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Revelation 21

Life Application Study BibleRevelationChapter 21

Revelation 21

New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 2201, 2202

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21Revelation 21

The New Jerusalem

121 Then J saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.* 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5And the one sitting on the throne said, 6Look, I am making everything new! 9And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, 11It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8”But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” 9Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10S he took me in the Spirit* to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. "It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. '? The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were writtenon the gates. 13There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. 15The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 16The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. '*When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as itwas long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.* 7Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick* (according to the human standard used by the angel). 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones:* the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22I saw no temple in the city, for the LORD God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb isits light. 24The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27Nothing evil* will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty— but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Textual footnotes

  1. 21:3 Some manuscripts read God himself will be with them, their God.
  2. 21:10 Or in spirit.
  3. 21:16 Greek 12,000 stadia [2,220 kilometers}.
  4. 21:17 Greek 144 cubits [65 meters].
  5. 21:19 The identification of some of these gemstones is uncertain.
  6. 21:27 Or ceremonially unclean.

Life Application Notes 8 notes

21:1The earth as we know it will not last forever, but after God’s great judgment, he will create a new earth (see Romans 8:18-21; 2 Peter 3:7-13). God had also promised Isaiah that he would create a new and eternal earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). The sea is gone as weil; in John’s time, the sea was viewed as dangerous and changeable. It was also the source of the beast (13:1). We don’t know how the new earth will look or where it will be, but God and his followers—those whose names are written in the Book of Life—will be united to live there forever. Will you be there?

21:2,3The new Jerusalem is where God lives among his people. Instead of our going up to meet him, he comes down to be with us, just as God became man in Jesus Christ and lived among us (John 1:14). Wherever God reigns, there is peace, security, and tove.

21:3,4Have you ever wondered what eternity will be like? The “holy city, the new Jerusalem” is described as the place where

21:7,8The “cowards” are the fearful ones who abandon Christ at the threats of the beast. They fear persecution so badly that they choose temporary safety over eternal life. They are put in the same list as the unbelieving, the corrupt, the murderers, the immoral, the idolaters, the liars, and those practicing magic arts. By contrast, people who are victorious “endure to the end” (Mark 13:13). They will receive the blessings that God promised: To follow Christ requires boldness and bravery to stand for him when oppression occurs. Pray for courage to do what is right no matter what pressure you face. Those who can endure the testing of evil and remain faithful will be rewarded by God.

21:8The lake is explained in the notes on 19:20 and 20:14. The second death is spiritual death, meaning either eternal torment or destruction. In either case, it is permanent separation from God.

21:10ffThe rest of the chapter is a stunning description of the new city of God. The vision is symbolic and shows us that our new home with God will defy description. We will not be disappointed by it in any way.

21:12-14The new Jerusalem is a picture of God’s future home for his people. The 12 tribes of Israel (21:12) probably represent all the faithful in the Old Testament; the 12 apostles (21:14) represent the church. Thus, both believing Gentiles and Jews who have been faithful to God will live together in the new earth.

21:15-17The city’s measurements are symbolic of a place that will hold all God's people. These measurements are all multiples of 12, the number for God’s people: There were 12 tribes in Israel, and 12 apostles who started the church. The walls are

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Study feature · page 2202

144 (12 x 12) cubits (216 feet) thick. There are 12 layers in the walls, and 12 gates in the city; and the length, width, and height are all the same, 12,000 stadia (1,400 miles). The new Jerusalem is a perfect cube, the same shape as the Most Holy Place in the Temple (1 Kings 6:20). These measurements illustrate that this new home will be perfect for us. 21:18-21 The picture of walls made of jewels reveals that the new Jerusalem will be a place of purity and durability—it will last forever. 21:22-24 The Temple, the center of God’s presence among his people, was the primary place of worship. No temple is needed in the new city, however, because God’s presence will be everywhere. God will be the light in the new Jerusalem. Light represents what is good, pure, true, holy, and reliable. Darkness represents what is sinful and evil. That God’s glory illuminates the city means that the city will be enveloped by him, who is perfectly holy and true. Light is also related to truth in that it exposes whatever exists. Just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, so sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy God. The city will be completely without sin and evil. We will be able to worship God throughout the city; nothing will hinder us from being with him. 21:25-27 Not everyone will be allowed into the new Jerusalem, but “only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (The Book of Life is explained in the notes on 3:5 and 20:12-15.) Don’t think that you will get in because of your background, personality, or good behavior. Eternal life is available to you only because of what Jesus, the Lamb, has done. Trust him today to secure your citizenship in his new creation.