Print Page Options

The New Jerusalem

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I 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.[a] He 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.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It 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. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

“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.”

Then 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.”

10 So he took me in the Spirit[b] to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.[c] 17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick[d] (according to the human standard used by the angel).

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones:[e] the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.

22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil[f] 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.

22 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit,[g] with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets,[h] has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.[i]

Jesus Is Coming

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.[j]

I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”

10 Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”

12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne.[k] I am the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. 18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.[l]

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.
  7. 22:2 Or twelve kinds of fruit.
  8. 22:6a Or The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets.
  9. 22:6b Or suddenly, or quickly; also in 22:7, 12, 20.
  10. 22:7 Or scroll; also in 22:9, 10, 18, 19.
  11. 22:16 Greek I am the root and offspring of David.
  12. 22:21 Other manuscripts read be with all; still others read be with all of God’s holy people. Some manuscripts add Amen.

The New Heaven and the New Earth

21 (A) I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea. (B) Then I saw New Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband.

(C) I heard a loud voice shout from the throne:

God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. (D) He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.

Then the one sitting on the throne said:

I am making everything new. Write down what I have said. My words are true and can be trusted. (E) Everything is finished! I am Alpha and Omega,[a] the beginning and the end. I will freely give water from the life-giving fountain to everyone who is thirsty. (F) All who win the victory will be given these blessings. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulfur. This is the second death.[b]

The New Jerusalem

I saw one of the seven angels who had the bowls filled with the seven last terrible troubles. The angel came to me and said, “Come on! I will show you the one who will be the bride and wife of the Lamb.” 10 (G) Then with the help of the Spirit, he took me to the top of a very high mountain. There he showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down from God in heaven.

11 The glory of God made the city bright. It was dazzling and crystal clear like a precious jasper stone. 12 (H) The city had a high and thick wall with twelve gates, and each one of them was guarded by an angel. On each of the gates was written the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 Three of these gates were on the east, three were on the north, three more were on the south, and the other three were on the west. 14 The city was built on twelve foundation stones. On each of the stones was written the name of one of the Lamb's twelve apostles.

15 (I) The angel who spoke to me had a gold measuring stick to measure the city and its gates and its walls. 16 The city was shaped like a cube, because it was just as high as it was wide. When the angel measured the city, it was about 2,400 kilometers high and 2,400 kilometers wide. 17 Then the angel measured the wall, and by our measurements it was about 60 meters high.

18 (J)(K) The wall was built of jasper, and the city was made of pure gold, clear as crystal. 19 Each of the twelve foundations was a precious stone. The first was jasper,[c] the second was sapphire, the third was agate, the fourth was emerald, 20 the fifth was onyx, the sixth was carnelian, the seventh was chrysolite, the eighth was beryl, the ninth was topaz, the tenth was chrysoprase, the eleventh was jacinth, and the twelfth was amethyst. 21 Each of the twelve gates was a solid pearl. The streets of the city were made of pure gold, clear as crystal.

22 I did not see a temple there. The Lord God All-Powerful and the Lamb were its temple. 23 (L) And the city did not need the sun or the moon. The glory of God was shining on it, and the Lamb was its light.

24 (M) Nations will walk by the light of that city, and kings will bring their riches there. 25 (N) Its gates are always open during the day, and night never comes. 26 The glorious treasures of nations will be brought into the city. 27 (O) But nothing unworthy will be allowed to enter. No one who is dirty-minded or who tells lies will be there. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life[d] will be in the city.

22 (P) The angel showed me a river that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb were seated. (Q) Then it flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river are trees[e] that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations.

(R) God's curse will no longer be on the people of that city. He and the Lamb will be seated there on their thrones, and its people will worship God (S) and will see him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people. (T) Never again will night appear, and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will rule forever.

The Coming of Christ

Then I was told:

These words are true and can be trusted. The Lord God controls the spirits of his prophets, and he is the one who sent his angel to show his servants what must happen very soon. Remember, I am coming soon! God will bless everyone who pays attention to the message of this book.

My name is John, and I am the one who heard and saw these things. Then after I had heard and seen all this, I knelt down and began to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown it to me.

But the angel said,

Don't do that! I am a servant, just like you. I am the same as a follower or a prophet or anyone else who obeys what is written in this book. God is the one you should worship.

10 Don't keep the prophecies in this book a secret. These things will happen soon.

11 (U) Evil people will keep on being evil, and everyone who is dirty-minded will still be dirty-minded. But good people will keep on doing right, and God's people will always be holy.

12 (V) Then I was told:

I am coming soon! And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done. 13 (W) I am Alpha and Omega,[f] the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

14 (X) God will bless all who have washed their robes. They will each have the right to eat fruit from the tree that gives life, and they can enter the gates of the city. 15 But outside the city will be dogs, witches, immoral people, murderers, idol worshipers, and everyone who loves to tell lies and do wrong.

16 (Y) I am Jesus! And I am the one who sent my angel to tell all of you these things for the churches. I am David's Great Descendant,[g] and I am also the bright morning star.[h]

17 (Z) The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”

Everyone who hears this[i] should say, “Come!”

