The Resplendent City -No More Light

No More Light

Entry into New Jerusalem-surely, there could be no more wondrous privilege!  Just think-those once lowly, imperfect humans will follow Jesus into heaven to become a part of such a glorious arrangement!  (John 14:2)   John gives some idea of the blessings to be enjoyed by these, saying:  "And no more will there be any curse.  But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his slaves will render him sacred service; and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads."  (Revelation 22:3, 4)   (note: if you could not see his face  before without dying-as it is powerful like the sun, then you won't be able to when the time comes.)  When the Israelite priesthood became corrupt, it suffered Jehovah's curse.  (Malachi 2:2) Jerusalem's  faithless "house" was pronounced abandoned by Jesus.  (Matthew 23:37-39)  But in New Jerusalem, "no more will there be  any curse."  (Compare Zechariah 14:11)  All its inhabitants will have been tested in the fire of trials here one earth, and having gained the victory, they will have 'put on incorruption and immortality!  In their  case, Jehovah knows, just as he knew with Jesus, that they will never fall away.  (1 Corinthians  15:53, 57)  Further, "the throne of God and of the Lamb" will be there making the city's position secure for all eternity.

Like John himself, all future members of that celestial city are "slaves" of God. As such, they have God's name prominently written on their forehead, identifying him as their Owner.  (Revelation 1:1; 3:12)  (Note: Hey, I would rather be a slave of God's than a slave of our government now.)  They will count it an inestimable privilege to render him sacred service as part of New Jerusalem.  While Jesus was on earth, he made a thrilling promise to such prospective rulers, saying: "Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God." (Matthew 5:8) How happy these slaves will be actually to behold and worship Jehovah in person!

John continues: "Also, night will be no more, and they have no need of lamplight nor do they have sunlight, because Jehovah God will shed light upon them." (Revelation 22:5a)  Ancient Jerusalem, like any other city on earth, relied on the sun for light by day and on moonlight and artificial light by night.  But in heaven New Jerusalem, such lighting will be unnecessary.  The city will be illuminated by Jehovah himself.  "Night" may also be used in a figurative sense, referring  to adversity or separation from Jehovah.  (Micah 3:6; John 9:4; Romans 13:11, 12)  There could never be that kind of night in the glorious, radiant presence of the almighty God.

John closes out this magnificent vision by saying of these slaves of God: "And they will rule as kings forever and ever."  (Revelation 22:5b)  True, at the end of the thousand years, the benefits of the ransom will have been applied to completion, and Jesus will present  a perfected human race to his Father.  (1 Corinthians  15:25-28)  What Jehovah has in mind for Jesus and the 144,000 after that, we do not know.  But Revelation assures us that their privileged  sacred service to Jehovah will continue into all eternity.

Next time: The Resplendent City - Revelation's Happy Climax

From the Book of Revelation