American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Revelation 21
1
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Reference
2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Reference
Holy
Revelation 21:10
Revelation 22:19
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:14
References God
Hebrews 11:10
Revelation 3:12
Isaiah 61:10
Hebrews 12:22
3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 14:23
References God
Zechariah 8:8
Hebrews 8:10
Jeremiah 31:33
Zechariah 13:9
Hebrews 11:16
Jeremiah 32:38
Temple
2 Corinthians 6:16
Ezekiel 37:27
Revelation 7:15
4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 15:26
Isaiah 60:20
Isaiah 35:10
Isaiah 51:11
Jeremiah 31:13
Matthew 24:35
Isaiah 30:19
References God
Isaiah 25:8
Revelation 7:17
1 John 2:17
5
And he that sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Reference
Faith
Revelation 22:6
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 5:17
Isaiah 42:9
Isaiah 43:19
Revelation 4:2
Revelation 20:11
Revelation 1:19
Truth
Revelation 19:9
6
And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Reference
7
He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 6:18
Revelation 2:11
Matthew 25:34
Revelation 2:17
Matthew 19:29
Proverbs 3:35
References God
Revelation 21:3
Hebrews 8:10
Revelation 2:7
Zechariah 8:8
8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Reference
9
And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Reference
10
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Reference
11
Having the glory of God: and her light was like to a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Reference
Light
Revelation 22:5
Parallel theme
Revelation 4:6
Ezekiel 1:22
Revelation 4:3
Ezekiel 1:26
Ezekiel 48:35
References God
Revelation 22:1
12
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Reference
13
On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Reference
15
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16
And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like to clear glass.
Reference
19
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 3:15
20
The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Reference
22
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 4:23
2 Chronicles 2:6
John 4:21
References God
1 Kings 8:27
Revelation 5:6
Revelation 16:7
Colossians 2:9
References Lord
Revelation 1:8
Isaiah 66:1
23
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Reference
Glory
Revelation 21:11
Isaiah 24:23
Luke 2:32
Revelation 18:1
Habakkuk 3:3
Light
Revelation 22:5
John 1:9
Parallel theme
John 5:23
Revelation 21:25
References God
John 1:18
24
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
Reference
Glory
Revelation 21:26
Isaiah 55:5
Isaiah 66:18
Kingdom
Isaiah 52:15
Parallel theme
Revelation 22:2
Zechariah 2:11
Psalm 22:27
Romans 15:16
Isaiah 2:2
Salvation
Isaiah 60:16
25
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Reference
26
And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
Summary of Revelation 21
Revelation 21 describes the new heaven, new earth, and New Jerusalem, where God permanently dwells with His people, removes death and suffering, provides the water of life, and fills the holy city with His glory, creating an eternal reality where darkness, corruption, deception, and pain have completely disappeared.
The chapter begins with John seeing a new heaven and a new earth.
The former creation has passed away.
This represents the beginning of the eternal state following the final judgment described in Revelation 20.
John then sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven.
The city is prepared like a bride for her husband.
A loud voice announces the central promise of the chapter:
God will dwell with humanity.
This is the fulfillment of the great biblical hope of God's presence among His people.
God will wipe away every tear.
There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.
Everything associated with the brokenness of the former creation will have passed away.
God declares that He is making everything new.
He identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega, emphasizing that He is the beginning and the end and remains sovereign throughout all history.
He promises the water of life freely to those who are thirsty.
Those who overcome will inherit these blessings and will have God as their Father.
The chapter then contrasts this inheritance with the final destiny of those who remain in rebellion against God.
The vision returns to the New Jerusalem.
John is taken to a great and high mountain where he sees the city descending from God.
The city shines with God's glory.
Its walls, gates, foundations, and streets are described using gold, pearls, and precious stones.
The city has twelve gates, with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written upon them.
Its twelve foundations bear the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
This combination connects the eternal city with the complete people of God across the biblical story.
The city is perfectly shaped and measured.
Its extraordinary dimensions communicate order, perfection, completeness, and holiness.
The city does not need an ordinary temple because God and the Lamb are its temple.
God's presence fills the entire city.
It also does not need the sun or moon because the glory of God provides its light and the Lamb is its lamp.
There is no night.
There is no darkness.
The gates remain open because there is no longer any threat requiring them to be closed.
The nations and kings bring their glory into the city, presenting a picture of humanity restored under God's rule.
Yet nothing unclean or deceptive can enter.
Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life belong within the city.
The chapter therefore presents the ultimate answer to everything that has gone wrong throughout Revelation.
Babylon has fallen.
The beast has been defeated.
Satan has been judged.
Death has been destroyed.
Now God's people receive an eternal home where God Himself lives among them.
Revelation 21 presents the ultimate restoration of creation, where God permanently dwells with His redeemed people in the New Jerusalem, removes death, suffering, darkness, and corruption completely, provides eternal life through the water of life, and fills the renewed world with His glory, demonstrating that God's final purpose is not merely to defeat evil but to establish an eternal creation where His people live securely in His presence forever.
The chapter begins with John seeing a new heaven and a new earth.
The former creation has passed away.
This represents the beginning of the eternal state following the final judgment described in Revelation 20.
John then sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven.
The city is prepared like a bride for her husband.
A loud voice announces the central promise of the chapter:
God will dwell with humanity.
This is the fulfillment of the great biblical hope of God's presence among His people.
God will wipe away every tear.
There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.
Everything associated with the brokenness of the former creation will have passed away.
God declares that He is making everything new.
He identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega, emphasizing that He is the beginning and the end and remains sovereign throughout all history.
He promises the water of life freely to those who are thirsty.
Those who overcome will inherit these blessings and will have God as their Father.
The chapter then contrasts this inheritance with the final destiny of those who remain in rebellion against God.
The vision returns to the New Jerusalem.
John is taken to a great and high mountain where he sees the city descending from God.
The city shines with God's glory.
Its walls, gates, foundations, and streets are described using gold, pearls, and precious stones.
The city has twelve gates, with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written upon them.
Its twelve foundations bear the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
This combination connects the eternal city with the complete people of God across the biblical story.
The city is perfectly shaped and measured.
Its extraordinary dimensions communicate order, perfection, completeness, and holiness.
The city does not need an ordinary temple because God and the Lamb are its temple.
God's presence fills the entire city.
It also does not need the sun or moon because the glory of God provides its light and the Lamb is its lamp.
There is no night.
There is no darkness.
The gates remain open because there is no longer any threat requiring them to be closed.
The nations and kings bring their glory into the city, presenting a picture of humanity restored under God's rule.
Yet nothing unclean or deceptive can enter.
Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life belong within the city.
The chapter therefore presents the ultimate answer to everything that has gone wrong throughout Revelation.
Babylon has fallen.
The beast has been defeated.
Satan has been judged.
Death has been destroyed.
Now God's people receive an eternal home where God Himself lives among them.
Revelation 21 presents the ultimate restoration of creation, where God permanently dwells with His redeemed people in the New Jerusalem, removes death, suffering, darkness, and corruption completely, provides eternal life through the water of life, and fills the renewed world with His glory, demonstrating that God's final purpose is not merely to defeat evil but to establish an eternal creation where His people live securely in His presence forever.