Revelation 20:11-22:21

New International Version

The Judgment of the Dead

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne^(A) and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence,^(B) and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small,^(C) standing before the throne, and books were opened.^(D) Another book was opened, which is the book of life.^(E) The dead were judged^(F) according to what they had done^(G) as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades^(H) gave up the dead^(I) that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.^{(J) 14} Then death^(K) and Hades^(L) were thrown into the lake of fire.^(M) The lake of fire is the second death.^{(N) 15} Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life^(O) was thrown into the lake of fire.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[a](P) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,^(Q) and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City,^(R) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(S) prepared as a bride^(T) beautifully dressed for her husband. 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.^(U) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.^{(V) 4} ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(W) There will be no more death’^[b](X) or mourning or crying or pain,^(Y) for the old order of things has passed away.”^(Z)

⁵ He who was seated on the throne^(AA) said, “I am making everything new!”^(AB) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”^(AC)

⁶ He said to me: “It is done.^(AD) I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(AE) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost^(AF) from the spring of the water of life.^{(AG) 7} Those who are victorious^(AH) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.^{(AI) 8} But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars^(AJ)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.^(AK) This is the second death.”^(AL)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues^(AM) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,^(AN) the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away^(AO) in the Spirit^(AP) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.^{(AQ) 11} It shone with the glory of God,^(AR) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,^(AS) clear as crystal.^{(AT) 12} It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,^(AU) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.^{(AV) 13} There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations,^(AW) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles^(AX) of the Lamb.

¹⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod^(AY) of gold to measure the city, its gates^(AZ) and its walls. ¹⁶ 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^[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human^(BA) measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[d] thick.^{[e] 18} The wall was made of jasper,^(BB) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.^{(BC) 19} The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.^(BD) The first foundation was jasper,^(BE) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,^(BF) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.^{[f] 21} The twelve gates^(BG) were twelve pearls,^(BH) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.^(BI)

²² I did not see a temple^(BJ) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty^(BK) and the Lamb^(BL) are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God^(BM) gives it light,^(BN) and the Lamb^(BO) is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.^{(BP) 25} On no day will its gates^(BQ) ever be shut,^(BR) for there will be no night there.^{(BS) 26} The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.^{(BT) 27} Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,^(BU) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.^(BV)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river^(BW) of the water of life,^(BX) as clear as crystal,^(BY) flowing^(BZ) from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,^(CA) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.^{(CB) 3} No longer will there be any curse.^(CC) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.^{(CD) 4} They will see his face,^(CE) and his name will be on their foreheads.^{(CF) 5} There will be no more night.^(CG) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.^(CH) And they will reign for ever and ever.^(CI)

John and the Angel

⁶ The angel said to me,^(CJ) “These words are trustworthy and true.^(CK) The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,^(CL) sent his angel^(CM) to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon!^(CN) Blessed^(CO) is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”^(CP)

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.^(CQ) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet^(CR) of the angel who had been showing them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll.^(CS) Worship God!”^(CT)

¹⁰ Then he told me, “Do not seal up^(CU) the words of the prophecy of this scroll,^(CV) because the time is near.^{(CW) 11} Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”^(CX)

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

¹² “Look, I am coming soon!^(CY) My reward is with me,^(CZ) and I will give to each person according to what they have done.^{(DA) 13} I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(DB) the First and the Last,^(DC) the Beginning and the End.^(DD)

¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes,^(DE) that they may have the right to the tree of life^(DF) and may go through the gates^(DG) into the city.^{(DH) 15} Outside^(DI) are the dogs,^(DJ) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus,^(DK) have sent my angel^(DL) to give you^[g] this testimony for the churches.^(DM) I am the Root^(DN) and the Offspring of David,^(DO) and the bright Morning Star.”^(DP)

¹⁷ The Spirit^(DQ) and the bride^(DR) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.^(DS)

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:^(DT) If anyone adds anything to them,^(DU) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.^{(DV) 19} And if anyone takes words away^(DW) from this scroll of prophecy,^(DX) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life^(DY) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things^(DZ) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”^(EA)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.^(EB)

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.^(EC) Amen.