I realize that I did not write much about Revelation 21:22 in the last article, although I gave that verse, so I will give it again, with also Revelation 21:23-24. “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.”
Perhaps I should back up to Revelation 21:1—3 to refresh our minds on just what will be in the eternal state: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
I realize that repetition is often unwelcomed in some modern minds, but I think it necessary for us to see again that the eternal home of all the saved will be the new earth, with the new Jerusalem which in now in heaven coming down to the new earth. Some people speak of their love for the earth, but most have no real idea that God is going to make a new earth, with the new Jerusalem, which is now in the heavens, coming down to the new earth. So, earth lovers, who do not know God and never come to know Him, will miss being in the new Jerusalem on the new earth for eternity!
In my young life I never heard anything like what I am writing here, for many preachers, although godly men, had not had the time or advantage of sitting under teachers who had studied deeply the Scriptures, with the entire Bible as their text book. If one looks very carefully at the Book of Revelation, he will see, without a doubt, that God has new heavenly bodies and a new earth coming in the future. The new Jerusalem, now in heaven, will come down to the new earth, according to our verses above. So, God is going to make all things new, including a new earth with new heavenly bodies. The New Jerusalem, now in heaven, will come down to the new earth, as our verses above clearly show. Yet, all who have died as children of God are now in heaven, but their bodies are still in the grave. When their bodies are raised, and the bodies of the saved still alive are chaanged when Jesus comes, all of the saved together will enjoy life on a new earth, with new Jerusalem now in the heavens coming down to the new earth. Should this sound strange to some of my readers, I would suggest a careful reading and studying of Revelation chapters 21-22.
Notice that there will be no temple in the new Jerusalem, because the Father and the Son will be the temple thereof. People who are carried away by the sight of church buildings may need to consider that there will be no such buildings in the new heavens and new earth. Yet there will be the beauty of the new Jerusalem itself, for the city will have all kinds of beauty, with the city itself being pure gold, according to Revelation 21:18, which says, “……and the city was pure gold, like unto transparent glass”. So, those who love gold need to be sure they are saved, for only heaven will have a city of pure gold! No temple will be needed, because the Father and the Son will be the temple thereof, according to our verses above. Those who care nothing for God the Father and God the Son will not be in this new city, unless they come to repent of their sins and trust Jesus for salvation. I often wonder why so many people seem to think that God really has nothing to offer humanity, when He is actually the only One Who has anything eternal to offer all who trust Christ for salvation!
J. Briggs King
