“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.“
Revelation 21:22-27
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Living in the new heaven and the new earth will be a different experience from what we are used to now. Instead of an earth-centered or solar system-centered existence, the new heavens and earth will be God-centered. The temple, instituted in ancient Jerusalem as a place for God to meet with His people, will not be found. Rather, the Lord and the Lamb will be present, readily accessible to all those living in the Holy City.
Light will no longer be supplied by the sun and moon, but by the glory of God and the Lamb. The cycle of day and night will no longer be operative because of continual illumination by God. In the beginning, the first thing God spoke into existence was light. Light is an expression of the nature of God because He is light itself. Light reveals and discloses. In contrast darkness conceals and deceives, therefore darkness is the antipathy of God.
As 1 John 1:5b says, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
The Holy City will be a place of safety. Although surrounded by walls with gates, the gates will remain open always for the nations to enter. Every culture will have beauty and value to contribute, the creative gifts of God. Conversely, each culture has aspects that are impure, and these will be excluded. The positive elements of all people will be woven together in an expression that glorifies God in the diversity of His creativity.
What a worship experience this will be! We will celebrate God using forms and means from all peoples and cultures. Our own preferences and language will be swept away in joyful song right in the presence of God. We will be completely united in praise of our heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- How is your anticipation of heaven heightened by the fact that we cannot even capture in words what we will experience?
- How can a respectful appreciation of diversity amongst peoples encourage our love for the nations?
Church Reading Plan:
- Today, May 24: Isaiah 25; 1 John 3
- Saturday, May 25: Isaiah 26; 1 John 4
- Sunday, May 26: Isaiah 27; I John 5