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80. Jerusalem City Temple
Revelation 21.22-27
"I did not see a city temple because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its sole temple. The city does not need the sun or moon to shine on it, for God's glory gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the earth's kings will bring their splendor into it. Its gates will never close, for there will be no night there. The nations' will bring glory and honor into it. Nothing impure will ever enter, nor anyone shameful or deceitful, but only those names written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21.22-27) ✞
New Jerusalem Temple
John of Patmos describes New Jerusalem's unique feature as the city of God. There is no "Temple" in it! Considering how precious the temple was to the Jewish people, it is incredible there is no Temple building in New Jerusalem. The city is built in a perfect cubic shape, indicating that it is, in itself, another cube's replacement, the "Holy of Holies." It needs no "Jerusalem city temple" because Almighty God and the Lamb's presence are continuously there. Buildings do not make a church or a temple! Three essential elements make any place into a worship center,
1. Jesus Christ,
2. The Holy Spirit
3. Christian believers.
Without any one of these, there can be no church, and without all three, no people's gathering. ✞
No Lighting System
Furthermore, this new city needs no lighting system! William Barclay (1907-1978), in his "Daily Study Bible," reminds us, "God's city needed no created light because God the uncreated light was in her midst. Only when we see things in God's light, do we see them as they are. Some things which seem vastly important are unimportant when viewed in God's light. Some things which seem permissible enough turn out to be dangerous when seen in God's light. Some things which seem unbearable become a path to glory when viewed in God's light." "In thy light," says Psalm 36.9, "do we see the light." Isaiah's nation's light shines in the Jerusalem City Temple. The Lord's glory is its light, and the Lamb is its lamp. God's city needs no created "light" because God is in her midst. The prophet Isaiah writes in Isaiah 60.19-21, "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the moon's brightness shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Then all your people will be righteous, and they will possess the land forever. They are my planted shoot, my hands' work, to display my splendor." David says in Psalm 36.9, "For you are life's fountain, in your light we see the light." Some things which seem crucial in the moment are unimportant in God's light. ✞
All Nations Come
Isaiah has a vision in Isaiah 2.2-4, "In the last days the Lord's temple mountain will be established as the highest mountain and exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the Lord's mountain, to the temple of Jacob's God. He will teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths.'" Isaiah speaks here of the day when "all nations" will go up to Mount Zion to be taught the law and learn to walk in God's ways. Isaiah 11.12 adds, "He will raise the nations' banner and gather Israel's exiles. He will assemble Judah's scattered people from the earth's four quarters." It is Israel's privilege, says Isaiah 49.6, "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore Jacob's tribes and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you the Gentiles' light, that my salvation may reach to the earth's ends." Isaiah 55.5 says that nations who don't know God will run to him, "Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, Israel's Holy One, for he has endowed you with splendor." Jeremiah 16.19-21 adds that gentiles will come from the earth's furthest parts to God. "Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in distressful times, to you the nations will come from the earth's ends and say, 'Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good. Do people make their gods? Yes, but they are not gods!' Therefore I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is the Lord." ✞
Nations' Walking Light
Jesus, God's Lamb, is the "nation's walking light" in the Jerusalem City Temple. The earth's kings will bring their splendor and honor into it. All peoples, nations, and languages will serve the Lord. Daniel 7.14 informs us, "He received authority, glory and sovereign power. All nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away." Saint Paul writes of Christians in Philippians 2.15, "you shine as the world's lights among a crooked and perverse generation." Thousands upon thousands of God's saints will inhabit New Jerusalem. The light there is Christ himself. Zephaniah 3.9 adds, "Then I will purify the peoples' lips, that all of them may call on the Lord's name and serve him shoulder to shoulder." God will give a pure language to all that they might, with one voice praise him. Many peoples will come to New Jerusalem. Zechariah 14.9 explains, "The Lord will be the whole earth's king. On that day, there will be one Lord, and his name the only name." ✞
Afraid of the Dark
Many ancient peoples, like many children, are afraid of the dark. "Nyctophobia" is an extreme fear of darkness that can cause intense anxiety and depression. It can become excessive, irrational, and impact day-to-day life. Fear of the dark often begins in childhood and is seen as usual development. The Lamb, however, will be New Jerusalem's light and will cast out all darkness. The city gates will always be open. More than once, John of Patmos insists that there will be "no night" in the Jerusalem city temple. Frightening darkness will be no more in the new world, for God's presence will bring New Jerusalem light. Darkness is gone, and light shines continuously. According to Psalm 139.12, "even the darkness will not be dark to you. The night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." ✞
The Kings' Gifts
Again and again, in history, a dark age has followed a period of brilliance. But in the new era, the darkness will be gone forever, and there will never be anything but light. Like the ancient prophets, John of Patmos repeatedly speaks of the new light in Revelation 21.24, "The nations will walk by its light, and the earth's kings will bring in their splendor." The day will come when the Lord will be the earth's king, overall language groups and nations. All other kings will bring their splendor and honor to him. Countries will present their gifts in the New Jerusalem. ✞
No Impurities
Revelation 21 ends with a warning for those entering the Jerusalem City temple. "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those with names written in the Lamb's book of life." There will be a sinner who has sinned against God's will, repents, and God forgives who has their name recorded. God denies another who deliberately sins. No deliberately sinful person and nothing impure will enter God's City, nor anyone whose name does not appear in the Lamb's book of life. ✞
"Jerusalem City Temple"
by Ron Meacock © 2021
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