Revelation 21

Revelation 21:1

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Then I saw a happy renovation of all things; even the heaven and earth refined to their utmost perfection: for this imperfect condition of the heavens and earth, that now are, passed away; neither was the sea, as it now is, but freed from that impurity and corruption which it now hath.

Revelation 21:2

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And now, in this universal revolution of the world, I, John, saw the Celestial City, the purified and glorious Church of God, coming down as it were from God out of heaven, decked with all kind of spiritual ornaments, and prepared with all riches of grace and glory, as a fit Bride for her gracious Husband.

Revelation 21:3

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 with them, and be their God.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, now, God shall settle his eternal habitation with men: so dwelling with and in his Saints, that he shall never be removed from them; but shall, in a full and perfect manner, enjoy and possess them as his people, and they him as their God.

Revelation 21:5

Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Behold, now I will remove away all the impurity and imperfection of my creature, and make all things absolute and glorious.

Revelation 21:6

And he said unto me, it is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

And he said unto me, It is as surely done, as if it were past already: I am the First and the Last; even the First before all beginning, and the Last after all endings; Eternal, without beginning or ending. To him, that hath hungered and thirsted after righteousness, will I freely give, out of the lively fountain of my grace and mercy, everlasting life.

Revelation 21:7

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

He, that overcometh the temptations of Satan and the world, shall be possessed of this heavenly inheritance of glory: and I will be his God and Father, and he shall be my dear Son for ever.

Revelation 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

But those which have cowardly for fear of pain or danger shrunk from the truth, and the unbelieving, and those which have lived in abominable sins, cruel murderers, whoremongers, &c. shall have their portion in the everlasting torments of hell fire; which is the Second Death.

Revelation 21:10

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

And he ravished me away, in an ecstasy of spirit; and, as it were upon a high mountain, shewed me the excellent beauty of his now renewed and purified Church, the holy and spiritual Jerusalem; which God from heaven had put upon that blessed Bride of his,

Revelation 21:11

Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Which was set forth with all heavenly glory, even the glory of God’s eternal presence: and the shining brightness thereof was like unto the lustre of the most precious and glittering stones;

Revelation 21:12

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

And, to set forth the magnificence thereof, by the resemblance of a city built of the most pleasing and precious matter that the earth can afford, the walls thereof, which are wont to be for defence and ornament, were strong and high; impregnable by any enemy, and perfectly safe for the inhabitants:

Revelation 21:13

On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

For the elect of God, which should come from the East coasts, there were three gates appointed, and set open, ready to receive them; for those, likewise, which should come from the North, three gates; for those, which should come from the South, three gates also; and three gates, in like manner, for those, which should come from the West.

Revelation 21:14

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The wall of the city, which encompasseth and fortifieth it on every side, which is that sacred bond of unity wherewith the whole Church is knit together and is defended from the danger of all error and ignorance, is built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone.

Revelation 21:15

And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

And the angel, who was employed to reveal these things unto me, represented unto me a golden met-wand, which he had in his hand; as thereby importing, that he was to make manifest unto me the excellent symmetry and proportion of this heavenly city, and the gates and wall thereof.

Revelation 21:16

And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

And the city is so built and contrived, that nothing is wanting to the exquisite perfection thereof: it is every way square; and, in all the parts and measures thereof, framed by the line and level of God’s infinite wisdom and power; able, for the largeness thereof, to contain all those happy souls that appertain thereunto.

Revelation 21:17

And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

The wall or bulwark of this city is infinitely strong; being, for the breadth of it, raised up in twelve several courses of the firm and invincible doctrine of the Twelve Apostles; and thereupon arising up to twelve times twelve cubits, according to the measure, not of an ordinary man, but of the angel, which appeared in a larger shape.

Revelation 21:18

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

As for the matter, both of the wall and of the city, it is so pure, and rich, and precious, as no earthly substance can possibly express it: but, if ought be more excellent and of higher estimation than other, as gold, pearls, and precious stones of all exquisite varieties, let these serve to resemble the beauty and unconceivable glory of this heavenly city. So also verses 19, 20, 21.

Revelation 21:22

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

And, whereas in the Old Jerusalem, Solomon’s goodly Temple was the glory of that city; now here, in this Heavenly Jerusalem, there is no one room set apart for the Temple, but the whole city is the consecrated Temple to God and to his Christ: neither shall there need any signs or sacraments of God’s presence and grace; but the Lord God shall be there really and essentially exhibited to all his Saints; and God, the Father, shall there clearly manifest himself in his Son, Christ Jesus, to his elect.

Revelation 21:23

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

And this glorious city had no need of any outward and adventitious light, from the sun or moon or stars, which are but the conveyances of this created light to the inferior world: for the glory of God, the Creator, doth perfectly enlighten it, more than many thousand suns can do; and the Lamb, Christ Jesus, is the full and bright Luminary, which sendeth forth perfect beams of heavenly knowledge and blessedness to all his.

Revelation 21:24

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

And, whereas the earthly Jerusalem was the receptacle of none but her own people, abhorring the communion of the Gentiles; now here, all the elect of all the nations of the world shall be received into one blessed society, and shall enjoy the glorious light of God’s presence: and the kings of the earth shall be admitted into it; and shall here so lay down their glory, as that they shall see and confess all their earthly pomp and magnificence to be nothing in comparison of this.

Revelation 21:25

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

And in this city there shall be such safety and such free-

Revelation 21:26

And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

And, if there be any one amongst the Gentiles more excellent than other, it shall be his happiness to be admitted hither; and here shall he be glad to lay down all his former glory.

Revelation 21:27

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

And yet, though the gates shall be always open, shall there be no entrance here, for any impure and polluted soul; nor for any, that liveth in abominable wickedness, and practiseth lying and falsehood: but only the elect Saints of God, which are ordained to this blessedness, and sanctified by the blood of Christ their Saviour.