Revelation 21:22-27 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And I saw no temple therein The whole city being, properly speaking, a temple; the Lord God and the Lamb surrounding, filling, and sanctifying the whole, and being more intimately present in every part of it, and with every individual, saint or angel, than had ever been known on earth. And the city had no need of the sun To give light to its inhabitants; for the glory of God Infinitely brighter than the shining of the sun; did lighten it The illustrious manifestation of his presence rendered every other light unnecessary. It seems the whole city appeared to St. John like a luminous object, sending out rays on every side, which he knew to be the consequence of God's dwelling there in a peculiar sense. And the nations of them which are saved From the guilt and pollution of sin before they leave this world; shall walk in the light of it In a higher degree than they could possibly do on earth: for they shall no longer see through a glass darkly, but face to face; shall no longer know in part, but shall know as they are known. And the kings of the earth Those of them who have a part there; do bring their glory and honour into it Not their old glory, which is now supposed to be abolished, but such as becomes the new earth, and receives an immense addition by their entrance into this city. Or the sense may be, as Doddridge thinks, “If you were to conceive all the monarchs upon earth uniting all their treasures to adorn one single place, they could produce nothing comparable to the glory of this city.” And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day That is, shall never be shut; for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory, &c., of the nations into it Whatever is most desirable among all nations seemed to meet together to adorn that place, where good men of all nations shall dwell and reign with God for ever. Or all that can contribute to make any city honourable and glorious shall be found in it; as if all that was rich and precious throughout the world was brought into one place. And there shall in nowise enter any thing that defileth Greek, κοινον, common; that is, unholy; or that worketh abomination That is impure or vicious; or maketh a lie Is chargeable with hypocrisy, falsehood, or deceit; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life Namely, true, holy, persevering believers. This blessedness is enjoyed only by such, and such as these only are registered among them who are to inherit eternal life.