“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelation 21:23)
This is part of the description of the New Jerusalem. The Word of God tells us in various verses that the earth and everything in it is temporal. It will have its end. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) Peter writes that the earth will be destroyed. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2Peter 3:10)
There are differing opinions as to whether the Thousand Year reign of Christ is in the New Jerusalem, but that belief does not make sense because satan is loosed after the Thousand Year reign of Christ. And because the New Jerusalem is eternal, certainly satan will not be loosed in it. Also, the Thousand Year reign is Christ reigning on earth. It is nowhere written that it will be in the New Jerusalem. How all this will work is still a mystery, but we are certain these things are to come because God’s Word has said it. And God’s Word is Truth and has been and is being even now fulfilled.
The New Jerusalem is eternal. It comes down from heaven and is unlike anything that has been before. “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2) John describes it as glorious in appearance. “Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:11-14) The sun, moon and stars have been destroyed along with the earth. (Matthew 24:35) Their light is no longer needed because its light is the light of the Lord. “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelation 21:23)
God is light. John wrote in his epistle, “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1John 1:5) I have read this verse a hundred times, I’m sure. I believed it, although I wasn’t really sure of its meaning. I was thinking God is light meaning good as opposed to the darkness of sin. But I never before thought of it literally. Yet we have the example of Moses when he spent time on the mount with God. When he came down, he was sparkling. And the definition means light rays were emanating from his face. “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.” (Exodus 34:29-31) The same thing happened to Jesus at the transfiguration. “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.” (Matthew 17:1-2) And when Jesus spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus. The only thing he saw was a light. “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:3-4) When God manifests Himself, there is light. It’s that light that's portrayed in paintings as a halo. The artists had some understanding when painting Jesus and the disciples of old.
Wait a minute! The disciples? Yes, we emanate this light. God is with us. And we have this light. And although we can’t see it with our natural eyes, the demons can and know who the children of God are. Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) We literally have the light of God shining from us. It’s one of the things that make us different from unbelievers. Have you ever had someone say to you, “You’re different. What is it?” It’s the light of God shining from us. No one can see it, but they sense it. Paul wrote, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” (Ephesians 5:8) We are light also, Paul tells us. What is that light? It’s the life of Jesus in us. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)
And the New Jerusalem will be filled with the life and the light of Jesus. It will glow so brightly there will be no need for the sun, the moon nor the stars. (Revelation 21:23)
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