The City Of God: The New Jerusalem

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: 

for the first first heaven and the first earth 

passed away; and there was no more sea. 

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 

coming down from God out of heaven, prepared

 as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard 

a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold,

the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will 

dwell with them, and they shall be His people, 

and God Himself shall be with them, and be 

their God. And God shall wipe away all tears 

from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,

 neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be 

any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, 

I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: 

for these words are true and faithful. And He said 

unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, 

the beginning and the end. I will give unto him 

that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life 

freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; 

and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and murderers, 

and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, 

and all liars, shall have their part in the lake 

which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is 

the second death.

Revelation 21:1-8 

     We have come to the last two chapters of Revelation, and of the Bible cannon and we find here such a wonderful blessing and promise that it should make our hearts glad. In the beginning of this chapter we find John's vision about a "new heaven and a new earth," coming down out of heaven. How often have these words given a meaning that this is a literal heaven and new earth. But is it? Notice this: "the first earth earth were passed away. Does this mean the physical earth? Some say yes, and maybe they are right, but this verse go one to say: "and there was no more sea." If there is no more sea and there is a new earth does this mean that this new earth does not have water, or a sea, that it is mostly, if not all, dry land? Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away" (Mark 13:31). This term: heaven and earth has a much greater meaning than just the physical nature. Associated with the word "sea," a word that represents mankind in this case speaks of those men and women who will not be present as one who is the city of God, a new heaven, a new earth, the bride of Christ, the new Jerusalem, not a literal city but this new Jerusalem. The use of the word "come" is not altogether a bad translation but in our English we think of something coming, rather than being drawn near, or to draw near so in Hebrews we read: "but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels" (Hebrews 12 22). The Greek word is formed from the Greek word to come but in this use has a greater meaning. This word is derived from two Greek words (Strong's Dictionary: 4314 and 2064) and it means to come near, to approach, to assent. You, as an Authentic Christian are the city of God, and are the temple of God: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19-22). Jerusalem is the place where God resides, not that He resides because He is some separate being with a form, no, but resides with man, a place were men are drawn to Him and this by the Holy Spirit. 

     We know that John is writing about people and that those who are of the city of God are now and until the coming of Jesus Christ, being prepared and adorned as a bride, the bride of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ now dwells with men and women, this New Jerusalem, this city of God, who has within each of them the Holy Spirit of God, that is God, for the Holy Spirit is God.

     Do you want joy? Do you want a fantastic hope? Here it is: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" (Revelation 21:4). God makes clear then by this coming of the New Jerusalem: "it is done!" 

     This is something that can be used to thwart the heresy of the Jehovah Witness. Revelation 1:8: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord." No question, this verse speak of Jesus Christ and now God says that "it is done," and states that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" (verse 6). This states that God and Jesus are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, therefore this means that God is Jesus, and Jesus is God. 

     The gift of faith is a free gift. God offers this gift to you and you have done nothing to earn it, but you must reach out and take the gift: God will not put it into your pocket, and give it to you, you have a responsibility to take up this gift (Ephesian 2:8-9). This gift is eternal life, a fountain of living water. You must be an overcomer, as the Book of Revelation has made so plain and clear. If you are not an overcomer, then this gift is not taken by you and has no meaning for you and then you will be of those who will be thrown into the lake of fire, the second death. 

     Yes, this chapter is one that brings great joy knowing that our faithful God and Savior will give us the right to be the city of God, the New Jerusalem. It is in this city that God resides in a way that He had determined when God created and made man in His image. Satan has done all, and is doing all, that he can to upstage God and claim man f for his kingdom, his rulership, but there are those, the Authentic Christian that will not be ruled by Satan. No matter if one fails for a moment, and repents of this, then our God will forgive us, no matter the consequence. You see, We who have come to believe in Jesus Christ are not the bride of Christ, are now the city of God, now the New Jerusalem, and when God finishes His allowance to have run its course, then God destroys sin, the sinful, and the one who has caused sin, Satan. God then makes all things new: YOU!

And Enoch walked with "God:

    and he was not; for God

took him.

                    Genesis 5:24

Praise God for He saves His children

Richard L. Crumb