Today we’re going to look at one of the most striking passages in all of Scripture—Revelation 21:23–27.
This passage tells us that the New Jerusalem—the holy city, the bride of Christ—has no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
This isn’t just a poetic picture of heaven. John is pulling together centuries of imagery from the Old Testament—particularly the menorah, the lamp stand of the tabernacle and the temple, which was to burn continually before the Lord.
We’ll see how the menorah, the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25, and even the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 all connect to this vision. And by the end, we’ll understand what it means that the New Jerusalem is the true, eternal source of light—a city where God Himself dwells with His people forever.
Let’s begin by reading the passage itself:
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
This is not about a city lit up by candles or lamps or even the sun—it is a city lit by the glory of God and the Lamb.
The Menorah: God’s Light in the Holy Place
To understand this, we need to go back to the Old Testament. In the tabernacle and later in Solomon’s temple, one of the most important pieces of furniture was the menorah, the seven-branched lamp stand.
Exodus 27:20–21 commands:
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
The menorah had to be kept burning continually. It symbolised the presence of God and the light of His covenant people. If the lamp went out, it meant that Israel’s fellowship with God was broken.
But there’s a sobering moment in Scripture when that actually happened.
When the Lamp Went Out
In 1 Samuel 3:2–3, we read:
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; and ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was…
This was during the days of Eli the priest, when his sons were committing vile sins and he did not restrain them. As a result, God judged the house of Eli.
The fact that the lamp of God went out was not just a physical event. It was symbolic of God withdrawing His presence from a corrupt priesthood. The light of His covenant people was extinguished because of sin and unfaithfulness.
The Foolish Virgins Without Oil
This same imagery carries into the New Testament. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise and took oil in their lamps, while five were foolish and took no oil.
When the bridegroom came, the foolish virgins tried to borrow oil, but it was too late. Their lamps had gone out. And the door to the marriage feast was shut against them.
Jesus concludes in verse 12:
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
This parable wasn’t just a warning to individuals to “be ready.”
It was a prophetic picture of the end of the Old Covenant age. Just as the lamp went out in Eli’s day, so also the lamp of Old Covenant Israel would go out.
The foolish virgins represented those who clung to the temple system, who rejected Christ, and who therefore had no oil—no Spirit, no true light. And when the bridegroom came in judgment, they were shut out of the bridal chamber—permanently excluded from God’s covenant and kingdom.
The Menorah Removed from the Temple
History confirms this. At the end of the Roman-Jewish War in AD 70, when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, the menorah itself was ripped out of the holy place and carried away as a trophy of war.
You can still see this depicted on the Arch of Titus in Rome—a carving showing Roman soldiers parading the menorah down the streets.
Think about the symbolism: the very lamp that was meant to shine continually before the Lord was extinguished and removed. Old Covenant Israel’s light was taken away.
This fulfilled what Jesus said in Matthew 21:43:
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
The light of the menorah was gone—but a greater light had already come.
The Lamb is the Light
This brings us back to Revelation 21. John says the city has no need of the sun or moon, for the glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Unlike the menorah, which could go out, this light can never fail. Unlike the oil that had to be constantly replenished, this light flows eternally from the Lamb who was slain and now lives forevermore.
Isaiah foresaw this when he wrote in Isaiah 60:19–20:
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
The New Jerusalem fulfils this prophecy. It is the eternal city where there is no night, no darkness, no fear of the lamp going out. The Lamb Himself is the everlasting light.
The Gates Always Open
Revelation 21 also says:
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
In ancient cities, gates were closed at night for safety. But in the New Jerusalem, there is no night, no danger, no threat. The gates are always open.
This is in stark contrast to the foolish virgins who were shut out of the wedding feast. Old Covenant Israel’s lamp went out, and the door was closed to them. But for those written in the Lamb’s book of life, the gates are forever open.
Spiritual Application
So what does this mean for us today?
It means we no longer look to outward symbols like the menorah or the temple for light. The true light is Christ, the Lamb.
- He is the light that cannot be extinguished.
- He is the oil that never runs dry.
- He is the bridegroom who welcomes His people into the eternal marriage feast.
Old Covenant Israel, unrepentant and without oil, was cast out. But in the New Jerusalem, those who are in Christ walk forever in His light.
Conclusion
Revelation 21:23–27 shows us the ultimate fulfilment of all the lamp imagery in Scripture.
- The menorah in the temple pointed forward to the true light.
- The foolish virgins warned of judgment on the unfaithful.
- The removal of the menorah in AD 70 symbolized the end of the Old Covenant.
But now, in the New Jerusalem, the Lamb is the light thereof. And those who walk in His light will never stumble, never be shut out, never fear the darkness again.
That is the glory of the New Covenant kingdom—the eternal city of God.
If this teaching helped you see the Scriptures in a new light, please let me know in the comment section below.
And remember: the light of the Menorah may have gone out, but the light of the Lamb shines forever.
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