Tuesday, December 30, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Revelation 21

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

All Things Made New

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

⁶ And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 

(Revelation 21:1–8, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• After the final judgment of mankind and the relegation of Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and the lost to the lake of fire, the scene changes abruptly to a picture of the new heaven and the new earth, with the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. The newness and holiness of all things new is breathtaking.
• John here sees a new heaven and a new earth. He describes the first heaven and earth and the see as being no more. There was a destruction of the earth and heaven and sea to the point of it being uninhabitable during the seven bowls of judgment from God noted earlier. However, this seems to hint that the earth and heavens no longer exist, that an utter destruction and annihilation have occurred. In the old earth and heaven’s place came a new heaven and a new earth. This New Jerusalem could be the new heaven and earth, simply stated in a different way with more detail. However, some scholars identify the New Jerusalem, adorned as a bride, as the bride of Christ. This seems to be an unlikely thing, in that the bride (or the saints) actually lives in the city in further descriptions. Therefore, we will assume that this New Jerusalem is the home of the saints, and is a new and improved heaven and earth in which the Bride of Christ will dwell. This New Jerusalem also contains the tabernacle of God, and He intends to dwell, or tabernacle, with them. Perhaps this rendering really should read that the dwelling of God is with them. Only those who are “His people” are in the city, and they are His and He is their God. The very tender and emotive statement that God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes” is a repetition of this promise from Revelation 7:17, and is followed up by further promised that there will be no death, sorrow, nor crying in heaven, this New Jerusalem. Additionally, there will be no pain, and the former tools of discouragement and suffering are not welcome nor allowed in this beautiful, serene, and holy place.
• Then God spoke from His throne and declared “Behold, I make all things new.” This declaration is affirmed to be truth and faithful, its veracity guaranteed by the nature of the speaker Himself. He instructs John to record this promise and statement, and then further declares its reality by saying “It is done!” God describes Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He offers the water of life freely to anyone who thirsts. It is clear that a greater regime has taken the reins over a new heaven and a new earth, and the old, temporary, limited rule of Satan on earth has been ended permanently. The rightful God, the One who always was God, the eternal God, is now visibly on the throne for all to see. Those who served Him during Satan’s reign of terror are now comforted, rewarded, and given a home in the New Jerusalem. He says that they will inherit all things, and that they will be His people and that He will be their God. This offer of covenant is stated here for the second time, signifying the certainty of God’s promise.
• The next passage, however accurate and just it may be, is chilling in its declaration of the punishment of the sinful. God gives a laundry list of sinful lifestyles and practices that have disqualified the sinners from entry or citizenship in the New Jerusalem. While these practices in and of themselves do not disqualify (for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God), the evil heart that leads one to operate normally within these sinful patterns does. These named sins are representative of patterns and lifestyles that reflect a heart that is not submitted to God. Cowardly men and women do not have the courage of a child of God. Their hearts are fearful and weak. Unbelievers do not have faith in God, and therefore have hopeless hearts. Abominable individuals have hearts of darkness. Murderers harbor malice in their hearts. Sexually immoral people have hearts that serve the flesh rather than the spirit. Sorcerers and idolaters have given their hearts to Satan and his purposes. Liars have no truth in their hearts and deceive with their words. The bottom line is this: those who do not have hearts dedicated to the Lord and His purposes are lost, rebellious, and sinful. They cannot enter the perfect rest of God for His saints. They are destined for a lake of fire, the second death, which will never end. Get on the right side and live in holy relationship with God. He is the only way to the New Jerusalem!

The New Jerusalem

⁹ Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹ having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. ¹² Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ¹³ three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

¹⁴ Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶ The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. ¹⁷ Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. ¹⁸ The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 

