In the Book of Revelation, John envisioned “‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” (Revelation 21:1).

Part of the “first earth” that had passed away was the first Jerusalem and the Temple built by Herod the Great, using the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World.

In “the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God”, John did not envision “a [physical] temple in the city”. (Revelation 21:2,22).

Why?

“Because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (Revelation 21:22). (In Revelation, the “Lamb” refers to Jesus (Revelation 5:5-12).)

John heard a loud voice saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4; Isaiah 25:8).

How did this wonderful new heaven and new earth come to be?

The Word of God.

John began his Gospel by revealing to us : “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1).

This Word is the Light of all Humanity. This “light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5). This Word became flesh and dwelt among us, as Jesus.

In Revelation, this Word is envisioned as riding a white horse. This “rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. . . . . He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11-13).

The way that you perceive and understand this vision of the Word of God judging and waging war is a Rorschach Test of your heart, soul and mind.

In a Rorschach Test by a psychologist, you are shown patterns of ink blots. Your understandings and perceptions that arise by studying the ink blots reveal what is in your heart, soul and mind.

In this Rorschach Test by the Word, your perceptions and understandings that arise by studying John’s visions in Revelation reveal what is in your heart, soul and mind.

If your heart if full of hatred and violence, you will flunk this Rorschach Test by the Word when you read and interpret the many visions in Revelation.

You will have eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear. You will be ever seeing and not perceiving. You will be ever hearing and not understanding. The callouses on your hardened heart will be revealed. (Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:10-15; Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10; Acts 28:23-27).

For example, if your heart is full of hatred and violence, you will mistakenly perceive, understand and conclude that the Word wages war using the Power of knives, guns, tanks, and nukes. You will mistakenly perceive, understand and conclude that the Word wages war using the Power of Money, the Power Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World.

But these kinds of wars waged by using the Power of knives, guns, tanks, and nukes are part of the old heaven and old earth that are passing away.

These kinds of wars waged by using the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World are part of the old heaven and old earth that are passing away.

These are the kinds of wars that the Word of God—Jesus—rejected in his Sermon on the Mount, when he taught us to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies, and to pray for those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:30,44).

These are the kinds of wars that the Word of God—Jesus—rejected by rebuking his disciples when they wanted to rain down fire from heaven to destroy those who they hated because of their religion, nationality, or ancestry. (Luke 9:51-56).

These are the kinds of wars that the Word of God—Jesus—rejected by urging us to help ALL people, even if we have been taught to hate their religion, nationality, or ancestry. (Matthew 5:38-48; Luke 10:25-37).

These are the kinds of wars that the Word of God—Jesus—rejected by forgiving those who insulted him, tortured him, and murdered him. (Luke 23:34).

Therefore, you will only pass this Rorschach Test by the Word, if your heart, soul and mind are full of the fruit of the Word: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

You will only pass this Rorschach Test of the Word, if you love the One-LORD-God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength—despising false gods such as the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:35-38; 6:24).

Those of us who love the One-LORD-God will be in “the armies of heaven . . . following [the Word], riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” (Revelation 19:14). “(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s people.) (Revelation 19:8).

We will light the new heavens and the new earth with our good deeds—not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Word. (Matthew 5:14,16; Zechariah 4:6).

We will heal Humanity. “No longer will there be any curse” (Revelation 22:2-3).

Why?

Because “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are [our] temple.” (Revelation 21:22).

We will serve the One-LORD-God. We will see his face. His name will be on our foreheads. (Revelation 22:3-4).

“There will be no more night. [We] will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the [One-LORD-God] will give [us] light. And [we] will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5).

Let there be Light! (Genesis 1:3-4).

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To learn more about building the Temple, please read my blogs “Building the Temple—Moses”, “Building the Temple—David”, “Building the Temple—Isaiah”, “Building the Temple—Herod the Great”, “Building the Temple—Jesus”, “Building the Temple—Paul”, and “Building the Temple—Peter”.

To learn about lighting the new heavens and the new earth, please read my blog “The Labyrinth of Light” and my book Lighting the World.

To learn how to escape the Labyrinth of Darkness so that you can walk on the Labyrinth of Light, please read my blog “The Labyrinth of Darkness” and my book Hoping in the LORD.

To read more about my way of understanding Revelation, please read “Part Five: Best Friends” in my book Lighting the World, at pages 155-186.