A New Reality

Over the past 3,400 years, only 268 of them, a meager 8 percent, have been without war. Humans have been warring with each other constantly, and the more technology has advanced, the deadlier wars have become. About 108 million people were killed in wars of the twentieth century alone.

All of which makes the text for today so unusual. It offers hope for a reality that is so different from what we know—in a fallen, sinful world filled with suffering, crime, sickness, and war—that we can’t even begin to imagine it now.

First, talking about the New Jerusalem, the text says that its gates will not be shut by day; thus, because there is no night there, the gates will always be open. In biblical times, open gates represented a period of peace, when no armies were threatening the city. During war, or even the threat of war, the gates remained closed to ensure the safety of the citizens. In other words, this verse is pointing to the peace, happiness, and safety that God’s people will enjoy in this new existence.

In Scripture, night and darkness are often linked to evil: “When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53); “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12); “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

In contrast: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). How much more hopeful could a short verse like today’s passage be? Imagine a world without war. This, and even more, awaits us because of Jesus.

Lord, I thank you so much for the hope and promise that we have in Jesus Christ.

For Further Study: Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 4:5

Key Bible Texts

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. (Revelation 21:25 KJV)