(Revelation 21:9–21, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• John saw the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven in the previous verses. In this passage, he begins to describe it in more details, offering a description of the exterior of the city.
• Again, John records the involvement of one of the angels who poured out the bowls of God’s vengeance. The angel talked with John and invited him to see the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Some speculate that the bride is actually represented by the city, but most feel that the bride inhabits the city instead. Either way, the angel takes John away in the Spirit to a high mountain. From this vantage point, John could see the great city, the New Jerusalem, holy and glorious as it descended from heaven. It was shining like the light reflected from a precious stone, like jasper, but clear as crystal. The walls of the city were thick and tall, with twelve gates, and twelve angels attending the gates. There were names written on each wall (or gate), the names of each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Each side of the city had three gates. The gates were three on the north side, three on the east side, three on the south side, and three on the west side. While this description is a bit brief, it describes the awesome image of a gigantic city, perhaps suspended in air, coming down from heaven in one piece, gloriously shining like jewels and holiness from God. This city is perfect, without any of the sinful imperfections of the earth after the fall. It is powerfully bright, and is somewhat reminiscent of the earthly Jerusalem in its layout, with gates on all four sides, and displays the names of the original tribes of Israel, God’s chosen people.
• While this city contains the redeemed of all tribes and tongues, nations and peoples, it is still cognizant of the original way that God revealed Himself directly to the people of earth through Israel. After the fall, God did not always speak directly to mankind, but through Israel He did. Therefore, the vehicle through whom God revealed Himself is named on the gates of the city in honor of their role in salvation history. This is just as significant in my mind as the sealing of the 144,000 Jews, showing how God chose a people, provided them a Messiah, and then preserved a remnant for His glory. All will worship Christ and recognize Him as Messiah in this city. His place will be recognized and affirmed, as the saints throughout the ages bow before Him, confessing Him as Lord. But for now, the image of this city from outside is awesome and amazing, and a glimpse into what is to come!
• After seeing the outside of the city and the gates, the view turns to the foundations, the measurements of the city, and the interior of the city. Its splendor is beyond compare, unlike anything ever seen before.
• The wall of the city, known to be made of a crystal-clear jasper, sits on a twelve-layer foundation. On each foundation was the name of one of the apostles. The narrator had a gold reed with which to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city is in the shape of a square. Its length and its breadth were equal. When measured with the golden reed, the city was twelve thousand furlongs (about 1380 miles) long, wide, and high. So, beyond the square shape of the city, it was actually a cube as well. The city was 1380 mi x 1380 mi x 1380 mi, or 2.62 x 109 cubic miles. The walls were 216 feet thick (this measurement is in question), and they were made of jasper. The overall appearance of the city was like pure gold, clear as glass. The more pure a substance is, the more translucent it is. The purest gold, like would be in heaven, would have an appearance of being clear.
• The foundations were covered with all types of jewels and precious stones. They were layered with jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst. Pictures of these stones are illustrated below in this blog. The beauty of the stones in colors like green, red, purple, white, and rust present a powerfully opulent look to these foundations.
• After the description of the size, the walls, and the foundations, the attention turns to the gates to the city. There are twelve gates, and each gate is made of a single pearl. While this seems a bit unseemly, as a giant round pearl would not be usable as a gate, perhaps each gate was carved from one pearl, and served as a gate to the city. The street of the city was pure gold, like a transparent street of glass. The most precious things on earth were now being used as construction material in heaven. Most people do not own much gold, perhaps only ounces. The streets of heaven are paved with it. Not many people own more than a pair of pearl earrings or a string of pearls. The gates of the city (normally wrought iron or wood) are made of a giant pearl. Precious stones are the foundations of the New Jerusalem, normally concrete or blocks on earth. This display of beauty and wealth are unique to a place designed and built by God Almighty.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

²² But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴ And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. ²⁵ Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. ²⁷ But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

(Revelation 21:22–27, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The description of the New Jerusalem’s foundations, gates, and streets leads then to a further description of the city’s interior concerning the temple, the light, and the security of the city.
• In this passage, John saw that there was no actual temple in the city. The temple was not needed, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are present everywhere in the city, and they serve as its temple. The city also does not need the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of the Lord illuminates its every corner. The Lamb is the light. All the nations that are saved walk in the light of the city, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory and honor into it. Those who are saved come into the city and worship in the presence of the Lord, and they walk in His light. They bring their glory to Him out of respect, like kings laying their crowns at His feet. This great place brings all to the humble worship of the Lord.
• The cities gates are never shut, all day. There will be no night, because the Lamb is the light at all times. Again, he records that all will bring their glory and honor into the city. However, nothing will enter the city that defiles, that creates an abomination or a lie. Only those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be allowed to enter. This place is glorious, bright, and holy. It is reserved for those who are saved. It is exclusive in many ways. God does not arbitrarily exclude souls from heaven, but those who respond to His drawing will be saved. The Lord draws individuals to salvation, but the drawn must respond in faith to be saved. This beautiful, glorious place is an ultimate destination for those who desire a relationship with God and the privilege to live with Him for eternity.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.