A City Of Light

In Solomon's time, Jerusalem was dominated by a temple built at the city's highest elevation on Mount Moriah to the north. But what of New Jerusalem? John says: " And I did not see a temple in it, for Jehovah God and the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb is. And the city has not need of the sun nor of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God lighted it up, and its lamp was the Lamb." (Revelation 21:22, 23) In truth, there is no need to construct a literal temple here. The ancient Jewish temple was just a pattern, and the reality of that pattern, the great spiritual temple, has existed since Jehovah has anointed Jesus as High Priest in 29 C.E. (Matthew 3:16, 17; Hebrews 9:11, 12, 23, 24) A temple also presupposes a priestly class offering sacrifices to Jehovah on behalf of the people. But all those who are part of the New Jerusalem are priests. (Revelation 20:6) And the great sacrifice, Jesus' perfect human life, has been offered once for all time. (Hebrews 9:27, 28) Moreover, Jehovah is personally accessible to everyone living in the city.

When Jehovah's glory passed by Moses on Mount Sinai, it caused Moses' face to shine so brightly that he had to cover it from his fellow Israelites. (Exodus 34:4-7, 29, 30, 33) Can you imagine, then, the brightness of a city that is permanently lighted up with Jehovah's glory? Such a city could have no nighttime. It would have no need of a literal sun or moon. It would be eternally shedding light. (Compare 1 Timothy 6:16) New Jerusalem is bathed in that kind of radiant brilliance. Indeed, this bride and its Bridegroom King become the capital of Jehovah's universal organization - his "woman," "the Jerusalem above" -concerning which Isaiah prophesied: "For you the sun will be no more prove to be a light by day, and for brightness the moon itself will no more give you light. And Jehovah must become to you an indefinitely lasting light, and your God your beauty. No more will your sun set, nor your moon go on the wane; for Jehovah himself will become for you and indefinitely lasting light and the days of your mourning will have come to completion. -Isaiah 60:1, 19, 20; Galatians 4:26.

Next time: A Light For The Nations

Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, 1988