The topic that we look at this time is one that has been talked
about, sung about, and discussed by religious scholars for many
years. It is very controversial and thought provoking. Men have
offered opinions and ideas that are so fetched. The topic is “The
New Jerusalem.”
First we must establish what the old Jerusalem was in order to
get a clearer picture of what the new one is.
God has always had a people from the beginning of time. We
haven’t the time to trace it all the way so let us begin when He
chose a people to belong solely to Him. Deut. 7:6-7, For thou [art]
an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath
chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people
that [are] upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love
upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than
any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people. God loves all
mankind, but He chose old testament Israel to show His goodness
and greatness to the world. But He never excluded other people.
It was His plan that Israel would spread the light to the rest of the
world. Isaiah 49:6, And he said, It is a light thing that thou
shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to
restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the
Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the
earth. God does not want any to perish but old Israel held the light
that God intended for them to share all to themselves.
Jerusalem became the capital city of God’s chosen people, the
Israelites. It was a place where the temple was. It is where God’s
ministry performed to priestly duties. It was where God’s presence
dwelt. Because of sin, God was confined, so to speak, to the Most
Holy Place in the temple or tabernacle. Man could not freely come
before God but once a year and that only by the high priest and
that only after certain rituals were complete. Jerusalem was very
vital to the Israelites. All these things were literal people and
places. But the New Jerusalem that we would like to explain is a
Spiritual city and that is where most people get mixed up.
Jerusalem is still the capital of God’s people but now instead of
the physical descendants of Israel being God’s chosen
only those that have been born again are His chosen. We have
previously addressed the topic of who is a Jew so we will continue
our study trusting that the topic is clear in everyone’s mind.
Revelation 3:16, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the
temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write
upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my
God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven
from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
Revelation 2:21, And I, John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband. In both passages, we read about a city
coming down from God out of heaven. I would first like to address
the phrase “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” There
should be no doubt who He is referred to here but in case you
don’t know the “bride of Christ” is none other than the church.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but Christ established His church or His
bride on the day of Pentecost. If His bride is already here why do
so many still look for a city or bride to come. In the first passage
He says that He will write a name, the name new Jerusalem, on
him which would imply a person not a place. Eph 3:14-15, For this
cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,. The
whole family in heaven and earth are named after the Father which
is God. In other words, the family (church) of God. He has put His
name on His church and His church is made of people who belong
to Him. In short, the city to which is His referring to is not a place
but a people. Let me show you another scripture which will clarify
it. Heb 12:18-23, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might
be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and
darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice
of words; which [voice] they that heard entreated that the word
should not be spoken to them any more: For they could not endure
that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the
mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so
terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and
quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the
firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,

and to the spirits of just men made perfect. Here we read about
when Moses went to be in God’s presence no one was allowed to
touch the place where God was under penalty of death. But he
says here that we are not come to that mountain that you can touch
literally. Notice the verb tense when he says “Ye ARE come unto
Mt. Sion (Zion). That ARE is present tense. We have already
attained to this Mountain, but what is it. Verse 23 makes it so plain.
“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are
written in heaven,” The church of the first born? This first born is
no doubt Christ and it is named after His father remember. So in
summary, the New Jerusalem which is a the city of God is none
other than the church of God which is the bride of Christ.
Revelation 21 has been used to describe heaven but nothing
could be further than the truth. Let’s take a look. It says in verse 9,
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the
seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me,
saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. So
everything following verse 9 is a description of the lamb’s wife
which we have already established is the church. Verse 10, “And
he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and
shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of
heaven from God.” This mountain and city are the same one
described in Hebrews. It is not showing a future heaven but rather
a present church which is His bride.
I hope you were able to follow the reasoning used to come to
this conclusion but if not I would to personally guide you through the
Bible to back up the foregoing ideas. Please contact me if you
need further instruction or have any questions.