Revelation 21:24
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
The city is the New Jerusalem, the holy city and metropolis of the glorified new earth, and its light is the glory of God and the Lamb rather than sun or moon. That light is unfading and immortal, flooding the city with perpetual sunless day where there is no night and no need of candle or sun. The nations of them which are saved live and walk in that light through endless ages, and the redeemed kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it and give its glory to Christ. Entrance belongs only to the saved who kept the truth and do His commandments and whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, while nothing that defiles or is false can enter. The vision of these glories is given to lead believers to seek eternal life and form a Christlike character now, in loyalty to God's Word and obedience to His law.
City and Its Light
The city is the New Jerusalem, the holy city, the metropolis of the glorified new earth. The saved nations walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. That light is the glory of God and the Lamb, not the light of sun or moon. The redeemed kings bring their glory and honor into the city illumined by that divine radiance.
That light is unfading and immortal, like a most precious jasper stone clear as crystal, flooding the city. It makes sunless perpetual day, for there is no night there and there is no need of candle or sun. Its radiance immeasurably surpasses noontide brightness, yet it is not painfully dazzling. Its gates remain open because there is no night.
The verse means the tabernacle of God is with men on the exalted earth, God Himself dwelling with them as their God. He rejoices in Jerusalem and joys in His people, with open communion with the Father and the Son. When God makes all things new and sets His tabernacle with men, the redeemed walk in the light of the Lord through endless ages. The scene belongs after the thousand years following Christ's second coming, when the holy city comes down from heaven and settles on the earth. It is part of the last events of this earth's history made known by Christ Himself to John on the Isle of Patmos, given from God in solemn warning to call minds in these last days and remind of the things which will be.
The chapter presents scenes of Christ's second coming and surpassing glory. Its prophecies point to Christ's return as near. They direct attention to that return and to the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Apocalypse.
Nations and Their Kings
The nations of them which are saved live and walk in the light of the holy city through endless ages. That light in which they walk is the glory of God and of the Lamb, not the sun or the moon. In the glorified new earth they walk in the light of the New Jerusalem, the metropolis of the glorified new earth filled with unfading, sunless day.
The kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into the city. They are the redeemed kings who bring their glory and honour into it. And the glory of the city is given to Christ.
Its people are God's faithful people, who proved loyal to Him on earth. They kept His commandments and the testimony of Jesus, held the faith of Jesus, and owned the crucified One as their Savior. Right to enter in through the gates into the city belongs to those who do His commandments.
They live together under no other law than the law of heaven as one happy, united family. They are clothed with praise and thanksgiving. Over them the morning stars sing together and the sons of God shout for joy.
The city is the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. It is far more attractive than earthly cities with their public parks, lakes, and broad, safe streets. Its broad streets are paved with gold. It is a crown of glory and a royal diadem in the hand of God.
Entrance Into the City
The pearly gates of the city remain open because there is no night there, standing ajar to welcome into the kingdom those who have worked with God. Their immortal light can be seen from the threshold of eternity, but sin and evil desires blind people to it, so spiritual eyesight is needed to perceive it. The light in which the saved nations walk is the glory of God and the Lamb shining upon the heavenly city.
Right of entrance through the gates into the city belongs to the saved, to the nations that have kept the truth and do His commandments, to overcomers whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, who will be welcomed into the kingdom of glory. Kindness, helpfulness, and careful, encouraging speech are part of preparing for that entrance, with children and parents building a heavenly atmosphere in their homes and forming characters fit for the courts above. Christ Himself throws back the gates of the city of God and opens them wide, and after the first resurrection He brings the redeemed to them. They are the overcomers just crowned with glory, entering to behold the Paradise of God with conflict ended and welcomed by the Saviour to the joy of their Lord.
