Revelation 21: Dawn of a New Era

But I did not see a temple in the city, for the city’s temple is the Lord God, the Almighty and the Lamb.

The city also does not have need of the sun nor the moon in order to enlighten her, for the glory of God illuminated the city, and the light of the city is the Lamb.

For the nations will walk by the light of the city, and the rulers of the earth are bringing forth their glory into the city.

And the city’s portals are not ever closed by day, for night will never be there.

And they will carry the glory and the honor of the nations into the city.

But never to enter into the city will be any unclean thing, and doers of abomination and falsehood, if not the ones having been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Revelation 21:22-27

John’s Observations

As John peered into the golden cube, he realized several truths.

Temple

There was no temple. He concluded God—the triune God—was the city’s temple. This made sense with what the apostles had been teaching all along, that the people of God are God’s living temple

Celestial Orbs

There was no sun or moon to brighten the city. Yet the city was luminous! Where was the source of light? The glory of God, which shone from within. What is more, the Lamb, Jesus, would be the light of the city. Again, this was in keeping with the apostles’ teaching that believers will be glorified.

Light of the World

As John opened his Gospel, he proclaimed of Jesus:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life,

and the life was the light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

John 1:1-5 (NRSVUE, emphases added)

Later, in the same Gospel, John recorded Jesus saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

Resurrected

There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs from star in glory.

So it is with the resurrection of the dead.

What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  It is sown a physical body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:40-44 (NRSVUE, emphases added)

Glorified

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified,

and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30 (NRSVUE, emphases added)

Future Habitation

The city was not yet inhabited.

John saw a place being made ready. At some future time, nations would stream in, and rulers would be laden with sumptuous gifts representing the best of their people, just as ambassadors of old streamed into the throne rooms of emperors.

Safety

Unlike every other earthly city, this city would have its gates permanently thrown wide. There would be no need for ramparts and fortifications, for there would never be night. The night, and all it represents, will simply not exist.

Security

But somehow, even without the usual security measures, nothing untoward will be able to go through the city’s portals. Perhaps the angels will be standing guard.

Lamb’s Book of Life

The Lamb’s Book of Life will carry the names of those permitted to enter. Those whose names are missing will be forever barred.

Isaiah’s Vision

There are strong connections between Isaiah’s oracle concerning a future glorious time of peace and prosperity for Israel, and John’s vision of this glorious city.

The Dawning of a New Age

Isaiah prefaced his vision with a declaration that a new era would come, Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

The Gospel writers understood this new time to have begun with the birth of John the Baptist and then Jesus, six months later. First, John’s father, the priest Zechariah, prophesied over his son, saying,

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
    by the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
    the dawn from on high will break upon us”

Luke 1:76-78 (NRSVUE, emphases added)

Later, Jesus explained that the light he brought was now shining through all of his disciples. “You are the light of the world,” he told them, “a city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

For these reasons, many scholars believe John’s oracle is about the current age, the time you and I are living in today.

Views summarized from Revelation: Four Views A Parallel Commentary, edited by Steve Gregg