Chapter Twenty-One
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To consider the eternal destiny of the redeemed, in terms depicting
fellowship with God and protection by God
2) To be amazed at the glory of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, the
Lamb's wife, as revealed to John
SUMMARY
Following the Judgment scene at the end of the previous chapter, the
eternal destiny of the redeemed is now revealed. The motif of a new
heaven and new earth, along with the New Jerusalem, is used to provide
great hope and comfort to Christians. This is certainly nothing new,
for both the Old and New Testaments provided similar pictures to
increase anticipation of the future (cf. Isa 65:17-25; 66:22-24; He 11:
10,13-16; 13:14; 2 Pe 3:13). In each case, the eternal destiny of
God's faithful is described in terms that provided the greatest meaning
and encouragement to the people of that dispensation. Here we see the
destiny of the redeemed in terms depicting fellowship with God and
protection by God.
John first sees all things made new. There is a new heaven and a new
earth, for the first heaven and first earth are no more (cf. 20:11).
He sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from
God. A loud voice from heaven declares that God will dwell with His
people and be their God. God, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the End, will comfort His people by removing all that
causes pain, and provide the fountain of the water of life freely to
him that thirsts. While those who overcome inherit all things and
enjoy the blessings of being God's children, the wicked and unfaithful
have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone (cf. 19:20; 20:10,
14-15) which is defined as the second death (1-8).
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls (cf. 15:7; 16:1) then
carries John to a great and high mountain, to show him "the bride, the
Lamb's wife". This is none other than the great city, the New
Jerusalem, which is seen descending out of heaven from God. It is a
city having the glory of God, and the bulk of the chapter describes its
prominent features. A great and high wall surrounds the city. Standing
about 72 yards high and made of jasper, the wall has twelve pearly
gates upon which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, with an
angel at each gate. The wall has twelve foundations, made of
precious stones, upon which are the names of the twelve apostles. The
city itself, made of pure gold like clear glass, is 1500 miles long in
its length, breadth, and height. The street of the city is also pure
gold, like transparent glass (9-21).
The glory of the holy city is described further by noting that there is
no temple, for God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. There is no
need for the sun or moon, for the glory of God and the Lamb illuminate
the city. Its gates are never shut, there is no night there, and the
nations of the saved along with the kings of the earth bring their
honor and glory into it. Only those written in the Lamb's book of life
enter this glorious city, ensuring that it remains free from any
abomination and defilement (22-27).
OUTLINE
I. ALL THINGS MADE NEW (1-8)
A. THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH (1)
1. John sees a new heaven and a new earth
2. The first heaven and earth had passed away, and there was no
sea
B. THE NEW JERUSALEM (2)
1. John saw the holy city coming down out of heaven
2. It was prepared as a bride adorned for her husband
C. THE PROCLAMATION FROM HEAVEN (3-4)
1. "The tabernacle of God is with men"
a. "He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people"
b. "God Himself will be with them and be their God"
2. "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes"
a. "There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying"
b. "There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away"
D. THE PROCLAMATION FROM THE ONE WHO SAT ON THE THRONE (5-8)
1. "Behold, I make all things new"
a. "Write, for these words are true and faithful"
b. "It is done!"
2. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End"
a. "I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to
him who thirsts"
b. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things"
1) "I will be his God"
2) "He shall be My son"
3. "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers,
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars..."
a. "Shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire
and brimstone"
b. "Which is the second death"
II. THE NEW JERUSALEM (9-21)
A. JOHN IS SHOWN THE HOLY CITY (9-11)
1. By one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with
the last plagues
a. Who offered to show John "the bride, the Lamb's wife"
b. Who carried him away in the Spirit to a great and high
mountain
2. He sees the great city, the holy Jerusalem
a. Descending out of heaven from God
b. Having the glory of God
c. With light like a jasper stone, clear as crystal
B. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY AND ITS WALL (12-21)
1. It had a great and high wall with twelve gates
a. With twelve angels at the gates
b. With the names of the twelve tribes of Israel
c. With three gates each on the east, north, south, and west
d. With twelve foundations, on which were the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb
2. The measurement of the city, the gates, and the wall
a. The angel had a golden reed to measure them
b. The city is laid out as a cube, its length, breadth, and
height are each 12,000 cubits
c. The wall is one hundred and forty-four cubits
3. The construction of the city, the wall, its foundations, and
the gates
a. The wall was of jasper; the city was pure gold, like clear
glass
b. The twelve foundations of the wall were adorned with
precious stones:
1) Jasper 5) Sardonyx 9) Topaz
2) Sapphire 6) Sardius 10) Chrysoprase
3) Chalcedony 7) Chrysolite 11) Jacinth
4) Emerald 8) Beryl 12) Amethyst
c. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate one pearl
d. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent
glass
III. THE GLORY OF THE HOLY CITY (22-27)
A. ILLUMINATED BY THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THE LAMB (22-23)
1. Its temple are the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
2. It is illuminated by the glory of God and the Lamb
B. ENHANCED BY THOSE WHO ENTER IT (24-27)
1. The nations of the saved shall walk in its light
2. The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it
3. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day, and there is no
night there
4. The nations shall bring their glory and honor into it
a. Nothing that defiles, causes an abomination or a lie, shall
enter it
b. Only those written in the Lamb's book of Life enter it
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