42 He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
23 The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
24 The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
44-46 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
25 Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),
47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.
48 All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts.
27.1 There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie,
49 All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.
27.2 but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
50-51 Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom:
1 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street.
Crucifixion + City of Light
- April 8, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
Crucifixion + City of Light
- April 8, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
Something Deeper
We just looked at the resurrection story. Next, let’s compare the crucifixion scene in Luke 23 with the City of Light in Revelation 21.
A Kingdom
During the crucifixion, one of the thieves asks, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Revelations describes a city, illuminated with the glory of Christ.
Assuming these passages work together, one reveals something about the other. The city is the Kingdom of Christ. Jesus will be the first to enter.
In Paradise
Jesus promises the thief, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.
The Revelation describes glory and honor brought into the city. This, it appears, is an inner entrance. Working together, the passage tells us Jesus brings people into the city.
Opening
Midway during the crucifixion, darkness comes upon the earth for three hours. The city promises a place with no night, the opposite of darkness. These two passages have something in common, a symbol – darkness (on earth), and eternal light (in heaven).
At the moment Jesus dies, the veil of the temple is torn in two. Revelations says the gates of the city “will in no way be shut.” Together, the two passages suggest something new. Jesus opens the gates of the city the moment he died.
Glory
The centurion guarding Jesus sees what’s done, and glorifies God. The revelation promises, “they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations” into the city. The connection, to me, seems indisputable. Glory connects these two passages.
Perhaps the centurion is also a symbol of something deeper, like a guard, at the entrance to the city. In the past, perhaps, no one was allowed into the city. At the moment of Jesus’ death, that changed. “They may enter.”
Disappearing
Now, to me, this is where the two passages in parallel begin to get really interesting. The crucifixion scene in Luke reads, “All the multitudes that came together, when they saw the things that were done, returned home.”
The Revelation promises many will not enter the city. It appears that a story on earth is also being played out in heaven. Some people are disappearing from the Kingdom of Christ.
Only Those
The acquaintances and followers of Jesus do not disappear. They stand and watch. The revelation reads, “Only those written in Jesus’ book of life” may enter the city. That’s us.
Eternal City
A man named Joseph of Arimathaea enters the story. Notice he is from a city. He awaits God’s Kingdom. This is where the story we are exploring began, in a city of light, which is a Kingdom.
The revelation speaks of a river of life, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. A throne, like Jesus’ Kingdom. In an eternal city – the middle of its street.
By the way, the name Arimathaea has a deeper meaning. It means “high place.” Like a the eternal Kingdom of Christ. Even the names of the bible are part of its design.
Carefully Designed
The fact these two passages work together in such an intricate way does not appear to be a coincidence. As I mentioned, I believe every word in the bible is carefully and meticulously designed.
So What
You may ask, “Why does this matter, or what’s the compelling reason to read the bible this way?” Here is my answer: because it’s amazing.
Two passages, side by side, particularly using the book of Revelation, clearly work together. They tell a deeper spiritual story that’s difficult or impossible to see reading the bible the old way – like a big long book.
Exploration: 6 Parts of the Bible
I’ve shared two examples, the Resurrection scene and the point of Jesus’ death. You can find the structure or design of the bible everywhere, including the law, books of prophesy, old testament writing, gospel, epistles and of course, Revelations.
If you’d like to see more examples, continue on with the links below or the right arrow. Explore how the City of Light passage aligns with the the Shepherd scene in the Birth of Christ, the 10 Commandments, the 23rd Psalm, the famous prophesy in Isaiah, the people of Faith in the book of Hebrews, and the Garden of Eden.
Perhaps you’ll uncover something new, like a glorious city, hidden in the words.
To explore these passages directly, click this button:
