“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death.” Revelation 21:4
At the end of his vision, John saw a new earth, a holy city coming down from God, a river of life and the tree of life open to all. The Lamb is its light.
John saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” and “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven.” A voice said, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.” “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying.” “Behold, I make all things new.”
The gates were “twelve pearls,” the street “pure gold.” The city “had no need of the sun,” for “the Lamb is the light thereof.” A “pure river of water of life” flowed “out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,” and beside it grew “the tree of life,” whose leaves “were for the healing of the nations.” “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Eight stops from a new earth to the tree of life. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: the city comes down, together again, the river, and the tree. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Revelation 21:2“prepared as a bride Meaning: dressed and decorated. for her husband”
Revelation 21:3“the Meaning: tent, dwelling place. of God is with men”
Revelation 21:6“him that is Meaning: thirsty.”
Revelation 21:21“every Meaning: single, separate. gate was of one pearl”
Revelation 21:23“the glory of God did Meaning: light up. it”
Revelation 21:27“any thing that Meaning: makes unclean.”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from prophets or Church resources. Each card says which.
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All nine. The earth, the city, the tear, the gate, the street, the lamb, the river, the tree and the leaf. Revelation 21–22
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Where are you?
Grieving, waiting for morning, needing healing, or being refined. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
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Try it
In the city, or gone forever?
John saw what will be in the holy city and what will be gone forever. Read each one and sort it.
“Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:5
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Their world, their words
A little background helps us see how the end of the Bible echoes its beginning. Outside sources are labeled.
Scripture · Genesis 2
Back to the beginning
The Bible begins with “the tree of life also in the midst of the garden” and ends with the same tree, open again.3
Eden restored.
Church resource · Student manual
God’s dwelling
The city was “an enormous cube,” which “recalls the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple.”7
The whole city is like a temple.
Church resource · Student manual
Things that last
The city’s materials “share the traits of reflecting light; resisting decaying or tarnishing; and symbolizing purity, beauty, and refinement.”7
Nothing there wears out.
Scripture · 1 Nephi 11
Lehi’s tree
Nephi learned the meaning of the tree his father saw: “It is the love of God.”5
The same tree John saw.
Word study · Greek
kainos καινός · “new” (Revelation 21:1, 5)
Bible Hub: “new, fresh,” “new (especially in freshness).”8Outside · lexicon
Not just newer, but made fresh. “Behold, I make all things new.”1
Word study · Greek
therapeia θεραπεία · “healing” (Revelation 22:2)
Bible Hub: “attention, medical service.”9Outside · lexicon
The leaves give care and healing to every nation.2
What the text does not say
John doesn’t say only some sorrows will end, or that the city is closed to most people. God wipes away “all tears,” and the invitation is “whosoever will.”2
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Look to Him
The Lamb is the light of the city, and the river and the tree flow from His throne.
“The Atonement will not only help us overcome our transgressions and mistakes, but in His time, it will resolve all inequities of life.”
Elder Richard G. Scott, quoted in the student manual7
“This earth will be rolled back into the presence of God and crowned with celestial glory.”
The Prophet Joseph Smith, quoted in the student manual7
“Through His living prophet and each of us, He invites all to find peace, purpose, healing, and joy in the fulness of His restored gospel and on His covenant path.”
“And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.” 1 Nephi 8:10
Nephi (1 Nephi 11)
The love of God
“It is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.” 1 Nephi 11:22
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Seek Him today
A question to ask in prayer
What is Heavenly Father making new in me right now? Revelation 21:5
Ask Him to help you see His hand renewing your life, and to trust Him with what still hurts.
Try it today
One step toward the holy city each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
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This week:0 of 7 days
Seven days toward the city. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“Behold, I make all things new.”
Read Revelation 21:1–5 slowly. Picture God wiping away your tears. What is He making new in your life? Revelation 21:1–5
A verse to hold
Talk about it
What will be gone forever in the holy city?
Who is the light of the city?
What grows beside the river of life?
What is the tree of life a symbol of?
Open
For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Church resource
New Testament Student Manual: Revelation 17–22
A new heaven and a new earth, the holy city, no more tears, and the tree of life in the celestial kingdom.7
The New Jerusalem and the Tree of Life, ready to print $3.99
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
The New Jerusalem and the Tree of Life is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for December 13–19, 2027 (Revelation 17–22).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The vision is in Revelation 21–22; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