If you are thirsty, come! If you want life-giving water, come and take it. It's free!

18 (AA) Here is my warning for everyone who hears the prophecies in this book:

If you add anything to them, God will make you suffer all the terrible troubles written in this book. 19 If you take anything away from these prophecies, God will not let you have part in the life-giving tree and in the holy city described in this book.

20 The one who has spoken these things says, “I am coming soon!”

So, Lord Jesus, please come soon!

21 I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to all of you.

Footnotes

  1. 21.6 Alpha and Omega: See the note at 1.8.
  2. 21.8 second death: See the note at 2.11.
  3. 21.19 jasper: The precious and semi-precious stones mentioned in verses 19,20 are of different colors. Jasper is usually green or clear; sapphire is blue; agate has circles of brown and white; emerald is green; onyx has different bands of color; carnelian is deep-red or reddish-white; chrysolite is olive-green; beryl is green or bluish-green; topaz is yellow; chrysoprase is apple-green; jacinth is reddish-orange; and amethyst is deep purple.
  4. 21.27 book of life: See the note at 3.5.
  5. 22.2 trees: The Greek has “tree,” which is used in a collective sense of trees on both sides of the heavenly river.
  6. 22.13 Alpha and Omega: See the note at 1.8.
  7. 22.16 David's Great Descendant: See the note at 5.5.
  8. 22.16 the bright morning star: Probably thought of as the brightest star (see 2.27,28).
  9. 22.17 who hears this: The reading of the book of Revelation in a service of worship.

Everything New

21 I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea.

I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband.

3-5 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”

6-8 Then he said, “It’s happened. I’m A to Z. I’m the Beginning, I’m the Conclusion. From Water-of-Life Well I give freely to the thirsty. Conquerors inherit all this. I’ll be God to them, they’ll be sons and daughters to me. But for the rest—the feckless and faithless, degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars—for them it’s Lake Fire and Brimstone. Second death!”

The City of Light

9-12 One of the Seven Angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to me: “Come here. I’ll show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.” He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God.

12-14 The City shimmered like a precious gem, light-filled, pulsing light. She had a wall majestic and high with twelve gates. At each gate stood an Angel, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the Twelve Tribes of the sons of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates on the west. The wall was set on twelve foundations, the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb inscribed on them.

15-21 The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall. The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: fifteen hundred miles, its length, width, and height all equal. Using the standard measure, the Angel measured the thickness of its wall: seventy-two yards. The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl.

21-27 The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God—the Sovereign-Strong—and the Lamb are the Temple. The City doesn’t need sun or moon for light. God’s Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp! The nations will walk in its light and earth’s kings bring in their splendor. Its gates will never be shut by day, and there won’t be any night. They’ll bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City. Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.

* * *

22 1-5 Then the Angel showed me Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the Lamb, right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age.

Don’t Put It Away on the Shelf

6-7 The Angel said to me, “These are dependable and accurate words, every one. The God and Master of the spirits of the prophets sent his Angel to show his servants what must take place, and soon. And tell them, ‘Yes, I’m on my way!’ Blessed be the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

8-9 I, John, saw all these things with my own eyes, heard them with my ears. Immediately when I heard and saw, I fell on my face to worship at the feet of the Angel who laid it all out before me. He objected, “No you don’t! I’m a servant just like you and your companions, the prophets, and all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

10-11 The Angel continued, “Don’t seal the words of the prophecy of this book; don’t put it away on the shelf. Time is just about up. Let evildoers do their worst and the dirty-minded go all out in pollution, but let the righteous maintain a straight course and the holy continue on in holiness.”

* * *

12-13 “Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon! I’m bringing my payroll with me. I’ll pay all people in full for their life’s work. I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.

14-15 “How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they’ll walk through the gates to the City. But outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters—all who love and live lies.

16 “I, Jesus, sent my Angel to testify to these things for the churches. I’m the Root and Branch of David, the Bright Morning Star.”

17 “Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride.
Whoever hears, echo, “Come!”
Is anyone thirsty? Come!
All who will, come and drink,
Drink freely of the Water of Life!

18-19 I give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book: If you add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book.

20 He who testifies to all these things says it again: “I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon!”

Yes! Come, Master Jesus!

21 The grace of the Master Jesus be with all of you. Oh, Yes!

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a](A) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,(B) and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City,(C) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,(D) prepared as a bride(E) beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.(F) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.(G) ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.(H) There will be no more death’[b](I) or mourning or crying or pain,(J) for the old order of things has passed away.”(K)

He who was seated on the throne(L) said, “I am making everything new!”(M) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”(N)

He said to me: “It is done.(O) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(P) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost(Q) from the spring of the water of life.(R) Those who are victorious(S) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.(T) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars(U)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.(V) This is the second death.”(W)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues(X) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,(Y) the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away(Z) in the Spirit(AA) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.(AB) 11 It shone with the glory of God,(AC) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,(AD) clear as crystal.(AE) 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,(AF) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.(AG) 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations,(AH) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles(AI) of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod(AJ) of gold to measure the city, its gates(AK) and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human(AL) measurement, and it was 144 cubits[d] thick.[e] 18 The wall was made of jasper,(AM) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.(AN) 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.(AO) The first foundation was jasper,(AP) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,(AQ) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates(AR) were twelve pearls,(AS) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.(AT)

