Revelation 21:22
What does Revelation 21:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 21:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 21:22 means
There is no temple in the city, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. Worship is no longer mediated by a building or ritual space; God’s and the Lamb’s immediate presence is the sanctuary. The Lamb—Jesus—shares this role, showing His full deity and the centrality of His saving work even in eternity. The whole city is sacred because God fills it. The absence of a temple is not loss but fulfillment: what the temple once foreshadowed is now realized in unbroken fellowship.
Revelation 21:22 in context
Revelation 21 — A New Heaven and a New Earth
John's final vision. The first heaven and earth pass away, and the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. God himself dwells with his people; he wipes away every tear; there is no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. The former things are passed away. The light of the city is the glory of God; its lamp is the Lamb. The story that began in the garden of Genesis ends in the city of Revelation, and the gates are never shut.
- New creation
- God dwelling with man
- End of death and sorrow
- Eternal worship
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I saw no Temple there; because the Lord God, the Ruler of all, and the Lamb are its Temple.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And a sanctuary I did not see in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, is its sanctuary, and the Lamb,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I saw no temple therein. For the Lord God Almighty is the temple thereof, and the Lamb.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I saw no temple in it; for the LordGod Almighty is its temple, and the Lamb.
Context
After the climax of material description, this theological centerpiece explains the city’s essence: God with His people without barriers. The next verse (23) will extend the theme by describing the city’s light as God’s glory, with the Lamb as its lamp. The flow thus moves from access and place to presence and illumination, preparing for the vision of nations and kings walking in that light.
v.21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the several gates was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
v.22This passage
v.23And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 10:30
I and the Father are one.
- 2 Chronicles 6:18
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have builded!
- Hebrews 9:1
Now even the firstcovenanthad ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world.
- Colossians 1:19
For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;
- Revelation 21:4
and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.
- Revelation 11:17
saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.
Sermon ideas from Revelation 21:22
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Revelation 21:22 teaches us about new creation
What Revelation 21:22 teaches us about god dwelling with man
What Revelation 21:22 teaches us about end of death and sorrow
What Revelation 21:22 teaches us about eternal worship
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