Revelation 21
1599 Geneva Bible
21 2 He describeth new Jerusalem descending from heaven, 6 The bride the Lamb’s wife, 12 and the glorious building of the city, 19 garnished with precious stones, 22 whose Temple the Lamb is.
1 And [a]I saw (A)a new heaven, and a new earth: for the (B)first heaven, and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea.
2 [b]And I John saw the holy city new Jerusalem come down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride trimmed for her husband.
3 [c]And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them: and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be their God with them.
4 (C)And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be anymore pain: for the first things are passed.
5 [d]And he that sat upon the throne, said, (D)Behold, I make all things new, and he said unto me, Write: for these things are faithful and true.
6 And he said unto me, (E)[e]It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: I will give to him that is athirst, of the well of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh, shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son.
8 But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their [f]part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
9 [g]And there came unto me one of the seven Angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come: I will show thee the bride the Lamb’s wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and [h]an high mountain, and he showed me [i]that great city, that holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God, and her shining was like unto a stone most precious, as a jasper stone clear as crystal,
12 [j]And had a great wall and high, and had [k]twelve gates, and at the gates [l]twelve Angels, and the names written which are the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
13 On the East part there were three gates, and on the North side three gates, on the South side three gates, and on the West side three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had [m]twelve foundations, and in them the names of the Lamb’s twelve Apostles.
15 [n]And he that walked with me, had a golden reed, to measure the city withal, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 [o]And the city lay [p]foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth of it, and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: and the length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof an hundred forty and four cubits, by the measure of man, that is, of the [q]Angel.
18 [r]And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper: the second of Sapphire: the third of a Chalcedony: the fourth of an Emerald:
20 The fifth of a Sardonyx: the sixth of a Sardius: the seventh of a Chrysolite: the eight of a Beryl: the ninth of a Topaz: the tenth of a Chrysoprase: the eleventh of a Jacinth: the twelfth an Amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, and every gate is of one pearl, and the [s]street of the city is pure gold, as shining glass.
22 And I saw no Temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it.
23 (F)[t]And their city hath no need of the Sun, neither of the Moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did light it: and the Lamb is the light of it.
24 (G)And the people which are saved, shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor unto it.
25 (H)And the gates of it shall not be shut by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And the glory and honor of the Gentiles shall be brought unto it.
27 And there shall enter into it none unclean thing, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or lies: but they which are written in the Lamb’s (I)book of life.
Footnotes
- Revelation 21:1 Now followeth the second part of the history prophetical (as I said, Rev. 1 and 11:1) of the future estate of the Church in heaven after the last judgment, unto the fifth verse of the next chapter, in this are two things briefly declareth. The station, seat, or place thereof, verse 1. Then her state and condition in the verses following. Before the state of the Church described, is set down the state of the whole world, that there shall be a new heaven, and a new earth, as Isa. 65:17 and 66:12 and 2 Pet. 3:13, and this is the seat or place of the Church, in which righteousness shall dwell.
- Revelation 21:2 The state of this glorious Church is first described generally, unto verse 8 and then specially and by parts, in the verses following. The general description consisteth in a vision showed afar off, verse 2, and in speech spoken from heaven. In the general these things are common that the Church is holy, new, the workmanship of God, heavenly, most glorious, the spouse of Christ, and partaker of this glory in this verse.
- Revelation 21:3 The Church is described by the speech first of an Angel, in two verses, then of God himself in 4 verses. The Angel’s speech describeth the glory of the Church by the most familiar cohabitation of God therewith, by communication of all manner [of] good things according to the covenant, in this verse: and by removing or putting far away of all evil things in the verse following.
- Revelation 21:5 In the speech of God himself describing the Church, is first a certain exordium, or entrance, verse 5. Then followeth a magnificent description of the Church, by the present and future good things of the same in 3 verses following. In the exordium God challengeth to himself the restoring of all the creatures of which verse 1 and witnesseth the calling of S. John unto the writing of these things, in this verse.
- Revelation 21:6 The description of the Church is of three sorts, by the abolishing of old things: by the being of present things in God, that is of things eternal and by the communication of all good things with the godly, verse 6. If so be they shall strive manfully, verse 7. But the reprobate are excluded from thence, verse 8.
- Revelation 21:8 Their lot, and inheritance as it were.
