New Jerusalem

New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1-23, Casual English Bible

NEW WORLD WITHOUT TEARS

1I saw a new heaven and earth. The first heaven and earth were gone.  So was the sea.  2I saw the city devoted to God, New Jerusalem. God sent it floating down out of the sky. It was as ready as a bride dressed in her beautiful best—all for her husband. 3In a loud voice, the one who sat on the throne said, “Look at that! God has moved in with people! He’s going to live right there with them. They’ll be his family—people devoted to him. He’ll be the head of the family—their God devoted to them. 4God will wipe away every teardrop from every eyeball. Death will be dead and gone. It’ll take with it all the pain, tears, and grief. It’ll all be gone, along with the first heaven, earth, and sea.”

GOD SPEAKS

5Someone else  sitting on a throne said, “Look! This is a makeover; I’m making everything new.” He turned to me and said, “Write that down because you can count on it. And that’s the truth.” 6Then he added. “It’s done!  I’m the A and the Z —the start and the finish. Anyone who’s thirsty can take a drink from the spring water of life.  No charge. I’m giving them my okay. 7Anyone who wins the battle wins the prize: I’ll be their God and they’ll be my child. 8But I’ll tell you what’s going to happen to the other people—those cowards, unbelievers, and lowlifes. These are people who commit murder or sex sins. Or they practice sorcery or idolatry. They’re all liars. And they’re going to burn for it. They’re going to land in the lake of fire that feeds on sulfur. That’s the Second Death.

INVITATION FROM AN ANGEL

9Then an angel came to me. He was one of the seven who dumped the seven bowls of disaster on the world. He said, “Come with me. I’d like you to see the Lamb’s bride.” 10He took my spirit up to a mountain that was massive and high. He let me watch as the sacred city of Jerusalem descended out of heaven, sent down by God. 11The city glowed with the glory of God’s radiance. It shined like a jewel, like a jasper stone polished clear as crystal.

BUILDER’S GRADE IN NEW JERUSALEM

12Walls framed the city. These walls were enormous and high. They had a dozen gates, each with its own angel. Inscribed on every gate was the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel.  13There were three gates on each of the city’s four sides—north, south, east, and west. 14City walls sat on a dozen stone foundations. Each foundation carried the name of one of the Lamb’s 12 apostles. 15The angel brought a gold measuring stick to measure the city, the gates, and the wall. 16The city was shaped like a cube, and the angel measured it with the rod. New Jerusalem is 1,380 miles (2,220 km) long and wide. It’s also 1,380 miles (2,220 km) high. 17The angel measured the wall at 72 yards (66 m) thick. That’s according to the measuring system used by both humans and angels. They use the same system: cubits. 18City walls were crafted from jasper. The city itself was built of gold, clear as glass. 19Foundation stones under the walls were embedded with a dozen different jewels: jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, 20onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst. 21The dozen gates were made of pearl—each gate cut from a single massive pearl. The streets were paved in gold, clear as glass.

NEW JERUSALEM’S ENERGY SOURCE

22I looked around and I didn’t see a temple anywhere in the city. They don’t need a place to worship God. He’s already there. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple. 23New Jerusalem doesn’t have a sun or a moon. Doesn’t need them. God himself lights the city. The Lamb of God is the light. 24The light of this city will guide people everywhere, in countries all over the earth. World leaders will come, in dignity and honor. 25The gates will never close. No need. It’s always daytime. No such thing as nighttime.