What is the meaning of Revelation 21:22? But I saw no temple • John, writing of the literal New Jerusalem that descends after the new heaven and new earth appear (Revelation 21:1–2), notes the striking absence of a structure that once defined Israel’s worship (1 Kings 8:10–11). • Throughout Scripture the temple symbolizes God’s dwelling among His people, from the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8) to Solomon’s temple (2 Chronicles 7:1–2) and finally the millennial temple (Ezekiel 40–48). John’s statement signals that even this last, glorious earthly temple gives way to something better. • This is not allegory; the apostle literally “saw” the city and literally “saw no temple,” underscoring the finality of God’s redemptive plan (Revelation 21:5). in the city • The city is the capital of the renewed creation, described with measurable dimensions and tangible materials (Revelation 21:15–21). • Its gates are never shut (Revelation 21:25), and nations walk by its light (Revelation 21:24), demonstrating a real, bustling life centered on God. • The absence of a temple within this physical metropolis highlights that every square inch is sacred ground, fulfilling God’s promise: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3). because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb • The two Persons named emphasize unity and equality within the Godhead. The Father (“Lord God Almighty”) and the Son (“the Lamb,” Revelation 5:6) together fulfill every purpose the temple once served. • Jesus foretold this moment: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19), pointing to His body as the true meeting place between God and man. In the New Jerusalem that reality is complete. • No veil separates worshipers; Christ’s atoning sacrifice has forever opened the way (Hebrews 10:19–22). are its temple • Presence: God Himself embodies what the temple represented—His nearness. Believers will “see His face” (Revelation 22:4), an experience impossible in past ages (Exodus 33:20). • Access: No priesthood, sacrifices, or rituals remain. Christ, the Lamb once slain, is eternally present, the “one Mediator between God and men” (1 Timothy 2:5). • Worship: Every activity becomes worship. As Jesus told the Samaritan woman, true worship is “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23–24); here that prophecy reaches its fullest expression. • Security: With God as the temple, nothing unclean can enter (Revelation 21:27). Holiness is not confined to a building but permeates the entire realm. summary Revelation 21:22 teaches that in the coming New Jerusalem no physical temple is necessary because the Father and the Son personally fulfill its purpose. God’s immediate, unmediated presence turns the whole city into holy ground, granting His people perfect access, unbroken fellowship, and everlasting security. |
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