Let’s read more about the glorious city in verses (22-27). The city is illuminated by the presence of God and the Lamb. Its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb - Re 21:22 “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” There is no temple, unlike there was in heaven described earlier - Re 7:15 ‘"Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.” For that depicted the blessing of the intermediate state, but this the eternal state. It is illuminated by the glory of God and the Lamb - Re 21:23 “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” There was no need of the sun or moon to shine in it – note also Isa 60:19-20 “The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.” Of course, the sun and moon as we know it had burned up, and replaced by a new heaven and a new earth – see 2 Pe 3:10-13; Re 21:1. -- A glorious city, illuminated by a glorious God and Savior!
The city is enhanced by those who enter it. The nations of the saved shall walk in its light - Re 21:24a “By its light will the nations walk,”. The saved come from different nations - Mt 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”. The imagery is similar to that found in Isaiah - Isa 60:3-9 “And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house. Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful.”
The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it - Re 21:24b “and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,”. Perhaps referring to such righteous kings like those of Judah (David, Hezekiah, Josiah). Or those redeemed by the Lamb, who will reign together with Him - Re 22:6 “And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."’
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day, and there is no night there - Re 21:25 “and its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there.” Those twelve gates of pearl shall remain open. There is no night, for the glory of God and the Lamb are ever present. The nations shall bring their glory and honor into it - Re 21:26 “They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.” Glory and honor to be added to the glory of God and the Lamb - Re 21:23 “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” Glory and honor they themselves received at the coming of the Lord - 2 Th 1:10-12 “when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Nothing that defiles shall enter it - Re 21:27 “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.” None that cause an abomination or a lie, shall enter it - Re 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."’ Only those written in the Lamb’s book of Life enter it - Re 3:5 “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”; 20:15 “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” -- A glorious city, enhanced by the glorified redeemed of all nations!
In Part Three of our lesson we will read more of how this glorious city is provisioned.
