Revelation Sermon - 58

Revelation: The Holy City Part 3

Revelation 21:22-27

1. Introduction – I spoke last week about the natural progression of chapter 21. In vv.1-8 John is given an initial vision of the holy city.

a. A new heaven and a new earth for the old has passed away. The initial vision speaks to the newness of what John is seeing.

i. In v.2 John said the holy city was beautifully adorned like a bride for her husband…

1. And in vv.9-21, the showed John the Bride, the wife of the Lamb – and pointed out to John the finer details of that adornments – city made of gold, foundation stones made of precious jewels.

ii. In v.3 we heard the glorious phrase – God’s dwelling place is now among his people…

1. And in vv.22-27, we see the implications of what it means for God to live among his people.

iii. In v.8 there’s a warning about those who practice abominations…and that warning is repeated in v.27.

b. In the passage we’re studying this morning, John is not focused on the size of the city, he’s not focused on the building materials anymore…

i. John is focusing on the newness of it all. How does the new heaven and the new earth compare to the old one?

1. What are the features and characteristics that set the new creation apart?

c. John details the characteristics of this city with a series of negative statements.

i. Remembering John is describing the eternal destination of God’s people.

1. It’s a magnificent sight – perhaps he is even struggling to relay to his audience the sheer size and beauty of what he is seeing.

a. So John uses a very common technique – instead of describing what is there…John instead details the city by what isn’t there.

ii. Theologians have used this technique when describing the characteristics of God.

1. God is infinite – meaning he is NOT finite.

a. God is immortal – he cannot die.

i. God is immutable – he cannot change his essence.

iii. And in a similar way, John describes the glory of the new creation…something that is incomprehensible to our minds by stating what we do not find in it.

1. John writes…there is NO temple, there is NO NEED for sun or moon, there is NO night…

a. And he writes that nothing evil will be allowed to enter the holy city.

2. No Temple – Perhaps the most stunning feature of the holy city is the absence of a physical temple.

a. John says that there is no architectural temple…because God and the Lamb are the temple.

i. All ancient cities had at least 1 temple. Even in ancient Israel, there was always a physical space where people went to meet with God.

1. The tabernacle, and then the Temple.

a. And what we have to keep in mind is that it wasn’t the actual physical construction of a tent or building that made it holy…

i. It was God’s presence, God’s glory that made those building holy.

b. Back in the Garden of Eden, before sin entered creation, God dwelt among his creation. There was no need for a temple then.

i. He walked and talked with Adam and Even in the cool of the day.

1. But because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience and because of God’s holy character, he could no long fully dwell among his creation.

a. So buildings were made, first a tent, then a temple – the holy of holies was constructed, and in a symbolic way that physical space represented God’s presence among his people.

i. And we’re told that in both the tabernacle and the temple, God’s glory rested upon it.

1. It was God’s presence there that made it sacred, not the physical construction.

c. But in the new creation, we’ve seen the vanquishing of evil and all of God’s enemies.

i. We’ve seen the restoration of the created order, we’ve read the glorious words, “God’s dwelling is now among his people.”

1. We’ve seen the symbolic cubic measurements of the holy city – a holy of holies of sorts.

ii. In the new creation symbols give way to reality.

1. The temple symbolized God’s presence among his people, but in the new creation there is no need for a temple, because God’s glory shines and radiates through every square inch.

d. There’s no physical temple, because there’s no need for one. No sanctuary is needed, for our fellowship with God is direct and immediate.

i. We will constantly be in God’s immediate, loving and abiding presence.

e. But think on this…

i. In the OT, the temple was a physical reality…

1. When Jesus was earth, he referred to his body as a new temple…then believers are referred to as a new temple, with Jesus as its chief cornerstone…

a. And finally, in these verses, we see the temple in its final form…not a symbol but a reality.

i. God’s presence in the midst of his people.

ii. What makes all these different iterations of the temple sacred…what links them all together is God’s presence.

1. We are a temple of God, not because we have a physical building to worship him in, but because God’s presence is here with us through his Holy Spirit.

f. But look at these different iterations of the temple…what are the implications for us today? Symbol has not yet given way to reality.

i. We are living here…in an inaugurated but not yet fulfilled world. We are a spiritual temple.

1. Individually, are you aware of God’s presence with you in your daily activities?

a. Do you conduct your life as if you are living and operating in God’s presence?

i. Remember, if you have, in faith, accepted God’s free gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit resides in you…God’s presence is with you wherever you go, whenever you go there.

1. Do you live your life accordingly?

2. Corporately – as a church, are we aware of our need to be holy?

a. Are we serving each other, are we operating as if we are in the very presence of God?

i. Again, through the Holy Spirit, God’s presence is here with us, are we aware of that and operating like he is here?

g. We saw a beautiful vision of Jesus way back in chapter 1, he was standing in the middle of the 7 lampstands, the 7 churches – representative of his whole church…standing in the middle.

i. Do we live and move and operate like Jesus in the standing in the middle of our lives and our church?

1. One day, we will live eternally in God’s presence, and this vision of the future must radically impact our present.

a. Our desire for personal holiness, for corporate holiness was be radically influenced.

3. No Sun or Moon – The next negative statement John makes is this…the city had no need for the sun or moon.

a. Now, John may or may not be making an astronomical observation about the new creation. There may or may not be a sun and moon…

i. Look carefully at what he says… “No need for the sun or moon,” he doesn’t say, “no sun and moon.

