Study Desk

A New Heaven and a New Earth

Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth,"^[a](a) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,^(b) and there was no longer any sea.

I saw the Holy City,^(c) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(d) prepared as a bride^(e) beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.^(f) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.^(g)

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(h) There will be no more death'^[b](i) or mourning or crying or pain,^(j) for the old order of things has passed away."^(k)

He who was seated on the throne^(l) said, "I am making everything new!"^(m) Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."⁽ⁿ⁾

He said to me: "It is done.^(o) I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(p) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost^(q) from the spring of the water of life.^(r)

Those who are victorious^(s) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.^(t)

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars^(u)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.^(v) This is the second death."^(w)

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues^(x) came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride,^(y) the wife of the Lamb."

And he carried me away^(z) in the Spirit^(aa) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.^(ab)

It shone with the glory of God,^(ac) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,^(ad) clear as crystal.^(ae)

It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,^(af) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.^(ag)

There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.

The wall of the city had twelve foundations,^(ah) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles^(ai) of the Lamb.

The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod^(aj) of gold to measure the city, its gates^(ak) and its walls.

The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia^[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long.

The angel measured the wall using human^(al) measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[d] thick.^[e]

The wall was made of jasper,^(am) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.^(an)

The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.^(ao) The first foundation was jasper,^(ap) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,

the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,^(aq) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.^[f]

The twelve gates^(ar) were twelve pearls,^(as) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.^(at)

I did not see a temple^(au) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty^(av) and the Lamb^(aw) are its temple.

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God^(ax) gives it light,^(ay) and the Lamb^(az) is its lamp.

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.^(ba)

On no day will its gates^(bb) ever be shut,^(bc) for there will be no night there.^(bd)

The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.^(be)

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,^(bf) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.^(bg)

Eden Restored

Then the angel showed me the river^(a) of the water of life,^(b) as clear as crystal,^(c) flowing^(d) from the throne of God and of the Lamb

down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,^(e) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.^(f)

No longer will there be any curse.^(g) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.^(h)

They will see his face,⁽ⁱ⁾ and his name will be on their foreheads.^(j)

There will be no more night.^(k) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.^(l) And they will reign for ever and ever.^(m)

The angel said to me,⁽ⁿ⁾ "These words are trustworthy and true.^(o) The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,^(p) sent his angel^(q) to show his servants the things that must soon take place."

"Look, I am coming soon!^(r) Blessed^(s) is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll."^(t)

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.^(u) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet^(v) of the angel who had been showing them to me.

But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll.^(w) Worship God!"^(x)

Then he told me, "Do not seal up^(y) the words of the prophecy of this scroll,^(z) because the time is near.^(aa)

Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy."^(ab)

"Look, I am coming soon!^(ac) My reward is with me,^(ad) and I will give to each person according to what they have done.^(ae)

I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(af) the First and the Last,^(ag) the Beginning and the End.^(ah)

"Blessed are those who wash their robes,^(ai) that they may have the right to the tree of life^(aj) and may go through the gates^(ak) into the city.^(al)

Outside^(am) are the dogs,^(an) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

"I, Jesus,^(ao) have sent my angel^(ap) to give you^[a] this testimony for the churches.^(aq) I am the Root^(ar) and the Offspring of David,^(as) and the bright Morning Star."^(at)

The Spirit^(au) and the bride^(av) say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.^(aw)

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:^(ax) If anyone adds anything to them,^(ay) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.^(az)

And if anyone takes words away^(ba) from this scroll of prophecy,^(bb) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life^(bc) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

He who testifies to these things^(bd) says, "Yes, I am coming soon."^(be) Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.^(bf)

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people.^(bg) Amen.