What does Revelation 21:27 mean?

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27

Explanation

Revelation 21:27 is a verse from the final book of the New Testament that provides a vivid depiction of the purity and exclusivity of access to the New Jerusalem, a symbol of the eternal dwelling place of God with humanity. The verse implies that nothing impure, no one who practices abomination or falsehood, will enter it. Instead, entrance is reserved for those whose names are inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The Lamb is referenced throughout Revelation and represents Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death is believed to offer redemption from sin. The Book of Life is understood as a ledger or record of those who are granted eternal life with God. This verse contrasts the sanctity of the heavenly realm with the sinfulness of the world as known at the time.

Historical Context

The Book of Revelation, attributed to John of Patmos, was written during a time of persecution of Christians, likely around 95 A.D. The New Jerusalem is introduced in Revelation 21 as part of John’s apocalyptic vision depicting the end times and the establishment of God’s kingdom. The imagery in Revelation is highly symbolic and was relevant to early Christians who faced oppression under Roman rule and looked forward to the promise of salvation and divine justice.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is important to several doctrines:

• Salvation: The belief that salvation and eternal life are possible only through Jesus Christ and that one must remain free from spiritual defilement.
• Judgment: The concept that final judgment will exclude the unrighteous from the heavenly city.
• Sanctification: The importance of living a holy and truthful life in accordance with Christian teachings.

Different Christian traditions may interpret the meaning and implications of this text somewhat differently, but most agree on the necessity of salvation through Christ and the reality of a final judgment.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse serves as a moral compass, reminding believers of the importance of living a righteous life. The ideas of purity, truthfulness, and the avoidance of sin or false teachings can provide guidance for personal behavior and community standards among Christians.

Cross-References

• Purity and Exclusion:
  • Ephesians 5:5: For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
• Book of Life:
  • Philippians 4:3: And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
• Truth vs. Deception:
  • John 8:44: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Language Study

The original language of Revelation is Koine Greek. In Revelation 21:27, key terms include:

• Alisgema: Translated as ‘thing that defileth’ which carries the connotation of something unclean or polluted.
• Bdelugma: Translated as ‘abomination’, it signifies something detestable or loathsome, often associated with idolatry.
• Pseudos: The term for ‘lie’, which implies falsehood or deceit.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ancient cultures often depicted cities or places where gods dwelled as pure and sacred, inaccessible to the polluted or unworthy. In Mesopotamian myths, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, similar concepts of the righteous entering divine abodes can be found. Cultures across the world have maintained variants of this idea—separating the sacred spaces from the profane as a way of controlling access to the divine.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse talks about metaphysical concepts like spiritual purity and immortality, which are beyond the scope of scientific inquiry. However, the emphasis on truth versus falsehood can align with the scientific pursuit of understanding reality based on empirical evidence, although in a much different context.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians often reflect on this verse in the wider context of eschatology (study of end times) and soteriology (study of salvation). Matthew Henry’s Commentary, for example, emphasizes the stark contrast between the holy purity of the New Jerusalem and the corrupt nature of those excluded. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary suggests that this verse serves as a solemn warning of the consequences of unrepentant sin while simultaneously offering the assurance of salvation to those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.