The final verses of Revelation chapter twenty-one close with some interesting commentary regarding the new Jerusalem…
“The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it” (Revelation 21:24 NET).
Who are these nations and who are the “kings of the earth” mentioned here? In addressing those questions, it seems that various national and cultural boundaries will continue to exist in the future. It also appears that national leaders will possess the freedom to enter this city with cultural treasures that honor God.
The last verse of Revelation twenty-one then brings forth an important promise…
“But nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed shall ever enter it, nor anyone who commits abominations (unclean, detestable, morally repugnant things) or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27 AMPC).
It’ s often easy to become discouraged when we are confronted with modern-day examples of “man’s inhumanity to man.” When such feelings begin to overwhelm us, it helps to remember that God will establish a place where such things will no longer exist. That place is here in Revelation chapter twenty-one. We should also remember the following quote from Jesus as we go about the business of our daily lives…
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'” (Matthew 25:31-40).