As they enter He places a crown of glory on each head and pronounces His blessing upon them. Faithful parents and the children they tenderly taught and guarded in Christ will be welcomed and crowned together. Those who overcome temptation in this life will receive a crown and a harp there and will sing songs of praise and victory in the heavenly courts. They cast their glittering crowns at His feet, receive harps and robes woven in heaven with no human thread, touch the golden harps, and fill all heaven with rich music and songs to the Lamb.
Nothing that defiles or is false enters there, but only those written in the Lamb's book of life. No one will pass through its gates without the sign of loyalty to God's government, cherishing pure principles rooted in truth and remaining loyal to God's Word and the everlasting covenant. Learning, influence, and strength cannot secure eternal life; each person must form a Christlike character, obey God's law, and reveal Christ working within. Those who persist in transgressing righteousness cannot enter, because to allow rebellion into the city would risk another rebellion in heaven. Its gates open not to display of earthly power but to the meek and lowly who obey God's commandments, love Him supremely, and have been tried, for greatness in God's kingdom is childlike simplicity and love.
Life in the New Earth
The nations of the saved are at home in the restored earth, where sin and death are gone forever. Their wanderings are over and they have entered their eternal home, in fulfillment of a greater deliverance than Israel's entry into Canaan. There they live under no other law than the law of heaven as one happy, united family clothed with praise and thanksgiving.
Over them the morning stars sing together and the sons of God shout for joy. God and Christ together proclaim that sin and death are ended forever.
When God makes all things new and sets His tabernacle with men on the exalted earth, the redeemed walk in the light of the Lord through endless ages, praising Him for His unspeakable Gift, Immanuel, God with us. The saved from all nations enter the city of God, where they give praise, thanksgiving, and glory to Christ and the Father forever. Those who overcome temptation in this life receive there a crown and a harp and sing songs of praise and victory in the heavenly courts.
There those who have kept the truth are welcomed into the city of God where no temptation will come to them. Its joys include learning from Christ and praising Him with the angels, to whom the glory brought into the city is given with Christ.
Call to Prepare Now
The picture of the glories awaiting the saved is meant to lead believers to seek eternal life and to be among the redeemed. It is a glimpse of the light flowing from God's throne, and even the beauty of the sunset points beyond this earthly life to the heavenly home, encouraging the faithful to look forward to it with trust in God's care. That same chapter calls for a solemn review of life, for it portrays the courts of bliss and shows that the selfish and unrepentant could neither enter heaven nor enjoy it, since they could not endure God's purity and glory.
The last four chapters of Revelation are to be read carefully, for they press a deep and thorough individual work of humbling of soul before God, searching of heart, and cleansing, refining, and transforming of the soul temple. This work is urged especially upon those carrying responsibility, so that a wrong spirit does not develop, spiritual discernment is restored, present conditions are entirely changed, and fruit appears in life in proportion to light given. The glory of the heavenly city shines with immortal light and its gates stand ajar, and that light can be seen from the threshold of eternity, yet sin and evil desires blind people to it so that they need spiritual eyesight. That light which guides heavenward is needed now, as those who have kept the truth prepare for the judgment and for entry into the city of God, where they will be welcomed and no temptation will come to them.
Learning, influence, and strength cannot secure eternal life, and no one will pass through the gates without the sign of loyalty to God's government. Each person must form a Christlike character, cherish pure principles rooted in truth, remain loyal to God's Word and the everlasting covenant, obey God's law, and reveal Christ working within. Those who obey God's commandments, love Him supremely, and have been tried will be welcomed by Christ as part of the nations who have kept the truth, for the city will admit no one who would bring another rebellion. Kindness, helpfulness, and careful, encouraging speech are part of preparing for that entrance, with children and parents building a heavenly atmosphere in their homes and forming characters fit for the courts above.
The description of the beautiful new earth calls for working for one another and working determinedly to bring up youth in a right manner so they have the crown of life, become overcomers, and are saved. Angels of God assist in schools in educating boys and girls and do not leave the work to human notions, and the Holy Spirit works with all such efforts, with fathers and mothers to take hold of the work of saving souls.