The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
Parallel translations
- WEB The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
- KJV And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
- NKJV Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
- NASB The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
- NLT The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places.
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
The sky rolls up like a scroll and mountains and islands are moved. The whole structure of creation is shaken at the day of God's wrath.
Overview
Drawing on Isaiah 34:4, the receding sky and displaced mountains picture the dissolving of the present order before the Judge. Nothing in heaven or on earth remains stable in that day. The imagery underscores the awesome finality of God's reckoning with the world.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Isa 34:4All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.
- Rev 16:20Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found.
- 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.
- Heb 1:11–13They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
- Ps 102:26They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on.
- Jer 4:23–26I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light.
- Isa 54:10Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
- 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.
- Nah 1:5The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.
- Ezek 38:20The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that crawls upon the ground, and all mankind on the face of the earth will tremble at My presence. The mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground.
- Hab 3:6He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.
- Rev 21:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
- Isa 2:14–17against all the tall mountains, against all the high hills,
- Jer 51:25“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, you who devastate the whole earth, declares the LORD. I will stretch out My hand against you; I will roll you over the cliffs and turn you into a charred mountain.
- Hab 3:10The mountains saw You and quaked; torrents of water swept by. The deep roared with its voice and lifted its hands on high.
- Jer 3:23Surely deception comes from the hills, and commotion from the mountains. Surely the salvation of Israel is in the LORD our God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 6:14 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.