Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City - 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 the temple in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb is. And the city has no need of a sun nor of a 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 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 New Jerusalem are priests. (Revelation 20:6) And the great sacrifice, Jesus' perfect life, has been offered once for all time. (Hebrews 9:27, 28) Moreover, Jehovah is personally accessible to everyone living in that city. 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City - A City of Light

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