Revelation Chapter 21

7. The New Heaven and the New Earth (Verse 1)

Verse 1

I saw a new heaven and a new earth - When sin is finally destroyed, God will make this world over again (2 Peter 3:13,14). Those who are saved will have the privilege of seeing God re-create the earth.

For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away – The original creation so marred by sin will be completely cleansed by fire before God re-creates it (2 Peter 3:10-12). (SOP 1)

Section VII: God’s Eternal Kingdom (Rev. 21:2 – 22:5)

The last section of the book of Revelation describes what God and the redeemed have so long anticipated. Here we are provided a small glimpse of the eternal world, where we will dwell with our Creator and Redeemer for all eternity. Although we cannot truly comprehend just how wonderful it will be, God gives us a small glimpse of it through the use of sign language.

This last section is a departure from the previous six sections of Revelation. It begins with a heavenly introductory scene, but instead of following with seven earthly scenes we are given a grand tour of the New Jerusalem. Why are there no seven scenes in this final section? The seven scenes in each of the previous sections always depicted the passing of time. Here in Section VII, time has now ended and eternity has begun.

Heavenly Introductory Scene: Heaven Comes Down to Earth (Verses 2 – 8)

Verse 2

In this final heavenly introductory scene, we see heaven coming down to this earth! God so desires to be with us that He is going to move the New Jerusalem, His own dwelling place, to the home of His people. This scene will take place at the end of the thousand years, just before God cleanses the earth of sin.

When God and the New Jerusalem move to the earth, this world will become the capitol of the entire universe.

I, John, saw the New Jerusalem…prepared as a bride adorned for her husband – As previously noted, when Jesus receives His kingdom the New Jerusalem is represented as His bride (see notes on Rev. 19:7).

Verse 3

The tabernacle of God is with men – By this announcement, God reveals the reason why He is bringing the New Jerusalem down to this earth. He wants to dwell with us. (Compare with John 1:14.)

In the rest of this verse, God stresses the amazing fact that He will dwell personally with His people. Of all the beings in this universe, we will have the unique privilege of being the closest to God, members of His immediate family. We will share with God the knowledge of sin and its woe that unfallen beings cannot know.

Verse 4

Here we are given a glimpse of life on the new earth. Notice that God describes it by naming what will NOT be there. These things are so much a part of our present world that it is difficult to imagine what it will be like without them.

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes – This will not take place until after the wicked are destroyed in the lake of fire. God and the redeemed will grieve for the lost.

Verse 5

After the announcement in verses 3 and 4, God Himself speaks, pledging that He will make everything over again. He then instructs John to write down what he has heard.

Verse 6

“It is done!” – This literally means, “It has come to pass.”

Notice how God pledges and repeats these promises over and over again in these verses. He knows how difficult it is for us to accept or even conceive of these things in our present situation, and He wants to keep them ever before us. We should read these promises often to keep them fresh in our minds.

I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End – Compare with Rev. 1:8. As part of His pledge to His people, God reminds us that He is eternal. Because He is eternal, what He has promised will surely come to pass.

I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts – With these glorious promises also comes a personal invitation. To ANYONE who wants to live with God in that glorious world for all eternity, He freely offers them eternal life.

Verse 7

He who overcomes – There is only one condition for receiving everything God has promised - we must overcome. To the overcomer God promises three things:

He…shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

Compare this verse with 2 Corinthians 6:16-18.

Verse 8

In contrast to the overcomer and his inheritance, this verse reminds us of the wicked and their reward. What a needless tragedy it is to be lost and miss out on all the glorious things God has promised!

Wonders of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:9 – 22:5)

Next, John is given a tour of the New Jerusalem. Remember that this description is given in sign language (1 Corinthians 2:9,10). Many details of the New Jerusalem are similar to that of the restored temple described in Ezekiel Chapters 40-46.

Verse 9

One of the seven plague angels offers to show John the New Jerusalem. This angel may be the same one that showed him the judgment of Babylon (Rev. 17:1).

Verse 10

A great and high mountain – This mountain is not identified, but it may represent the mounded ruins of spiritual Babylon (Jeremiah 51:24,25, 50:26).

John sees the New Jerusalem as it descends out of heaven. When this actually takes place, John will be inside the city with all the redeemed!

Verse 11

Having the glory of God – Even from a distance John sees the glory of God in the city. This abiding presence of God will be with His people for all eternity.

