What does the absence of a sun or moon signify in Revelation 21:23? The Verse at the Center Revelation 21:23: “And the city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” Key Observations - “Has no need” points to sufficiency, not annihilation, of created lights. - Illumination flows from “the glory of God”; Jesus, “the Lamb,” is the lamp—personal and perpetual. - Light is tied to God’s very being (1 John 1:5); He supplies it directly, without intermediaries. What the Absence Reveals About God - Supreme sufficiency: His glory meets every need—physical, spiritual, emotional. - Unmediated presence: Nothing stands between God and His people; intimacy is complete. - Eternal constancy: His light never dims, eclipses, or sets (James 1:17). Creation Fulfilled, Not Discarded - Genesis 1:14–18 marked sun and moon as rulers of day and night for the present age. - In the new creation their purpose is fulfilled; God’s unveiled glory now governs every moment. Echoes in the Prophets - Isaiah 60:19–20: “The LORD will be your everlasting light.” Revelation 21:23 is the consummation of that promise. - Zechariah 14:7 foresees “a unique day—known only to the LORD—without day or night,” pointing to the same reality. Christ, the Lamp - John 8:12: Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world”—realized literally and universally in the New Jerusalem. - Hebrews 1:3: He is “the radiance of God’s glory,” now shining openly and eternally. - Colossians 1:17: “In Him all things hold together,” including the very fabric of light itself. Implications for Believers - Permanent fellowship: Darkness—and every symbol of sin, death, or separation—vanishes (Revelation 22:5). - Unending worship: With the Creator as the sole light source, all attention and adoration flow to Him alone. - Perfect guidance and security: No shadows mean no confusion, fear, or danger—ever again. Summary The absence of sun or moon in Revelation 21:23 proclaims that the glory of God, radiating through the risen Lamb, will eternally supply every ray of light in the New Jerusalem. Created luminaries once marked time and seasons; in the perfected kingdom they are unnecessary, for the Creator’s own unveiled presence is the everlasting light of His people. |
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