REVELATION 21
NEW HEAVEN, NEW EARTH, NEW JERUSALEM
In his vision, John sees a new heaven and new earth. The first heaven and earth are no more, they have passed away. John sees a new holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. Jerusalem is presented like a bride adorned for her new husband.
A loud voice calls out, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” God’s presence was no longer within the temple, but everywhere, filling the new heavens and earth. Because of God’s perfect presence, there will be no more tears, death, or mourning. When believers are reunited with God in the new Jerusalem, there will be no more pain or sadness.
Jesus, seated at the throne says “Behold, I am making all things new.” John is told to document what he sees, trusting this vision of God. Because of Jesus’s victory, all sin and separation are finished. God is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. What He created, He will redeem and complete.
One of the angels speaks to John, saying “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” The angel shows John the holy city of the new Jerusalem. It is radiant, like a jewel or crystal. It has twelve gates, with twelve angels, named after the twelve tribes. Similarly, it has twelve foundations, each named after the twelve apostles.
The angel carries a rod to measure the gates and walls of the cities. Measuring the giant city, John realizes that the city is made of pure gold and adorned with every kind of jewel. The gates are made of a single large pearl and the streets made of pure, transparent gold.
In the new Jerusalem, there is no need for a temple, God’s presence is the temple! There is also no need for the sun or the moon to shine, because God’s glory provides light. Similarly, there is no need for the gates to be shut, because nothing unclean or false ever enters the New Jerusalem.
REVELATION 22
THE RIVER OF LIFE + RETURN OF JESUS
In his vision, John is shown the river of life. The water flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb, through the middle of the new Jerusalem. On either side of the river, is the tree of life, which yielded twelve tribes of fruit. The fruit of the tree that God protected Adam and Eve from eating was now freely available to all of His people (See Genesis 3). The leaves of the tree provide healing for the nations, giving God’s people eternal unity and peace. God reverses every curse that occurred in Eden!
John is instructed to write down what he saw, showing God’s words as trustworthy and true. This vision was sent to John to show what would soon take place. John hears that Jesus is coming back soon and the ones who trust in the words of God’s prophecy will be blessed.
When John hears this and sees these things, he is overcome with worship. John is instructed to worship God alone and share the prophecy of this book. The time is near for Jesus’s return and John is taught to pursue truth, righteousness, and holiness.
As Jesus’s return nears, John teaches that those who wash their robes in the righteousness of Jesus will be blessed. Jesus offers payment for our sins through trusting in Him. Those who believe in Christ as the payment for sin will be welcomed into eternal life.
The Holy Spirit and the Church welcome others to come to Jesus, inviting all who are thirsty to drink the living water. This invitation is similar to the words of Jesus talking to the woman at the well. He invited the woman to drink from the well that never runs dry, which is the same invitation for all believers (See John 4).
John warns readers not to add or subtract their own words to God’s Word. Despite the complexities of this book, John reminds readers to discern what God has clearly revealed and not make their own assumptions.
John ends this letter of prophecy, and the entirety of Scripture, by telling of the victory and return of Jesus. “Come, Lord Jesus!”