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The Vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone. I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

I heard a loud voice from the throne say,

“See, the tent of God is among humans!
    He will make his home with them,
        and they will be his people.
God himself will be with them,
    and he will be their God.[a]
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
    There won’t be death anymore.
There won’t be any grief, crying, or pain,
    because the first things have disappeared.”

The one sitting on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new!”

He said, “Write this: ‘These words are trustworthy and true.’”

Then he told me, “It has happened! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give a drink from the spring of the water of life to the one who is thirsty. The person who overcomes[b] will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves[c] in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

The Vision of the New Jerusalem

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came to me and said, “Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.” 10 He carried me away in the Spirit to a large, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. 11 The glory of God was its radiance, and its light was like a valuable gem, like jasper, as clear as crystal. 12 It had a large, high wall with twelve gates. Twelve angels were at the gates, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the lamb were written on them.

15 The angel who[d] was talking to me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. 16 The city was cubic in shape: its length was the same as its width. He measured the city with his rod, and it measured at 12,000 stadia:[e]Its length, width, and height were the same. 17 He also measured its wall. According to the human measurement that the angel was using, it was 144 cubits.[f] 18 Its wall was made of jasper. The city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.

19 The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all kinds of gems: The first foundation[g] was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian,[h] the seventh chrysolite,[i] the eighth beryl,[j] the ninth topaz,[k] the tenth chrysoprase,[l] the eleventh jacinth[m] and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, and each gate was made of a single pearl. The street of the city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.

22 I saw no temple in it, because the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are its temple. 23 The city doesn’t need any sun or moon to give it light, because the glory of God gave it light, and the lamb was its lamp. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut at the end of the[n] day—because there will be no night there. 26 People[o] will bring the glory and wealth[p] of the nations into it. 27 Nothing unclean, or anyone who does anything detestable, and no one who tells lies will ever enter it. Only those whose names[q] are written in the lamb’s Book of Life will enter it.[r]

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 21:3 Other mss. lack and he will be their God
  2. Revelation 21:7 Or conquers
  3. Revelation 21:8 Lit. will have their part
  4. Revelation 21:15 Lit. The one who
  5. Revelation 21:16 I.e. about 1,454 miles long ; one Roman stadion was about 640 feet
  6. Revelation 21:17 I.e. about 84 yards, if a royal cubit (about 21 inches long) is intended; because height, thickness, or width is not specified, since the city structure is three-dimensional, the wall may be a shell that is 144 cubits thick, enclosing the entire structure
  7. Revelation 21:19 The Gk. lacks foundation
  8. Revelation 21:20 Or olivine; i.e. an olive-green mineral commonly found in igneous rocks
  9. Revelation 21:20 I.e. a bright green variety of chalcedony, a transparent silica quartz
  10. Revelation 21:20 I.e. an aluminum silicate varying in color from blue, rose, white, and golden, in both opaque and transparent varieties, including emerald and aquamarine
  11. Revelation 21:20 I.e. a bright yellow (but occasionally blue, green, brown, pink, or colorless) aluminum silicate variety of sapphire or corundum, and serving as the second stone in the first row in the high priest’s breast plate (cf. Exod 28:17)
  12. Revelation 21:20 I.e. a bright green variety of chalcedony, a transparent silica quartz
  13. Revelation 21:20 I.e. a red or cinnamon-colored variety of transparent zircon; sometimes also colored deep purple, blue, or violet and serving as the first stone in row three of the high priest’s breast plate (cf. Exod 28:19)
  14. Revelation 21:25 Lit. shut by
  15. Revelation 21:26 Lit. They
  16. Revelation 21:26 Or honor
  17. Revelation 21:27 Lit. those who
  18. Revelation 21:27 The Gk. lacks will enter it

The New Heaven and Earth

21 Then I saw (A)a new heaven and a new earth; for (B)the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw (C)the holy city, (D)new Jerusalem, (E)coming down out of heaven from God, (F)prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, (G)the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will (H)dwell among them, and they shall be His [a]people, and God Himself will be among them[b], and He will (I)wipe away every tear from their eyes; and (J)there will no longer be any death; (K)there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; (L)the first things have passed away.”

And (M)He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am (N)making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for (O)these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “[c](P)It is done. I am the (Q)Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. (R)I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the (S)water of life, without cost. (T)The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and (U)I will be his God and he will be My son. (V)But for the cowardly, and [d]unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in (W)the lake that burns with fire and [e]brimstone, which is the (X)second death.”

(Y)Then one of the seven angels who had the (Z)seven bowls, [f]full of the (AA)seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “(AB)Come here, I will show you the (AC)bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

The New Jerusalem

10 And (AD)he carried me away [g](AE)in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me (AF)the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having (AG)the glory of God. Her [h]brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a (AH)stone of (AI)crystal-clear jasper. 12 [i]It had a great and high wall, [j](AJ)with twelve (AK)gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had (AL)twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the (AM)twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The one who spoke with me had a [k]gold measuring (AN)rod to measure the city, its (AO)gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the [l]rod, [m]twelve thousand stadia; its length, width, and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, [n]144 cubits, by (AP)human [o]measurements, which are also (AQ)angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was (AR)jasper; and the city was (AS)pure gold, like [p]clear (AT)glass. 19 (AU)The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was (AV)jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, (AW)emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, (AX)sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve (AY)gates were twelve (AZ)pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was (BA)pure gold, like transparent (BB)glass.

