READ: Rev. 21:22-22:5: … for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light … the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits … And they shall reign forever and ever …”
We now read more about what can be seen inside the city. What immediately stands out is that there is no longer a temple (v.22): God Himself is the temple; there is no separation—everything is the Holy of Holies. All the blessed have communion with God, but only through the Lamb.
There is also no sun: God is the light, but the Lamb is the lamp to spread that light (v.23). Even in eternal glory, He remains the Mediator of the new and glorified humanity as the Lamb.
The glory of the nations is brought into the city (vv.24-26). What does that mean? That all believers, including high-ranking believers, bring their worship, praise, and honor to God. Just as the wise men from the East once brought honor to the newborn Christ, but now it is perfect and endless; everything is pure and pleasing to God.
This does not so much refer to the cultural goods of this world, as some have claimed. In any case, it holds true: nothing unclean will enter it (v.27).
In the city flows a crystal-clear river (22:1). It springs from God and the Lamb, runs through the middle of the city, and provides life to the trees (plural), the trees of life.
This connects to the paradise (Gen. 2:10). There is fullness of life with God! This is indicated by the fruits that the trees continually produce (12 months) and their healing leaves. There will also never be a curse, as there was with sin at the Fall (22:3).
There will be perfect communion with God and the Lamb, as there has never been before, so that God is known as He is. The believers will fully show that they belong to Him (22:4). Everything is illuminated by divine light; nothing remains outside of it.
The blessed believers form a perfect royal priesthood (compare 1 Pet. 2:9) in service to God (22:3) and are co-reigning with Christ (22:5).
Why would Christ describe this in images?
Sing: Ps. 36:2