Revelation 21:5 kjv
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:5 nkjv
Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
Revelation 21:5 niv
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Revelation 21:5 esv
And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Revelation 21:5 nlt
And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true."
Revelation 21 5 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Divine Authority & Throne | ||
Psa 9:7 | But the LORD sits enthroned forever... | God's eternal reign from His throne |
Isa 6:1 | I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up... | Vision of God's exalted throne |
Dan 7:9 | "I saw thrones placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat..." | God's sovereign presence & judgment |
Rev 4:2 | At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven... | The throne as the center of divine power |
Rev 5:13 | "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing..." | Worship directed to God on the throne |
Rev 7:10 | "...Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" | Salvation emanating from God on the throne |
New Creation & Renewal | ||
Isa 43:18-19 | "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing..." | Prophecy of God initiating something entirely new |
Isa 65:17-18 | "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth..." | Prophecy of the ultimate new creation |
Isa 66:22 | "For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make..." | God's promise of everlasting new creation |
Jer 31:31 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant..." | God's innovative work of covenant renewal |
2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away... | Spiritual newness for believers now |
Gal 6:15 | For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. | New creation as essential for Christian life |
Rom 8:19-21 | For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God... | Creation's anticipation of restoration |
2 Pet 3:13 | But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth... | Apostolic expectation of the promised new creation |
Eph 2:15 | ...that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two... | Creation of a new humanity in Christ |
Acts 3:21 | ...whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all things... | Universal restoration awaited in Christ |
Matt 19:28 | "...in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne..." | Renewal/Regeneration of creation mentioned |
Rev 21:1 | Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... | Introduction to the New Creation Vision |
Faithful & True Words/Promises | ||
Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant... | God's character as faithful |
Psa 33:4 | For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. | God's words and works are trustworthy |
Psa 119:90 | Your faithfulness endures to all generations... | God's unchanging truth and reliability |
Isa 25:1 | O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and true. | God's plans are always faithful and true |
1 Cor 1:9 | God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son... | God's faithfulness in calling believers |
1 Thes 5:24 | He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. | God's faithfulness guarantees fulfillment |
Heb 10:23 | Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. | God's promises are guaranteed by His nature |
Rev 1:5 | ...and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead... | Christ as the faithful one |
Rev 3:14 | "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness..." | Christ as the ultimate faithful and true witness |
Rev 19:11 | Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True... | Christ described as Faithful and True |
Command to Write | ||
Hab 2:2 | And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets..." | Divine command to record prophecy for clarity |
Rev 1:19 | "Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this." | Command to John to record his entire vision |
Rev 14:13 | And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on..." | Another specific command to write |
Rev 19:9 | And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." | Command to record a blessing |
Revelation 21 verses
Revelation 21 5 Meaning
Revelation 21:5 presents a profound declaration from God Himself, seated on His majestic throne, affirming His supreme authority and omnipotence. The core message is His solemn vow to enact a complete and qualitative renewal of all creation, transforming every aspect into something fresh, superior, and unprecedented. This divine utterance is then followed by a direct command to John to record these words, emphasizing their absolute reliability, trustworthiness, and eternal truth, providing ultimate assurance of their certain fulfillment.
Revelation 21 5 Context
Revelation 21:5 immediately follows John’s description of the "new heaven and new earth" (Rev 21:1) and the descending "holy city, new Jerusalem" (Rev 21:2). Verses 3 and 4 further elaborate on this renewed existence, portraying God's dwelling among humanity, the abolition of pain, sorrow, death, and tears. These initial verses set the scene for the ultimate culmination of God's redemptive plan. Verse 5 is the divine voice from the very throne of God, solidifying these profound truths. It acts as a divine declaration of assurance and an emphatic confirmation that the prior visions are not mere fantasy but a guaranteed reality rooted in God's nature and power. This climactic declaration signifies the ultimate triumph over evil, sin, and suffering, establishing an eternal order where God's presence transforms all things. It brings the biblical narrative, which began with creation and its fall, to its glorious completion in recreation.
Revelation 21 5 Word analysis
- And He who sits on the throne: (Greek: ho kathēmenos epi tou thronou). This phrase unmistakably identifies the speaker as God the Father, the supreme sovereign of the universe. The "throne" signifies absolute authority, ultimate power, and universal dominion. This emphasizes that the following declaration originates from the highest possible authority, ensuring its complete fulfillment. It is a stark contrast to earthly powers and false deities.
