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Chap 1

Chap 2

Chap 3

Chap 4

Chap 5

Chap 6

Chap 7

Chap 8

Chap 9

Chap 10

Chap 11

Chap 12

Chap 13

Chap 14

Chap 15

Chap 16

Chap 17

Chap 18

Chap 19

Chap 20

Chap 21

Chap 22

New heaven and a new earth (21:1)

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

21:5 He who was seated on the throne said,

"I am making everything new!"

Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 He said to me:

"It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death."

Genesis starts with the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth. Here in the last two chapters of the last book in the bible we find a new beginning as God makes everything new. There are many parallels with the first few chapters of Genesis; there is a new heaven and new earth, we find a spring, a river and the tree of life. As God brought Eve and presented her to Adam we find here a bride coming down from heaven beautifully dressed for her husband. God Himself dwells with man just as he walked with Adam in the cool of the day. There are some differences man dwells in a city rather than a garden. The description of the new heaven and new earth in which the bride lives ends with a description of the second death and those who go there.

Wilcock points out that there is a close connection between this passage, which acts as a summary, and the remainder of the book:

1. 21:2=21:10-21 - God's city - the new Jerusalem
2. 21:3=21:22-27 - God's dwelling - the new Jerusalem
3. 21:4, 5a=22:1-5 - God's world renewed - the river and tree of life
4. 21:5b=22:6-10 - God's word validated - these words are trustworthy and true
5. 21:6a=22:11-15 - God's work completed
6. 21:6b, 7=22:16, 17 - God's final blessing
7. 21:8=22:18,19 - God's final curse

The eschatological blessings of the beatitudes are also found and indeed fulfilled in Revelation 21-22:

{Mat 5:3} "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. cf. Rev 21:1

{4} Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. cf. Rev 21: 4

{5} Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. cf. Rev 21:1

{6} Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. cf. Rev 21:26-27

{7} Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

{8} Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. cf. Rev 22:4

{9} Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. cf. Rev 21:7

{10} Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. cf. Rev 21:1

{11} "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. {12} Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (all of Rev 21-22 cf. 2:8).

v1 - Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. - This follows immediately upon the judgement scene in which the devil, the beast and false prophet, and all whose names are not in the book of life are consigned to the lake of fire and earth and sky fled from His presence (20:11). A new heaven and new earth is first promised in Isaiah in a wonderful description in 65:17-25 and in 2 Peter 3:12 who speaks about the destruction of the earth and a new heaven and earth were righteousness dwells. The first heaven refers to this present universe apart from the earth (cf. 2 Pet 3:12). This is a new beginning, just as in Gen 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth, now there is a completely new creation, the old creation has been liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:19-22). This present earth with its sin, pain and suffering is not our permanent dwelling. We see in this and future sections the heavenly reward for those who were persecuted, Mat 5:10-12.

v1 - no longer any sea -The sea is one of seven evils John speaks of as being no more, the others being death, mourning, weeping, pain (v4), curse (22:3) and night (22:5), (Morris). There is no longer any sea because the world and its people are no more, see Rev 17:15, in Revelation the sea is very much connected to the people of the world and their judgement, therefore it has no place in the new order of things. The beast also came out of the sea, tossing and turning of peoples and nations, that is political ferment (xxxx) and the prostitute sat on many waters representing peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. The sea is also the recipient of the plagues associated with the second trumpet and second bowl. Isa 57:20 compares the wicked to the tossing sea which cannot rest. The storms, death and destruction associated with the sea are at odds with the calmness and peace of the New Jerusalem, God's paradise. That there is no sea in the new order contrasts with the lake of fire in which the wicked dwell.

v2 - I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband - This the second time that we find a reference to the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. The New Jerusalem is first mentioned in Rev 3:12 where to be a permanent part of it (a pillar) is to be the reward for those who overcome. It is alluded to as the city with foundations in Heb 11:10-16 and Heb 12:22-23. The new Jerusalem is the heavenly city that Abraham was searching for, Heb 11:10, without the rest of the church he could not become perfect, Heb 11:40 and neither can we. The New Jerusalem is a holy city, nothing unclean shall enter is (Isa 52:1, Rev 21:27). The Holy city is usually a term for earthly Jerusalem, (Neh 11:1, Mat 4:5, 27:53) but in Revelation the earthly Jerusalem persecutes the saints (11:8). The new Jerusalem is also Mount Zion the city of God (Ps 48, Isa 4:3, 35:8-10, 51:11, 60:14-22, Joel 3:17). In Gal 4:25-26 Paul comments 'But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother' and contrasts her to 'the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children'.

