Lights In The World
The East Gate of the Temple Mount at sunset - (photo by A. Chrysler)
God always has His lights in the world. In the Old Testament there was Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the twelve tribes of Israel. In the four Gospels there was Jesus and the Twelve Apostles. In the church epistles all believers in the Body of Christ are considered the light. In the Tribulation there will be the 144,000 Messianic Jews and in eternity God will be the light. Notice the following scriptures:
Old Testament
Esther 8:16 - The Jews had light and gladness, and joy, and honor... and many of the people of the land (of Persia) became Jews: for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 130 The entrance of thy word giveth light.
Proverbs 13:9 - The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked should be put out.
Isaiah 10:17 - The light of Israel should be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame.
Isaiah 42:6 - I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:6 - And he said, it is a light thing that thou (Christ) shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob... I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles to be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Micah 7:8 - ...the Lord shall be a light unto me. 9 ...he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
Four Gospels
Matthew 5:14 - Ye are the light of the world.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father that is in heaven.
John 1:4 - In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 9 That was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 9:5 - As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 12:35 - Jesus said... Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. 46 I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Steps leading from the Gihon Spring at sunrise - (photo by A. Chrysler)
Church Epistles
Acts 13:47 - For so hath the Lord commanded us (Paul and Barnabas) saying, I have sent thee to be a light to the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Ephesians 5:8 - ...now are ye light in the Lord, walk as children of light.
Philippians 2:15 - That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
I Thessalonians 5:5 - Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
I John 1:7 .- ..if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.
Ephesians 5:8 - ...now are ye light in the Lord, walk as children of light.
Philippians 2:15 - That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
I Thessalonians 5:5 - Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
I John 1:7 .- ..if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.
Future Kingdom
Isaiah 60:1 - Arise, shine; for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us. 3 ...and the Gentiles should come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising... 14 ...they shall call thee, The City of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land... 19 The sun should be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Revelation 21:23 - And the city (the Bride, the New Jerusalem) had no need of the sun; neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it...
Revelation 22:5 - And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 21:23 - And the city (the Bride, the New Jerusalem) had no need of the sun; neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it...
Revelation 22:5 - And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Note
Strong's Concordance says the Greek word for light is foce-tare from phose-phoros which means a luminary, illuminator, or a brilliant light.
Philippians 2:13 says God is working in us to make us radiators and reflectors of His light. Paul does not command us to shine, but merely states the fact that we do shine in a dark world.
Philippians 2:13 says God is working in us to make us radiators and reflectors of His light. Paul does not command us to shine, but merely states the fact that we do shine in a dark world.
View to the northwest from the Valley of Hinnom - (photo by A. Chrysler)