- said: A declaration from the Almighty, signaling a divine fiat or authoritative decree.
- “Behold”: (Greek: Idou). An interjection calling for urgent attention, highlighting the profound importance and awe-inspiring nature of the declaration that follows. It commands the reader to fix their mind on this astounding truth.
- “I am making”: (Greek: poiō, a present tense verb). The use of the present tense can denote an ongoing process or, more emphatically in prophecy, the absolute certainty and imminent nature of its fulfillment. It’s a divine creative act in progress or definitively set to occur, signifying powerful divine agency and initiative. This isn't just a promise; it's a statement of active divine work.
- “all things”: (Greek: panta). This term signifies comprehensive scope. It means literally "everything"—not just a few things or certain aspects, but the entire created order, spiritual, physical, and relational, that has been marred by the Fall. The renewal is total, extending to all reality.
- “new”: (Greek: kaina). This is crucial. It does not mean neos (new in terms of recentness or chronology, e.g., a new car fresh from the factory). Instead, kaina denotes new in quality, kind, or essence; fresh, unprecedented, superior, transformative. It implies a radical re-creation and qualitative enhancement rather than just a chronological replacement or minor repair. It's a fundamental renovation and transformation of existing reality into a purer, perfect form.
- "He who sits on the throne said": This entire phrase establishes the absolute divine origin and authority of the following words, ensuring their incontrovertible truth and certainty. It positions God as the active agent and initiator of this grand cosmic renewal.
- "I am making all things new": This powerful declaration reveals God's ultimate plan of re-creation and restoration. It is a sovereign decree that overturns the effects of sin and the Fall. The ongoing "making" speaks to God's continuous work and His unwavering purpose for His creation. The comprehensiveness of "all things" indicates that no aspect of creation will be left untouched by this transformative process, reaching far beyond just physical matter to include moral and spiritual realities. This phrase directly echoes prophetic promises from Isaiah.
- "Also He said, 'Write'": This second command emphasizes the crucial nature of documenting these truths. It assures future generations that these are not transient visions but revealed facts, intended for communication and reliable transmission. The act of writing makes it permanent and authoritative.
- "for these words are faithful and true": This concluding phrase acts as an authentication stamp directly from God. "Faithful" (Greek: pistoi) means reliable, trustworthy, utterly dependable; God will surely do what He says. "True" (Greek: alēthinoi) means genuine, authentic, corresponding to ultimate reality, not illusory or deceptive. Together, these words affirm the absolute certainty and divine guarantee of the New Creation described.
Revelation 21 5 Bonus section
The promise to "make all things new" is foundational to Christian eschatology. It not only looks forward to a future cosmic renewal but also implies a present reality for believers. Through Christ, believers are already a "new creation" (2 Cor 5:17), experiencing the spiritual transformation that is a foretaste of the grander, final cosmic renewal. The qualitative "newness" (kainos) extends to the new covenant (Jer 31:31), the new man (Eph 2:15), and the new song (Rev 5:9), showing a pervasive theme of God's transformative work throughout history and climaxing in the consummation described in Revelation. This divine declaration stands as the antidote to humanity's yearning for perfection and offers solace in the face of ongoing brokenness and suffering, guaranteeing a future state aligned with God's perfect will.
Revelation 21 5 Commentary
Revelation 21:5 stands as the resounding declaration of God’s ultimate triumph and transformative power. Following the description of a renewed universe, this verse provides the divine signature to those visions: the Almighty God, seated in sovereign authority, personally guarantees the "newness" of all things. This renewal is not merely a superficial update but a radical, qualitative recreation, affecting the entirety of existence. The use of "I am making" (present tense) emphasizes both the divine active involvement and the absolute certainty of this future reality, as if it is already underway or perfectly assured. The immediate command to "write" underscores the profound significance and utter reliability of this promise; it is God's own confirmed revelation to humanity, not to be doubted or dismissed. For believers facing hardship or uncertainty, these words offer ultimate hope, reaffirming that God’s plan culminates in complete restoration and an eternal dwelling where sorrow, death, and decay are no more because He Himself is transforming all into faithfulness and truth.