e the people who have come through the
great persecution and have washed their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are now before the throne of God
and serve him day and night within his temple. He who is sitting on the
throne will shelter them; never again will they be hungry or thirsty;
never again will the sun or any scorching heat smite them, for the Lamb
that stands in the space before the throne will be their shepherd and
will guide them to fountains of living water; and God will wipe away all
tears from their eyes."

Then I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven with an eternal message of
good news for the inhabitants of the earth, for every nation, tribe,
language, and people. He cried aloud, "Revere God, praise him, for the
hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made heaven and earth,
the sea and the flowing springs."

And I saw a great white throne and One seated upon it from whose
presence earth and sky fled away, and were no more to be found. And I
saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne. Then
books were opened; also another book, the Book of Life, was opened, and
the dead were judged by what was written in the books according to what
they had done. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and the Abode of the
Departed also gave up their dead, and all were judged according to what
they had done.

THE NEW HEAVEN ON EARTH

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away and the sea was no more. And I saw the Holy
City, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, all ready
like a bride attired to meet her husband. I also heard a loud voice from
the throne which said: "Behold, God's dwelling-place is with men, and he
shall dwell among men, and they shall be his people, and God himself
will be with them. He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and
death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning nor wailing, nor
pain, for the first things have passed away." The One who is seated on
the throne said: "Behold, I make all things new!" And he added, "Write
this: 'These words are faithful and true.'"

And he said to me, "All is over! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First
and the Last. I will let the thirsty drink freely of the fountain of
life. He who conquers shall obtain this, and I will be his God and he
shall be my son."

The city has no need of the sun nor of the m