Revelation Chapter 21
Revelation 21: A New Heaven, A New Earth, and the Eternal City
A. All Things Made New (Revelation 21:1–8)
1 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.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 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.
4 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.”
5 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.”
6 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.
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8 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 21:1 — “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.”
This marks the final transformation of creation itself. The phrase “new heaven and new earth” indicates not simply a renovation but a complete remaking. The Greek word for “new” (kaine) speaks of something qualitatively new—fresh, superior, untainted.
God’s plan was never to abandon the physical universe, but to redeem it. This is the culmination of that promise, a world untouched by sin, death, or decay. The “first” creation is gone. No more sea—no more chaos, separation, or threat from below. The sea, throughout Scripture, often symbolizes unrest, evil, or death. In this final creation, none of those things remain.
Scripture has long anticipated this reality (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:10–13; Psalm 102:25–26). What begins here is not just another chapter of time—it is the beginning of eternity. The Millennial Kingdom is over. Time is complete. This is the final state of redeemed existence.
Revelation 21:2–4 — “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem…”
John sees the descent of the New Jerusalem—God’s capital city—from heaven. This is the fulfillment of every redemptive hope: not man ascending to heaven, but God bringing His dwelling down to earth. This is the “tabernacle of God with men,” a complete reversal of Eden’s separation. God Himself now dwells with His people, not symbolically, but tangibly, eternally.
The city is described “as a bride adorned for her husband”—emphasizing beauty, intimacy, and preparation. The relationship between God and redeemed humanity is not merely that of Creator and creation, but of a groom and his beloved bride—permanent, covenantal, joyful.
Every form of sorrow or separation is wiped away. Death is no more. Pain is no more. The curse is completely removed. This is not merely comfort—it is the full eradication of evil and the permanent restoration of all things.
Revelation 21:5 — “Behold, I make all things new.”
This is the divine declaration from the throne itself. These words are not poetic—they are authoritative. “I am making all things new” signals that God’s redemptive program, which began with the Fall, is now fully complete. The renewal of creation, the resurrection of the saints, and the eternal kingdom are not idealistic hopes—they are established realities.
God’s work of making things new doesn’t merely restore what was lost; it surpasses it. Redeemed man is greater than innocent man. The final state is not Eden revisited—it is Eden glorified.
Revelation 21:6–8 — “It is done!... the fountain of the water of life freely…”
God's redemptive plan is finalized: “It is done!” echoes Jesus’ cry on the cross, but now refers to the cosmic completion. He identifies Himself as “the Alpha and the Omega,” the origin and the conclusion. Those who thirst—those who long for righteousness, for God Himself—will be satisfied without cost.
The overcomers (1 John 5:5) inherit not just blessings, but “all things.” They are sons and daughters of God—not just citizens of heaven, but heirs. This inheritance is relational, not just geographical.
But a sobering contrast follows: the cowardly, unbelieving, immoral, and deceivers will not inherit. The second death—the lake of fire—is their destiny. Cowardice here is not about personality, but about spiritual betrayal—those who chose safety and compromise over loyalty to Christ. Their fate is eternal exclusion.
B. The Nature and Glory of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9–27)
9 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.”
10 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,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 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:
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
16 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.
17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19 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,
20 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.
21 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 Glory of the New Jerusalem
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 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.
24 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.
25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
27 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 21:9–10 — “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife… the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”
One of the seven angels now shows John the New Jerusalem in greater detail. Notice the city is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” This isn't mere symbolism—the city is not the bride, but it represents the dwelling of the bride. It is where God’s people—His redeemed Church—will live in union with Christ. This eternal city is both literal and relational. It is not an abstraction or an allegory; it is the home prepared for God’s people, descending from above, not built from below.
John is carried “in the Spirit” to a high vantage point—mirroring similar prophetic experiences (e.g., Ezekiel). From there, he beholds the radiant capital of eternity itself.
Revelation 21:11–14 — “Her light was like a most precious stone… twelve gates… twelve foundations…”
The first thing John notices is the city’s radiance. Its light is like jasper, clear as crystal—reflecting the glory of God. This isn’t sunlight or artificial brilliance; it is the unveiled splendor of divine presence saturating the architecture of heaven.
The city is structured with perfect symmetry: twelve gates, twelve angels guarding them, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed. This affirms that the redeemed of Israel have an eternal identity and inclusion in God’s plan.
Likewise, the twelve foundations carry the names of the twelve apostles. Together, Israel and the Church form the eternal household of God. The foundations are not merely structural—they are symbolic. The city of God is built on the testimony of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone (cf. Ephesians 2:20).
Revelation 21:15–17 — “The city is laid out as a square… 12,000 furlongs… 144 cubits.”
The angel measures the city. It is a perfect cube—1,500 miles in length, width, and height. Whether this is literal or symbolic, the theological point is clear: the city is vast beyond comprehension and perfectly formed. The shape mirrors the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle and temple (1 Kings 6:20), suggesting that this entire city is now the dwelling place of God—a Holy of Holies that encompasses all redeemed people.
Its size suggests limitless room for every saint across history. Its height, equal to its length and breadth, is not just geometry—it speaks of transcendent perfection, symmetry, and divine order.
