Revelation 21

Everything Made New

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was gone.

2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride dressed beautifully for her husband.

3 A loud voice from the throne announced that God now makes His home among humanity. His people will belong to Him, and He will stay close to them.

4 God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death, grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the old order has passed away.

5 The One on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" Then He told me, "Write this down, because these words are trustworthy and true."

6 He said, "It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End. I freely give the water of life to anyone who is thirsty."

7 "Those who conquer will inherit all this. I will be their God, and they will be My children."

8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, corrupt, murderous, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars will face the lake of fire and sulfur. This is the second death."

9 One of the seven angels carrying the seven final bowls came and said, "Come. I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife."

10 The Spirit carried me to a huge, high mountain, where the angel showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven.

11 The city shined with God’s glory like a priceless jewel, clear as crystal.

12 It had a massive high wall with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. The names of Israel’s twelve tribes were written on the gates.

13 Three gates faced east, three north, three south, and three west.

14 The city wall rested on twelve foundations bearing the names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles.

15 The angel held a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 The city formed a perfect square, equal in length, width, and height. It measured about 1,400 miles in every direction.

17 The angel measured the wall at 144 cubits thick, using the standard human measurement.

18 The wall was made of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass.

19 The wall’s foundations were decorated with every kind of precious stone: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, and emerald.

20 The remaining foundations were sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made from one pearl. The city’s main street was pure gold, transparent as glass.

22 I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 The city needs no sun or moon, because God’s glory lights it, and the Lamb is its lamp.

24 The nations will walk by its light, and the earth’s rulers will bring their glory into it.

25 Its gates will never close during the day, and there will be no night there.

26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought inside.

27 Nothing unclean, shameful, or dishonest will ever enter. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life can enter.