Revelation 21:22-27 (NKJV) Glory of the New Jerusalem
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
V22 “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” The earthly Jerusalem had the Temple in Jerusalem from the time King Solomon built it until King Zedekiah, then rebuilt it in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, and finally destroyed in 70AD. The third Temple in Jerusalem will be built in the early part of the Tribulation and destroyed by the Lord Jesus (Zechariah 14:10-20). It was defiled when the antiChrist usurped the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and 2 Thessalonians 2:4). The fourth Temple will be built by Jesus (Zechariah 6:12-15) and will last until the New Heavens and New Earth are created. This city will exist eternally. It is described by the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40-44). The Lord God Almighty is the Trinity. The Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) is Jesus Christ. The fifth Temple, if one would call it that, is the New Jerusalem, for God lives in it. This is an eternal temple.
V23 “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” God’s glory is light. About God and His light: 1) has no darkness, impurity, or flaw—1 John 1:5, 2) is seen by the whole Earth—Ezekiel 43:2, 3) His glory—Revelation 21:23, 4) God’s knowledge—Daniel 2:22, 5) God’s immutability (no change)—James 1:17, 6) God’s judgment and vengeance—10:17, and 7) God’s blessings and deliverance—Psalm 80:3-7.
V24 “And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.” In the Millennium, there will be various nations among whom are Egypt (Zechariah 14:18) and Assyria (compare Isaiah 19:25).
V25 “Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).” Since God lives in this city, there is no need for security or sleep.
V26 “And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.” Perhaps offerings, etc., to help beautify the city. These offerings would be for thankfulness and praise.
V27 “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Nothing and no one sinful is left of these living, for all the sinful are in the Lake of Fire. The living humans are those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
We learn:
- God is building a city.
- God will live in this city.
- This city is the new, eternal Jerusalem.
Questions:
- Are you looking forward to living in the New Jerusalem?
- Are you willing to serve the Lord Jesus for eternity?