In today’s daily devotional, we journey into the awe-inspiring vision of Revelation 21. This chapter offers a breathtaking glimpse of the new heaven and new earth, where God will dwell with His people forever. Have you ever wondered what heaven will look like, or what it will be like to live in the presence of God?
Revelation 21 reveals a future filled with hope, beauty, and eternal joy. It is a promise of all things made new—a place where tears, death, and pain are no more. As we explore this chapter together, let us reflect on the glory of God’s ultimate plan and the invitation extended to each of us to be a part of it. Will your name be found in the Lamb’s book of life?
Let’s discover the way to heaven and marvel at its splendor. To explore the thousand year reign, read the daily devotional on Revelation 20.
Revelation 21 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today, we are in the second to the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, Revelation 21. We will learn about the new heaven and the new earth, hallelujah! Do you wonder what heaven will look like, what it will be like? Please read or listen to Revelation 21.
Where in the Bible Does It Say God Will Dwell with Man?
In 1995, my journal records my response to Revelation 21, “A new heaven and a new earth. Praise God! God Himself will dwell among men! The bride, the new Jerusalem. No temple, for the Lord is its temple.”
What Does the Bible Say About Making All Things New?
In 2008, I got even more excited about Revelation 21 (NASB). I wrote, “There will be both a new heaven and new earth. What we think we know about heaven and earth now will be no more. God will dwell among men! I love this. ‘And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”’ (v. 5). Who is in heaven? ‘He who overcomes’ (v. 7). Who is not?” I referred to the list in verse 8. “There is a hell, an eternal hell.”
Will God Live in the New Jerusalem?
I continued to write, “Jerusalem, the Holy City.” Then I referred to verse 14, “John says there are twelve foundation stones and written are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. He is one of those names! But he doesn’t say that, does he? Heaven is about Him, not about us. We may not all live in the new Jerusalem, according to verses 24-26. How do we get in? Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, according to verse 27.”
I recorded my prayer. “Wow. Hallelujah! Praise, honor, and glory to God! Jesus, Holy Spirit, Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, Alpha and Omega, Word of God, Lion of Judah, King of kings, Lord of lords, I worship You, praise You. Nothing else can be said or done.”
In 2013, I was just as excited after reading this chapter, even after splitting it into two days. On day one I wrote, “Not only will earth pass away, but heaven, too. In the new Jerusalem, God and men will dwell together. No longer an angel speaking to John, but the One seated on the throne. Jesus says again, all will not be in heaven.”
How Is Heaven Described in Revelation 21?
The second day I wrote, “The Bride, the wife of the Lamb. Interesting, no marriage in heaven, but a marriage supper and a bride for the Lamb.” I continued, “The Holy City Jerusalem having the glory of God. A cubit, about a 1,000 miles per side. About half as wide as the United States but much deeper. Enough for millions of souls. Pure gold, full of sparkling jewels and the very presence of God and those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Heaven, in the presence of God forever, is why we live life on earth. The day will come. Evil will be defeated. Eternity is on its way. One must be sure to be in the Lamb’s book of life. There is no other way in.”
Again, I share my prayer notes, “Speechless. Overwhelmed by the reality of heaven and eternity with God, yet desperate to help people to get there. Greatly concerned about all in my family getting in. Jesus, open doors to witness. Holy Spirit, draw people to You. Use me.”
In Revelation 21, we get a glimpse of heaven:
‘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. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new” (vs. 3-5).
That is the day we look for. That is the description of heaven we long for. As I wrote in my journal, that is what living on earth is all about. It is about getting to heaven.
How Big Is the Heaven in Revelation?
How big is heaven? Big enough for everybody to be in it. Twelve thousand stadia. My English Standard Version Study Bible footnote says, “1,380 miles” (p. 2495), heaven’s length, width, and height. There will be plenty of room for you and me. It will be a Holy City coming down out of heaven. “(I)ts radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (v. 11).
“(T)he city was pure gold, like clear glass” (v. 18). “(A)dorned with every kind of jewel” (v. 19). “(A)nd the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass” (v. 21). But there will be, “no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” (v. 22). There will be no sun, no moon, “for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (v. 23). That is a glimpse of heaven. I hope you want to be there.
What Does Revelation 21 Verse 27 Mean?
The last verse of this chapter tells us how. It is the same way we learned throughout the Book of Revelation, “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (v. 27).
I hope you want to be in heaven. I hope you want to be on the streets of pure gold. I hope you want to be where God Almighty reigns forever and ever. I hope you want to be where there is no more crying, no more pain, no more death.
What Must I Do for My Name to Be Written in the Book of Life?
Our application today is to be sure we get into heaven. How? By being sure your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. How? By accepting the price Jesus paid on the cross at Calvary. By accepting His forgiveness of sin. By repenting and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. By adorning one of those white robes dipped in His blood. Old things will pass away. All things will become new. Will you be there? To Him who sits on the throne, we pray.
Prayer
Thank You for giving us a glimpse of heaven. Thank You for giving us the way to get into heaven. Thank You so much, it does not depend on what we do, but who we believe in. Jesus, thank You for coming as the Lamb of God, the sacrifice for sinners slain. Thank You for opening heaven’s door to each one of us who will believe in You. We bow our hearts humbly before You and say thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
