Life in a Perfect World (Revelation 22:3-5)

Accounts of the lives of our ancestors tell us that they looked forward to letters from family who had emigrated to other lands. In those letters they read descriptions of what life was like in their relatives’ new situations. Many of those letters were written before there were photographs, so they had to use illustrative words to convey where they were, what they were doing, and what life was like for them. The recipients would not have full understanding of the new life of their relatives, but they would have a true understanding of it, and that knowledge would give them a sense of peace and gladness about it all. 

In a sense, that is how  statements about heaven or the eternal state function in the Book of Revelation. They tell us what the place is like and what the inhabitants are doing. There are many examples we could think about, in addition to the verses we will consider. Still, a great deal is said in Revelation 22:3-5:

‘No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.’

No more curse (v. 3-5)

The word ‘curse’ is a terrifying word because it means divine judgement. At the moment we live in a cursed world. The curse was placed on it when Adam sinned at the beginning. Everything was affected by it, as we can see from the punishments God indicated would fall on Adam and Eve because of their rebellion. The curse extended to the entire creation.

Yet we know that Paul makes clear in Romans 8 that the whole creation will be delivered from the effects of the curse. There will be a new heavens and new earth in which righteousness will dwell. The resources of creation will no longer be used in negative or sinful ways. Instead, all will be perfect, and the new universe will be full of glory. It is hard for us to imagine it, but we should remember it is a description of a world we have not yet seen.

The world will be a palace (v. 3)

The next detail that John mentions about the new world is that ‘the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it’. Our world is marked by rebellion against God. Of course, he remains the sovereign over it all and overrules the rebellious activities that occur. But his place of rule is not here, but in heaven. In the world to come it will be different. We are told in the previous chapter that the capital city, which is heaven or in heaven, will come down to the new world. It will be a fit place for the throne of God to be located.

We should note how the throne is described – it is the throne of God and of the Lamb. In Revelation 5 we are told how the Lamb came to be sitting on the throne. Although he had a right to be there as God, he also has the right to be there as the righteous man who fulfilled the law of God, paid the penalty for the sins of his people, and completed the work that he was sent to perform on behalf of his Father. His achievements entitle him to have this eternal identity – he is the Lamb, and that is how he will be recognised in the new world.

We should also observe that in this palace there are other kings who are described at the end of verse 5: ‘they will reign forever and ever.’ Here is a wonderful description of the church. Perhaps we can consider this description in this way. If Adam had not sinned, then he and his descendants would have ruled over the world forever. In some way, he would have been the supreme man. But he threw it away. But the second Adam was very different. Instead of being the cause of a curse to come on those identified with him, he became the source of blessing for them. They share his domain. Jesus will always be the supreme Man, but along with him will be the unknown number who have been redeemed and restored and given this place of honour throughout the eternal ages. Royalty beyond imagination.

The world will be a temple (v. 3)

In addition to saying that the new world will be a palace in which the throne of God will be located, we are also told that it will be a temple in which God and the Lamb will be worshipped. We should note that John does not say that the servants worship them (the Father and the Lamb) but that they worship him (singular). John is not suggesting that we should only worship one of the divine persons, but he is saying that often in our worship we need to consider the divine persons separately. Since John goes on to say that the worshippers will see ‘his face’, I would say that he has the visible Lamb in mind.

The word translated ‘servants’ is the term for slaves, which is a reminder that they are the property of God. They belong to the Father and to the Son because the Son purchased them when he paid the redemption price on the cross of Calvary. It is not a contradiction to say that the servants are both kings and slaves; instead, we are to see the descriptions as a twofold picture of who God’s people are in God’s sight.

The emphasis on being his slaves is also seen in the description that his name will be on their foreheads. It was customary for slaves to have the name of their owner branded on them so that everyone would know who they belonged to. I suppose in earthly life the owner might not have been very interested in his slaves, but that cannot be said about Jesus. After all, he has made them kings, joint heirs with him. He delights to tell all that they are his people, the ones he has purchased for himself.

Moreover, they are priests in this temple, as is indicated in the word ‘worship’. Other translations use ‘serve’ rather than ‘worship’, but ‘serve’ is a general word whereas the word here was only used of temple service, and thus it is a reference to worship. It does not mean that the redeemed will spend eternity singing, although there will be a song in their heart for eternity. Rather their endless existence will be an expression of total and complete devotion to the One who died for them.

In this beautiful world, there will only be expressions of religious devotion to be seen. Nothing else will occur. Service will be wholehearted and constant (made possible because there is no night there). No need for sleep in the world to come, even although it will be an eternal rest.

See the King (v. 4)

The numberless inhabitants of the new world are said to have one privilege experienced by them all. Each of them will see the Saviour. This will be true in a literal sense because Jesus will be visible to our sight, even as Job comforted himself with this prospect (Job 19:23-27). This sight of Jesus will be transforming, as John reminds us, when he says that when believers see Jesus, they shall be like him for they shall see him as he is. The sight will be constantly transforming which suggests that it will be progressively transforming throughout eternity.

It will be precious to see the glorified face that once was more marred than that of any man. Yet there is more to this experience than merely seeing his face. Instead, we will be able to see what is behind the face. Sometimes a person’s face is a giveaway regarding what he is thinking. The face of Jesus will reveal the desires of his heart.

Light (v. 5)

In everyday life in this world, we need to use created lights, whether it be what the Lord created, or what we have made. We need the sun that God made and we need lamps that humans have made. The reason we need them is that there is night and darkness. In the world to come, there will be no periods of darkness, whether literal or symbolic.

We are given a foretaste of this on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus shone like the sun (it was probably nighttime as Jesus and the disciples would have climbed the mountain during the day). At the same time, he explained his Exodus on the cross to the heavenly visitors, and the earthly observers (Peter, James and John) were told by God the Father to listen to Jesus. That experience on the mountain, which was one that revealed the future power of the Son of Man, reveals that he will be the Light of the eternal world, whether literally or when giving information about its deepest truths.