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Revelation 21 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ²I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ⁴‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” ⁵And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” ⁶And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. ⁷The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. ⁸But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” ⁹Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, ¹¹shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal. ¹²The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates. ¹³There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. ¹⁴The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls. ¹⁶The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height. ¹⁷And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using. ¹⁸The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass. ¹⁹The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ²⁰the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. ²²But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory. ²⁵Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there. ²⁶And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations. ²⁷But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

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Revelation

Revelation 21

"The New Heaven and the New Earth"

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Detailed Analysis

Event Description

Creation of the New Heaven and Earth: John sees 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. The New Jerusalem: The holy city, New Jerusalem, comes down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. God Dwelling with Humanity: A loud voice from the throne announces that 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. End of Suffering: The voice declares that there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

The Radiant New Jerusalem and Eternal Bliss

Incomprehensible Splendor and Beauty: Imagine a majestic city, New Jerusalem, descending from the heavens, embodying divine perfection and eternal promise. This celestial city, formed as a perfect cube, spans approximately 2,220 kilometers in each direction, its sheer volume rivaling that of the Moon. Positioned 100 kilometers above the Earth's stratosphere, it stands as a testament to divine glory and renewal. Its walls, approximately 65.8 meters high, and foundations, an impressive 82.25 meters thick, are adorned with a variety of precious stones. Illuminated by the glory of God, independent of sun or moon, this city represents a place where former sorrows are replaced by everlasting peace and joy, marking the beginning of a new era. The artwork captures the descent of New Jerusalem, focusing on its twelve magnificent gates. Each gate, made from a single, enormous pearl, reaches an astounding height of 900 kilometers and a width of 500 kilometers, reflecting divine grandeur and purity. These gates are set within a 65.8-meter-high wall, and the foundation layers, each about 6.85 meters thick, are portrayed in hues that correspond to different precious stones, illustrating a divine tapestry of craftsmanship. This painting highlights the city's symmetrical and monumental design, featuring its cubic structure with one side in full view. The gates, each 900 kilometers high and 500 kilometers wide, contribute to the city's majestic scale. The artwork depicts the wall's notable height and the foundation's 12 layers, each approximately 6.85 meters thick, in vibrant colors representing the precious stones, symbolizing the city's robust and eternal foundation. Centering on the city's inner tranquility, this painting offers a view along a golden, transparent street leading towards one of the grand pearl gates, enveloped in a divine, gentle light. The wall and its foundation layers are subtly incorporated, with each layer, about 6.85 meters thick, rendered in colors representing the precious stones, emphasizing the city's heavenly character. The New Jerusalem, as described in biblical texts, stands as a city of unparalleled scale and splendor. Its dimensions, according to Revelation 21:16, extend to 12,000 stadia on each side, equivalent to 2,220 kilometers, resulting in a staggering flat surface area of 4,928,400 square kilometers. This size dwarfs the combined urban areas of Earth, which cover about 1,430,000 square kilometers, housing approximately 55% of the global population. The surface area of the New Jerusalem is thus more than three times larger than all the world's cities combined, a testament to its incomprehensible splendor and beauty. To attempt to depict this heavenly city in art would be to grasp at its grandeur, as its true magnificence surpasses human understanding. This is underscored by the eternal and spiritual dimensions that the New Jerusalem embodies, a fulfillment of divine promise as conveyed in Jesus' words in Revelation 22:12. For a more tangible perspective, consider the volume of the New Jerusalem in comparison to that of the Moon. The volume of the New Jerusalem, a perfect cube, is calculated as 2,220km×2,220km×2,220km2,220km×2,220km×2,220km, resulting in approximately 10,941,848,000 cubic kilometers. In contrast, the Moon's volume, calculated using the formula for a sphere's volume (43�×radius334π×radius3) and an average radius of about 1,737 kilometers, is approximately 21,958,611,783 cubic kilometers. This comparison reveals that the volume of the New Jerusalem is about half that of the Moon, offering a striking illustration of the city's colossal scale. However, in the words of 1 Corinthians 2:9, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor has it entered into the heart of man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." This scripture echoes the truth that no human effort can ever do justice to portray the full splendor and beauty of the New Jerusalem. The city's divine essence and eternal promise transcend human comprehension and artistic representation, remaining a profound symbol of hope and perfection in the divine plan. The Heavenly City Descends: Visualize the breathtaking descent of the New Jerusalem, a radiant city of brilliance and beauty, symbolizing the eternal dwelling place of God with humanity. The City's Majestic Splendor: Picture the resplendent features of the city, with its walls of precious stones, pearly gates, and streets of pure gold, reflecting the glory and majesty of God. The Eternal Light and Life: Imagine a city bathed in the unending light of God's presence, where life flourishes in perpetual peace and joy, free from all suffering and pain. The splendor and glory of the New Jerusalem, as depicted in biblical scriptures, are truly incomprehensible, transcending human ability to fully depict or understand. This celestial city, described as a manifestation of divine perfection, is a promise from God to those who love Him and keep His commandments, offering a future of unimaginable beauty and holiness. The grandeur of the New Jerusalem, symbolized by its streets of gold, walls adorned with precious stones, and pearly gates, aligns with the profound truth expressed in 1 Corinthians 2:9: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." Therefore, any attempt to visually represent this heavenly city can only offer a glimpse of its true majesty, which remains a divine mystery and a testament to the eternal joy and glory that await the faithful.

The Radiant New Jerusalem and Eternal Bliss

Song

New Jerusalem's Dawning

Full Poem

THE NEW CREATION'S BIRTH A new heaven, a new earth, so fair, No sea, no tears, just beauty rare. New Jerusalem, in splendor, descends, God with us, where joy never ends. THE CITY OF ETERNAL LIGHT Foundations gleam, gates of pearl shine, In God's glory, eternally divine. No sun, no moon, for the Lamb is its light, In His presence, day and eternal night. A HAVEN FOR THE PURE No impurity, in this place resides, Only the holy, where God abides. The book of life, names written with care, In New Jerusalem, they'll be there.

Conclusion

Eternal Hope and God's Presence: Chapter 21 beautifully portrays the hope of a new creation, where God dwells with His people in a place of unparalleled beauty and perfection, free from sorrow and pain. Cross-References: Isaiah 65:17: The creation of new heavens and a new earth. Isaiah 60:1-3: The glory of Zion, with nations walking in its light. Revelation 7:17: God wiping away every tear from their eyes. In summary, Revelation 21 presents a vision of profound hope and restoration, depicting the new heaven, the new earth, and the New Jerusalem. This chapter symbolizes the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, the elimination of all suffering and evil, and the establishment of an eternal, harmonious existence with God at the center. It's a promise of eternal bliss and divine fellowship for the redeemed.