Revelation Chapter 21
Context
The first word of this chapter is "Then", meaning that it begins in the same context as chapter 20 ends. So, what was happening in chapter 20? It is mostly about the 1000 years after Christ's return, ending with =>
- satan's release,
- the 2nd resurrection,
- the attack on Jerusalem and on God's people resulting with the fire from Heaven destroying the attackers,
- satan thrown in the "fiery lake of burning sulfur",
- and the judgement.
- "Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire."(Revelation 20:14-15)
Here is a study on Rev20 => http://sidnash.org/docs/Rev20.html
Revelation 21:1 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 Peter 3:10-13 But ... the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up 11 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I{Jehovah} create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create...
Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your seed and your name remain.
Revelation 3:12 He that overcometh, I{Jesus} will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.
Did you know that Jesus has a God? See http://sidnash.org/t/TheGodOfJesus.html
Revelation 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Notice that the new Jerusalem doesn't come down from Heaven until after "the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared" and "a new earth" was created. So, "the beloved city" could not have been the "new Jerusalem" that was attacked by satan and his hoards of people at the end of chapter 20. More about that here => http://sidnash.org/MK/BelovedVSHolyCity.html
Revelation 19:7-8 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Regarding "the marriage feast of the Lamb", here is a link to the pertinent Bible texts => http://sidnash.org/b/Ayj
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Look, God’s home is now among his people!, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God{Jehovah (see below)} himself shall be with them, and be their God:
Notice the "great voice out of the throne" was talking about God, so it must be someone other than God - an angel or Christ? Rev7:17 says that Christ "is in the midst of the throne". So, it is likely Christ who is speaking here.
Ezekiel 37:27-28 My tabernacle also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the nations shall know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
Revelation 21:4-5 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. 5 And the one{Jehovah} 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.
Notice "the one sitting on the throne" is speaking now. Who is this? Christ? Maybe, but, even though Christ has a throne, the phrase, "the throne" seems to indicate Father Jehovah's throne. Also, the "great voice" is speaking of God wiping "away every tear" and this is attributed to Jehovah by Isaiah in the text below. Since God is talking about creating "everything new", this also makes me think this is Father God speaking. He then tells John to "Write this down" which makes me think the scene is now changing.
Isaiah 25:8 He hath swallowed up death for ever; and the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces...
Revelation 7:17 for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life: and God{Jehovah} shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.
As we now continue in Rev21, it seems Father God is now summarizing the things that the angel has been showing John in visions.
Revelation 21:6-7 And he said unto me, It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is thirsty the springs of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Remember that Jesus taught us to consider His Father to be our Father. He never referred to Himself as our Father, so this must be Father God speaking here. However, Jesus said similar things about water, as we see in the following texts...
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.(Jesus)
John 7:37-38 ... Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation 21:8 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.
Remember, God is still summarizing the things that were previously shown to John in vision.
Notice that "those who practice witchcraft" is also interpreted " sorcerers" in the KJV. This comes from the Greek word φαρμακεύς pharmakeús, far-mak-yoos', meaning a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, or some times a magician. This definition is from "Strong's Greek Dictionary" 5332.
Ephesians 5:5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.(Paul)
Revelation 22:15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
Revelation 21:9 And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spoke with me, saying, Come hither, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
Now we saw an angel speaking to John again. The wording seems to indicate that John is about to receive another vision...
Revelation 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (It was one of these 7 angels that showed John "the bride, the wife of the Lamb.")
Revelation 21:10-12 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.
John said, the angel "carried me away in the Spirit". This indicates another vision given to John by an angel. Now John sees more detail about the new Jerusalem that came down from heaven.
Ezekiel 48:31-34 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. 32 And at the east side 4,500 reeds by measure: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. 33 And at the south side 4,500 reeds by measure: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 34 At the west side 4,500 reeds by measure, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
Revelation 21:13-14 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Ephesians 2:19-21 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Revelation 21:15-20 The angel that spake with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits{about 216 feet thick} (according to the human standard used by the angel). 18 And the building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with twelve precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, agate; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, onyx; the sixth, carnelian; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22 And I saw no temple in the city: for the Lord God the Almighty{Father Jehovah}, and the Lamb{Jesus}, are its temple. 23 And the city hath no need of the sun or moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is its light.
Can you imagine a city that is 2250 kilometers wide, long and high - a cube that is 2250 km on every side! Not only that, but the walls are 350 km thick!
Isaiah 60:19-20 “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for Jehovah your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For Jehovah will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end.
Revelation 22:5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 21:24-27 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )
-Sid Nash: 04/26/2025. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/Rev21.html