Revelation 21 1

Revelation 21:1 kjv

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:1 nkjv

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:1 niv

Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

Revelation 21:1 esv

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Revelation 21:1 nlt

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

Revelation 21 verses

Revelation 21 1 Meaning

Revelation 21:1 introduces John's vision of the eternal state, where God establishes a completely renewed creation, free from the imperfections and chaotic elements of the former age. It describes a qualitative newness in the heavens and the earth, signifying not merely a temporal shift but a profound transformation and purification of the cosmos, which now perfectly aligns with God's holy dwelling. The emphatic declaration that "the sea was no more" symbolizes the cessation of all chaos, separation, and sources of ungodly powers that characterized the previous creation. This verse signals the culmination of God's redemptive plan and the beginning of perfect, unbroken fellowship between God and humanity in a sanctified environment.

Revelation 21 1 Context

Revelation 21:1 opens the final vision of God's redemptive plan in the book of Revelation, portraying the ultimate state of blessedness for the redeemed. This verse follows directly from Revelation chapter 20, which details the millennium, the final battle against evil (Gog and Magog), the judgment of the devil, and the Great White Throne Judgment for all humanity. With the forces of evil completely defeated and all the dead judged according to their deeds, the stage is set for a radically new and eternal order. The "first heaven and first earth" described as "passing away" is directly linked to Revelation 20:11, where "earth and sky fled away" from the presence of the one seated on the great white throne, leaving no place for them. Therefore, Revelation 21:1 introduces the glorious replacement of the fallen and judged cosmos with a new creation, symbolizing the final victory of God and the establishment of His perfect kingdom for eternity. Historically and culturally for John's original audience, who faced persecution and the apparent triumph of the Roman Empire, this vision offered immense hope and assurance of God's ultimate sovereignty and renewal, affirming His control over history and creation.

Revelation 21 1 Word analysis

• And: (καί - kai) Connects this glorious new vision directly to the preceding events of judgment and the removal of the old order in Revelation 20. It signals continuity in the divine narrative.
• I: (ἐγώ - egō) Refers to John, the apostle and visionary. It emphasizes his personal witness to these momentous events.
• saw: (εἶδον - eidon) Indicating a profound, direct spiritual experience, a divine revelation rather than mere observation. It carries authority and certainty.
• a new: (καινὸν - kainon) This is the Greek adjective kainos. It does not mean new in time (as neos would), but new in nature, quality, character, and kind. It implies renovation, freshness, and superiority to what preceded it. It suggests transformation and renewal rather than total annihilation and recreation ex nihilo in the sense of absolute replacement, though it's a radical transformation.
• heaven: (οὐρανὸν - ouranon) In biblical cosmology, "heaven" (singular) refers to the atmospheric heaven, the celestial realm, and metaphorically, God's dwelling place. Here, in conjunction with "earth," it refers to the entirety of the created cosmos.
• and: (καὶ - kai) Connects "new heaven" with "new earth," forming a single concept of a wholly renewed cosmos.
• a new: (καινὴν - kainēn) Again, kainos, emphasizing qualitative renewal, not just a different one in sequence.
• earth: (γῆν - gēn) Refers to the physical world, the inhabited earth. Together with "heaven," it encompasses the whole physical creation.
• for: (γὰρ - gar) A causal conjunction, explaining why a new heaven and earth were seen – because the former had passed away. It provides the reason and necessity for this transformation.
• the first: (ὁ πρῶτος - ho prōtos) Denotes the initial, previous, or former. It signifies the created order that has now completed its purpose and is succeeded by something different.
• heaven: (οὐρανὸς - ouranos) Refers to the former atmospheric and celestial realm.
• and: (καὶ - kai) Connects the first heaven and first earth, indicating the former complete cosmos.
• the first: (ἡ πρώτη - hē prōtē) Refers to the initial, former earth.
• had passed away: (ἀπῆλθον - apēlthon and παρῆλθεν - parēlchen in various manuscripts; related to parerchomai) This verb indicates disappearance, passing out of existence, or moving away. In the context of "new" (kainos), it suggests the dissolution of the old order, its corruption, and its sinful aspects, leading to a state where it is no longer. It can mean to vanish or to be transformed in function and essence. The emphasis is on its removal to make way for the perfect new.
• and: (καὶ - kai) Connects the passing of the heaven and earth with the absence of the sea.
• the sea: (ἡ θάλασσα - hē thalassa) Symbolically significant. In ancient thought, the sea was often associated with chaos, instability, unpredictable forces, and the dwelling of monstrous entities (e.g., Leviathan). In Revelation, it is often linked to the source of evil empires (Rev 13:1).
• was no more: (οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι - ouk estin eti) An emphatic statement of absolute cessation. Its non-existence in the new creation is highly significant, symbolizing the removal of all sources of chaos, turmoil, rebellion, separation, and evil that characterize the old world. It implies perfect peace, order, and unity in the new heavens and new earth.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth": This phrase directly echoes Old Testament prophecy (Isa 65:17, 66:22), fulfilling long-standing promises of God's radical cosmic renewal. The emphasis on "new" (kainos) points to a fundamental qualitative transformation rather than simple annihilation and replacement. It's not a different location, but a cleansed, purified, and perfected version of the original creation, suited for God's holy presence.
• "for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away": This explains the necessity of the new creation. The "first" cosmos, tainted by sin, rebellion, and mortality, is utterly dissolved in its corrupted state. This 'passing away' can be understood as its functional end, or a fiery purification, as described in 2 Peter 3:10, leading to its metamorphosis into the 'new'. It implies a profound disengagement from all its former weaknesses, transience, and sinful elements.
• "and the sea was no more": This specific detail carries immense symbolic weight. The sea in biblical symbolism often represents separation (Red Sea), chaotic forces, restless nations, and the source of demonic power or beasts that oppose God (e.g., Dan 7, Rev 13). Its definitive removal signifies the absence of all evil, rebellion, turmoil, and anything that separates humanity from God or from each other. It speaks of ultimate peace, perfect order, and immediate access to God's presence, with no barriers or threatening powers remaining.