The church is clearly referred to here as the New Jerusalem, and as the bride, in Rev 19:7 the bride refers to the saints. The church is known as the bride, in Eph 5:25-27, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. Christ is clearly the husband, in 19:7 it refers to the wedding of the Lamb, later we find the Lamb enthroned within the city, 21:3 and they reign for ever and ever. The virgins represent the church in the parable of the ten virgins who are waiting for the bridegroom who is Christ, Mat 25:1. The New Jerusalem is again described as the bride, the wife of the Lamb in Rev 21:9-10. The church has to come out of heaven from God because the church was His idea from start to finish and He is the one who cleanses and prepares her. The New Jerusalem is to be contrasted to the harlot dressed in purple and scarlet who sits on the beast and is the worldly city Babylon which is from the earth. As a bride she is beautifully dressed for her husband, in 19:8 we find that fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear, which stands for the righteous acts of the saints. We also find later that in the description of the new Jerusalem she shone with the glory of God (v11) she is decorated with every kind of precious stone (v19) and pearls (v21) and gold (v18). There is a parallel with Gen 2:21-22 in which Eve was made from Adam's rib and brought to Adam by God. Here we find the church which was formed through the blood of Christ, his side was pierced on the cross and now we find His bride coming from God prepared for her husband.

v3 - And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.' - The voice is that of God who speaks later in verse 5. This verse speaks of the intimate fellowship between God and His people, an intimacy for which all his people yearn, it is seen later when his servants will see God's face (22:4). For God to dwell with man is the aim of the gospel, the fulfilment of God's covenant with man and his plan of salvation. It takes man to before the fall (Gen 3:8) when God and man walked in the garden together, only here Satan is not present to tempt mankind, it is a new start to life that will continue eternally without the possibility of another fall. The city is the same as seen in Ezekiel in Ezek 48:35. The covenant to be our God is found in many places in scripture starting with Abraham (Gen 17:7) and finding its fulfilment in Revelation: Gen 17:7, Exo 20:2, 25:8, Lev 26:11-12, Deu 5:2, Jer 24:7, 30:22, 31:33, Ezek 11:20, 37:27, Zec 10:10, 13:9, 2 Cor 6:16, 1 Thess 4:17, 5:10. There is play on words here because the dwelling (Gk skênê) of God and he will live (Gk skênoô) with them, because skênoô is the verb form of the noun skênê. In addition the word dwelling is usually translated tabernacle which alluded to the earthly tabernacle in which God was supposed to dwell. Heaven has come to earth, God will dwell with man in the new earth.

v4 - He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." - Just as He lives with His people so He Himself will wipe every tear from their eyes. This verse has struck a chord with God's people throughout the ages, it speaks to man's deepest being, we weep in this life but in the life to come God Himself will wipe away our tears as a mother wipes away the tears from her child. The curse of pain (Gen 3:17) and death (Gen 2:17) has been revoked, it is the fulfilment of Isa 25:8, 35:10, 51:11, 65:19. The old order of pain and suffering has passed away in the demise of the old earth and old heaven, 2 Pet 3:12-13, the new heaven and new earth will be a home of righteousness and there will be no more death or pain. This is a restatement of Rev 7:15-17, it is stated in the set of negatives. The inverse of these negatives will be eternal life, rejoicing, laughing and joy.

