Is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life?
July 7, 2020
Commentary
In contrast to the long history of temples in Israel, there will be no temple in the New Jerusalem. This is because there is no need for a place to worship because God and Christ are present and there will be free access to them. Jesus is the temple (v. 22) and the light (v. 23). This means the city requires no sun or moon because the glory of God and the Lamb will light the city. In the temple, as in the tabernacle, there were three ways it was lighted. In the outer court the sun provided the light by day and the moon by night. In the inner sanctuary it was lit by candles and in the Holy of Holies God’s Shekinah glory provided the light.
John also learned that the gates of the city will never be shut which means there will be no unhindered access (vv. 25-26). However, entrance into the city is restricted to those who are redeemed. The book of the Revelation makes it clear that heaven will be open only for “those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (21:27). That’s the document in which we must be sure we have our names inscribed. If you’re traveling to a foreign country, don’t forget your passport, but most of all, don’t forget to trust in Jesus as your passport to heaven.
Application
Why did Jesus give John this preview of eternal glory? I believe that it was to encourage people like me whenever I am called on to go through testing and persecution. It is the best medicine for a broken heart and the best foundation for wavering feet.
Revelation 21:22– 27 (NET)
22 Now I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God—the All-Powerful —and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it. 25 Its gates will never be closed during the day (and there will be no night there). 26 They will bring the grandeur and the wealth of the nations into it, 27 but nothing ritually unclean will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Illustration: Passport pictures are the ugly reality
I remember the first time I went overseas I had to obtain a passport. In order to get it I had to have a picture taken by a professional photographer. When I received the photograph from the photographer I was disappointed. So I called him and told him I didn’t like the way it looked. He said, “Well, that is only a passport photograph. Would you like some touched-up prints?” That sounded better, so I ordered some. But to my disappointment the American consulate only wanted the passport photograph. I offered them the other, but no, they wanted the passport photograph that was not touched-up. The touched-up photograph was what I wanted other people to think I looked like; but the passport photograph was the ugly reality. And all I could do was give the man the thing he wanted. (Lou Nicholes – Author and Missionary).