The wall, at 144 cubits (around 200 feet), underscores both security and definition—not to keep people out, but to show the sacred boundaries of God's eternal dwelling.
Revelation 21:18–21 — “The city was pure gold… foundations adorned with precious stones… gates of pearl.”
The city itself is constructed of materials beyond earthly wealth. Pure gold so refined it appears transparent. Foundations layered with twelve different gemstones—each one dazzling in unique brilliance. These aren’t arbitrary decorations; they symbolize beauty, permanence, and the multicolored facets of God’s covenant faithfulness.
Each gate is a single pearl—a striking image. Pearls are formed through suffering and irritation. These gates serve as an eternal reminder that access into this city came through the suffering of Christ.
Even the streets—gold, transparent like glass—emphasize clarity, purity, and holiness. Nothing is hidden. Everything reflects the glory of God.
Revelation 21:22–23 — “I saw no temple… the Lamb is its light.”
Unlike any earthly city, this city has no temple. Why? Because God Himself and the Lamb are the temple. The point of the tabernacle and temple was to mediate the presence of God—now, there is no more mediation. There is direct access to God in all places at all times. Every square inch of this city is sacred.
Likewise, there is no need for sun or moon. The city is illuminated by the intrinsic glory of God. The Lamb is its lamp. This is the Shekinah glory—God’s light unveiled, never dimmed, never hidden. Just as Genesis began with God creating light before the sun existed, eternity begins with His glory as the final light.
Revelation 21:24–27 — “The nations… the kings… nothing that defiles shall enter.”
Here we see the redeemed nations walking in the light of the city. The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. This affirms that national identities, cultures, and distinctions are not erased, but redeemed and brought into submission to Christ. Earth’s diversity isn’t lost—it’s purified.
Its gates are always open. There’s no danger, no night, and no threat. But that does not mean anything can enter. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will have access.
No sin will ever contaminate this city. No deceit, no idolatry, no defilement. The holiness of God is not merely a description—it is the unbreachable reality of this eternal order.
Lessons and Insights from Revelation 21 (Missler Highlights)
1. The Nature of the New Heavens and Earth (Revelation 21:1)
Physics and Prophecy Collide: The dissolution of the old heavens and earth is consistent with 2 Peter 3:10-13, where the elements melt with fervent heat. This points to a complete thermodynamic reset—an end of entropy. The new creation exists outside the limitations of time and decay.
No More Sea: The sea served a physical cleansing purpose in the old creation (antiseptic salinity, hydrological cycle). Its removal indicates no further need for purification. It also symbolically ends separation and chaos—what the sea often represented biblically (e.g., Daniel 7:2-3, Revelation 13:1).
2. The Holy City—New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
A Real, Physical Structure: The city is not merely a metaphor for the Church. It is described with tangible measurements, foundations, gates, and materials, reinforcing its literal nature.
"Coming Down" vs. "Landing": The city is seen descending, but Scripture does not necessarily say it touches down. It may remain suspended—suggesting a space beyond our dimensional physics, or a parallel to the Mount of Transfiguration glory.
3. The Dwelling of God With Man (Revelation 21:3)
“Tabernacle of God” (σκηνή - skēnē): This connects to the idea of the Shekinah presence of God in the wilderness tabernacle and the incarnate Christ (John 1:14). In the eternal state, the redeemed experience the full, unveiled glory of God's presence continuously.
The Ultimate Reversal of Eden: The expulsion from Eden is permanently reversed. Man walks with God again, but in a far superior state—not innocence but glorified redemption.
4. The End of Suffering and Death (Revelation 21:4)
Not Just Absence, But Transformation: These things do not merely disappear; they are replaced with something categorically better: perfect fellowship, wholeness, and divine joy.
Abolition of Sin and Its Consequences: This is the final reversal of Genesis 3—no more curse, death, or pain. The emotional, spiritual, and physical tolls of sin are eternally eliminated.
5. The Divine Declaration: “Behold, I Make All Things New” (Revelation 21:5)
Continual Renewal: The Greek tense implies an ongoing process—God is actively making and sustaining all things as new. This mirrors Isaiah 66:22 where the new creation endures perpetually.
Affirmation of Reliability: “These words are faithful and true”—a divine stamp that these future realities are more certain than our present experience.
6. The Alpha and Omega—The Totality of God’s Plan (Revelation 21:6)
Eschatological Finality: “It is done” signals not just completion but fulfillment—telos (τέλος)—the designed end of all creation and redemption.
Water of Life Freely Given: This continues the motif from John 4 and John 7—salvation is not earned, but received by those who are spiritually thirsty.
7. The Inheritance of the Overcomers (Revelation 21:7)
Family Language—“My Son”: This evokes the promise of divine adoption (Romans 8:15-17). It affirms the intimacy and security of the believer’s relationship to God in eternity.
Victory Defined by Faithfulness: The overcomer (νικῶν - nikōn) is not a superhuman; it is the faithful believer (1 John 5:5).
8. Exclusion of the Unredeemed (Revelation 21:8)
Sobering List: The types of people excluded reinforce the reality of judgment and the consequences of apostasy. The "cowardly" refers to those who deny Christ under pressure.
Second Death: Their destination is the lake of fire—a final, conscious separation from God. This reinforces the binary nature of eternity: life or second death.
