Analysis of Revelation Chapter 21
Revelation Chapter 21 offers a profound and awe-inspiring vision of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises: the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. This chapter is filled with rich symbolism and imagery that depict the culmination of history and the eternal state of those who have remained faithful to God. The passage provides vivid descriptions of the New Jerusalem and outlines the blessings and conditions of the eternal state in remarkable detail. To gain a comprehensive understanding, let us delve verse-by-verse into this chapter, unraveling its deep meanings and interpretations.
Verses 1-2: The New Heaven and New Earth
Verse 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.”
This verse sets the stage for the rest of the chapter by announcing the advent of a new creation. The “new heaven and new earth” signify a complete renewal of the cosmos, highlighting God’s transformative power. The passing away of the “first heaven and the first earth” and the absence of the sea symbolize the eradication of chaos and evil. In ancient Near Eastern thought, the sea often represented chaos and danger, hence its exclusion from the new creation emphasizes the establishment of an orderly, peaceful existence.
Verse 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.”
The imagery of the “Holy City” descending from heaven illustrates the intimate relationship between God and His people. The city is a divine gift, meticulously prepared, much like a bride adorned for her wedding. This depiction underscores the purity, beauty, and sanctity of the new Jerusalem, symbolizing the perfect union between God and His redeemed creation.
Verses 3-4: God’s Dwelling Place Among His People
Verse 3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’”
This proclamation reveals the essence of the new creation—God dwelling among His people. The repeated emphasis on God’s presence (“He will dwell with them” and “God himself will be with them”) underscores a restored relationship that reverses the alienation caused by sin. This state fulfills the ultimate covenant promise: “I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
Verse 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.”
This verse provides a poignant and comforting vision of the eternal state, where all suffering is eradicated. The eradication of “death,” “mourning,” “crying,” and “pain” signifies the complete triumph of life and joy over the consequences of sin. The “old order of things” refers to the current fallen world with its afflictions and sorrows, which will be replaced by a new, glorified order.
Verses 5-8: The Alpha and Omega
Verse 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.’”
Here, God Himself declares the renewal of all things, emphasizing the transformative power of His creative work. The command to “write this down” emphasizes the certainty and reliability of God’s promise. These declarations are trustworthy and serve as an assurance to all believers of the hope that lies ahead.
Verse 6: “He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.’”
God’s pronouncement, “It is done,” signifies the completion of His redemptive plan. The titles “Alpha and Omega” denote God as the eternal and sovereign ruler of all history, from beginning to end. The promise to quench the thirst of those seeking “the water of life” is symbolic of the spiritual sustenance and eternal life offered freely by God. This echoes Jesus’ offer of “living water” to the Samaritan woman in John 4:10-14.
Verse 7: “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
This verse speaks to the reward and inheritance awaiting the faithful—those who have remained steadfast in their faith and are deemed “victorious.” The intimate relationship described as “I will be their God and they will be my children” encapsulates the familial bond and the belonging that believers will share in the eternal state.
Verse 8: “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
This sobering verse delineates those who are excluded from the blessings of the new creation. The “fiery lake of burning sulfur” represents the final, definitive separation from God, known as the “second death.” This emphasizes the gravity of sin and the ultimate justice of God, highlighting the dichotomy between the destiny of the faithful and the fate of the unrepentant.
Verses 9-21: The Glory of the New Jerusalem
Verse 9: “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’”
One of the angels who administered the final plagues offers to reveal the grand vision of the “bride, the wife of the Lamb,” which is a symbolic representation of the New Jerusalem. The use of “bride” language reinforces the theme of purity, preparation, and intimate relationship with Christ, the Lamb.
Verses 10-11: “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.”
John is taken in the Spirit to a high vantage point to witness the descending Holy City. The description of the city “shone with the glory of God” and its “brilliance… like a precious jewel” emanates the divine glory and purity of the New Jerusalem. The jasper and crystal imagery further enhances the splendor and radiance of the city, reflecting God’s majesty.
Verses 12-14: “It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
The layout of the New Jerusalem is both orderly and inclusive. The “great, high wall” symbolizes security and protection, while the “twelve gates” each named after a tribe of Israel signify the inclusion of the entirety of God’s people—both from the Old and New Covenants. The foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles underscore the unity and continuity of God’s redemptive plan across both testaments.
Verses 15-17: “The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick.”
The precise measurements and the symmetrical, cubic shape of the city (12,000 stadia) convey perfection and divinely ordained order. The city being as wide and high as it is long (forming a perfect cube) mirrors the shape of the Holy of Holies in the Temple, symbolizing the divine presence. The “measuring rod of gold” and the thickness of the wall (144 cubits) emphasize the stability and eternal nature of the New Jerusalem.
Verses 18-21: “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.”
The detailed description of the materials used for the city’s construction—jasper, gold, and various precious stones—creates a picture of unparalleled beauty and worth. The twelve foundations adorned with different gems signify the multifaceted and splendid foundation of the apostles’ teachings. The “twelve pearls” as gates also symbolize the immense value and purity of the entryways into the city. The “great street of gold, as pure as transparent glass” further accentuates the purity and transparency that characterize the new creation.
Verses 22-27: The Temple and Light of the City
Verse 22: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
This verse reveals the ultimate presence of God and Christ as the “temple” of the New Jerusalem, highlighting that their presence nullifies the need for a physical temple. This speaks to the direct and unmediated access to God that believers will enjoy in the eternal state, where worship is no longer confined to a particular place but is fully realized in personal communion with God.
Verse 23: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”
The absence of natural celestial bodies providing light and the reliance on the “glory of God” and “the Lamb” as the sources of illumination indicate the divine self-sufficiency and brilliance of the New Jerusalem. This symbolizes the ultimate enlightenment and overshadowing presence of God, where His glory is the true and only necessary light.
Verse 24: “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.”
This highlights the inclusive nature of the New Jerusalem, where “the nations” and “the kings of the earth” recognize and honor the supremacy of God’s glory. It envisions a gathering of peoples from all corners of the earth, unified in worship and contributing their “splendor” to the city, symbolizing the offerings of their best attributes and accomplishments to honor God.
Verse 25: “On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.”
The perpetually open gates convey a sense of eternal security, accessibility, and uninterrupted communion with God. The absence of “night” signifies the continual presence of divine light and the eradication of darkness, symbolizing both the literal absence of night and the metaphorical absence of evil and uncertainty.
Verse 26: “The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.”
This reaffirms the earlier statement about the nations and their kings bringing their “splendor” into the city. It emphasizes the universal recognition of God’s glory and the honoring of His supremacy by all nations, reflecting a unified acknowledgment of His sovereignty.
Verse 27: “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
This concluding verse underscores the holiness and purity of the New Jerusalem. The strict exclusion of anything “impure” or “shameful” or “deceitful” ensures the sanctity of the city, preserving its perfection. Only those “whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life”—the redeemed believers—will inhabit this eternal dwelling, emphasizing the ultimate fruition of God’s promise of salvation.
Conclusion
Revelation Chapter 21 offers an unparalleled vision of hope and divine fulfillment, vividly illustrating the final realization of God’s redemptive plan. By exploring the creation of a new heaven and earth, the intimate relationship between God and His people, the glory and splendor of the New Jerusalem, and the conditions of the eternal state, it provides believers with a compelling picture of their ultimate destiny. Through the rich symbolism and detailed descriptions, this chapter reassures the faithful of the certainty of God’s promises and the glory that awaits them, encouraging steadfastness and devotion in the present age.