Revelation 21:9-27 When Jesus returns, the righteous will be openly exalted in all creation

Revelation 21:9-27

A

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

B

The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

C

I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 

D

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 

Background

The holy city, New Jerusalem, is the physical manifestation of the bride of Christ, reflecting her glory and character just as all creation reflects Christ, the image of the invisible God. Within the city, worship is no longer confined to temples or religious rituals; God’s presence is fully internalized in every heart and culture. The absence of sun and moon reveals a society without deceit or hidden motives, where divine light governs all conduct. Outside the city dwell nations that have not wholly submitted to God, yet they seek its light, drawn by the righteousness of its inhabitants. 

When Christ returns, the righteous who did good in secret will be openly exalted, while the self-serving will face shame. True greatness in the new earth is marked not by wealth or status but by humility, love, and sincerity of service. Therefore, believers are called now to embody the light of the city—living transparently, doing good quietly, and internalizing worship in daily life. Today’s devotion teaches us: When Jesus returns, the righteous will be openly exalted in all creation.

 

Observation

A

The question is: how is the bride a city? It is because the city reflects the image of the bride. It is understood that all creation is fashioned in the image of Christ. Colossians 1:15 says,

Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. – Colossians 1:15

The term firstborn (protokos in Greek) signifies the original image and model from which subsequent models (all creation) are based. Likewise, the holy city is formed from the image of the bride. Thus, it mirrors the glory and attributes of the bride. 

The twelve archangels whose names are inscribed on the city walls have been designated to serve the bride. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel, along with the twelve apostles constitute the heritage of the bride. 

B

The city is not symbolic; it is an actual physical structure, built from concrete materials that have precise dimensions. Furthermore, it is wonderfully designed, its architecture is magnificent, and the materials used for its walls and foundations are carefully chosen. The opulence of the city reflects the glory of its inhabitants. One might imagine that its residents belong to a class of its own, each holding nearly boundless wealth in their accounts. Other nations can only gaze upon their splendor and yearn for their approval, with no hope of ever reaching their level of prestige. 

C

The absence of a temple in the city is akin to the absence of churches in a nation. It signifies that the worship of God is no longer conducted through organized religions. Instead, worship of God and the Lamb has been internalized within the hearts and the culture of the people. Consequently, one will not observe religious symbols or participate in worship services within the city. This is because the values of God and the people have become unified.

The absence of the sun or the moon signifies that there are no shadows or hidden thoughts and deceit among people. Because the glory of God resides within each person, everyone will behave in a manner that serves the best interests of each other. Therefore, there is absolute safety and security, removing the need for law enforcement to deter malicious schemes and attacks.

D

The nations consist of individuals whose names are not inscribed in the kingdom of God. The people who dwell in the nations are not inherently evil; otherwise, they would have been condemned to the lake of fire. Nonetheless, they have not fully committed themselves to serving God. Many individuals within these nations continue to engage in various forms of religious practice. As the city is designated exclusively for those whose names are written in the kingdom of God, the nations live outside the city. However, the nations frequently come to the city, learning to walk in its light and gradually embracing the kingdom’s way of life. The rulers of these nations, having acknowledged the glory of the city’s residents, often show their respect by bringing precious gifts into it.

 

Truth

When Jesus returns, the righteous will be openly exalted in all creation

In the new earth, the righteous who persevered in doing good in secret, will be openly rewarded. Conversely, the unrighteous who did evil in secret, will be put to open shame. When Christ returns, He recounts the good works of the righteous and says to them, 

“Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” – Matthew 25:34-35. 

But the righteous will answer, “Lord, when did we see You hungry?” For they have selflessly fed the hungry, without expecting anything in return.

In contrast, to the unrighteous who cared for no one but themselves, He said to them, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” – Matthew 25:41.

Indeed, “The Lord will bring to light what is hidden … and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each will receive his praise from God.” – 1 Corinthians 4:5.

How then should we do good?

As believers, we should do good solely to address the needs of others, without seeking to elevate ourselves. Jesus taught,

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:1-4

It is essential to remember that the motivation for doing good works should stem from love, rather than from a desire for reward or approval. Only when we do good works with the right motive will God reward us.

Nevertheless, in a professional environment or within a charitable organization, we should be vocal about our achievements, as well as those of others, to ensure that justice is served during formal appraisals. This also serves to deter unscrupulous individuals from appropriating the efforts of others.

The new earth is the norm where greatness is directly associated with the humble and virtuous. Whenever one encounters an inhabitant of the city, the sight of their splendor instinctively evokes a sense of awe and reverence. Conversely, on the old earth, individuals typically regard the ultra-rich with disdain and suspicion, as many have amassed their wealth through selfish means.

 

Application

• Redefine greatness through humility. Let us measure success not by possessions or influence, but by character, love and sincerity of service.
• Engage the unbelievers with grace and truth. Believers must embody the light of the city now by drawing others by example, not coercion.
• Persevere in doing good quietly. Our good works should be motivated by love, not recognition.
• Internalize worship, don’t institutionalize it. God desires hearts that carry His fragrance into every area of life; workplaces, families and communities.
• Live transparently and sincerely. The city has no shadows, symbolizing a life free from deceit and hidden motives. Believers should let God’s light govern their thoughts and intentions even when unseen.

 

Prayer

Lord, make me a reflection of Your holy city; pure, radiant, and filled with love. Let my worship be inward, my service selfless, and my life a living testimony of Christ’s light. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.