The apostle John was given a vision of the new Jerusalem. He also reveals to us what the city of new Jerusalem is all about, he calls it the bride of Christ. Even a voice from the throne said it is “the tent of God” that resides with mankind.
Revelation 21:1- 27… And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” 5 And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also, he says: “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”
So, we see that the timing of the arrival of the new Jerusalem happens at the time of the new heavens and the new earth. God declares that he will be with mankind and then he talks about the benefits that come from having the new Jerusalem reside with mankind. The best part of this message is he says, “ He is making all things new” He guarantees His word for us.
6 And he said to me: “They have come to pass! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To anyone thirsting I will give from the fountain of the water of life free. 7 Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I shall be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornicators and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and Sulphur. This means the second death.”
Next God lays out conditions for entry into the new Jerusalem. Then he talks about those who are going to be burned in the fire and sulfur and talks about the meaning of the second death. Which means there is no coming back from this, it is a total destruction.
9 And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were full of the seven last plagues, and he spoke with me and said: “Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 So he carried me away in [the power of the] spirit to a great and lofty mountain, and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God 11 and having the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious stone, as a jasper stone shining crystal-clear. 12 It had a great and lofty wall and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names were inscribed which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 The wall of the city also had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 Now the one who was speaking with me was holding as a measure a golden reed, that he might measure the city and its gates and its wall. 16 And the city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; its length and breadth and height are equal. 17 Also, he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to a man’s measure, at the same time an angel’s. 18 Now the structure of its wall was jasper, and the city was pure gold like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with every sort of precious stone: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 Also, the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was made of one pearl. And the broad way of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.
So, once the new Jerusalem has been fully assembled it comes from heaven and resides with mankind here upon the earth. Again, the new Jerusalem is called the bride for the Lamb of God. Then the apostle John is given a full description of what this city looks like and the beauty that it possesses.
How does this compare to the original city of Jerusalem? What is the difference between Zion the holy mount of God and the new Jerusalem? To answer these two questions, we need to follow the hyperlink to the article The Jerusalem from Above or Zion?
No Need for Light
22 And I did not see a temple in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb [is]. 23 And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God lighted it up, and its lamp was the Lamb.
There’s no need for a physical temple in the new Jerusalem because worship is going to be done by our spirit, attitude and emotions that are displayed. The glory of God is going to be there for us.
24 And the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 And its gates will not be closed at all by day, for night will not exist there. 26 And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But anything not sacred and anyone that carries on a disgusting thing and a lie will in no way enter into it; only those written in the Lamb’s scroll of life will.
The light that the nations walk by, is the enlightenment that the kingdom of God gives the nations. Entry into the new Jerusalem requires you to be written into the book of life. You have to sanctify yourself and cleanse yourself from the defilements that prevent you from having a relationship with God, the same is true for entry into the kingdom of God.
Writingwithlogos.com – Last Revised 12/28/24