Eternal Glory - The Temple and The River of Life -Revelation 21:22 - 22:5
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1 Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor together! 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 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. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 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. 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
The Temple 21v22-27
The River of Life 22v1-5
Introduction
We come now to the final part of our studies in the Last Things. We have already seen something of the outstanding glory of the New Jerusalem but there is more. The Temple and the River of Life.
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1. The Temple 21v22-27
1. The Temple 21v22-27
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a. God Is the Temple v22
a. God Is the Temple v22
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22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
Throughout the Apocalypse [Revelation], John has mentioned the presence of a heavenly temple [12 times]. He repeatedly depicted the temple as the very place where God dwells, but now when God takes up residence in the new Jerusalem, John writes that the holy city itself has become the temple. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 572). Baker Book House.
Letter to Philadelphia
Revelation 3:12 (ESV)
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
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.
The saints in this city are never outside his presence, for God never departs from his people. They have immediate and direct access to him and no longer need Christ as the intermediary (Heb. 9:24). Christ’s mediatorial role as the Lamb has come to an end, for now he functions as bridegroom in a marital relationship with his people (19:7). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 572). Baker Book House.
24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
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Tabernacle
7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;
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b. God Is the Light 21v23
b. God Is the Light 21v23
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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.
The LORD God and the Lamb share the same glory (see John 1:14), for here the Lamb is the source of light and in 22:5 it is God himself. This divine light dims all other sources and renders them irrelevant. Further, sun and moon, created to mark cosmic time, cease to function in eternity. Hence, John writes “there is no night there” . Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 573). Baker Book House.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
19 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.
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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c. Always Open 21:24-26
c. Always Open 21:24-26
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24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 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. 5 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.
The inhabitants of the new Jerusalem originate from every tribe, language, people, and nation; they were purchased with the blood of the Lamb (5:9). They are part of the great multitude that no one could number (7:9). The kings of the earth are among those who have the privilege of ruling with Christ because they did not receive the mark on their foreheads or their hands (20:4, 6). Certainly, these nations and kings are citizens in God’s kingdom and do not live outside the city, “for outside the city of God there is nothing—except the lake of fire.” The nations walk through the divine light that illumines the holy city, and the kings of the earth glorify God. They live in the light and as a result offer glory and honour to God (v. 26). These inhabitants seek not their own glory, but in continual worship they render in to God. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 574). Baker Book House.
11 Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut, that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession.
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d. Nothing Unclean 21v27
d. Nothing Unclean 21v27
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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.
While the preceding verses reveal the life of the saints following the last judgement, this verse is directed to the people living on earth before this judgement. John issues a warning by telling his readers that they are still living in the day of grace. When the consummation comes, no opportunity will be given for repentance and acceptance into heaven. Spiritual renewal takes place in the present life, not in the afterlife. Now is the time to heed the warning, repent, and wholeheartedly follow the Lord by doing his will. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 575). Baker Book House.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
2. River of Life 22:1-5
2. River of Life 22:1-5
a. Flowing From the Throne of God v1
a. Flowing From the Throne of God v1
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
b. The Tree of Life v2
b. The Tree of Life v2
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
On either side of the river are rows of trees, which he presents collectively as the tree of life. God planted this tree and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9), and cherubim guarded this tree of life with a flaming sword (Gen. 3:24). With the river and the tree of life, John paints a picture of a renewed Paradise to complete the biblical account of human history. Adam and Eve driven from the Garden of Eden were prevented from touching the tree of life, but in the garden of the holy city all the inhabitants have a right to that tree (22:14; 2:7). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 581). Baker Book House.
9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
The tree of life bears twelve kinds of fruit, one for each month of the year. John resorts to chronological divisions of time to express to human beings what otherwise would be incomprehensible. Standing on the threshold of eternity, he has to express himself in temporal terms of month and year. The significance of the tree bearing fruit is the abundant yield, and this food sustains the everlasting life of all those who eat. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 581). Baker Book House.
I add that the language is symbolic and implicitly points to the curse that rested on the human race because of the tree in Paradise and that brought sickness, pain, and death. But the tree in the renewed Paradise provides healing for the nations, which means that its inhabitants can enjoy eternal life free from physical and spiritual needs. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 582). Baker Book House.
c. No Curse v3-4
c. No Curse v3-4
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
After Adam and Eve sinned in Paradise, God pronounced a curse on creation and the human race (Gen. 3:17–19). And this curse remains in effect until the restoration takes place and everyone can freely take fruit from the tree of life. Then the sad history of sin and its consequences will have ended, never to be repeated. The curse will forever be lifted through the sacrificial death of the Lamb on Calvary’s cross. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 582). Baker Book House.
God and the Lamb occupy one throne, while the citizens of the holy city in the capacity of priests will serve them. John expresses similar wording in 7:15, “Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple, and he who is seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.” Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 582). Baker Book House.
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.
The first clause has a remarkable message, for throughout Scripture we read that no one can see the face of God and live. Moses was permitted to see his back but not his face (Exod. 33:20, 23). No one has ever seen God (John 1:18; 6:46; 1 John 4:12), but here John writes that the glorified saints will see his face. He mentions this elsewhere: “But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2b; compare Heb. 12:14). God has a relationship with his people that is the same as before the fall in Paradise when he walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 582). Baker Book House.
20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
All those who have the name of the Lamb and of the Father written on their foreheads (14:1) will see him. The Lamb redeemed his people and brought them into the presence of the Father. It is through Christ that the saints have the privilege of seeing God in eternity. The imprint of the divine name on the foreheads of the saints signifies that as residents of the new Jerusalem they belong to God, bear his image and likeness, and are citizens of his kingdom. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 583). Baker Book House.
d. No Night v5
d. No Night v5
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
There will always be light in the holy city, which means that everything belonging to the old creation has vanished. Next, it teaches that in the renewed world God’s people will never need to rest and sleep; they will have boundless energy to serve God and praise his name forever and ever. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 583). Baker Book House.
19 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.
Last, “and they will reign forever and ever” is an echo of Daniel’s prophecy, “But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, forever and ever” (Dan. 7:18; see also Dan. 7:27). John provides no details, but earlier he wrote that the saints sit with Christ on the throne of his Father (Rev. 3:21). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 583). Baker Book House.
18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
Daniel 7:27 (ESV)
27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
Conclusion
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Revelation 3:21 (ESV)
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Saviour, since of Zion’s city
I through grace a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in your name:
fading are the world’s best pleasures,
all its boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasures
none but Zion’s children know.
John Newton
So Spirit, come, put strength in every stride,
give grace for every hurdle,
that we may run with faith to win the prize
of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
retelling triumphs of his grace,
we hear their calls and hunger for the day
when with Christ we stand in glory.
Stuart Townend and Keith Getty