Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 21:22

"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof." — Revelation 21:22 (ASV)

John turns from this beautiful description of the city to the life within it. In antiquity every notable city had at least one central temple. The New Jerusalem not only differs in this respect from ancient cities but also from all Jewish speculation about a rebuilt temple and the restoration of the ark of the covenant. Illuminated by the overflowing radiance of the presence of the glory of God, the Holy City no longer needs a temple (GK 3724). Yet paradoxically it has a temple, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (v.22). And in another sense, the entire city is a temple, since it is patterned after the Most Holy Place (v.16). In his glorious vision, John sees the fulfillment of these hopes in the total presence of God with his purified people, while the Lamb, the sign of the new covenant, is the fulfillment of the restoration of the ark of the covenant (cf. Jn 4:21, 23). In the new city, where there is no longer any uncleanness, no actual temple is needed. In fulfillment of Isa 60:19–20, there will be no further need for any natural or artificial lighting because the glory of God will dim the most powerful earthly light into paleness (cf. Zechariah 14:7). In the earthly tabernacle and temple, there was, to be sure, artificial lighting (the seven-branched lampstand); yet the Most Holy Place had no such lighting because of the light of God’s own presence.

Verses 24–26 present a remarkable picture of “the nations” and “the kings of the earth” entering the city and bringing their “splendor” (GK 1518) into it. John receives a vision of social life, bustling with activity. Elsewhere in Revelation, the “nations” (GK 1620) are the pagan, rebellious peoples of the world who trample the Holy City (cf. comments on 11:2; 11:18) and have become drunk with the wine of Babylon, the mother of prostitutes (18:3, 23); they will be destroyed by the second coming of Christ (19:15). But here they stand for the peoples of earth who are the servants of Christ, the redeemed nations who follow the Lamb and have resisted the beast and Babylon (1:5; 15:3; 19:16; 2:26; 5:9; 7:9: 12:5). This latter group, described figuratively here, have part in the activity in the Holy City, the kingdom of God.

Life in the age to come will certainly involve continuing activities and relationships that contribute to the glory of the Holy City throughout eternity. Instead of the nations bringing their precious possessions to the harlot city, the redeemed nations will bring these offerings to the throne of God (cf. Isaiah 60:3ff.). So certain is its perpetual light and security that the gates will never be shut for fear of evil (v.25; cf. Isaiah 60:11).

One thing is absolutely certain. Nothing impure (lit., “common”; GK 3123) will ever enter the city’s gates (v.27); by this word John means no ceremonial impurity (cf. 21:8; 22:15). Only those can enter whose names are in “the Lamb’s book of life” and who thus belong to him through redemption (cf. 3:5; 20:12, 15). This should not be taken as implying that in the New Jerusalem there will still be unsaved roaming around outside the city who may now and then enter it by repenting. Instead, John warns present readers that the only way to participate in the future city is to turn one’s total loyalties to the Lamb now (cf. 21:7).