Revelation 21

1 Then I saw [in a vision, perceived] a new [fresh, never before seen] heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] and a new [renewed, transformed] earth [the physical world, creation], for the first [original, preceding] heaven and earth [the existing creation] had passed away [disappeared, come to an end], and the sea [the vast ocean] was no more [had ceased to exist, was gone]. word study 2 I saw the holy [set apart, dedicated to God] city, the new [fresh, recently created] Jerusalem, coming down [descending, being sent] out of heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] from God [the supreme Deity, Creator], prepared [made ready, adorned] as a bride [a newly married woman, the church] adorned [beautifully decorated, arranged] for her husband [a loving partner, Christ]. word study 3 And I heard a loud [great, intense] voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place [tabernacle, sacred tent] of God [the Almighty, Creator] is with man [human beings, people], and He will dwell [reside, live among] with them. They will be His people [faithful followers, beloved ones], and God Himself [the Lord, Savior] will be with them as their God [Redeemer, Protector]. word study 4 ‘He will wipe away [completely erase, blot out] every tear [drop of sorrow, sadness] from their eyes,’ and there will be no more [never again, utterly gone] death [separation from God, eternal loss] or mourning [grief, sorrow] or crying [shouting, loud lament] or pain [travail, anguish], for the former [first, original] things have passed away [gone, disappeared, come to an end].” word study 5 And the One [seated in power and authority] seated on the throne [the seat of God’s sovereign rule] said, “Behold [see, perceive, and understand], I make [create, bring into existence, and renew] all things [the entire universe, everything that exists] new [fresh, renewed, and restored].” Then He said, “Write [record, inscribe, and preserve] this down, for these words [divine messages and revelations] are faithful [trustworthy, reliable, and true to God’s nature] and true [genuine, authentic, and reflecting God’s character].” word study 6 And He told me, “It is done [completed, finished, come to pass]! I am the Alpha [the first letter of the Greek alphabet, the beginning] and the Omega [the last letter, the end], the Beginning [the source, the origin] and the End [the conclusion, the finality]. To the thirsty [those who are spiritually parched, in need] I will give [bestow, grant] freely [without cost, graciously] from the spring [source, fountain] of the water of life [eternal, abundant]. word study 7 The one who overcomes [conquers, is victorious] will inherit [receive as a gift, possess] all things [these things, everything], and I will be his God [the supreme deity, his Father], and he will be My son [child, offspring, having God’s nature]. word study 8 But to the [fearful] cowardly and unbelieving [without faith, lacking trust] and abominable [detestable, morally reprehensible] and murderers [those who take life, killers] and sexually immoral [fornicators, those who sin sexually] and sorcerers [those who practice magical arts] and idolaters [those who worship false gods] and all liars [those who deceive, falsehood tellers], their place will be in the lake [of fire, a sea of burning sulfur] that burns with fire [flames, blazing] and sulfur [brimstone, a burning stone]. This is the second [subsequent, following the first] death [separation from God, eternal destruction].” word study 9 Then one [out of seven, a specific] of the seven angels [heavenly messengers] with the seven bowls [vessels, containers] full of the seven final [last, ultimate] plagues [judgments, afflictions] came and said to me, “Come [draw near, approach], I will show [reveal, exhibit] you the bride [newly married woman, Lamb’s partner], the wife [married woman, companion] of the Lamb [symbol of innocence, purity].” word study 10 And he carried me away [in a spiritual vision, by the power of the Spirit] in the Spirit [the divine breath, the vital principle] to a mountain [a high elevation] great [large, majestic, of immense size] and high [lofty, elevated, exalted], and showed me [revealed, made known, exhibited] the holy [set apart, consecrated, sacred] city [a town with walls] of Jerusalem [the city of peace, the dwelling place of God] coming down [descending, falling, being sent] out of heaven [the sky, the dwelling place of God] from God [the supreme Creator, the Almighty], word study 11 shining [radiating, beaming] with the glory [honor, praise, divine splendor] of God [the one true deity, Creator]. Its radiance [light, luminescence] was like [similar to, comparable with] a most precious [highly valued, cherished] jewel [gemstone], like [resembling, akin to] a jasper [jasper stone], as [in the manner of, like] clear [transparent, shining brightly] as crystal [crystal clear, pure]. word study 12 The city had a great [and lofty, extremely high] and high [elevated, towering above] wall [a strong barrier, a fence] with twelve gates [entrances, doorways] inscribed [written, engraved] with the names [identities, designations] of the twelve tribes [family groups, clans] of Israel [God’s chosen people, the descendants of Jacob], and twelve angels [messengers, heavenly beings] at the gates [entrances, doorways]. word study 13 There were three [exactly, a specific number] gates [entrances, portals] on the east [the direction