The New Jerusalem, part 6

Shabbat shalom, everyone.

Rev 21:22
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

This is an important verse. There is no need for a Temple within the walls of the New Jerusalem because YHVH – El Elyon, and haKeves (the yearling ram) ARE its Temple!

Notice that Yochanan did NOT say that the New Jerusalem was the Temple, nor did he say that the people of the New Jerusalem were the Temple. Therefore, this does not follow the analogy made in 1 & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians and 1 Peter:

1 Cor. 3:16-17
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

KJV

1 Cor. 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
KJV

2 Cor. 6:16
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
KJV

Eph. 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
KJV

1 Peter 2:1-8
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
KJV

These analogies are good while the King is absent, but He will return, and then that analogy breaks down. And, when the New Jerusalem arrives on the New Earth and God actually dwells with men, there will be no further need for a Temple that REPRESENTS God’s presence; we will actually EXPERIENCE His true company! We will experience His holiness (Hebrew: Qaadowsh! QAADOWSH! QAADOWSH!!!) We will see His Glory (Hebrew: KaaVowd) for we will be in His Habitation (Hebrew: Sh’kinah).

In the Messiah’s love,
Retrobyter