Revelation 21
Wycliffe Bible
21 And I saw new heaven and new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth went away, and the sea is not now [and now is not the sea].
2 And I John saw the holy city Jerusalem, new, coming down from heaven, made ready of God, as a wife adorned to her husband. [And I John saw the holy city Jerusalem, new, coming down from heaven of God, made ready as a wife adorned to her husband.]
3 And I heard a great voice from the throne [And I heard a great voice of the throne], saying, Lo! the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them; and they shall be his people, and he God with them shall be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away each tear from the eyes of them; and death shall no more be, neither mourning, neither crying, neither sorrow, shall (all) be over; which first things went away.
5 And he said, that sat in the throne, Lo! I make all things new. And he said to me, Write thou, for these words be most faithful and true.
6 And he said to me, It is done; I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. I shall give freely of the well of quick water to him that thirsteth [I shall give freely to the thristing of the well of quick water].
7 He that shall overcome, shall wield these things; and I shall be God to him, and he shall be son to me.
8 But to fearedful men, and unbelieveful, and cursed, and man-quellers, and fornicators, and to witches, and to worshippers of idols, and to all liars, the part of them shall be in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, that is the second death.
9 And one came of the seven angels, having vials full of the seven last vengeances. And he spake with me, and said, Come thou, and I shall show to thee the spousess, the wife of the lamb. [And one came of the seven angels, having vials full of the seven last plagues. And he spake with me saying, Come thou, I shall show to thee the spouse, wife of the lamb.]
10 And he took me up in Spirit into a great hill and high; and he showed to me the holy city of Jerusalem, coming down from heaven of God,
11 having the clarity of God; and the light of it like [to] a precious stone, as the stone jasper, [and] as crystal.
12 And it had a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and in the gates of it twelve angels, and names written in, that be the names of [the] twelve lineages of the sons of Israel;
13 from the east three gates, and from the north three gates, and from the south three gates, and from the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundaments, and in them the twelve names of the twelve apostles, and of the lamb.
15 And he that spake with me, had a golden measure of a reed, that he should mete the city, and the gates of it, and the wall.
16 And the city was set in square; and the length of it is so much, as much as is the breadth. And he meted the city with the reed, by furlongs twelve thousands [by furlongs twelve thousand]. And the height, and the length and the breadth of it, be even.
17 And he meted the walls of it, of an hundred and forty and four cubits, by measure of man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall thereof was of the stone jasper. And the city itself was clean gold, like [to] clean glass.
19 And the foundaments of the wall of the city were adorned with all precious stone. The first foundament, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald [smaragdus];
20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates be twelve margarites, by each; and each gate was of each margarite. And the streets of the city were clean gold, as of glass full shining [as glass full shining].
22 And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God almighty and the lamb, is the temple of it.
23 And the city hath no need of the sun, neither [of] moon, that they shine in it; for the clarity of God shall lighten it; and the lamb is the lantern of it.
24 And folks shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be closed by day; and night shall not be there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of folks into it.
27 Neither any man defouled [Neither any thing defouled], and doing abomination and lying, shall enter into it; but they that be written in the book of life of the lamb.
Revelation 21
New Matthew Bible
In this chapter is described the new and spiritual Jerusalem.
21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were vanished away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I, John, saw that holy city, new Jerusalem, come down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride made beautiful for her husband. 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 will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; neither will there be any more pain. For the former things are gone. 5 And he that sat upon the seat said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write, for these words are faithful and true.
6 And he said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him who is a-thirst of the well of the water of life, free. 7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be my child. 8 But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
9 And one of the seven angels that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and a high mountain, and he showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the brightness of God. And her brilliance was like a stone most precious, even a jasper clear as crystal. 12 And she had walls great and high, and had 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels, and names written which are the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. 13 On the east side were three gates, and on the north side three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and in them the names of the Lamb’s 12 apostles.
15 And he who talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city with, and its gates and its wall. 16 And the city was built four-square, and the length was the same as the breadth of it. And he measured the city with the reed: 12,000 furlongs, and the length and the breadth and the height of it were equal. 17 And he measured its wall: 144 cubits according to the measure of a man, which the angel had.
18 And its wall was constructed of jasper. And the city was pure gold like clear glass, 19 and the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third a chalcedony, the fourth an emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth a topaz, the tenth a chrysoprase, the eleventh a jacinth, the twelfth an amethyst.
21 The 12 gates were 12 pearls; every gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as though shining glass. 22 And there was no temple in it, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to give it light, because the brightness of God did light it, and the Lamb was the light of it. 24 And the people who are saved will walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory to it. 25 And its gates are not shut daily, 26 because there will be no night there. 27 And there shall enter into it no unclean thing, neither whatsoever works abomination or makes lies, but only they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 21
1599 Geneva Bible
21 2 He describeth new Jerusalem descending from heaven, 6 The bride the Lamb’s wife, 12 and the glorious building of the city, 19 garnished with precious stones, 22 whose Temple the Lamb is.
1 And [a]I saw (A)a new heaven, and a new earth: for the (B)first heaven, and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea.
2 [b]And I John saw the holy city new Jerusalem come down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride trimmed for her husband.
3 [c]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 their God with them.
4 (C)And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be anymore pain: for the first things are passed.
5 [d]And he that sat upon the throne, said, (D)Behold, I make all things new, and he said unto me, Write: for these things are faithful and true.
6 And he said unto me, (E)[e]It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: I will give to him that is athirst, of the well of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh, shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son.
