Devine Scripture

Revelation 21:10

What does Revelation 21:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 21:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 21:10 means

In the Spirit, John is carried to a great, high mountain—a vantage point for beholding the city’s grandeur. He sees the holy city Jerusalem descending from God. The repetition of its heavenly origin stresses that this reality is God-given, not man-made. The high mountain recalls prophetic viewpoints from which God’s salvation is surveyed, emphasizing clarity and certainty. The city’s downward movement shows heaven and earth united under God’s reign. The sight is meant to overwhelm the viewer with assurance that what God promised is indeed arriving in fullness and permanence.

Revelation 21:10 in context

Revelation 21 — A New Heaven and a New Earth

John's final vision. The first heaven and earth pass away, and the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. God himself dwells with his people; he wipes away every tear; there is no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. The former things are passed away. The light of the city is the glory of God; its lamp is the Lamb. The story that began in the garden of Genesis ends in the city of Revelation, and the gates are never shut.

  • New creation
  • God dwelling with man
  • End of death and sorrow
  • Eternal worship

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he took me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and let me see the holy town Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and did shew to me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he took me up in spirit to a great and high mountain: and he shewed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he carried me away in [the] Spirit, [and set me] on a great and high mountain, and shewed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven fromGod,

Context

This verse relocates John to observe the city from the best perspective. The emphasis on descent repeats verse 2, keeping the theme of God coming to dwell with humanity. The next verse (11) will focus on the city’s radiance—“having the glory of God”—which then leads to detailed structural features: walls, gates, angelic guardians, and inscribed names. The flow moves from overall appearance to specific elements that symbolize inclusion, protection, and covenant continuity.

v.9And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

v.10This passage

v.11having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ezekiel 48:15

    And the five thousand that are left in the breadth, in front of the five and twenty thousand, shall be for common use, for the city, for dwelling and for suburbs; and the city shall be in the midst thereof.

  • Revelation 21:2

    And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

  • 2 Kings 2:16

    And they said unto him, Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.

  • Acts 8:39

    And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

  • Ezekiel 11:1

    Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of Jehovah’s house, which looketh eastward: and behold, at the door of the gate five and twenty men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

  • Ezekiel 11:24

    And the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

Sermon ideas from Revelation 21:10

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Revelation 21:10 teaches us about new creation

  • What Revelation 21:10 teaches us about god dwelling with man

  • What Revelation 21:10 teaches us about end of death and sorrow

  • What Revelation 21:10 teaches us about eternal worship

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