Welcome to the third installment in the last series of our study of the book of Revelation. In the first post, we studied the basic blueprint of the city’s walls, gates, and foundation. In the second post, we studied the description of the beauty of the city’s walls, gates, and foundation. In this the third installment, we’re going to look at how God the Father and God the Son are the temple. And how there will be no night in the city which means the gates are never closed. Let’s get into this!

Revelation Chapters 21 and 22

Third in a Five-Part Series
by Karen Thompson

God and the Lamb Are the Temple

Rev. 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

In the next portion of chapter 21, John tells us about how the glory of God lights the city and the relationship between the kings of the earth and the city. In verse 22, John tells us that the unique feature of new Jerusalem is that there will be no temple. John wrote, “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” God on His throne and the Lamb will be the temple.

Next, John wrote, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (v. 23). The brightness of God’s glory will be all the light that is needed in the city. The prophet Isaiah prophesied the exact same thing about the new Jerusalem saying, “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory” (Isa. 60:19).

Verse 24 goes on further to describe the new relationship between Jerusalem and the Gentile nations: “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.” When it says “the nations which are saved” is referring to the nations that were allowed to continue to exist. Some nations will be eliminated because of their hatred toward Israel. Isaiah confirms this in chapter 60: “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted” (Isa. 60:12).

Let’s look at what the prophet Isaiah prophesied about the change in relationship the Gentiles will have with Israel. Isaiah chapter 60 says, “And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought” (vv. 10–11). Nations will come to help rebuild the damage done to the city. Isaiah confirms that leaders of nations will view Israel in a positive light when he says, “their kings shall minister unto thee….”

Isaiah further prophesied about the change between Israel and the Gentile nations in chapter 61: “And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves” (vv. 5–6). When it says “strangers” and “sons of the alien,” it’s referring to Gentile nations. Notice the last part of verse six says, “ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles.” Notice how verse six also confirms Israel’s destiny as a kingdom of priests and ministers of God.

New Jerusalem’s Gates Are Never Closed

Verses 25–26 tell us Jerusalem’s gates will never be closed: “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.” Because the glory of the Lord will bright up the city, there will be no night, and therefore, the gates will always be open. The gates will bring the glory of the nations into it. Again, the prophet Isaiah prophesied the same thing: “Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought” (Isa. 60:11).

Excluded From Jerusalem

In verses 7–8, we were told the overcomers will inherit everything. Then it lists the people that would not receive the inheritance of the overcomer: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Now in the last verse of chapter 21, it is again reiterated that what was part of the old earth will not be allowed in the new earth: “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (v. 27). Anyone who acts in a defiling way, or participates in anything considered to be an abomination, and who lies will not be allowed into the new Jerusalem. Only the people whose names were found in the Lamb’s book of life will be allowed entrance into the new Jerusalem.

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