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Revelation 21:1-6a

The New Jerusalem

John Led to the New Jerusalem (Cloisters Apocalypse, f. 36v), Unknown illuminator (French)
John Led to the New Jerusalem (Cloisters Apocalypse, f. 36v), Unknown illuminator (French), c. 1330The Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York · public domain

Overview & Insights

“See, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)

The final vision of Revelation (21:1–22:5) highlights the primary goal and theme of the entire book and all of Scripture: God’s presence among his people in the new creation. From the time sin and death intruded upon God’s good creation, God purposed to defeat his enemies and live among his people in a new garden city. This final vision of Revelation represents the fulfillment of the promises to those who overcome (Rev. 2–3), the full realization of the throne-room worship (4–5), the answer to the martyrs’ prayer (6:9–11), the goal of the judgments (6–16), and the outcome of the final conflict with evil (17–19). The present unit (21:1–8) serves as a transition between God’s final victory (19:6–20:15) and the new creation (21:1–22:5). Just as 20:4–10 and 20:11–15 provide two versions of the final judgment of the wicked, so 21:1–8 and 21:9–22:5 offer a double vision of the eternal state.

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Questions preachers ask

Does the new Jerusalem come down, or do people go up to it?

It comes down. John sees the holy city descending out of heaven from God, and hears that God’s home is now among mortals. The direction of travel is the whole consolation of the passage.

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