Short answer: Revelation 21:4 promises that in God's renewed creation He will personally wipe away every tear, and death, mourning, crying, and pain will be gone forever — because "the first things," the whole broken order marked by suffering, will have passed away. It is one of Scripture's clearest pictures of the believer's final hope.
The context: a new heaven and a new earth
This verse belongs to John's vision of the end, where he sees "a new heaven and a new earth" (21:1) and the New Jerusalem coming down from God. A loud voice declares that God's dwelling is now with humanity: "he will dwell with them, and they will be his people" (21:3). Verse 4 describes what that restored presence of God means — the end of every sorrow that has defined life in a fallen world. It looks forward to the moment when everything Genesis 3 broke is finally and fully healed.
What it means, phrase by phrase
The World English Bible reads: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away."
- "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes" — God Himself, not an angel, tends to His people with intimate comfort. "Every" tear means none is overlooked.
- "Death will be no more" — The last enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26) is abolished. The great cause of grief is gone.
- "neither... mourning, nor crying, nor pain" — The whole family of human suffering is removed, not merely lessened.
- "The first things have passed away" — The old order of a world under the curse is finished, replaced by God's new creation.
Cross-references
- Revelation 7:17 — "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
- Isaiah 25:8 — "He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces."
- 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54-55 — death is swallowed up in victory.
- Revelation 21:5 — "Behold, I am making all things new."
How to apply it today
Revelation 21:4 is meant to be a comfort held onto in grief. It does not deny present pain — it names tears, death, and mourning honestly — but it fixes a firm horizon beyond them. For those who have lost loved ones, faced illness, or carried long sorrow, this verse promises a future where God personally ends every one of those griefs. That hope reshapes how believers endure suffering now: not with denial, but with confident expectation that the story does not end in the grave. Let it anchor you when today's sorrow feels final.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Revelation 21:4 take place? It describes the future, after the return of Christ and the final judgment, when God establishes the new heaven and new earth. It is the believer's ultimate hope — a restored creation where God dwells fully with His people.
Does this verse mean God ignores our tears now? Not at all. Scripture says God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and keeps track of our sorrows (Psalm 56:8). Revelation 21:4 promises the final end of tears, while God comforts His people in the midst of grief even now.
Who receives this promise? The context describes those who belong to God — His people, dwelling in His presence in the new creation. It is the inheritance of all who are in Christ, the sure future toward which their faith looks.