“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21 ESV).
The symbolic imagery of a pearly gate is often associated with the point of entry into heaven. That depiction finds its origin in our text from Revelation 21:21. However, that image better reflects the gateway to the city described here, rather than heaven itself. And while a lustrous string of beautiful pearls is elegant and glamorous, a gate crafted from a single pearl would be truly magnificent. Yet, that is only one characteristic of the overwhelming splendor of the new Jerusalem…
“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:22-27).
Today, we commonly use the term “house of God” to signify a place of religious worship. While that may be true in our present day, things will be far different in eternity. In this glorious city to come, we will no longer associate a building with God’s presence, for He will be present among His people. This is why Revelation 21:22 tells us, “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (NIV).
Verse twenty-three then continues by saying, “…the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light” (NLT). Thus, we are told that God will personally illuminate this vast city resplendent with gold, jewels, and precious stones. That scene will be so glorious that no graphic image could ever do justice to such unimaginable splendor.
Nevertheless, we should take care to ensure that we do not mischaracterize the actual reading of this passage. For instance, our text from Revelation 21:22-27 does not tell us that the sun and the moon will cease to exist. Instead, we’re simply informed that their light will no longer be required, for God will illuminate this future city.
Image Attribution: Avgustaleo, via GoodFon