5. Revelation: The New Jerusalem

[Marilyn1]

The Great White Throne

When God`s work in time has finished, there will be a Great White Throne Judgment. The judge opens the `books.` Those whose names are in the book of life will not be judged, however every other person will be judged on how they lived their life.

`And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. .And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.`

                                                                                                              *(Rev. 20: 11 -- 15)*

The New Heavens & New Earth.

`And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away…` (Rev. 21: 1)

This is the beginning of eternity. All things have been made new. All rulership is to be restored under Christ in the universe. The first area was in the third heaven (previously) with Christ & His Body as king priests. Then there will come restoration in other realms.

[Marilyn1]

The New Jerusalem.

In eternity it will be time for the other realms to come under Christ`s rulership. It is from the area of Christ`s throne that the new Jerusalem comes down to near the earth. It is the next rulership to be put in place under Christ.

`…prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.` (Rev. 21: 2)

Bride – Heb. `Kallah` meaning as if perfect, from primary root – to complete, make perfect.

The city is a community of people that God has `made perfect.` They believed God`s promise that He would build a city for them.

`…he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.` (Heb. 11: 10)

These are the `just,` (righteous – pre-cross) men and women who believed that God would take them to this city. They awaited in the General assembly in heaven, (Heb. 12: 23) till God`s appointed time. So when the New Jerusalem descends they are given new bodies and are the residents of this palatial city.

Description of the City.

The whole city is described as a `cube,` (four square) which is symbolic of the Holy of Holies in which God spoke to Israel. Thus the city, the community of people is the place where God dwells by His Spirit and speaks to and through His people out to the nations of the world. (Tabernacle – means to dwell)

It is symbolically 12,000 furlongs square. The word `furlongs,` in Greek is `stao,` meaning a measurement & figuratively a covenant. Thus we realise that this city is the one `covenanted` to people in Israel.

Upon the city is God`s glory that shines brighter than the sun, with the city like a crystal reflecting this. Its purpose is to bring forth Christ`s rulership over the earth.

[Marilyn1]

[PeterC]

Thanks for sharing this @Marilyn1. Very interesting.
Peter

[Marilyn1]

Thanks Peter for the encouragement.

[Marilyn1]

The Jewels of the Foundations – Christ the KingPriest.

God promised to Israel that `Behold, I will lay your stones with colourful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires…and all your walls of precious stones.` (Isa. 54: 11 & 12)

`For he (Abraham) waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.` (Heb. 11: 10)

Foundations – Gk. `themelioo,` to lay a foundation, to appoint, ordain.

God has built this city, the New Jerusalem, and has appointed and ordained the Lord Jesus Christ, heaven`s KingPriest, as its Ruler. The High Priests would wear the breastplate with the 12 precious gems representing the 12 tribes of Israel and each name of a tribe had a meaning. Christ is the eternal High Priest and each precious stone reveals something of His character and office in Rulership.

[Marilyn1]

Christ`s Character and Offices.

Christ the Voice of God.

Christ the conqueror, is the Voice of God dwelling with His people.

1. Jasper – Naphtali – Conqueror.
2. Sapphire – Simeon – Voice of God.
3. Chalcedony – Zebulon – dwelling.

Christ the Kingpriest.

Christ the firstborn & heir, is the King and Priest giving blessings.

4. Emerald – Reuben – Firstborn, heir.
5. Sardonyx – Asher – Blessing, Priest.
6. Sardius – Judah – King, ruler.

Christ the Judge.

Christ the Kingpriest, judges with wisdom, righteousness and justice.

7. Chrysolite – Gad – Righteousness & justice.
8. Beryl – Dan - Judge
9. Topaz – Issachar --Wisdom.

Christ at God`s Right Hand.

Christ the KingPriest, at the right hand of the Father, gives forgiveness & blessings.

10. Chrysoprase - Manassah - forgiveness.
11. Jacinth – Ephraim – doubly fruitful.
12. Amethyst – Benjamin – at the right hand of the Father.

(The Stones. Ex. 28: 17 – 21,

the tribes. Num. 10: 14 – 17,

the meanings. Gen. 29: 32, 30: 1 – 24, 35: 18 Rev. 21: 19 & 20 )

[Marilyn1]

Christ the King. (The Throne)

`And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God & of the lamb shall be in it,…`(Rev. 22: 3)

The word, `throne,` represents the rule & authority of God. We know that God`s eternal throne is in the highest heavens whereas this `throne,` in the New Jerusalem is just above the earth in the universal heavens. It is God & the Lamb`s rule & authority through Israel out to the nations of the world.

Christ`s rulership is based on His Righteous character and consists of the two offices of King & Priest. So who has Christ prepared for these important responsibilities?

Kings

The 12 Apostles of the Lamb, were promised this high position, and there we see that they are written on the `foundation of the walls.` Jesus speaking to His 12 disciples –

`Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.`(Matt. 19: 28)

` Now the wall of the city had 12 foundations, & on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.` (Rev. 21: 14)

Priests

Christ has set aside 144,000 priests relating to the 12 tribes of Israel. These are symbolically described as `144 cubits,` - Heb. `ammah,` meaning the unit of measurement.

