Revelation 21:22

Revelation 21:22 offers a profound vision of the New Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling place of God and His people, by highlighting a striking absence: "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." This verse radically redefines the concept of sacred space in the new creation.

Context

This verse is part of John's vision in Revelation chapters 21 and 22, describing the new heaven and new earth after the final judgment. Throughout salvation history, a physical temple or tabernacle served as the central point of worship and the symbolic dwelling place of God's presence among His people (e.g., the Tabernacle in the wilderness, Solomon's Temple, and the Second Temple in Jerusalem). These structures, however grand, were always temporary and symbolic, pointing to a greater reality.

Key Themes

• Direct Divine Presence: The most significant theme is the unhindered, direct presence of God and the Lamb. In the New Jerusalem, there is no need for a mediating structure or a dedicated building to contain God's glory, because God Himself, the Lord God Almighty (Greek: Pantokrator), and Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb (Greek: Arnion), are the very essence and center of worship.
• Fulfillment of God's Dwelling: This vision signifies the ultimate fulfillment of God's desire to dwell with His people, as promised earlier in Revelation 21:3. The physical temple was a shadow; the reality is God Himself.
• Purity and Accessibility of Worship: Without a physical temple, worship becomes immediate and universal within the city. There are no inner courts, no holy of holies requiring specific access; all of the New Jerusalem is filled with the divine presence, making every part sacred.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "temple" here is naos (ναός), which specifically refers to the inner sanctuary of a temple where the deity was believed to dwell, rather than the broader temple complex (hieron). The absence of the naos emphasizes that the holiest of holies is now the very being of God and the Lamb, accessible to all in the new creation.

Reflection and Application

This verse provides profound comfort and hope. It teaches us that:

1. God is the Ultimate Sanctuary: Our worship and spiritual security are not dependent on physical locations or human-made structures, but entirely on the living God and His Son. This echoes Jesus' teaching that true worship is not bound to Jerusalem or Samaria, but is in spirit and in truth.
2. Unmediated Communion: In the eternal state, the barriers between God and humanity, broken by sin, will be fully removed through Christ's sacrifice. We will experience perfect, direct communion with our Creator, seeing His face (Revelation 22:4).
3. The Glory of God as Light: The absence of a temple also ties into the subsequent verse, Revelation 21:23, which states that 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." God's presence is not only the temple but also the ultimate source of light and life.

This vision encourages believers to look beyond earthly constructs to the glorious reality of God's eternal presence, where He Himself is all-sufficient for worship, light, and life.