Read & explore together
A New Heaven and a New Earth
This vision shows God making everything new. It speaks about a new creation, God living with his people, the end of death and pain, and a serious warning about those whose place is in the second death.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this part of Revelation, John reports what he saw and heard. The passage stays in the language of vision and proclamation: a new heaven and earth, a city coming from God, a loud voice, and words from the one seated on the throne.
Revelation 21:1–8Main takeaway
Revelation 21:1–8 presents a vision of God making all things new, living with his people, and separating this hope from the second death.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A new creation appearsJohn first says, “I saw”, reminding us this is a vision. He sees a new heaven and a new earth because the first ones have passed away.
Explanation
John first says, “I saw”, reminding us this is a vision. He sees a new heaven and a new earth because the first ones have passed away. He also says the sea is no more. The verse states the change plainly without explaining every image in detail.
02The holy city comes from GodJohn then sees “the holy city, New Jerusalem” coming down out of heaven from God. It is “prepared like a bride adorned for her husband”.
Explanation
John then sees “the holy city, New Jerusalem” coming down out of heaven from God. It is “prepared like a bride adorned for her husband”. The comparison shows beauty and readiness. The text presents the city as God’s gift, coming from him rather than being built by people.
03God will dwell with peopleA loud voice announces the heart of the vision: God’s dwelling is with people. The repeated words “dwell”, “his people”, and “with them” stress closeness and belonging.
Explanation
A loud voice announces the heart of the vision: God’s dwelling is with people. The repeated words “dwell”, “his people”, and “with them” stress closeness and belonging. The next verse explains the result. Tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain are no more because the first things have passed away.
04The one on the throne speaksThe speaker on the throne declares, “I am making all things new.” John is told to write because these words are “faithful and true”.
Explanation
The speaker on the throne declares, “I am making all things new.” John is told to write because these words are “faithful and true”. He also says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End”, and promises the water of life freely to the thirsty.
05Promise and warning togetherThe passage ends with both promise and warning. The one who overcomes receives these things and belongs to God in a close relationship.
Explanation
The passage ends with both promise and warning. The one who overcomes receives these things and belongs to God in a close relationship. In contrast, verse 8 lists kinds of people whose part is in the lake of fire and sulfur, called “the second death”. The warning is solemn and direct.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the passage say has passed away, and what does God make new?
Look at the opening vision and the throne’s announcement to connect the passing of the first things with God making all things new.
02How many ways does the passage describe God being close to his people?
Notice the repeated words about dwelling, being with them, and being their God.
03What two opposite outcomes are set side by side at the end of the passage?
Compare the promise to the one who overcomes with the warning about the second death.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Revelation 21:1–8
1I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.
2I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people; and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”
5He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”
6He said to me, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.
7He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.
8But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”