“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Revelation 21:22

The Bible gives details of what will happen in the far future.  The Lord’s reign in Jerusalem will be for 1000 years.  At the end of this time period, satan will be loosed to once again test the hearts of the people.  Those who have lived under the reign of the Lord, but have been secretly rebelling against His authority, will join together in an organized attempt to dethrone King Messiah.  This rebellion will end quickly with swift judgment.  God will send fire upon the rebellion and end it. This will be mankind's final rebellion.

Revelation 20:7 “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

(8) “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

Even with ideal conditions under the rule of the Lord Jesus, man will still have the tendency to challenge God’s authority.  During the reign of King Messiah, willful sin will not be tolerated.  He will reign with a rod of iron and the sinner will come under the curse of God.  With this final testing of man, the people in rebellion will come under the curse as they are consumed by fire from heaven.

Immediately after this, God initiates the judgment of mankind for all those who are not under the salvation that God provided through the Lord Jesus.  This is called the Great White Throne judgment and is found in Revelation 20:11-15.  This is the judgment for eternal damnation.  It is also called the second death.

Revelation 20:11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

(14) “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

After this judgment, God merges heaven and earth into one.  The New Jerusalem, which is referred to as a city from God, is more like a country in size.  It is about 1500 miles by 1500 miles and very high.  This city rests on earth and becomes the home for the Lord Jesus and the redeemed of all time.  The verses to show this follow:

Revelation 21:1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

The New Jerusalem will be spectacular in colors and beauty.  It will be made up of layers upon layers of beautiful precious stones and minerals.  This city will have layers of incredible colors and combinations with different shades of colors.  Think of the beauty of this city when the glory of God shines through it!  God’s glory shining through the colors of Jerusalem will be the light of the universe.

Revelation 21:11 “Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal...(19) And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald...”

There will be no temple in the New Jerusalem.  When God creates a new heaven and a new earth, it will not contain a temple.  The temple will be replaced by the very presence of the Lord Jesus in His full glory.  The new earth will not have a sun for light.  Instead, the glory of King Messiah will light the heavens and the earth.

Think of the magnificent beauty when the entire universe is given light by the glory of God shining through the New Jerusalem.  All the incredible colors of the New Jerusalem will magnify God’s glory as His light shines through it.  There will be no temple as there will be no more need for one.

Revelation 21:22 “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (23) 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.”

What will remain in the New Jerusalem will be the throne of God.  God will sit openly on the throne of David in the midst of His people for ever and ever.  Under the law of Moses, no one could look directly into God’s face.  However, in the New Jerusalem under the New Covenant of the Lord Jesus, everyone can behold the face of God.

Revelation 22:3 “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (4) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”

What an awesome reconciliation King Messiah accomplished with the New Covenant!  Because of the death and shed blood of the Lord Jesus, redeemed man will be able to dwell openly in the presence of the holy God of Israel and look directly into His face.  God will be our Father and He will refer to those in heaven with Him as, “my son.”  It does not get any better than having God call you His son.

Revelation 21:7 “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

By John McTernan: Defend and Proclaim the Faith
Blog: John McTernan's Insights at www.johnmcternan.name