Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Parallel translations
- WEB I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.
- 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.
- 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.
- NASB Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John sees a new heaven and new earth replacing the old, with the sea gone. God renews all creation for his redeemed people.
Overview
The vision fulfills Isaiah's promise of new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17) and the cosmic renewal Paul anticipates (Romans 8:19-21). The vanishing sea, often a biblical image of chaos and separation, signals that all that threatens and divides is removed. This renewed creation is the inheritance secured by Christ for those who are his.
Cross-references & the web
Theme
- Heaven"A new heaven and a new earth."
Cross-references · 10
- Isa 65:17–19For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
- 2 Pet 3:13But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
- Isa 66:22“For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.
- Rev 21:5And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”
- 2 Pet 3:10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
- Rev 20:11Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
- Isa 27:1In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.
- Dan 7:3Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
- Rev 13:1Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
- Isa 57:20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 21:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.