Scripture: Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation: 21:9-27 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, John sees a new heaven, earth, and Jerusalem emerging from their origins. Amid this gloriously unfolding vision, John hears a loud voice declare that God now intimately and eternally dwells with his people and will wipe away their tears, for the Lord has banished the old order of sorrow, suffering, and death. Christ then addresses himself as the Alpha and Omega (beginning and end) and announces he is making everything new. Thus, he invites those who thirst to drink freely from his springs of living water and urges his people to conquer (overcome) their trials and receive their heritage as children of God. Lastly, the Lord reiterates earlier warnings that the faithless who live immoral lives will face the second death of eternal anguish, separated from God (see 2:11; 20:6; 20:14).
Today’s reading continues the divine revelation of our Triune God. One of the angels who had poured a portion of God’s wrath onto the earth takes John on a tour of the new Jerusalem. Identified as the Bride of the Lamb, John describes our new city of God symbolically in language similar to Ezekiel’s vision of an eschatological temple (Ezekiel 40-43). Both are extravagantly bejeweled to convey the holiness and glory of their King and Great High Priest. Unlike the rectangular temple, however, this new Jerusalem is square in configuration (perhaps conveying perfection). Named after the Church’s twelve apostles, twelve foundations support the city. And twelve gates access the city, each bearing the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. But what’s notable about this Jerusalem, in contrast to other cities of antiquity, is that it has no temple because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (more to be said below). And since the light of the Lamb shines nonstop, there is no darkness. Thus, its gates are always open, providing access to all nations for the glory of God. And only those whose names appear in the Lamb’s “book of life” will enter it.
Takeaway: Jewish eschatological thought included a temple at the center of life in the holy city of God. John, however, sees the fulfillment of temple worship in the Lamb, who has eternally satisfied cultic animal sacrifices to atone for the sins of God’s people—paying the penalty in his first coming and eradicating sin’s presence in his return. Moreover, with all who hate God expelled from creation, the expansion mission of God’s kingdom to all nations is now complete. Also, in fulfillment of Isaiah and Zechariah’s prophecies, the evening shall be light (Isaiah 60:19-20) with the dawn of this “unique day” (Zechariah 14:7). Lastly, all the redeemed nations will engage in worship, bringing their offerings of glory and honor to their King—implying continuing activity and relationships as theologian Alan Johnson surmises (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Revelation, p.598).
Our takeaway? As John chronicles in his Gospel, Jesus announces, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12 ESV). Walking in the light is a recurring theme throughout Scripture (Psalm 56:13, 89:15; Isaiah 2:5, 50:11, 59:9; John 8:12, 12:35; Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 1:7). The difference in this end-of-age era is that God’s children no longer trip over sin obstacles. We will effortlessly walk and engage in activities. But that day has not come. So, as the writer of Hebrews urges, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV).
Indeed, as discussed in previous Daily Focus devotions, because sin so easily weighs us down, we need our church community’s help to overcome habitual sins through practical support, words of encouragement, and accountability. We must also override temptations and sinful thoughts with a prayerful vision of Christ’s sacrificial love for us and his heavenly enthronement, where he exercises authority over all creation—including our petty sins. When we do, we might discover a lighter step in our gate.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who fulfilled all requirements to redeem us to you and has thus opened the gates to the new City of God that awaits us. We look forward to that day when we no longer stumble over sin but engage in kingdom activities without obstructions. Meanwhile, we ask for your grace and mercy to inspire and empower us to cooperate with your Holy Spirit and the community of believers to shed the weight of our sins, focusing on your Son, and thereby walk with a lighter step. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
Leave a Reply