What does the presence of God and the Lamb signify in Revelation 21:22? The Verse at the Center Revelation 21:22: “I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Why No Physical Temple? • Every previous sanctuary—from the wilderness tabernacle to Solomon’s temple—served as a shadow. • A building was needed only while sin created distance. In the New Jerusalem, that distance is gone forever. • God’s original desire is fully realized: “And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). God and the Lamb as the True Temple • A temple is where God’s presence dwells. Here, His presence is the city’s very atmosphere. • Jesus had hinted at this: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19), pointing to Himself. • The union of Father and Son means worship is now centered on a Person, not a place. Fulfillment of Old Testament Promises • Ezekiel’s visions of a future dwelling place (Ezekiel 37:27) are fully realized. • Zechariah foretold, “I am coming and I will live among you” (Zechariah 2:10). • God’s covenant promise, “I will dwell among them and walk among them” (2 Corinthians 6:16), reaches its climax here. Continual, Unmediated Worship • Revelation 7:15: “They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.” The redeemed now serve within the very presence who is Himself the temple. • Revelation 22:3-4 shows the result: “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.” They see His face—no veil, no curtain, no fear. Unity of Father and Son • Both are named together, underscoring shared glory and deity. • The scene fulfills Jesus’ promise: “We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). • Salvation history moves from God with us (Immanuel) to God in us (the Spirit) to God among us eternally. Practical Takeaways for Today • Worship is ultimately about presence, not place. • The church already tastes this reality through the indwelling Spirit; anticipate its fullness. • Security is rooted in God Himself—no threat can remove His people from His immediate presence. • Daily fellowship with Christ prepares the heart for the day when faith becomes sight. |
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