Rev. 21:1
21:1. The opening verses of
chapter 21 describe the creation of the new heaven and the new earth, which chronologically follows the thousand-year reign of Christ described in
chapter 20.
Chapter 21 begins with the familiar words
I saw, an expression repeated in
verse 2 (cf.
v. 22, "I did not see"). This new creation is described as
a new heaven and a new earth. That it is a totally new heaven and a new earth, and not the present heaven and earth renovated, is supported by the additional statement,
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (also see
comments on
20:11). An amazingly small amount of information is given about the new heaven and the new earth. But one major fact is stated in this verse:
there was no longer any sea.
In contrast with the present earth, which has most of its surface covered by water, no large body of water will be on the new earth. The Bible is silent, however, on any features of the first heaven except the statement in
21:23 that there will be no sun or moon and, by implication, no stars. The new heaven refers not to the abode of God, but to the earth's atmosphere and planetary space.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.