Revelation 21:1-8 Lesson 497

Revelation 21:1-8 Lesson 497

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Satan and the unbelievers are gone.

A new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem.

Notice the number of times the word "new" appears in verses 21:1-5.

Study Tip:

"In Bible reading, we need to watch ourselves very closely, lest our thoughts wander, and our reading become perfunctory and meaningless. We must determine resolutely to keep our minds on what we are reading, doing our best to form an intelligent conception of it, and being on the lookout for lessons for ourselves."

Henry Hampton Halley, minister and religious writer (1874-1965).

The Revelation of Saint John the Divine

The King James Bible

Revelation 21:1-8
All things new

1And 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.

2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3And 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.

4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6And 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.

7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8But 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.

Margin notes:

"I saw a new heaven and a new earth." (21:1) - Although it appears that heaven and earth will be physically destroyed (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Hebrews 1:10-12; 2 Peter 3:10-13) and replaced, some Christians believe that it is only the character of heaven and earth that will be new.

"New Jerusalem." (21:2) - Many scholars believe this will be an actual city and the future home of God and His people in the new world (Revelation 21:10-27) while others say New Jerusalem merely represents God's church. Read also Jesus' words in Revelation 3:12.

"As a bride adorned for her husband." (21:2) - "Like a bride dressed for her groom."

"The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people." (21:3) - "God's home is with mankind and He will live with them, and they will be His people." The promise of the New Covenant will be fulfilled and Christians will share eternity with God as written in Leviticus 26:11-12, Ezekiel 37:27 and 2 Corinthians 6:16. Genesis teaches us how the fall of Adam and Eve delayed this intimate relationship with God.

"God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (21:4) - As God promised in Isaiah 25:8, 35:10 and 65:19 twenty-seven hundred years ago.

"There shall be no more death." (21:4) - As promised in 1 Corinthians 15:54 nineteen hundred years ago and Isaiah 60:20.

"These words are true and faithful." (21:5) - Means, we can trust God's word. This message is reinforced in verse 22:6.

"I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (21:6) - Another invitation to drink from "the water of life." Jesus first invited us to drink in John 7:37-38. See also John 4:14.

"The abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers." (21:8) - "The evil, and murderers, and fornicators."

New Living Translation

Revelation 21:1-8
The New Jerusalem

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." 6 And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega-the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

8 "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars-their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Feel free to forward these lessons to family and friends.

Application thought for the day:

Will you be a citizen of New Jerusalem?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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