A New Heaven and a New Earth
"I make all things new"
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
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What does it say?
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The whole message, in shortThe main points of the whole message, in a few sentences.
John saw a new heaven and a new earth, and the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God. A loud voice said that God's dwelling is now with people: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes," and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. The One on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." The city needs no temple and no sun, because God and the Lamb are its light, and a river of the water of life flows past the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.
Where it is in the Bible: Revelation 21:1 to 22:5
All the sections at a glanceA map of the message, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Message
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. All Things New | 21:1-4 | God will live with his people and wipe away every tear |
| 2. It Is Done | 21:5-8 | The Alpha and the Omega gives the water of life |
| 3. The Holy City | 21:9-21 | A city of gold, gates of pearl |
| 4. No Temple, No Night | 21:22-27 | God and the Lamb are its light |
| 5. The River and the Tree | 22:1-5 | Healing for the nations, and we will see his face |
Before You Read
Who wrote it. John, exiled on the island of Patmos because he preached about Jesus (1:9). Christians have long said this is John the apostle.
What this book is. Revelation is a vision full of pictures and symbols, written to seven churches facing hard times (1:4, 1:11). It shows that, whatever happens, Jesus wins.
What this passage is. The ending of the whole Bible's story. The Bible began in a garden with a tree of life (Genesis 2:9). It ends in a city with a river and a tree of life, where God lives with his people forever.
How to read it. Don't try to draw a map. These are pictures. Ask what each one says about God and his people.
Section by Section
Section 1 of 5All Things New
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more" (21:1).
In the Bible, the sea often stands for chaos and danger. Now it's gone.
John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God, beautiful as a bride on her wedding day.
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them" (21:3).
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (21:4).
"There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away" (21:4).
Section 2 of 5It Is Done
The One seated on the throne says, "Behold, I make all things new" (21:5).
"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End" (21:6).
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. God is the A to Z of everything.
"To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life" (21:6).
Those who overcome will inherit everything. Those who reject God shut themselves out.
Section 3 of 5The Holy City
An angel carries John to a high mountain to show him the city.
It shines with God's glory, clear as crystal.
It has twelve gates named for the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve foundations named for the twelve apostles. God's people from both Testaments are there.
The city is a perfect cube, huge beyond measure.
Its walls are made of jewels. "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls" (21:21). The street is pure gold, clear as glass.
Section 4 of 5No Temple, No Night
"But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (21:22).
A temple was the place to meet God. In the new city, God is everywhere.
"The glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp" (21:23).
The Lamb is Jesus.
People from every nation walk in its light. Its gates are never shut.
Everyone whose name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life is there.
Section 5 of 5The River and the Tree
The angel shows John "a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb" (22:1).
On both sides of the river grows the tree of life, with fruit every month.
"And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (22:2).
"No longer will there be any curse" (22:3).
"They will see His face" (22:4).
No more night. God himself will be their light, and they will reign with him forever.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "A new heaven and a new earth" (21:1) | God will renew his whole creation. |
| "The dwelling place of God is with man" (21:3) | God will live with his people forever. |
| "He will wipe away every tear" (21:4) | All sorrow will end. |
| "I make all things new" (21:5) | God doesn't throw creation away. He renews it. |
| "The Alpha and the Omega" (21:6) | God is the beginning and the end of everything. |
| "The Lamb is its lamp" (21:23) | Jesus is the light of the new world. |
| "The healing of the nations" (22:2) | Every wound between peoples will be healed. |
| "They will see His face" (22:4) | We will be face to face with God. |
Back Then
Patmos is a small rocky island off the coast of what is now Turkey. The Romans sent prisoners there.
The seven churches that received Revelation faced pressure to worship the emperor (2:13).
The tree of life first appears in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9, 3:22-24). After the fall, people were kept from it. Here it is open again.
Literal Reader Alert
Is the city really made of gold and jewels? These are pictures. John uses the most beautiful things he knows to describe something even better.
Will we float around in the clouds forever? No. Revelation pictures a new earth, with a city, a river, and trees. God's people live there in real, resurrected bodies.
What about people who aren't there? Revelation is honest that some reject God (21:8). But the gates are never shut, and the water of life is free to anyone who is thirsty (21:6, 22:17).
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| God's people | Comforted | Every tear is wiped away (21:4) |
| God's people | Amazed | The city shines with God's glory (21:11) |
| God's people | Thirsty | God gives the water of life freely (21:6) |
| God's people | Joyful | They will see his face (22:4) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does this vision mean to you today? Tap one.
I'm grieving
He will wipe away every tear. No more death.
I'm worn out
God makes all things new.
The world feels broken
The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
I miss someone who died in faith
God will dwell with his people, together, forever.
You Might Have Heard
"When we die, we become angels and live on clouds."
What's true: Believers who die are with the Lord (Philippians 1:23).
What the passage is mainly about: Something even better at the end: a new heaven and a new earth, where God lives with his people. "Behold, I make all things new" (21:5). We stay human, raised and renewed.
Where Jesus is: He is the Lamb, the light of the city, sharing God's throne.
Good News
The story doesn't end in sadness.
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (21:4).
God will live with his people. No more death, mourning, crying, or pain. And we will see his face.
God will make all things new. He will live with his people, wipe away every tear, and end death forever. We will see his face.
Big Idea
God will make all things new. In the new heaven and new earth, he will live with his people, wipe away every tear, and be their light forever.
If this message brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther longed for "the dear Last Day," when Christ would come and make all things new. He saw it not as a day of fear but of rescue for God's people.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year C, it reads Revelation 21:1-6 on the Fifth Sunday of Easter and Revelation 21:10, 22 to 22:5 on the Sixth. Revelation 21:1-6a is also read on All Saints Sunday in Year B. It's often read at funerals.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes
How did that feel?
You finished A New Heaven and a New Earth.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Fifth Sunday of Easter Year CSecond reading, Revelation 21:1-6
- Sixth Sunday of Easter Year CSecond reading, Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5
For a newsletter or sermon notes
A New Heaven and a New Earth, explained in plain words. The end of the Bible's story: God lives with his people and wipes away every tear. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/a-new-heaven-and-a-new-earth/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church