The city had no need of the Sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the Sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 21:23-22:5)

The Eternal City

John makes a valiant attempt to describe eternal life, but it seems unimaginable to grasp the full meaning of how glorious the city of redemption will be. Light was created three days before the Sun and moon. The city of God will not be a physical place where the heavenly hosts cascade their light upon the surface. God’s glory will illuminate the righteous dwelling place, and the Lamb of God will be the source of its light. The eternal city will never be a closed place. It will be full of the bounties of God’s mercy and grace. There will never be a time of night or darkness because the purity of the light will dispel any fragment of shadows.

The inhabitants of the eternal city will be the redeemed and the separated. There will be a great harvesting of souls on the day of God’s judgment. He will take the unrighteous and remove them from His presence. Sadly, most will find themselves in unrighteousness and eternal darkness, where there will never be another shimmer of light. The eternal city will be filled with the saved of all time who have obeyed the will of the Father. No one who defiled the word of God will be allowed to enter, including the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars. The eternal city will be a dwelling place of the righteous.

John describes a pure river of water proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The refreshing and nourishing waters of life will fill the image of the eternal city. A large tree will fill the middle of the street and on each side of the river. That tree is called the tree of life. Like the Garden of Eden, the tree of life shows the eternal glory of eternal life in the eternal city for those who have accepted eternal life.

There will be no tears in the eyes. Death will be destroyed. Is it possible to imagine a place where there is no death, crying, or sorrow? The Godhead will be there as the saints serve and worship them. Pure joy, happiness, contentment, and peace will fill the hearts and minds of the faithful. The eternal city is a place of eternal fulfillment in the bosom of God. For the first time, a man can look into the face of God and live. What an incredible sight to see the face of God and behold His glory with no fear. The name of the Lord will be emboldened on the forehead of the saved, showing their redemption from sin through the blood of the Lamb. What an incredible day that will be when we enter the eternal city.

What is more remarkable is how many are not preparing to enter the eternal city. Many live each day without thought of eternity. Their thoughts will turn to the eternal reward when it is too late, but there can be none. Not everyone who claims to know Jesus will be saved, but only those who do the will of the Father. You will not be allowed in the eternal city if you are not doing God’s will. Your eternal fate will be sealed in darkness and without God. God prepared an eternal city for salvation, desiring for none to perish. He also prepared a place for all those who refuse His grace. Where will your eternal dwelling place be? Light or darkness?