THE LAMB IS THE LIGHT

Rev 21:22-27 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. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

There was something unique about the New Jerusalem, when compare to the Old Jerusalem. The center of Jewish worship, in the original city of Jerusalem, was the temple. In that Old Testament temple, divine worship toward God was conducted by the house of Aaron through the priestly tribe of Levi. There the priests interceded for the Jewish nation, offering various sacrifices in accordance with their ritualistic ordinances. Only the high priest, and only once a year, could enter into the Most Holy Place where an atoning sacrifice was made for the sins of all Israel. The priests were the intermediary between God and the people. However, in the New Jerusalem there will be no temple. Why? It was because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Within the church of Christ there is direct communication with God. This truth was made possible through the blood of His Son, Christ Jesus. Having obeyed God's commandments, culminating in baptism for the remission of sins, one is immediately added to the church by God Himself. The ritualistic practices under the Jewish dispensation were replaced with the direct worship of God by Christians. Therefore, there was no need for a temple - the entire New Testament symbolic city was considered to be the place of worship toward God by all saints, which are His children.

Within the New Jerusalem, the symbolic kingdom of Christ, there is no night. There is continuous light which radiates from the glory of God, ...and the Lamb. There is no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it. Just as physical light allows mankind to find their way down the dimly lit pathway of life, the spiritual light of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, enlightens, and guides, all obedient Christians along the narrow road that leads to heaven. The light, which radiates from God and our Savior, is the knowledge of their plan of eternal salvation that, from the beginning of time, was planned through the shedding of the blood of Christ Jesus for the remission of all sins. It was made available to all men and women of the world, that were willing to submit to that plan, and give their lives to follow the New Testament teaching of Jesus. This is the exact meaning found in the lesson text of John's inspired word, when he wrote that 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. Not only the nation's people that are obedient to the will of God will be saved, but also all obedient monarchs that rule these nations will glorify, and honor, God through their obedience to Him.

And here is a wonderful thought: the gates of it (the symbolic city of New Testament Jerusalem) shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. Quoting the sentiment found in Isaiah 60:11, we know that the gates leading to the kingdom of God through His Son, Christ Jesus, will always be found open to all that humbly submit to His will, obey His commandments, and are willing to be baptized into the body of Christ, His church. This is God's promise, and it is the eternal light that shines within His kingdom, in which no night can be found. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. God's family, His children, the eternally saved, will be made up of the faithful men and women of all nations of the earth. These, through obedience to His will, shall bring glory and honor to their Creator, their Heavenly Father, who is the Author of their salvation.

Entry into heaven is restricted. Only those that have lived according to God's commandments will be allowed entry. Those that have corrupted, polluted, and contaminated their lives with worldly sins, and have given in to the deceptive will of Satan, will have no rights to the bliss of heaven, and will be excluded from entering in through its pearly gates. Only the obedient will be allowed entry; only those that have been added to the church of Christ, whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.