New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-22:5)
God's temple is one of the great stories throughout Bible (Gen 1-3; Ex 25-42; 1 Kings 6-9; Ez 40-48; John 1; 15; Rev 21-22). Therefore it is natural that we are encountering it in the end of the Bible, in the book of Revelation 21:1-22:5.
Here again, as in the whole book of Revelation, John is meeting angel and this time he shows him the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:9). John starts to describe it. The description unequivocally depicts something unordinary. However important is what is concluding his description: "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." (Rev 21:22-23)
In fact the whole city is the Holy of Holies. According to description of the Holy of Holies at Salomon's temple it should has length, width and height all the same (1 Kings 6:20). It is a regular cube.
In history the entrance to the temple or the Holy of Holies was always forbidden. But now everybody has unlimited access in order to be with God.
Radiating God's glory (Rev 21:11a) is a sign of God's presence, which is totally glaring and immediate. Gates from every side are symbol of complete openness of the city in order that everybody could enter, because there is no danger (Rev 21:25.27) (Gates was closed for night, because of impending danger).
God longed for all the history of mankind for contact. Communion with humans was his original design unfortunately destroyed by sin (Gen 3:8). Throughout history God was trying to establish this contact anew (Ex 25:8). Man was not always responding in the same way. However, despite all of this, God will finish His plan. And those, who also desire for immediate God's presence, will taste it. This is God's desire and offer for all people.
Vocabulary
Word | Meaning | |
---|---|---|
ὁ, ἡ, τό | the | |
καί | and | |
αὐτός, ή, ὁ | he; self | |
εἰμί | I am; be | |
θεός, οῦ, ὁ | God | |
οὐ, οὐκ, οὐχ | no | |
πόλις, εως, ἡ | city | |
πυλών, ω̑νος, ὁ | gateway, entrance | |
δώδεκα | twelve | |
ἐγώ | I |