What happensPermalink
John sees a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells forever with His people and tears, death, mourning, and pain have all passed away. An angel shows him the New Jerusalem, radiant with God’s glory, its immense walls and jeweled foundations surrounding a city of perfect holiness. The city has no temple or need of sun or moon, for the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple and light. Nothing unclean will ever enter it.
Why it mattersPermalink
With death destroyed, God renews creation as His people’s eternal home. The holy bride-city replaces Babylon, the prostitute-city: exploitation and bloodshed give way to glory and holiness. The New Jerusalem fulfills the tabernacle and temple, because God Himself dwells with His people forever. The renewed declaration “It is done!” answers 16:17: judgment has cleared the way for complete salvation.
Key versePermalink
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.