Revelation 21:26
“and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.”
What does Revelation 21:26 mean?
In John's vision of the new creation, the nations of the earth aren't excluded or erased, but rather transformed and welcomed. Their unique contributions, achievements, and the best of their cultures are brought into God's eternal city, honored rather than destroyed. This image suggests that what's genuinely good and beautiful in human civilization isn't lost when God renews all things, but rather purified and incorporated into something far greater. It's a hopeful picture for anyone who loves their heritage, their people's gifts, or the genuine human flourishing they see in the world around them, suggesting these things matter not just now but eternally.