The Revelation of John 21
1 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, chrysolyte; 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.
Restoration
Revelation 21 represents one of the most sublime and hope-filled visions in all of Scripture. It is a chapter that brings to the forefront the fulfillment of God’s promises regarding the restoration of the world, after the conclusion of the cosmic conflict between good and evil. In the midst of the dramatic struggle between the forces of evil and God's plan of salvation, this chapter shines as an open window into a perfect future, where death, pain, and tears will be wiped away forever.
The Revelation of a New Heaven and a New Earth
The chapter begins with a magnificent vision: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more."(Revelation 21:1). These words symbolize a complete re-creation of the cosmos. The sea—which often represents chaos and separation—disappears, suggesting perfect stability and divine order.
Revelation 21:3 brings a stunning promise to center stage: "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God." This is the very essence of restoration—the unmediated divine presence, an eternal communion deeper than that of Eden. Unlike the former times, when God's presence was accessible only through the temple or the tabernacle, now He dwells directly with His people.
The Removal of Suffering
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."(Revelation 21:4). This central statement speaks of a fundamental transformation in human existence. Death and suffering, which have dominated human history, are eradicated. In the new creation, God restores not only the physical, but also the emotional and spiritual. Complete healing brings perfect peace, freeing humanity from past traumas and wounds.
Another powerful image from Revelation 21 is that of the New Jerusalem, "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." The city is not just a physical place, but a spiritual reality, symbolizing perfect unity between God and His people. The fact that the city descends from heavenindicates that perfection and glory are not achieved through human effort, but are divine giftsgiven to the faithful.
Superiority Over Eden
The struggle between good and evil, carried out on earth, was necessary for the formation of the divine image in humanity. Only by going through trials and facing evil could people develop a moral conscienceand a profound understanding of good. The final state of the redeemed, who are able to dwell in God's presence, reflects complete victory over eviland proves that the image of God has been fully realized in them.
Thus, the redeemed become living testimoniesof the image of God, being fit for heavenand capable of living in perfect communion with their Creator and with the heavenly beings. The restoration described in Revelation 21 surpasses the original condition of Eden, because now humanity is morally and spiritually transformed, strengthened in goodness, and established in the knowledge of the truth.
Conclusion
Revelation 21is a powerful testimony to the complete restoration of God's creationand the fulfillment of His plan of salvation. Humanity, which has experienced so many forms of suffering and death, is invited to enter a state of eternal joy, where God’s presence is the source of all delight. This chapter inspires hope, trust, and a desire to live in harmony with the divine will, eagerly anticipating the day when all things will be made new.