Revelation 7:15-17 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

This is fulfillment of Exodus 19:5-6 and 1 Peter 2:9-10 that mention the people of God as a kingdom of priest and holy nation. The highest privilege is to serve as a priest for God. This priesthood is for all believers. The image here in Revelation shows the universal priesthood of all believers as they are gathered around God’s temple in praise and service. There are other images of a temple in heaven, such as in Hebrews 8-10. I do not know if we should think of this as a literal temple or more of being in the presence of God. The church can be called the temple of God because the Holy Spirit dwells with God’s people (1 Corinthians 3:16). In the case of heaven, the temple may symbolize the presence of God.

God will provide shelter for those who have been washed white by the blood of the Lamb. The futuristic aspect of these verses impact our present situation because God’s kingdom is unfolding now on earth. God is with us and we are now God’s temple.

Jesus the Lamb is our Good Shepherd who laid his life down for us (John 10). This passage recalls Psalm 23 where the Lord as shepherd leads his people to still waters. The joys of heaven are incomprehensible. There will be no pain, sorrow, or crying. As humans in this earthly existence, we cannot fathom this new existence because so much of our lives fight off pain and sorrow. Human life is full of sorrow. Sorrow results when our equilibrium is disturbed through loss, grief, sickness, death. These will all be replaced with the deep joy that comes only from God. We look forward to this with all our being. But we also exist in this life and must do our best while we breathe. This passage should bring us encouragement now as we walk the road of life, whatever may befall us.

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