Revelation 21

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.

I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people; and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”

He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”

He said to me, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.

But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down 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;

having a great and high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.

The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

He who spoke with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.

The city is square. Its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal.

Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass.

The foundations of the city’s wall 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 one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb.

The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),

and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.

There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter unveils the final state of redemption: a new creation where God dwells fully with His people in the New Jerusalem. The old order of sin, death, and separation has ceased, and the city descends as a bride prepared for her husband, symbolizing the consummation of God’s covenantal promises. It presents both the purity and permanence of this eternal state and the divine authority behind its establishment.

Flow.

The vision begins with the passing of the old heaven and earth and the descent of the New Jerusalem, accompanied by a heavenly voice declaring God’s restored presence with humanity (vv. 1–4).
Christ, seated on the throne, affirms the renewal of all things and extends the promise of life to the overcomer, while warning of the second death for the unrepentant (vv. 5–8).
An angel takes John to witness the city in detail—its dimensions, walls, gates, and foundations, reflecting divine order and the inclusion of both Israel and the apostles (vv. 9–14).
The city’s radiant splendor, made of precious materials and illuminated by God’s glory, is described, emphasizing its holiness and the absence of temple, sun, or night, culminating in the exclusion of all that defiles (vv. 15–27).

Connections. Following chapter 20, which concludes with the final judgment and the defeat of evil, this chapter reveals the positive counterpart: the eternal state of the redeemed. The vision of the new creation directly follows the destruction of Satan, death, and the old order, showing what chapter 20 anticipates. The New Jerusalem becomes the dwelling place of God with humanity, fulfilling the promise of resurrection and renewal. This perfected reality prepares for the opening of chapter 22, which further describes the river and tree of life in the city, extending the imagery of unbroken communion with God that begins here.

What it teaches. The chapter teaches that God will fully dwell with His people in a restored creation, fulfilling His covenant promise to be their God and they His people (WCF 17.1; HC LD 52). The new heaven and new earth reflect the ultimate renewal of all things under Christ’s lordship (WCF 8.6; LD 19), while the absence of temple and sun signifies that God Himself, in Christ, is the source of light and worship (WCF 22.5). The city’s foundations and gates honor the continuity of God’s people—both under the old covenant (the twelve tribes) and the new (the twelve apostles)—showing the unity of the one people of God (LD 21). The exclusion of the unclean underscores the holiness required for entrance into eternal life, grounded in being written in the Lamb’s book of life (Canons of Dort 1.15; WCF 13.3).

Apply. The promises of God’s presence and the inheritance of the overcomer are sealed for those who thirst for Christ, the water of life.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.