Revelation 21:24; And the Nations of Them Which Are Saved Shall Walk in the Light of It (1)

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Revelation 21:24 (KJV)  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. 

The impact of this special illumination on the nations will be pronounced too – And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 

The writer switches from the aorist of v23 to the future tense through which he predicts the fulfilment of his vision. The nations will walk “by” (means of) the city’s light, though the preposition “dia” could carry the connotation of passing “through” that light.

The contextual flow affords more support to the notion of means, however. The city will be bright enough to illumination for the whole creation (Alford, Lee). The allusion of this section is to Isaiah 60:3, 11, 20.

Isaiah 60:3 (KJV)  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 

Isaiah 60:11 (KJV)  Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 

Isaiah 60:20 (KJV)  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 advent of nations (Isaiah 2:2; 60:5; Daniel 7:14; Micah 4:2; Zechariah 2:11; 8:23) and the kings (Psalm 72:10) to Jerusalem to participate in divine blessing receives frequent attention in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 2:2 (KJV)  And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 

Isaiah 60:5 (KJV)  Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 

Daniel 7:14 (KJV)  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 

Micah 4:2 (KJV) And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Zechariah 2:11 (KJV)  And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 

Zechariah 8:23 (KJV)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 476]