of sunrise], three on the north [the direction of cold and darkness], three on the south [the direction of warmth and light], and three on the west [the direction of sunset]. word study 14 The wall [surrounding barrier, city fortification] of the city [metropolis, inhabited town] had twelve [a dozen, twelve in number] foundations [underlying bases, fundamental supports] bearing [inscribed, engraved upon] the names [identities, designations] of the twelve [a dozen, twelve in number] apostles [messengers, delegates] of the Lamb [symbol of innocence, purity, and sacrifice]. word study 15 The angel [messenger of God] who spoke [to converse, to communicate] with me had a golden [made of gold, valuable] measuring rod [reed, standard of measurement] to measure [to find the size or extent of] the city [a town with walls, a community] and its gates [entrances, points of access] and walls [barriers, boundaries]. word study 16 The city [lying in a foursquare shape] lies foursquare, with its width [breadth, the measure of its broadness] the same as its length [extent, the measure of its distance]. And he measured the city [town, with walls] with the rod [reed, a measuring stick], and all its dimensions [size, extent] were equal—12,000 stadia [furlongs, a unit of distance] in length [extent, the measure of its distance] and width [breadth, the measure of its broadness] and height [elevation, loftiness]. word study 17 And he measured [using a standard unit] its wall [the barrier surrounding the city] to be 144 [one hundred forty-four] cubits [a unit of length, about the length of a forearm], by the human [mortal, earthly] measure [a standard or limit] the angel [a heavenly messenger, a divine envoy] was using [applying, utilizing]. word study 18 The wall [made of the precious stone] was made of jasper [a precious gemstone], and the city [a heavenly town] itself of pure [clean and untainted] gold, as pure [clean and spotless] as glass [a clear and transparent material]. word study 19 The foundations [bases, underlying structures] of the city [metropolis, heavenly dwelling] walls were adorned [beautifully decorated, garnished] with every kind [all manner, variety] of precious [valuable, highly esteemed] stone [gem, jewel]: The first foundation was jasper [a crystalline stone], the second sapphire [a blue gemstone, possibly lapis-lazuli], the third chalcedony [a copper-like gem], the fourth emerald [a green transparent stone], word study 20 the fifth sardonyx [a gemstone with a mix of red and white colors], the sixth carnelian [sardius, a precious gemstone], the seventh chrysolite [a yellow gemstone], the eighth beryl [a sea-green jewel], the ninth topaz [a gemstone, possibly referring to the chrysolite], the tenth chrysoprase [a greenish-yellow gemstone], the eleventh jacinth [hyacinth, a deep blue stone, possibly a sapphire], and the twelfth amethyst [a purple quartz gemstone, believed to have spiritual significance]. word study 21 And the twelve [a dozen, complete number] gates were twelve [complete set] pearls, with each [every single one] gate consisting of a single [one, unified] pearl. The main street [broad way, public square] of the city was pure [clean, undefiled] gold, as clear [transparent, shining through] as glass [like crystal, transparent material]. word study 22 But I saw no [absolutely none, not a single] temple [sacred place of worship, sanctuary] in the city, because the Lord [Master, Sovereign] God [the Almighty, Eternal One] Almighty [All-Powerful, Omnipotent] and the Lamb [symbol of innocence, purity] are its [the city’s, the believers’] temple [dwelling place, sacred space]. word study 23 And the city [the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God] has no need [is completely devoid] of sun [the physical sun] or moon [the lunar body] to shine [illuminate, cast light] on it, because the glory [divine presence, radiant splendor] of God [the Almighty, Creator of all] illuminates [shines light upon, enlightens] the city, and the Lamb [the innocent, pure sacrifice] is its lamp [a portable light source]. word study 24 By its [divine, heavenly] light [shining forth, illuminating] the nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people] will walk [follow, live in accordance with], and into it [the city, the holy place] the kings [rulers, sovereigns] of the earth [the world, the soil] will bring [offer, present] their glory [honor, praise]. word study 25 Its gates [the city entrances, porches] will never [at no time, under no circumstances] be shut [closed, barred] at the end of the day [the 24-hour period, a period of light], because [for the reason that, since] there will be [exist, be present] no [none, absolutely no] night [the time of darkness, the period of rest] there [in that place, at that location]. word study 26 And into the city [toward its very heart] will be brought [led, carried, or supported] the glory [honor, praise, or admiration] and honor [esteem, value, or dignity] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people, or ethnic groups]. word study 27 But nothing [completely] unclean [morally impure, defiled] will ever enter [come into, be admitted to] it, nor anyone who practices [commits, does] an abomination [something detestable to God] or a lie [falsehood, deception], but only those whose names are written [recorded, inscribed] in the Lamb’s [symbolizing innocence and purity] Book of Life [the record of those destined for eternal life]. word study