22 I saw (BC)no [q]temple in it, for the (BD)Lord God the Almighty and the (BE)Lamb are its [r]temple. 23 And the city (BF)has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for (BG)the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the (BH)Lamb. 24 (BI)The nations will walk by its light, and the (BJ)kings of the earth [s]will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for (BK)there will be no night there) (BL)its gates (BM)will never be closed; 26 and (BN)they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and (BO)nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those [t]whose names are (BP)written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 21:3 Lit peoples
  2. Revelation 21:3 One early ms adds, as their God
  3. Revelation 21:6 Lit They are
  4. Revelation 21:8 Or untrustworthy
  5. Revelation 21:8 I.e., burning sulfur
  6. Revelation 21:9 Lit who were full; i.e., (previously) loaded with
  7. Revelation 21:10 Or in spirit
  8. Revelation 21:11 Or radiance
  9. Revelation 21:12 Lit having
  10. Revelation 21:12 Lit having
  11. Revelation 21:15 Lit measure, a gold reed
  12. Revelation 21:16 Lit reed
  13. Revelation 21:16 Possibly about 1,380 miles or 2,220 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m
  14. Revelation 21:17 Possibly about 216 ft. or 65 m; a cubit is about 18 in. or 45 cm
  15. Revelation 21:17 Lit measure
  16. Revelation 21:18 Lit pure
  17. Revelation 21:22 Or sanctuary
  18. Revelation 21:22 Or sanctuary
  19. Revelation 21:24 Lit bring
  20. Revelation 21:27 Lit who have been written

All Things Made New

21 Now (A)I saw a new heaven and a new earth, (B)for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, [a]John, saw (C)the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared (D)as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, (E)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. (F)And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; (G)there shall be no more death, (H)nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then (I)He who sat on the throne said, (J)“Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [b]to me, “Write, for (K)these words are true and faithful.”

And He said to me, (L)“It[c] is done! (M)I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (N)I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes [d]shall inherit all things, and (O)I will be his God and he shall be My son. (P)But the cowardly, [e]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in (Q)the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem(R)

Then one of (S)the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [f]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you (T)the [g]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away (U)in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me (V)the [h]great city, the [i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 (W)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 (X)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 (Y)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 (Z)on them were the [j]names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me (AA)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 [k]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 (AB)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 (AC)pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. (AD)And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

22 (AE)But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 (AF)The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine [l]in it, for the [m]glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 (AG)And the nations [n]of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor [o]into it. 25 (AH)Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (AI)(there shall be no night there). 26 (AJ)And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into [p]it. 27 But (AK)there shall by no means enter it anything [q]that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s (AL)Book of Life.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 21:2 NU, M omit John
  2. Revelation 21:5 NU, M omit to me
  3. Revelation 21:6 M omits It is done
  4. Revelation 21:7 M I shall give him these things
  5. Revelation 21:8 M adds and sinners,
  6. Revelation 21:9 NU, M omit to me
  7. Revelation 21:9 M woman, the Lamb’s bride
  8. Revelation 21:10 NU, M omit great
  9. Revelation 21:10 NU, M holy city, Jerusalem
  10. Revelation 21:14 NU, M twelve names
  11. Revelation 21:16 Lit. stadia, about 1,380 miles in all
  12. Revelation 21:23 NU, M omit in it
  13. Revelation 21:23 M very glory
  14. Revelation 21:24 NU, M omit of those who are saved
  15. Revelation 21:24 M of the nations to Him
  16. Revelation 21:26 M adds that they may enter in.
  17. Revelation 21:27 NU, M profane, nor one who causes

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,[a] for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.[b] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.”

Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life. He who wins the victory will receive these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the untrustworthy, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those involved with the occult and with drugs, idol-worshippers, and all liars — their destiny is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, the second death.”

One of the seven angels having the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues approached me and said, “Come! I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.” 10 He carried me off in the Spirit to the top of a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It had the Sh’khinah of God, so that its brilliance was like that of a priceless jewel, like a crystal-clear diamond. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates; at the gates were twelve angels; and inscribed on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of Isra’el. 13 There were three gates to the east, three gates to the north, three gates to the south and three gates to the west. 14 The wall of the city was built on twelve foundation-stones, and on these were the twelve names of the twelve emissaries of the Lamb.

15 The angel speaking with me had a gold measuring-rod with which to measure the city, its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out in a square, its length equal to its width. With his rod he measured the city at 1,500 miles, with length, width and height the same. 17 He measured its wall at 216 feet by human standards of measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall was made of diamond and the city of pure gold resembling pure glass. 19 The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all kinds of precious stones — the first foundation stone was diamond, 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 turquoise and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate made of a single pearl. The city’s main street was pure gold, transparent as glass.

22 I saw no Temple in the city, for Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, is its Temple, as is the Lamb. 23 The city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s Sh’khinah gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 Its gates will never close, they stay open all day because night will not exist there, 26 and the honor and splendor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure may enter it, nor anyone who does shameful things or lies; the only ones who may enter are those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17, 66:22
  2. Revelation 21:3 Leviticus 26:11–12; Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jeremiah 31:33(34); Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18