Revelation 21:21 “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as pure as transparent glass.”
The twelve gates each are made out of one giant pearl. In John’s time, pearls were more highly prized than any other stone because they were produced by oysters and nobody could tell how large a pearl might become. In addition, pearls were considered symbols of purity. In some cultures, brides wore pearls on their wedding days as a sign of purity. Jesus told a story to his disciples about a merchant who looked for a pearl of great price and sold everything that he had to be able to buy it. For each of these gates to be made out of an enormous pearl implies unimaginable beauty and wealth.
The main street of the city was pure gold, as pure as transparent glass. quora.com states: “Gold when highly refined is actually a pale/white color. When heat is applied to m-state gold, it may melt and turn into a “glass-like” structure, making it transparent like glass. So, yes, completely pure gold IS transparent.” Again, the picture is that of unlimited wealth and splendor.
v. 22 – 25 “But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory. Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.”
As long as God was at a distance, temples were necessary for worship. But now that God has come to be with men, the city itself has become the Holy of Holies, containing the Lord Almighty and the Lamb, Jesus Christ. With God forever present, His Glory shines forever. One prayer that is recited at funerals concludes “and let light perpetual shine upon him/her.” Here is the light perpetual spoken of in that prayer. Now perfect day has come without any need for darkness because there is no longer a need for physical rest. And darkness as a symbol of evil does not and cannot exist in the presence of God. In ancient cities, the gates were shut at night for protection; however, now the gates remain open because all danger has passed away.
v. 26 – 27 “And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” The righteous kings of the new earth will bring their glory as an offering in worship and praise to God and to the Lamb. And all the glory and honor of the nations, everything that is good and right and just and pure, will enter the city. But only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be allowed into that city. The liars, the cheaters, those that practice any sort of abomination, have been banished to eternal torment.
Why can’t anyone whose name is NOT in the Book of Life enter the city? Those whose names are not found in that Book spent their lives turning away from God and worshiping other things. Even if they were allowed to enter the city, they would not be able to tolerate one millisecond of the Glory of God. Remember, God does not send anyone to hell; people continually make their choices and move farther and farther down that path each day. What will you choose? The Glory of God, or anything less?
PRAYER: Father God, let everyone who reads these words choose YOU! In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment