The Throne, the Temple, and Light

The center of the holy city is the throne of God and of the Lamb from which proceeds everything for the existence and supply of the city. This throne represents God’s administration under His authority and headship. The base and support for the throne of the New Jerusalem is the gold of which the city is composed. This signifies that the foundation of God’s throne is His divine nature, one attribute of which is righteousness (cf. Psa. 89:14). Also, from the throne proceeds the golden street in which flows the river of water of life. This signifies that it is only out of the throne of God that there can be communication or fellowship between God and man and that in this communication is the consummated Spirit of the Triune God as our flowing supply. Therefore, on the one hand, the throne is the center of the city, and on the other, it is the source out of which the entire city is supplied.

In our daily living, as those becoming the New Jerusalem, we need to have the throne of God in the preeminent place in our being. When we submit to the throne and allow the Lord to rule and reign in us, He is able to communicate and fellowship with us and supply us with the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19). As we become the New Jerusalem in our experience, the throne of God will be our source and center.

The second furnishing of the holy city is the temple. John saw no temple in the New Jerusalem, but the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (Rev. 21:22). The significance of the temple is that the almighty redeeming God is the dwelling place of His redeemed elect and the place where they serve Him. As priests to God we dwell in God as the temple and serve Him (Rev. 1:6; 22:3). But the God in whom we dwell is also the King and that makes us His royal family, sons of the King (Rev. 21:7). Therefore, we are a kingly, royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9) and we serve God and reign with Him forever and ever.

Today, we must have the realization that God is our dwelling place and that we are priestly kings who live the kingly life of our Father. Wherever we go, we should remember that we are kings and priests, not living according to our fallen nature in Adam, but according to our divine nature in Christ.

The final furnishing of the New Jerusalem is its light. In the city, there is no need of the sun, the moon, or the light of a lamp because the glory of God illumines it and its lamp is the Lamb (Rev. 21:23; 22:5). Natural light is signified by the sun and the moon and artificial light is signified by a lamp. In the New Jerusalem, there is no need of any natural or artificial light, but only God as light, the true light, the light of life (John 1:4, 9; 8:12).

Light is an important theme running throughout the Bible from Genesis 1:3 until Revelation 22:5. As New Testament believers, we walk in the light, we are children of light, and we even are light in the Lord (1 John 1:7; Eph. 5:8). Since we have received the light and have been born of God, we must refrain from any natural light or artificial light. As those who will consummate the New Jerusalem, we have no need of natural light or artificial light. God is our light. While reading the Bible, preaching the gospel, or doing anything, we should not rely on our own understanding or try to create any light of our own. Rather, we should stay in the fellowship of life with the Triune God and walk in the light as described in 1 John chapter 1. Then we will be those living in the reality of the New Jerusalem today.

As we pay attention to the matters of the furnishings of the New Jerusalem and live a life according to the principles revealed by the significances of these furnishings, we will have a living that is according to the New Jerusalem. As this city is not physical, so also it is not to be apprehended only in our mentality. Rather, we need to apply the interpretation of all the details of the city to our living today.