Like a jasper stone, clear as crystal – Jasper is the color green, a peaceful, pastoral color (Psalm 23:2). The city appeared as a luminous green, completely clear like crystal.

Verses 12,13

A great and high wall – Ancient cities were surrounded by a wall for protection from enemies. With the destruction of sinners there will be no further need of protection, but this wall is a symbol of the eternal security we will enjoy.

Twelve gates…three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west - The twelve gates correspond to the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel. They represent the freedom of access we will have to God.

Names written on them [the gates], which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel – God leaves no doubt as to who these gates are for. On each gate is the name of one of the tribes.

The 12 patriarchs, for whom the gates are named, each had faulty characters and committed many sins. But as they allowed God to transform them, they were fitted for heaven and given an entrance into the city. Likewise, we are part of spiritual Israel. We each have a character similar to one of the patriarchs and have committed many sins. But no matter what our characters or what we have done, there’s an entrance into the city for us if we will allow God to transform us.

Twelve angels at the gates – These angelic gatekeepers are another reminder that the city will be eternally secure from sin (see verse 27).

Verse 14

The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb – This is a symbol that the 12 apostles were the foundation of the Christian church (Ephesians 2:20). Of course Jesus is the true foundation of the church, but He has chosen to honor the disciples in this way for their role in founding the church.

Verse 15

A gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall – To measure the city means to study it and consider all its details (Rev. 11:1, Ezekiel 40-42). We have already noted the significance of the gates and wall in verses 12 and 13.

Verse 16

The city is laid out as a square…Its length, breadth, and height are equal – The shape of the New Jerusalem is that of a perfect cube. This reminds us of the Most Holy Place in the Old Testament temple, which was shaped as a cube. In the Old Testament, only the High Priest had the privilege of entering the Holy of Holies and meeting God face to face. In contrast, all of God’s people will have free access to God’s presence in the New Jerusalem.

Twelve thousand furlongs – A furlong is 1/8th of a mile. The city is 1,500 miles around, or 375 miles on each side. The massive size of this city tells us that there is room for everyone who will accept God’s invitation to come.

Verse 17

One hundred and forty-four cubits – The city is 375 miles high, so this probably refers to the thickness of the wall rather than its height. A cubit is about 18 inches, so the wall would be more than 200 feet thick!

Verse 18

The construction of its wall was of jasper – Compare with verse 11.

The city was pure gold, like clear glass – The city itself is made of gold, so pure that it is transparent.

Verses 19,20

The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones – Compare with verse 14. These stones correspond to the twelve precious stones on the breastplate of the Old Testament high priest, upon which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (Exodus 28:15,17-21).

Verse 21

The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl – Each gate was one gigantic pearl. A pearl of this size is beyond our comprehension.

The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass – The city is paved with pure gold!

Verse 22

I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple – The purpose of the temple (or sanctuary) is to remove sin from God’s people so He can dwell among them (Exodus 25:8, Hebrews 10:11,12,14,18). When the work of redemption has been accomplished, there will no longer be a need for a temple in heaven.

Verses 23,24

The glory of God the Father and Jesus in the city will make the light of the sun unnecessary (Isaiah 60:19,20).

The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it – The kings of the earth are the redeemed (Rev. 1:6, 3:21). Their glory and honor is the light of Jesus’ character reflected in their lives (2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:6,7).

Verse 25

Its gates shall not be shut at all by day - The gates will never be shut because there are no enemies, and the redeemed will ever have free access to God’s presence (Isaiah 60:11).

(There shall be no night there) – There will be no night in the city because God’s glory is eternal. Furthermore, the redeemed will never grow tired or need to sleep.

Verse 26

The glory and honor of the nations - The glory and honor of the nations is the redeemed that have come from all nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples, as a result of the proclamation of the everlasting gospel (Isaiah 60:11,13).

Verse 27

This is another reminder that no sin will ever enter the holy city (compare with verse 8). When we finally get there, we will be forever secure from sin and its terrible consequences.

Spirit of Prophecy Quotations

1 “"I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away." Revelation 21:1. The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin.

“One reminder alone remains: Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought. . . . the tokens of His humiliation are His highest honor; through the eternal ages the wounds of Calvary will show forth His praise and declare His power.” – The Great Controversy, page 674.