These 144,000 priests were the beginning, the first fruits unto God – the measurement -`pure unto God.` (Rev. 14: 1 – 5) God has promised that Israel will be `a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.` (Ex. 19: 6)

[Marilyn1]

Christ the High Priest. (The Temple)

`I saw no temple in it, for the Lord Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple;..` (Rev. 21:22)

The High Priest`s office was associated with the Temple. He not only interceded for the nation of Israel but he & other priests presided over the nation`s treasuries. (1 Chron. 9: 26) The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest is greater than the temple and he presides over greater treasures.

*`…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.` (Col. 2: 3) *

The riches of His love, His kindness & mercy, His wisdom & knowledge are all greater than the temple`s earthly riches. And the glory of Christ far exceeds any sun or moon, no wonder that the kings of the earth desire to enter this wondrous place. (Rev. 21: 22 – 27)

The blessings within the New Jerusalem are now shown to us as a river & a tree with all kinds of fruit. These represent spiritual realities.

The `river of life,` is Christ`s own divine nature that is sent forth from God by the Holy Spirit to refresh, energise & give continuous life to the people. (Rev. 22: 1)

The `tree of Life,` with its 12 fruits each month is the life of service coming from Christ`s life. This enables the community to function & serve, being fruitful in every good work with the `leaves,` drawing in nutriment for continuous health. (Rev. 22: 2)

[Bruce_Leiter]

I agree that the new earth will be believers’ final home and that they will come down from heaven after they meet the Lord in the air, as the new Jerusalem, if that’s the gist of your belief too, @Marilyn1.

[Marilyn1]

Hi Bruce,

Thank you for replying. I do not believe that however, for the Body of Christ is with the Lord on His own throne in the third heaven.

[PeterC]

@Marilyn1

Thank you for replying. I do not believe that however, for the Body of Christ is with the Lord on His own throne in the third heaven.

I’m sure Bruce can speak for himself, but I do have a few thoughts and questions. First, you seem to assert that the New Jerusalem is located “just above the earth in the universal heavens” and represents rule “through Israel out to the nations of the world.”

However, Revelation 21:2 explicitly says John saw the holy city “coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Verse 3 follows immediately with, “The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.” Scripture presents the New Jerusalem as the final union of heaven and earth, not a satellite city suspended in the sky ruling over a distinct earth below.

I also think you may have a misinterpretation of the 144,000 as “144 Cubits.” You said the 144,000 priests are “symbolically described as 144 cubits… a unit of measurement” in Revelation 21.

This is a conflation of two distinct details. The 144,000 in Revelation 7:4 and 14:1–3 refers to people redeemed from the earth (or the sealed of the tribes of Israel). The 144 cubits in Revelation 21:17 refers strictly to the thickness or height of the city wall: “And he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man.” Equating a structural wall measurement directly to a group of 144,000 human priests forces an allegorical connection that the text does not make.

Then you present an extreme structural division where the Apostles are Kings, the 144,000 are Priests representing ethnic Israel, and “the nations” are passive subjects outside or under this structure. The New Covenant explicitly unifies Jewish and Gentile believers into one body. In 1 Peter 2:9, the entire Church (Jew and Gentile) is called “a royal priesthood, a holy nation.”

In Revelation 1:6 and 5:10, Christ has made all believers across “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” to be “kings and priests unto God.” The New Jerusalem features 12 gates (named for the 12 tribes of Israel) and 12 foundations (named for the 12 apostles), showing that the Old and New Covenant people of God are unified into one single Bride (Rev. 21:9–12), rather than separated into distinct tiers of authority. In the climax of Revelation, all redeemed servants see His face, reign with Him, and function as His priesthood in a fully renewed creation where God dwells directly among humanity.

Be blessed, be a blessing, Jesus is LORD!

Peter

[Marilyn1]

Hi Peter,

So glad you for your comments and questions. I think we are in for a good discussion. Now I`ll reply in sections so we can look further into God`s word.

The Heavens.

1. Atmospheric heavens – weather, birds and planes fly. (James 5: 18)

2. Celestial heavens – stars, suns, planets. (Gen. 1: 16 & 17)

3. Third heaven – God`s throne. (2 Cor. 12: 2. Heb. 12: 22 & 23)

Now we know that God made each of these, with authority in each realm – thrones and dominions and principalities and powers. (Col. 1: 16)

We know that Lucifer was near God`s throne in the highest heaven, (Isa. 14: 12 – 16 Ez. 28: 12 – 18) Then when he was cast out, he usurped the authority position in the middle heavens called – Principalities and powers. (Eph.2: 2 and 6: 12)

Job tells us that the heavens are not pure in His sight. Thus, they need cleansing and righteous rulership placed there. (Job. 15: 15) And as all authority positions were made for the Lord then that is what we will see come about in the New Heavens and New earth. (Col. 1: 16) So that in all things He will have the pre-eminence. (Col. 1: 18)

Each realm of heaven was made by the Lord and is for Him, with all rulership He has appointed to come under Him.

Any comments so far?

[Marilyn1]