Revelation 21:22-27

(Rev 21:22 KJV)
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

There is no temple in heaven because the symbolic, as we saw in Ezekiel’s vision, is now reality. This is why there will be no temple with restored animal sacrifices anymore. Those Christians who look forward to some type of temple, with animal sacrifices, being built in modern Israel have no clue as to what happened in 70 A.D. No longer was the physical temple needed since the final sacrifice for sins had taken place on Calvary. God would start evangelizing the world instead of remaining in one small place. In Rev. 21:22 we are told that there is no physical temple in heaven because the Lord God and the Lamb are the temple of it. This means that both the Lamb and the Father are with the redeemed and no longer would there be any type of sacrifice needed, because those who are in heaven came through the final sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. God and the Lamb dwell directly with the redeemed and no longer are any intermediaries needed. The Lord God and the Lamb are the center of heaven and the attention of the redeemed.

(Rev 21:23 KJV)
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.

(Isa 60:19 KJV) 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.

The reflective glory of God is all the believers in the New Jerusalem will need. Isaiah saw this very thing when he prophesied that the true believers will never need the sun nor the moon to lighten them because God Himself along with the Lord Jesus Christ will be the light forever more. Here we also can extract that the true believers will be spiritually enlightened all through eternity as God Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ will be present with them. This will be the full revelation of the glory of God will displace any need for any created light because God and the Lord Jesus Christ will be the light source.

(Rev 21:24 KJV)
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.

Here is a statement concerning the occupants of the New Jerusalem. The word “nations” is the word “ethnos” in the Greek where we derive our English word “ethnic” from. This means that believers are from every nation on earth, which include both ancient nations and modern nations. It is also very important to point out the phrase “of them which are saved” is teaching that only the saved through the Lord Jesus Christ will walk in the light of the new city. It is a shame that modern versions leave out the part concerning that a person must be saved to enter into this city. Notice the same verse from the NIV and the English Standard Version:

(Rev. 21:24 NIV) The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

(Rev. 21:24 ESV) By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,

Then we are told that the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. This is another reference to the body of believers as they are referred to as both Kings and Priests. No unsaved king will be in the New Jerusalem only those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

(Rev 1:6 KJV) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

(Rev 5:10 KJV) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

(Rev 21:25 KJV)
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Since all fears are part of the old order, the gates of this city are shown to always be open. (Isa 60:11 KJV) 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. In ancient times, cities would close their gates at night to prevent anyone from entering in and possibly attacking and conquering the city. Here in the New Heaven and New Earth, with the Lamb and God the Father as light, there will never be a speck of darkness. Darkness is really a curse, both physical darkness and spiritual darkness. During physical darkness we sleep and even though we enjoy sleeping, it is actually a curse. Why? Let us say a person gets eight hours of sleep per night and that person lives to be 90 years old. 8 is one third of 24, which means one third of the day is lost to unconscious sleep. Therefore, it follows that a 90 year old person is conscious only 60 years out of a 90 year life. So one third of a person’s life is spent unconscious. Think about it! Of course, spiritual darkness is when there is the absence of the true Gospel and false religions rule a person’s life. When that person becomes truly saved, they are then in the light and not in darkness. (1 John 1:6-7 KJV) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: {7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

(Rev 21:26 KJV)
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

All the glory and honor of the saved which are in the city will be brought unto the Lord. For no true believer has obtained glory and honor outside it being given to them through the salvation they received. The glory and honor will reflect the glory and honor which God had bestowed upon them as He made them Kings and Priests. The glory of those offices will be used in some fashion in the New Heaven and New Earth.

(Rev 21:27 KJV)
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.

This is probably one of the most open declarations that we have of who is going to be in the New Jerusalem. Only those who were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world will be included in this city. Those who still perform sin and have a sinful nature will never be allowed in because the New Jerusalem is only for those who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and fully redeemed. It goes back to verse 24 that the nations of them which are saved are the ones who will be in that city. Those without a savior will stand for their own sins and will be removed to eternal damnation.