1. The implication of that statement is this…In the new creation, nothing will outshine God’s glory.

b. Think about it this way. In the darkness, the light from a single candle brings illumination. It may not be a strong light, but you can get around by that light.

i. But in the daylight, the light of that same candle can hardly be seen.

1. At our Christmas eve service, when we light candles, those flames are enough to light up our room, because our service is at night.

a. If we had our Christmas eve service at noon – those same candles wouldn’t do a thing.

i. The sun would be shining and the sun is a greater source of light than 80 candles.

c. But think about this thought. God’s glory shines brighter than the sun. In God’s presence, the sun becomes like a candle at noon.

i. In the new creation, the sun is no longer a source of light – it is engulfed by God’s glory.

1. The sun and its shining radiance will be lost in the shining glory of God that will fill the holy city.

d. I’m reminded of the creation story in Genesis 1. God spoke light into being on the 1st, but it wasn’t until the 4th day that he made lights in the expanse…the sun and moon.

i. The Bible declares the sun isn’t the ultimate source of God…God is.

1. And when his holy presence fills the eternal city, there is no need for other celestial sources of light.

e. And because God’s glory is always shining brightly, because there is no need for sun or moon…John says there is no night in the new creation.

i. And because there is no night, things are always happening.

1. Twice John mentions people bringing honour and glory into the city. Once by kings another by nations.

a. There are a number of different interpretations of this section, some are better than others, we don’t really have time to look at an exhaustive list of interpretations.

ii. The most convincing interpretation I came across is this…the kings and nations are not bringing literal riches into the holy city, but themselves as worshippers before God’s eternal presence.

1. Because there’s no night, there is no stopping the parade of worshippers.

f. John also mentions this fact about the eternal city – God’s glory always shines through the whole city, because of that there is no night…and because there is no night…

i. The gates, the 12 pearly gates are never closed.

1. For safety and security reasons, ancient cities closed their gates at night.

a. This prevented unwanted visitors sneaking into the city at night.

ii. Also, in the ancient Roman world, access to a city was usually limited to only one side…

1. But here in the holy city of the new creation…

a. No night, which means no closed gates…

i. And 12 gates, 3 on each of the 4 walls…

1. Gates that are never closed, gates guarded by 12 angles, not trying to keep people out, but allowing all of God’s people access to the city of God’s presence.

4. Nothing Evil – Finally, John says, “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter.”

a. This verse is a warning to the unbeliever and believer alike.

b. Look at the first half this verse…Nothing evil, nor anyone who practices shameful acts…

i. No doubt, this refers to those who have no association with the church,

1. However, the focus of this verse is on those who made a profession of faith but contradicted it with their sinful lifestyle.

a. The holy city is pure and sacred, a place where God’s holy presence dwells fully with his people…

i. So, no one who practices evil things will be given access.

c. It’s a warning, if you haven’t repented of your sins, felt sorrow for your sins, turned to God for his forgiveness, and then live your life according to his standards…if you haven’t done that, now is the time to do so.

i. Or maybe you’ve made a profession of faith in Jesus, but your lifestyle doesn’t match your profession…take serious not, nothing evil, and anyone who practices dishonesty will not enter in the holy city.

1. Make sure your lifestyle matches your profession.

d. But this verse also serves as a warning to believers…a warning and a comfort.

i. It’s a warning because there is a need for us to loving share the message of salvation to a lost world around us.

1. Witnessing is a by product of having our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

a. Having our names written in this book, shouldn’t make us lazy, “Oh my name is there I can sit back and wait for Jesus to come.”

i. Having your name written in the Book of Life isn’t some sort of fire insurance policy, only good on the day of judgment.

ii. Having your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life means that you have felt sorrow over our sins, you have turned to God for his forgiveness…

1. It means you have felt the freedom and life that God’s forgiveness brings…and you long for others to experience that same freedom and life.

a. How can others hear if we don’t tell them?

e. The Lamb’s Book of Life – motivation for sure…but there’s also a sense of security and comfort that comes with this verse.

i. Only those who’s names are written in heaven’s register will enter the holy city.

1. There’s another entering in that Revelation speaks of.

a. Back in chapter 3, in the letter to Laodicea, Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock, if you open it I will…enter in.

i. Well, Rev. 21, tells us we can only enter into the holy city, if Jesus first has entered into our lives.

f. But this heavenly register should also bring believers great comfort.

i. Who does the book belong to? The Lamb.

1. What does that mean? It’s through what the Lamb, Jesus, did for us…through faith in his saving death and resurrection – that our names are recorded there.

a. It’s not church membership or church attendance, or good deeds you’ve done…

i. That’s not how your name is recorded in heaven’s register.

1. But only through faith in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus on your behalf.

g. What security that beings – it’s not through anything we do to gain access to the book – which means there’s nothing we can do to have our names erased from it.

i. If we have truly repented, by faith believed in the saving work of Jesus, if we live and walk by the Spirit…our names are written in heaven’s ledger…and nothing can change that.

5. Conclusion – We zoomed in pretty closely on life in the holy city.

a. No temple…because God’s presence fully penetrates every square inch.

i. No need for the sun or moon – because God’s glory shines so brightly.

1. Continual worship of the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.

a. And nothing evil, nor anyone who practices evil will enter…

i. Only those who have previously had Jesus enter in to their hearts and lives.