What does "the nations will walk by its light" mean for believers now? The Future Scene in View • “The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” (Revelation 21:23) • “And the nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.” (Revelation 21:24) • John is describing the literal New Jerusalem, descending after the final judgment. Its radiance is not figurative; the very glory of God and the Lamb is the sole illumination. Key Phrase Explained • “The nations” — redeemed peoples from every ethnicity who have trusted in Christ (Revelation 5:9). • “Will walk” — a continuous, active lifestyle of movement and purpose, not a one-time event. • “By its light” — dependence on and direction from the Lamb’s glory, not merely enjoying brightness but ordering life around it. Implications for Believers Now Live in the Light of Christ • John 8:12: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” • Walking “by its light” starts today—choosing truth, purity, and obedience that align with Christ’s character. • 1 John 1:7: “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.” Reflect His Light to Others • Matthew 5:14-16 calls believers “the light of the world.” • Our attitudes, words, and deeds serve as present-day beams of the glory that will one day fill the city. Embrace the Multi-Ethnic Kingdom • Isaiah 60:3 foretold, “Nations will come to your light.” • Welcoming, discipling, and uniting with believers of every background mirrors the future reality of Revelation 21:24. Fuel Evangelism and Missions • Knowing nations will one day walk in the Lamb’s light propels us to take the gospel to them now (Matthew 28:19-20). • Evangelistic urgency flows from confidence that Christ will indeed gather a people “from every tribe and tongue.” Pursue Holiness and Purity • Revelation 21:27 warns: “Nothing unclean will ever enter it.” • Living clean today aligns us with the environment of the coming city. Anchor Hope and Courage • Revelation 22:5: “They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will shine upon them.” • Fear, anxiety, and discouragement shrink before the certainty of a glory-lit future. Reject Darkness in the Present Age • Ephesians 5:8-11 urges believers to “walk as children of light… Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.” • Cultural pressures that contradict Scripture are exposed by the Lamb’s light; we choose allegiance to Him instead. Anticipate Royal Stewardship • “The kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.” Future rulership responsibilities shape present faithfulness (Luke 19:17). • Excellence in work, leadership, and service now rehearses our eventual participation in the New Jerusalem’s ordered worship. Wrapping It Up Believers already possess the light that will illuminate eternity, so we align our walk, witness, and worldview with that radiance today. By living in, reflecting, and spreading the Lamb’s light, we taste the glory that is literally coming when “the nations will walk by its light.” |
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