22 I did not see a temple(AU) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty(AV) and the Lamb(AW) are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God(AX) gives it light,(AY) and the Lamb(AZ) is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.(BA) 25 On no day will its gates(BB) ever be shut,(BC) for there will be no night there.(BD) 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.(BE) 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,(BF) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.(BG)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river(BH) of the water of life,(BI) as clear as crystal,(BJ) flowing(BK) from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,(BL) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.(BM) No longer will there be any curse.(BN) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.(BO) They will see his face,(BP) and his name will be on their foreheads.(BQ) There will be no more night.(BR) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.(BS) And they will reign for ever and ever.(BT)

John and the Angel

The angel said to me,(BU) “These words are trustworthy and true.(BV) The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,(BW) sent his angel(BX) to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

“Look, I am coming soon!(BY) Blessed(BZ) is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”(CA)

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.(CB) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet(CC) of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll.(CD) Worship God!”(CE)

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up(CF) the words of the prophecy of this scroll,(CG) because the time is near.(CH) 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”(CI)

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

12 “Look, I am coming soon!(CJ) My reward is with me,(CK) and I will give to each person according to what they have done.(CL) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,(CM) the First and the Last,(CN) the Beginning and the End.(CO)

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes,(CP) that they may have the right to the tree of life(CQ) and may go through the gates(CR) into the city.(CS) 15 Outside(CT) are the dogs,(CU) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus,(CV) have sent my angel(CW) to give you[g] this testimony for the churches.(CX) I am the Root(CY) and the Offspring of David,(CZ) and the bright Morning Star.”(DA)

17 The Spirit(DB) and the bride(DC) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.(DD)

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:(DE) If anyone adds anything to them,(DF) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.(DG) 19 And if anyone takes words away(DH) from this scroll of prophecy,(DI) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life(DJ) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things(DK) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”(DL)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.(DM)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.(DN) Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17
  2. Revelation 21:4 Isaiah 25:8
  3. Revelation 21:16 That is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometers
  4. Revelation 21:17 That is, about 200 feet or about 65 meters
  5. Revelation 21:17 Or high
  6. Revelation 21:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.
  7. Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.

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.

The River and the Tree of Life

22 And (BQ)he showed me a (BR)river of the (BS)water of life, [u]clear (BT)as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of [v]the Lamb, in the middle of (BU)its street. (BV)On either side of the river was (BW)the tree of life, bearing twelve [w]kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (BX)There will no longer be any curse; and (BY)the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will (BZ)serve Him; they will (CA)see His face, and His (CB)name will be on their (CC)foreheads. And (CD)there will no longer be any night; and they [x]will not have need (CE)of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will (CF)reign forever and ever.

And (CG)he said to me, “(CH)These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the (CI)God of the spirits of the prophets, (CJ)sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

“And behold, (CK)I am coming quickly. (CL)Blessed is the one who [y]keeps (CM)the words of the prophecy of this book.”

(CN)I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, (CO)I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. And (CP)he *said to me, “[z]Do not do that; I am a (CQ)fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who [aa]keep the words of (CR)this book. Worship God!”

The Final Message

10 And he *said to me, “(CS)Do not seal up (CT)the words of the prophecy of this book, (CU)for the time is near. 11 (CV)Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy.”

12 “Behold, (CW)I am coming quickly, and My (CX)reward is with Me, (CY)to reward each one as his work [ab]deserves. 13 I am the (CZ)Alpha and the Omega, (DA)the first and the last, (DB)the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who (DC)wash their robes, so that they will have the right to (DD)the tree of life, and may (DE)enter the city by the (DF)gates. 15 (DG)Outside are the (DH)dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

16 (DI)I, Jesus, have sent (DJ)My angel to testify to you of these things [ac](DK)for the churches. I am (DL)the root and the (DM)descendant of David, the bright (DN)morning star.”

17 The (DO)Spirit and the (DP)bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And (DQ)let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the (DR)water of life without cost.

18 I testify to everyone who hears (DS)the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone (DT)adds to them, God will add to him (DU)the plagues that are written in (DV)this book; 19 and if anyone (DW)takes away from the (DX)words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from (DY)the tree of life and [ad]from the holy city, (DZ)which are written in this book.

20 He who (EA)testifies to these things says, “Yes, (EB)I am coming quickly.” Amen. (EC)Come, Lord Jesus.

21 (ED)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with [ae]all. Amen.

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
  21. Revelation 22:1 Lit bright
  22. Revelation 22:1 Or the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was
  23. Revelation 22:2 Or crops of fruit
  24. Revelation 22:5 Lit do not have
  25. Revelation 22:7 Or follows
  26. Revelation 22:9 Lit See that you do not
  27. Revelation 22:9 Or follows
  28. Revelation 22:12 Lit is
  29. Revelation 22:16 Or concerning
  30. Revelation 22:19 Lit out of
  31. Revelation 22:21 One early ms the saints