We’ve reached the “penultimate” verse in Revelation 21. The word means “near the last,” better yet, “last but one.” We say “next to last!” And it links to its predecessors, especially the two previous verses.
Here it is: “And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.” Revelation 21:26, bringing such into the City, New Jerusalem. The noun “nations” is spelled “ethnos” in Greek, ethnic entities. Peoples (plural on purpose) of various backgrounds, with amazing cultural varieties.
And these “nations” have access to New Jerusalem, our eternal Home?
Yes.
Now the context. “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. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.” Revelation 21:24-26
Although I cannot fully explain this (even to my own satisfaction) … there apparently live on the “new earth” some people. I think they are humans who will have survived the coming Judgment at the end of the Millennium … and who were given (eternal) life on the new earth, based on their faith in the Lord and their rejection of the Devil’s final allurement, one more rebellion (just another attempt to overthrow God) … a demonic thrust against the Almighty. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive THE NATIONS which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And THEY went up on the breadth of the earth, and COMPASSED THE CAMP OF THE SAINTS about, and THE BELOVED CITY: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the DEVIL that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10, when EVERYBODY undoubtedly did NOT follow the Devil! It’s these who stayed true to Jesus (having been King of the Earth for those thousand years) who will (I believe) live on the “new earth” and have access and egress to the Eternal City!
And this too …
They (these nations and their kings) will WORSHIP THE LORD JESUS when they come! “And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.”
Apparently giving gifts to the Saviour!
I suspect it’s the “Kings” of these nations (their leaders) who bring the said “glory and honor!”
If I am anywhere near right … all eternity will roll … with Jesus (well, The “Trinity”) being the Center of attention, from both heaven and earth … for evermore!
I love the sound of that, don’t you?
Talk about “united nations!”
Talk about world peace!
Talk about every knee bowing and every tongue confessing!
The Time has come!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell