Revelation 21:22

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 21:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.
Revelation 21:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I saw no temple therein, etc.] No material temple, as was in the old Jerusalem, or such as is described in Ezekiel's vision; nor any place of public worship, as under the Gospel dispensation; for in this state there will be no such external form of worship as now, such as preaching the word and administering ordinances. The Jews expect a third temple, but in vain. For the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple of it; God will be immediately present with his people, whose face they shall see, and whom they will serve in the most pure and spiritual manner; and Christ in his human nature, in the temple of his body, that tabernacle which God pitched, and not man, which is filled…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“no temple . . . God . . . the temple--As God now dwells in the spiritual Church, His "temple" (Greek, "naos," "shrine"; Co1 3:17; Co1 6:19), so the Church when perfected shall dwell in Him as her "temple" (naos: the same Greek). As the Church was "His sanctuary," so He is to be their sanctuary. Means of grace shall cease when the end of grace is come. Church ordinances shall give place to the God of ordinances. Uninterrupted, immediate, direct, communion with Him and the Lamb (compare Joh 4:23), shall supersede intervening ordinances.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And I saw no temple therein - No structure reared expressly for the worship of God; no particular place where he was adored. It was all temple - nothing but a temple. It was not like Jerusalem, where there was but one house reared expressly for divine worship, and to which the inhabitants repaired to praise God; it was all one great temple reared in honor of his name, and where worship ascended from every part of it. With this explanation, this passage harmonizes with what is said in Revelation 2:12; Revelation 7:15. For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it - They are present in all parts of it in their glory; they fill it with light; and the splendor of their presence may…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord God and the Lamb are the temple of it - He fills the new heaven and the new earth. He surrounds the city and sanctifies it, and all that are therein. He is "all in all." Revelation 21:23”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:22 I saw no temple: This apparent conflict with earlier visions (11:19; 14:15-17) is resolved by understanding each visionary picture in Revelation as a separate symbolic representation of God’s presence. There is no longer any need for a temple in heaven because God is present with his people.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I saw: Rev 21:4, Rev 21:5; Kg1 8:27; Ch2 2:6, Ch2 6:18; Isa 66:1; Joh 4:23 the Lord: Rev 1:8, Rev 4:8, Rev 11:17, Rev 15:3, Rev 16:7, Rev 16:14, Rev 19:15 the Lamb: Joh 2:19-21, Joh 10:30; Col 1:19, Col 2:9; Heb 9:1-12 Revelation 21:23”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification