Confined To The New Jerusalem?

Q

In Revelation 3:12, it is written that “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more.” What does this mean when Jesus says “he shall go out no more”? Will we spend eternity in the New Jerusalem without being able to go out? I fully believe the New Jerusalem is awesome beyond imagination, but it would be nice to take a walk on planet earth every now and then.

A

Since the phrase “pillar in the temple” is symbolic rather than literal, it’s logical that the phrase “go out no more” is as well. This is confirmed by the fact that there is no Temple in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:22). The Lord’s letter to the church in Philadelphia is a promise to those who have kept His word and not denied His name but have endured patiently until He comes. In addition to being kept out of the end times judgments, they (we) will have an integral part in the Lord’s interaction with the people of Earth (pillar in the Temple) which will never cease being so (go out no more). This is consistent with our role as Kings and Priests who reign on Earth (Rev. 5:10).

Think of the term “a pillar in the community”. It’s often used in reference to prominent people in the community who have an important and/or essential part in its workings. That phrase came from Rev. 3:12.