What does Revelation 21:26 mean by "the glory and honor of the nations"? Canonical Text “And they will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.” — Revelation 21:26 Immediate Literary Setting Revelation 21:22-27 describes the New Jerusalem after the final judgment. The city needs no temple (v 22) and no sun or moon (v 23) because “the glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Kings of the earth walk by that light and “bring their glory into it” (v 24); its gates never close (v 25); “nothing unclean will ever enter it” (v 27). Verse 26 repeats and enlarges v 24: every redeemed contribution from every people group streams unhindered into the city. Old Testament Background Revelation intentionally echoes Isaiah 60. Note the parallels: • Isaiah 60:5 — “the riches of the nations will come to you.” • Isaiah 60:11 — “your gates will always stand open… the wealth of the nations will be brought to you.” • Isaiah 60:13 — “to beautify the place of My sanctuary.” Psalm 72:10-11 and Zechariah 14:16 likewise foretell worldwide homage to the reign of Messiah. The Apocalypse shows the consummation: prophecy becomes reality once sin, death, and the curse are eliminated (Revelation 21:4, 22:3). Redemptive-Historical Trajectory 1. Promise — Genesis 12:3 predicts blessing to “all the families of the earth” through Abraham’s seed. 2. Mission — Matthew 28:19 commissions disciples to “all nations.” 3. Fulfillment — Revelation 21:26 displays the finished harvest: every tribe, tongue, people, and nation contributing perfected praise and cultural treasure to God’s dwelling with humanity. What Is Brought In? 1. People themselves, the primary treasure (cf. Malachi 3:17; John 3:16). 2. Purified cultural achievements: art, music, architecture, language, technology—everything produced to God’s glory, stripped of every trace of idolatry or injustice (Revelation 21:27). 3. Diverse expressions of worship reflecting the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10). Continuity and Discontinuity Continuity: Distinct ethnic identities endure (“nations,” “kings”), emphasizing God’s delight in variety (Acts 17:26-27). Discontinuity: National rivalries, pride, and sin are abolished (Isaiah 2:4). What remains is only that which accords with the holiness of the Lamb. Theological Significance • Universal Lordship of Christ — Every sphere of human endeavor finds its ultimate meaning in submission to Him (Colossians 1:16-20). • Vindication of the Great Commission — Evangelism is not futile; the redeemed harvest is seen with eschatological certainty. • Affirmation of Culture — Christianity is not anti-culture; it purifies and consummates culture. Practical Implications for Believers Today 1. Vocational Dignity: daily work, when done “for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23), gains eternal resonance. 2. Cultural Engagement: believers labor to produce truth, beauty, and goodness, anticipating their perfected entry into the New Jerusalem. 3. Global Mission: supporting translation, church-planting, and relief work aligns with God’s purpose to gather the nations’ glory. Summary Definition “The glory and honor of the nations” in Revelation 21:26 is the collective, purified splendor—material, cultural, and personal—of every redeemed people group, voluntarily brought into the everlasting city as tribute to the Triune God, testifying to Christ’s universal reign and fulfilling the prophetic vision of all creation praising its Creator. |
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