8 But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their [f]part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
9 [g]And there came unto me one of the seven Angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come: I will show thee the bride the Lamb’s wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and [h]an high mountain, and he showed me [i]that great city, that holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God, and her shining was like unto a stone most precious, as a jasper stone clear as crystal,
12 [j]And had a great wall and high, and had [k]twelve gates, and at the gates [l]twelve Angels, and the names written which are the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
13 On the East part there were three gates, and on the North side three gates, on the South side three gates, and on the West side three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had [m]twelve foundations, and in them the names of the Lamb’s twelve Apostles.
15 [n]And he that walked with me, had a golden reed, to measure the city withal, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 [o]And the city lay [p]foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth of it, and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: and the length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof an hundred forty and four cubits, by the measure of man, that is, of the [q]Angel.
18 [r]And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
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 of Sapphire: the third of a Chalcedony: the fourth of an Emerald:
20 The fifth of a Sardonyx: the sixth of a Sardius: the seventh of a Chrysolite: the eight of a Beryl: the ninth of a Topaz: the tenth of a Chrysoprase: the eleventh of a Jacinth: the twelfth an Amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, and every gate is of one pearl, and the [s]street of the city is pure gold, as shining glass.
22 And I saw no Temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it.
23 (F)[t]And their city hath no need of the Sun, neither of the Moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did light it: and the Lamb is the light of it.
24 (G)And the people which are saved, shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor unto it.
25 (H)And the gates of it shall not be shut by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And the glory and honor of the Gentiles shall be brought unto it.
27 And there shall enter into it none unclean thing, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or lies: but they which are written in the Lamb’s (I)book of life.
Footnotes
- Revelation 21:1 Now followeth the second part of the history prophetical (as I said, Rev. 1 and 11:1) of the future estate of the Church in heaven after the last judgment, unto the fifth verse of the next chapter, in this are two things briefly declareth. The station, seat, or place thereof, verse 1. Then her state and condition in the verses following. Before the state of the Church described, is set down the state of the whole world, that there shall be a new heaven, and a new earth, as Isa. 65:17 and 66:12 and 2 Pet. 3:13, and this is the seat or place of the Church, in which righteousness shall dwell.
- Revelation 21:2 The state of this glorious Church is first described generally, unto verse 8 and then specially and by parts, in the verses following. The general description consisteth in a vision showed afar off, verse 2, and in speech spoken from heaven. In the general these things are common that the Church is holy, new, the workmanship of God, heavenly, most glorious, the spouse of Christ, and partaker of this glory in this verse.
- Revelation 21:3 The Church is described by the speech first of an Angel, in two verses, then of God himself in 4 verses. The Angel’s speech describeth the glory of the Church by the most familiar cohabitation of God therewith, by communication of all manner [of] good things according to the covenant, in this verse: and by removing or putting far away of all evil things in the verse following.
- Revelation 21:5 In the speech of God himself describing the Church, is first a certain exordium, or entrance, verse 5. Then followeth a magnificent description of the Church, by the present and future good things of the same in 3 verses following. In the exordium God challengeth to himself the restoring of all the creatures of which verse 1 and witnesseth the calling of S. John unto the writing of these things, in this verse.
- Revelation 21:6 The description of the Church is of three sorts, by the abolishing of old things: by the being of present things in God, that is of things eternal and by the communication of all good things with the godly, verse 6. If so be they shall strive manfully, verse 7. But the reprobate are excluded from thence, verse 8.
- Revelation 21:8 Their lot, and inheritance as it were.
- Revelation 21:9 A transition unto the particular describing of the heavenly Church by the express calling of Saint John in this verse, and his rapting up by the Spirit, in confirmation of the truth of God in the verse following.
- Revelation 21:10 He meaneth the place and stately seat of the Church, shadowed out in a mountain.
- Revelation 21:10 A type of that Church which is one, ample, or Catholic, holy celestial, built of God, in this verse: and glorious in the verse following. This type propounded generally, is after particularly declared, verse 12, etc.
- Revelation 21:12 A particular description (as I noted, verse 2) of the celestial Church. First, by the essential parts of the same, under the similitude of a city to verse 12. Secondly, from foreign accidents, unto the end of the chapter. Thirdly, by the effects, in the beginning of the next chapter, the essential parts are noted the matter and the form in the whole work: of these the superficies and foundation of the wall are entire parts (as they use to be called) which parts are first described in figure, unto verse 14 and afterward more exactly.
- Revelation 21:12 According to the number of the tribes, of which chap. 7. For here the outward part is attributed unto the old Testament, and the foundation of the new Testament.
- Revelation 21:12 He meaneth the Prophets, who are the messengers of God, and watchmen of the Church.
- Revelation 21:14 That is, foundation stones, according to the number of the gates, as is showed verse 19.
- Revelation 21:15 A transition unto a more exquisite description of the parts of the Church, by finding out the measure of the same by the Angel that measured them.
- Revelation 21:16 The measure and form most equal, in 2 verses.
- Revelation 21:16 A foursquared figure hath equal sides, and outright corners, and therefore the Greeks call by this name those things that are steady, and of continuance and perfect.
- Revelation 21:17 He addeth this, because the Angel had the shape of a man.
- Revelation 21:18 The matter most precious and glittering which the presence of God maketh most glorious.
- Revelation 21:21 By street, he meaneth the broadest place of the city.
- Revelation 21:23 The second form of particular description (as I said, verse 12) from foreign and outward accidents: which are these, Light from God himself, in this verse, glory from men, verse 24, perfect security from all harm, verse 25. Finally such truth and incorruption of glory (verse 26) as can bear and abide with it, nothing that is inglorious, the last verse.
Revelation 21
Authorized (King James) Version
21 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. 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. 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. 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.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 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: 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.
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 lieth 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 unto clear glass. 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; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; 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.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 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. 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 honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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