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. ² 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. ³ 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) 4} ‘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)

⁵ 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)

⁶ 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) 7} Those who are victorious^(S) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.^{(T) 8} 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)

²² I did not see a temple^(A) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty^(B) and the Lamb^(C) are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God^(D) gives it light,^(E) and the Lamb^(F) is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.^{(G) 25} On no day will its gates^(H) ever be shut,^(I) for there will be no night there.^{(J) 26} The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.^{(K) 27} Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,^(L) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.^(M)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river^(N) of the water of life,^(O) as clear as crystal,^(P) flowing^(Q) from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,^(R) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.^{(S) 3} No longer will there be any curse.^(T) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.^{(U) 4} They will see his face,^(V) and his name will be on their foreheads.^{(W) 5} There will be no more night.^(X) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.^(Y) And they will reign for ever and ever.^(Z)

¹⁶ “I, Jesus,^(A) have sent my angel^(B) to give you^[a] this testimony for the churches.^(C) I am the Root^(D) and the Offspring of David,^(E) and the bright Morning Star.”^(F)

¹⁷ The Spirit^(G) and the bride^(H) 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.^(I)

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:^(J) If anyone adds anything to them,^(K) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.^{(L) 19} And if anyone takes words away^(M) from this scroll of prophecy,^(N) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life^(O) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things^(P) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”^(Q)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.^(R)

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