Revelation Journey · Revelation 21:22–27
The Glory of God Illuminates the City
John looks throughout the holy city, but he sees no temple within it. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine upon it.
God's glory gives the city light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
By this light, the nations walk.
The kings of the earth bring their glory into the city.
Its gates are never shut during the day.
And John explains that there will be no night there.
The glory and honor of the nations are brought into the city.
But nothing unclean will ever enter it.
No one who practices what is shameful or false will enter.
Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life may enter.
The holy city is filled with God's presence.
Its light does not depend upon the sun, its gates are not closed against the darkness, and its holiness is not corrupted by evil.
Why is there no temple?
Throughout the Bible, the temple is associated with God's presence among His people.
In the New Jerusalem, John sees no separate temple building.
Revelation 21:22 explains why: the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
God's presence is no longer represented by a particular sacred building within the city.
The city itself is characterized by direct fellowship with God and the Lamb.
Why does the city need no sun or moon?
John says the city has no need of the sun or moon to shine upon it.
God's glory illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
The passage does not explicitly say that the sun and moon no longer exist anywhere in creation.
It says the city does not need them for illumination.
The imagery recalls Isaiah 60:19–20, which describes God as an everlasting light for His people.
Why are the gates never shut?
Ancient cities commonly closed their gates for protection, especially at night.
John describes the New Jerusalem's gates as never shut.
He also says there will be no night there.
The open gates communicate security, peace, and the absence of threatening darkness.
However, the passage also makes clear that nothing unclean enters the city.
Who are the nations and kings?
John describes the nations walking by the city's light.
He also says the kings of the earth bring their glory into the city.
This recalls Old Testament prophecies of nations coming toward God's light, including Isaiah 60.
Christians differ in how they understand the precise identity and role of these kings in the new creation.
The vision emphasizes the honor of the nations being brought into God's holy city.
Who may enter the city?
Revelation 21:27 says nothing unclean will enter the city.
Those who practice what is shameful or false are excluded.
The passage identifies those who may enter as people written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
This connects the New Jerusalem with the Book of Life described in Revelation 20.
The vision presents the city as holy, secure, and belonging to God.
Pause and notice
What building does John not find in the city? Who gives it light? What do the nations walk by? Are its gates ever shut? Whose names must be written in the Book of Life?
Look back at the passage
John sees no temple. God and the Lamb are its temple. God's glory gives the city light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations walk by that light. The gates are never shut. Those who enter are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Explore the Scripture and artwork
The radiant golden city, open gates, and people approaching its entrance illustrate themes from Revelation 21:22–27.
The painting emphasizes a city illuminated by extraordinary golden-white light.
The light represents God's glory, which John says illuminates the city.
The towers, palaces, waterfalls, robes, crowns, and detailed architecture are artistic choices.
The illustration includes a dramatic sky and distant celestial light. Scripture states that the city needs no sun or moon to illuminate it.
The artwork should not be understood as showing the precise appearance of the New Jerusalem or identifying the individuals entering its gates.
Read Revelation 21:22–27 ↗Scripture opens in a new tab.
John has seen the New Jerusalem illuminated by God's glory. Its gates remain open, and the Lamb is its lamp. Now the angel shows John a crystal-clear river flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Continue into Revelation 22:1–5.
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