Revelation 21 1 Bonus section

The concept of "new heavens and a new earth" addresses a fundamental theological question regarding the fate of the physical universe. This verse, combined with 2 Peter 3, supports the idea that the creation is not simply discarded or replaced with an ethereal, non-physical realm, but is rather sanctified and glorified. This provides theological grounding for the importance of the material world and underscores God's commitment to fully redeem not just humanity but also the very stage upon which redemption is played out. It points to a redeemed physicality, aligning with the bodily resurrection of believers, confirming God's original declaration of creation as "good." The "sea" in biblical narrative is often a metaphor for things that need to be conquered or contained to bring about order (e.g., the crossing of the Red Sea as an act of deliverance). Its absence, therefore, not only signifies the absence of chaos but also implies that all forms of separation, both geographical and spiritual, that hinder God's perfect dwelling among His people will cease to exist.

Revelation 21 1 Commentary

Revelation 21:1 opens the grand finale of God's redemptive history, presenting the eternal state of the cosmos following the consummation of all things. John's vision of a "new heaven and a new earth" signifies God's ultimate restoration of creation, a complete spiritual and physical renewal that surpasses the former order in every way. The key here is the Greek word kainos for "new," which emphasizes qualitative newness, superior and fresh, rather than mere chronological sequence (neos). This implies that the current heaven and earth are not annihilated into nothingness but undergo a profound transformation and purification, shedding all corrupting elements and effects of sin to become perfectly suited for God's eternal dwelling.

The reason for this dramatic change is clear: "the first heaven and the first earth had passed away." This underscores the inability of the sin-marred creation to serve as the eternal home for God and His redeemed people. This passing away is the culmination of events described earlier, particularly in Revelation 20:11 and 2 Peter 3, where the old creation flees from God's presence and is subjected to fiery judgment.

Perhaps the most striking detail of this verse is "and the sea was no more." Far from being a mere geographical alteration, this statement is deeply symbolic. In the Old Testament and apocalyptic literature, the "sea" frequently represented chaos, Gentile nations in tumult, sources of evil and separation, or the very dwelling place of monstrous beasts opposed to God (e.g., Leviathan, or the beast from the sea in Revelation 13). Its removal from the new creation signifies the complete cessation of all rebellion against God, all chaos, unrest, and everything that would separate His people. It speaks of absolute peace, order, perfect unity, and unimpeded access to God. No more threatening storms, no more hostile nations, no more demonic powers emerging. It ushers in an era of profound tranquility and intimacy with the Divine. This verse, therefore, declares the eternal establishment of righteousness, peace, and uninterrupted fellowship between God and humanity in a perfectly renewed cosmos.