November 14, 2021

The Nations and the Celestial City (Revelation 21:24-27)

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Revelation 22 and the New Jerusalem.

The passage reads, “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” This passage has given comentaries fits. For example, one author writes, “How does the reader account for the derogatory portrayal of the nations as those who worship the beast and resist God’s rule, while now in chapters 21–22 they take their place in the New Jerusalem? Those who question this find a conflict in statements that teach the destruction of the nations and kings in Rev. 6:15, 14:7-20; 16:16-21, 19:17-21, and 20:7-10, 11-15 and statements in this text who will be saved. Many would claim the confusion of the nations to have both universal judgement and universal salvation. These nations are the inhabitants of this city, and they shall walk in the light of it, which is Christ; they shall enjoy it; they shall have the light of life, and be partakers of the inheritance with the saints in light, and that continually: they shall not only come to it, but continue in it, and walk at it. The Jews say that Jerusalem, in time to come, will be made a lamp to the nations of the world, “and they shall walk in its light”, or by the light of it, which is the sense of Isaiah 60:3 “the Gentiles shall come to thy light” (cf. Isa. 9:1). We know that the bride, ekklesia, or kingdom is a new creation of both Jews and Gentiles. They are kings and priests unto God and will reign with Christ, giving Him all the honor and glory. This does not mean that they will be kings of the earth at this time because all rule, authority, and power, will be put down. Revelation 20:6 reads, “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

They will never be deceived by Satan, again (12:9; 20:3, 8). While the damned will be consigned to outer darkness, the redeemed enjoy the light of one perpetual day. In the New Jerusalem, the gates are always open. The gateways were entrances into the city ad exits out of the city. When shut, they became part of the barrier wall for security. This is not heaven because there is no going in and out of heaven. However, free will allows one to enter the celestial city or leave. In Rev. 22:14 (cf. 3:12), the redeemed will not go out thence any more.” In addition, the wicked and dogs who are without are never allowed to enter the city (22:15). Angels bar them from Paradise as the Cheribim barred Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden (21:12; 2:7; Gen. 3:22-24). Those in the city remain inside forever, while those without remain outside, forever. Yet, the gates remain open but not to expedite the flow of traffic in and out of the city. The reason may be that that the redeemed are not imprisoned in the celestial city. They stay because they delight in the city. Second, it implies that the city is under no threat because the enemy has been subdued and imprisoned. Open gates also allow thos on the outside to see what is within the walls. Luke 16 and the events of Lazarus and the rich man show that the damned can see and desire the comforts of those within the gates (Lk. 16:18-21). The nations (Gentiles) will bring their glory and honor into it (21:26). The promise that all nations will flow into it.

About

I have been a fervent student of the Bible all of my life
Experience: Preacher for 30 years and father of three sons
Education: Florida College and Missouri State University

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