v5 - He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." - God is making everything new just as he makes a new earth and new heavens, v1. Everything is new, a new heaven and new earth but it is different to the Eden situation because Satan is no longer around to tempt mankind. The earth will be populated with people who have chosen righteousness against evil. God's people have been bought with the blood of Jesus. Isaiah 65:17 tells us that 'the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind', the old order of things has passed away completely even from our memories. God makes this pronouncement and tells John to write down the next statement because the words of God are trustworthy and true (cf. 14:4, 19:9, 22:6). This new order of creation is so good that it is worth dying for in this life, 1 Cor 15:19, because there is a better life after death for the saints whose names are written in the book of life. We are intended to understand that this world with its pain and suffering will not last for ever, there is something better to look forward to.

v6 - He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life - 'It is done' the redemptive plan of God is completed, just as Jesus said 'it is finished' when he had completed his redemptive work. He has restored all things to their rightful place, all causes of evil have been dispatched and righteousness reigns. Just as he completed his work of creation on the seventh day (Gen 2:2), now he has completed his work of restoration. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, Isa 44:6, this is the second time this expression is used the first is in 1:8 (I am the Alpha and the Omega) and the last is in 22:13 (I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End), on the first statement there is only one statement of this truth, the second time it is repeated twice in a different way and the third time it is repeated three times in different ways. The water of life is free, this is God's free grace, this is repeated later in Rev 22:17, this is a welcome relief in a book so full of judgement but it reminds us of God's willingness that to anyone who wants a place in the new earth that he is willing to freely give it (Rom 8:32). To him who is thirsty, God will satisfy that thirst from the water of life, this is also promised in Isa 55:1-3. There is a hint here to the streams that watered the earth in Gen 2:6. This verse reiterates what has already been said in 7:17 in which the 'Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water'. While Jesus was on earth he promised to those who were thirsty, and came to him, and believed in him that streams of living water will flow from within them, John 4:14, 7:37-39, he was talking about the Holy Spirit which was to be poured out on the disciples at Pentecost, Acts 2:33. While the book is here showing us the church in its ideal state in heaven, it is also true that the Holy Spirit is given to the individual as a guarantee or down payment of his inheritance (Eph 1:13-14) in heaven (1 Pet 1:4). Later in the book the spring becomes the river of the water of life (22:1). Just as the giver of the water of life lives for ever so will the receiver. The tree of life by which man might live for ever is watered by the river of life (22:2 cf. Gen 3:22) .

v7 - He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. - He who overcomes is the title for God's people, see the seven fold inheritance of the overcomers in the seven letters to the seven churches. Those who overcome just as Jesus overcame, 3:21, will inherit all this, referring to the previous six verses in contrast to what the cowardly inherit in the next verse. The inheritance is spoken of many times in the NT (Eph 1:14, Col 3:24, Jam 2:5, 1 Pet 1:4). Here in the second part of the verse is a reference to sonship which emphasises the personal relationship between the believer and God. God established his covenant with Abraham to be his God and the God of his descendants (Gen 17:7) if we belong to Christ we are Abraham's descendants and heirs to the same promise (Gal 3:29), this finds its final fulfilment here in Revelation (Mounce).

v8 - But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death." - Note the contrast of the cowardly who are in the lake of fire with those who overcome from the previous verse (see also those who overcome in 2:11) who have the right to drink from spring of the water life (see also the river of life in 22:1). The cowardly are also those who did not repent when afflicted by the first six trumpet plagues (9:20-21) compare this list of sinners with Paul's in 1 Cor 6:9-10 and Gal 5:19-21. They are the impure that will never enter the New Jerusalem, only those are in the Lamb's book of life can enter (21:27). The second death is meant to contrast with the eternal life of those who drink the water of life, only those in the Lambs book of life avoid the second death (20:14-15). It is the opposite of the experience of those who overcome in verse 4 the second death is a place of death, mourning, crying, pain, and tears. It should be noted that God's plan of redemption has made it possible for men to avoid the second death through the representative death of Jesus Christ, hell was created for the devil and his angels, but in the end Revelation makes clear that men either worship God or the devil through his henchmen, those who worship the devil and follow his ways as listed in this verse will inevitably join him. In particular from this list the two features that most characterise the devil are murderer and liar (John 8:44). In 13:14 we find the beast out of the earth deceiving the inhabitants of the earth and in 20:8 we find the devil deceiving the nations.