- Revelation 21:9 A transition unto the particular describing of the heavenly Church by the express calling of Saint John in this verse, and his rapting up by the Spirit, in confirmation of the truth of God in the verse following.
- Revelation 21:10 He meaneth the place and stately seat of the Church, shadowed out in a mountain.
- Revelation 21:10 A type of that Church which is one, ample, or Catholic, holy celestial, built of God, in this verse: and glorious in the verse following. This type propounded generally, is after particularly declared, verse 12, etc.
- Revelation 21:12 A particular description (as I noted, verse 2) of the celestial Church. First, by the essential parts of the same, under the similitude of a city to verse 12. Secondly, from foreign accidents, unto the end of the chapter. Thirdly, by the effects, in the beginning of the next chapter, the essential parts are noted the matter and the form in the whole work: of these the superficies and foundation of the wall are entire parts (as they use to be called) which parts are first described in figure, unto verse 14 and afterward more exactly.
- Revelation 21:12 According to the number of the tribes, of which chap. 7. For here the outward part is attributed unto the old Testament, and the foundation of the new Testament.
- Revelation 21:12 He meaneth the Prophets, who are the messengers of God, and watchmen of the Church.
- Revelation 21:14 That is, foundation stones, according to the number of the gates, as is showed verse 19.
- Revelation 21:15 A transition unto a more exquisite description of the parts of the Church, by finding out the measure of the same by the Angel that measured them.
- Revelation 21:16 The measure and form most equal, in 2 verses.
- Revelation 21:16 A foursquared figure hath equal sides, and outright corners, and therefore the Greeks call by this name those things that are steady, and of continuance and perfect.
- Revelation 21:17 He addeth this, because the Angel had the shape of a man.
- Revelation 21:18 The matter most precious and glittering which the presence of God maketh most glorious.
- Revelation 21:21 By street, he meaneth the broadest place of the city.
- Revelation 21:23 The second form of particular description (as I said, verse 12) from foreign and outward accidents: which are these, Light from God himself, in this verse, glory from men, verse 24, perfect security from all harm, verse 25. Finally such truth and incorruption of glory (verse 26) as can bear and abide with it, nothing that is inglorious, the last verse.
Revelation 21
Christian Standard Bible
The New Creation
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;(A) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,(B) and the sea was no more.(C) 2 I also saw the holy city,(D) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,(E) prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.(F)
3 Then I heard a loud voice(G) from the throne:[a](H) Look, God’s dwelling[b] is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples,[c](I) and God himself will be with them and will be their God.[d] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.(J) Death will be no more;(K) grief, crying, and pain will be no more,(L) because the previous things[e] have passed away.(M)
5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words[f] are faithful and true.”(N) 6 Then he said to me, “It is done!(O) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(P) the beginning and the end.(Q) I will freely give to the thirsty(R) from the spring of the water of life.(S) 7 The one who conquers(T) will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.(U) 8 But the cowards, faithless,[g] detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars(V)—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,(W) which is the second death.”(X)
The New Jerusalem
9 Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues,(Y) came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He then carried me away in the Spirit[h](Z) to a great, high mountain(AA) and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory.(AB) Her radiance was like a precious jewel, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 The city had a massive high wall, with twelve gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’s sons were inscribed on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.(AC) 14 The city wall had twelve foundations, and the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb were on the foundations.
15 The one who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod(AD) to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.(AE) 16 The city is laid out in a square; its length and width are the same. He measured the city with the rod at 12,000 stadia.[i] Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall, 144 cubits according to human measurement, which the angel used. 18 The building material of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of jewel:(AF) the first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates are twelve pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The main street[j] of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.
22 I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.(AG) 24 The nations will walk by its light,(AH) and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.[k](AI) 25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there.(AJ) 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.[l](AK) 27 Nothing unclean will ever enter it,(AL) nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.(AM)
Footnotes
- 21:3 Other mss read from heaven
- 21:3 Or tent, or tabernacle
- 21:3 Other mss read people
- 21:3 Other mss omit and will be their God
- 21:4 Or the first things
- 21:5 Other mss add of God
- 21:8 Other mss add the sinful,
- 21:10 Or in spirit
- 21:16 A stadion (sg) = about 600 feet; 12,000 stadia = 1,400 miles.
- 21:21 Or The public square
- 21:24 Other mss read will bring to him the nations’ glory and honor
- 21:26 Other mss add in order that they might go in
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