"THE BOOK OF REVELATION"
Chapter Twenty-One
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; 2Pe 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. Re 20:11).
He sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, "coming down 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. Re 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. Re 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 216
feet 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, each made of precious stones of various
colors, 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).
POINTS TO PONDER
* The eternal destiny of the redeemed, in terms depicting fellowship
with God and protection by God
* The new heaven and new earth (cf. 2Pe 3:13), along with the holy city,
New Jerusalem "coming down out of heaven from God" (cf. Re 3:12;
21:2,10)
* The detailed imagery used to describe the heavenly city, the New
Jerusalem
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 furlongs (1500 miles)
c. The wall is one hundred and forty-four cubits (216 feet)
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
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- All things made new (1-8)
- The New Jerusalem (9-21)
- The glory of the holy city (22-27)
2) What did John see? (1)
- A new heaven and new earth
3) What happened to the first heaven and first earth? What of the sea?
(1)
- They had passed away; it was no more
4) What did John see coming down out of heaven from God? (2)
- The holy city, New Jerusalem, prepared as bride adorned for her
husband
5) What is said about the dwelling of God? (3)
- The tabernacle of God is with men
- He will dwell with them and they shall be His people
- God Himself will be with them and be their God
6) What will God do? What shall be no more? (4)
- Wipe away every tear from their eyes; death, sorrow, crying, pain
7) What did the One on the throne say to John in verse 5?
- "Behold, I make all things new"
- "Write, for these words are true and faithful"
8) What did He say in verse 6?
- "It is done!"
- "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End"
- "I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who
thirsts"
9) What is promised to those who overcome? (7)
- He shall inherit all things
- "I will be his God and he shall be My son"
10) Who shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and
brimstone? What is this called? (8)
- The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, all liars
- The second death
11) Who offered to show John the bride, the Lamb's wife? (9)
- One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls
12) Where is John taken, and what does he see? (10)
- To a great and high mountain
- The great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from
God
13) What was the general description of the city? (11)
- It has the glory of God
- Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear
as crystal
14) What surrounded the city? (12)
- A great and high wall with twelve gates
15) What stood at each of the gates? What was written on the gates? (12)
- An angel; the names of the twelve tribes of Israel
16) How many foundations did the wall have? What was written on the
foundations? (14)
- Twelve; the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb
17) What was the length, breadth, and height of the city? (16)
- 12,000 furlongs (about 1500 miles)
18) How tall was the wall? (17)
- 144 cubits (about 216 feet)
19) What was the construction of the wall? Of the city? (18)
- The wall was of jasper
- The city was of pure gold, like clear glass
20) What were the foundations of the city adorned with? (19)
- All sorts of precious stones
21) What were the twelve gates? What was the street of the city? (21)
- Twelve pearls, each gate of one pearl
- Pure gold, like transparent glass
22) Why was there no temple in the city? (22)
- The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple
23) Why was there no need for the sun or moon to shine in it? (23)
- The glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light
24) Who shall walk in its light? Who shall bring their glory and honor
into it? (24)
- The nations of those who are saved
- The kings of the earth
25) What shall not be shut at all day? What about at night? (25)
- The city's gates
- There shall be no night there
26) Who will by no means enter the city? Who will enter the city? (27)
- Anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie
- Only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012
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