²¹ the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

³ 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. ⁴ And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. ⁵ 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.

²¹ For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.

¹³ But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

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.

¹⁹ For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.