament Scriptures address lying and its related behaviors in several passages that will conclude our survey of this verse…
“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9).
“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).
“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).
“…They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10 CSB).
Revelation 21:9–21 — The City Described
“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, 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: 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” (Revelation 21:9-14).
We can contrast the city that descends from God in Revelation 21:9-14 with the city of “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations” (ESV) mentioned earlier in Revelation 17:5…
- One is a prostitute, and the other is likened to a beautiful bride.
- One is blasphemous, and the other is holy.
- One descends from heaven, and the finds its origin among those who ascend from the Abyss.
- One is lustrous and brilliant while the other is drunk and corrupt.
These contrasting elements may offer insight into the feminine depiction of Babylon from earlier the Book of Revelation. While Revelation chapter twenty-one presents God’s people as a virtuous bride, the unholy city of Babylon was nothing more than a “great harlot” (Revelation 17:1).
A great, high wall defined this city’s perimeter, and its gates bore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Those inscriptions testify of God’s work within the nation of Israel and underscore the importance of the Old Covenant. In a similar manner, the city wall featured twelve foundations that bore the names of the “…twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Therefore, those who enter will stand on the foundation established by God through His New Covenant representatives.
“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. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel” (Revelation 21:15-17).
Our text from this passage employs some antiquated units of measurement to calculate the scale of this city. We’ll translate those calculations into their contemporary equivalents next.
“The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel)” (Revelation 21:15-17 NLT).
The 1400 mile distance provided by the New Living Translation of this passage equates to approximate length of 427 meters. The reference to “216 feet” yields an approximate width of 66 meters. The cubic height of such a city would easily extend into orbit around the earth and possess a total capacity of 2,744,000,000 cubic miles (11,452,744,000,000 cubic kilometers). A city of that volume might easily accommodate tens of billions of human beings.
The following verses continue with a further description of this city…
“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 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 gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:18-21).
So, these verses present a magnificent city of unsurpassed value, beauty, and inestimable worth. While modern roadways are typically constructed from common materials like stone or asphalt, “The broad street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (HCSB). Although we consider gold to be a costly and valuable commodity today, it will equate to little more than a common building material in this city of the future.
While some of the precious stones mentioned in this ancient text are familiar (like sapphires and emeralds), others are more difficult to identify. Nevertheless, we can make a rough approximation with the information we have…
- Jasper: a translucent stone, perhaps like a diamond.
- Sapphire: clear and dark blue.
- Chalcedony: white and opaque.
- Emerald: clear and brilliant green.
- Sardonyx: a red and white stone; the NIV equates this stone with an onyx.
- Carnelian: a deep red stone, perhaps like a ruby.
- Chrysolite: a clear yellow stone.
- Beryl: pale green, or possibly yellow.
- Topaz: a clear pink stone.
- Chrysoprase: turquoise-colored and opaque.
- Jacinth: a navy blue stone, possibly black.
- Amethyst: a clear purple stone.
So, while it may be challenging to identify some of these precious stones, they clearly illustrate the breathtaking magnificence of this city.
Revelation 21:22–27 — What Is and Is Not within the City
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21 ESV).
The symbolic imagery of a pearly gate is often associated with the point of entry into heaven. That depiction finds its origin in our text from Revelation 21:21. However, that image better reflects the gateway to the city described here, rather than heaven itself. And while a lustrous string of beautiful pearls is elegant and glamorous, a gate crafted from a single pearl would be truly magnificent. Yet, that is only one characteristic of the overwhelming splendor of the new Jerusalem…
“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. 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). 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” (Revelation 21:22-27).
Today, we commonly use the term “house of God” to signify a place of religious worship. While that may be true in our present day, things will be far different in eternity. In this glorious city to come, we will no longer associate a building with God’s presence, for He will be present among His people. This is why Revelation 21:22 tells us, “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (NIV).
Verse twenty-three then continues by saying, “…the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light” (NLT). Thus, we are told that God will personally illuminate this vast city resplendent with gold, jewels, and precious stones. That scene will be so glorious that no graphic image could ever do justice to such unimaginable splendor.
Nevertheless, we should take care to ensure that we do not mischaracterize the actual reading of this passage. For instance, our text from Revelation 21:22-27 does not tell us that the sun and the moon will cease to exist. Instead, we’re simply informed that their light will no longer be required, for God will illuminate this future city.
Image Attribution: Avgustaleo, via GoodFon
The final verses of Revelation chapter twenty-one close with some interesting commentary regarding the new Jerusalem…
“The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it” (Revelation 21:24 NET).
Who are these nations and who are the “kings of the earth” mentioned here? In addressing those questions, it seems that various national and cultural boundaries will continue to exist in the future. It also appears that national leaders will possess the freedom to enter this city with cultural treasures that honor God.
The last verse of Revelation twenty-one then brings forth an important promise…
“But nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed shall ever enter it, nor anyone who commits abominations (unclean, detestable, morally repugnant things) or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27 AMPC).
It’ s often easy to become discouraged when we are confronted with modern-day examples of “man’s inhumanity to man.” When such feelings begin to overwhelm us, it helps to remember that God will establish a place where such things will no longer exist. That place is here in Revelation chapter twenty-one. We should also remember the following quote from Jesus as we go about the business of our daily lives…
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:31-40).