Rev 21:22-25, 22:6 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 22. And I saw no temple therein . No structure reared expressly for the worship of God; no particular place where he was adored. It was all temple--nothing but a temple. It was not like Jerusalem, where there was but one house reared expressly for Divine worship, and to which the inhabitants repaired to praise God; it was all one great temple reared in honour of his name, and where worship ascended from every part of it. With this explanation, this passage harmonizes with what is said in . For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it . They are present in all parts of it in their glory; they fill it with light; and the splendour of their presence may be said to be the temple. The idea here is, that it would be a holy world-- all holy. No particular portion would be set apart for purposes of public worship, but in all places God would be adored, and every portion of it devoted to the purposes of religion.

Revelation of John 21:22-25

Verse 22. And I saw no temple therein. No structure reared expressly for the worship of God; no particular place where he was adored. It was all temple--nothing but a temple. It was not like Jerusalem, where there was but one house reared expressly for Divine worship, and to which the inhabitants repaired to praise God; it was all one great temple reared in honour of his name, and where worship ascended from every part of it. With this explanation, this passage harmonizes with what is said in Rev 2:12, 7:15.

For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. They are present in all parts of it in their glory; they fill it with light; and the splendour of their presence may be said to be the temple. The idea here is, that it would be a holy world--all holy. No particular portion would be set apart for purposes of public worship, but in all places God would be adored, and every portion of it devoted to the purposes of religion. Verse 23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it. This imagery seems to be derived from Isa 60:19-20. Isa 60:19 Isa 60:20. No language could give a more striking or beautiful representation of the heavenly state than that which is here employed.

For the glory of God did lighten it. By the visible splendour of his glory. Rev 21:11. That supplied the place of the sun and the moon.

And the Lamb is the light thereof. The Son of God; the Messiah. Rev 5:6; Isa 60:19.

(a) "sun" Rev 22:5, Isa 60:19,20 (b) "the light" Jn 1:4 Verse 24. And the nations of them which are saved. All the nations that are saved; or all the saved considered as nations. This imagery is doubtless derived from that in Isaiah, particularly Isa 60:3-9. Isa 60:3, seq.

Shall walk in the light of it. Shall enjoy its splendour, and be continually in its light.

And the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. All that they consider as constituting their glory, treasures, crowns, sceptres, robes. The idea is, that all these will be devoted to God in the future days of the church in its glory, and will be, as it were, brought and laid down at the feet of the Saviour in heaven. The language is derived, doubtless, from the description in Isa 60:3-14. Compare Isa 49:23.

(c) "nations" Isa 60:3-11, 66:10-12 (d) "kings" Ps 72:11 Verse 25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day. It shall be constantly open, allowing free ingress and egress to all who reside there. The language is derived from Isa 60:11. Isa 60:11. Applied to the future state of the blessed, it would seem to mean, that while this will be their permanent abode, yet that the dwellers there will not be prisoners. The universe will be open to them. They will be permitted to go forth and visit every world, and survey the works of God in all parts of his dominions.

For there shall be no night there. It shall be all day; all unclouded splendour. When, therefore, it is said that the gates should not be "shut by day," it means that they would never be shut. When it is said that there would be no night there, it is, undoubtedly, to be taken as meaning that there would be no literal darkness, and nothing of which night is the emblem: no calamity, no sorrow, no bereavement, no darkened windows on account of the loss of friends and kindred. Compare Barnes on "Re 21:4".

(e) "for there shall be no night" Zech 14:7

Revelation of John 22:6

ANALYSIS OF CHAPTER XXII. 6--20

THIS portion of the book of Revelation is properly the epilogue, or conclusion. The main purposes of the vision are accomplished; the enemies of the church are quelled; the church is triumphant; the affairs of the world are wound up; the redeemed are received to their blissful, eternal abode; the wicked are cut off; the earth is purified, and the affairs of the universe are fixed on their permanent foundation. A few miscellaneous matters, therefore, dose the book.

(1.) A solemn affirmation on the part of him who had made these revelations, that they are true, and that they will be speedily accomplished, and that he will be blessed or happy who shall keep the sayings of the book, Rev 22:6,7.

(2.) The effect of all these things on John himself, leading him, as in a former case, Rev 19:10 to a disposition to worship him who had been the medium in making to him such extraordinary communications, Rev 22:8,9.

(3.) A command not to seal up what had been revealed, since the time was near. These things would soon have their fulfilment, and it was proper that the prophecies should be unsealed, or open, both that the events might be compared with the predictions, and that a persecuted church might be able to see what would be the result of all these things, and to find consolation in the assurance of the final triumph of the Son of God, Rev 22:10.

(4.) The fixed and unchangeable state of the righteous and the wicked, Rev 22:11-13.

(5.) The blessedness of those who keep the commandments of God, and who enter into the New Jerusalem, Rev 22:14,15.

(6.) Jesus, the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star, proclaims himself to be the Author of all these revelations by the instrumentality of an angel, Rev 22:16.

(7.) The universal invitation of the gospel--the language of Jesus himself--giving utterance to his strong desire for the salvation of men, Rev 22:17.

(8.) A solemn command not to change anything that had been revealed in this book, either by adding to it or by taking from it, Rev 22:18,19.

(9.) The assurance that he who had made these revelations would come quickly, and the joyous assent of John to this, and prayer that his advent might soon occur, Rev 22:20.

(10.) The benediction, Rev 22:21.

Verse 6. And he said unto me. The angel-interpreter, who had showed John the vision of the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:9-10. As these visions axe now at an end, the angel comes to John directly, and assures him that all these things are true--that there has been no deception of the senses in these visions, but that they were really Divine disclosures of what would soon and certainly occur.

These sayings are faithful and true. These communications; all that has been disclosed to you by symbols, or in direct language. Rev 21:5.

And the Lord God of the holy prophets. The same God who inspired the ancient prophets.

Sent his angel. Rev 1:1.

To show unto his servants. To all his servants, that is, to all his people, by the instrumentality of John. The revelation was made to him, and he was to record it for the good of the whole church.

The things which must shortly be done. The beginning of which must soon occur--though the series of events extended into distant ages, and even into eternity. Rev 1:1-3.

(a) "sent his angel" Rev 1:1