THE NEW JERUSALEM

THE NEW JERUSALEM-LA NUEVA JERUSALENThe New Jerusalem is the heavenly city. It is where Jesus has gone to prepare a special place for us where we always be with him.1 The city of heaven, whose architect and builder is God is a real place, desired and expected by believers of all times, as was Abraham.2 Paul says that for the people who trust in God’s salvation, our citizenship is in heaven, where we will be with Jesus after his arrival.3 This wonderful city is described in detail by the Apostle John in Revelation.4 It is a city of gold, which will be established on Earth, when God descends from heaven at the end of the millennium. Here will be the capital of the kingdom of God when the Earth will be renewed.5 Isaiah describes it as a ‘beautiful crown’ and ‘royal crown’.6 It will be the throne of God and also the tree of life: ‘Then he showed me a clean river of water, of life. It was clear as crystal, and it came out of the throne of God and the Lamb. In the midst of the street of the city, either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits and yields its fruit every month; the leaves of the tree were the healing of the nations. There will be no curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him, see his face and have his name on their fronts. There will be no night; there will be no need of the light of a lamp or the sunlight, because the Lord God gives us light. And they will reign forever and ever’.7

In Revelation it is said to be the wife of the Lamb, and the process of preparing it for the dwell is called the marriage of the Lamb, which coincides with the heavenly trial.8 In the parable of the ten virgins, when the husband came, ‘those who were ready married him’.9 The coming of the husband takes place before the wedding. All that who accepting the testimony of Scripture follow Christ by faith, as he stands before God to perform the last work of mediation and to receive his kingdom at the conclusion of their work, are represented going into the wedding. This will be done in heaven and representing the investiture ceremony of the dignity of Christ the King. Christ, according to the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven, ‘dominion, glory and the kingdom’, that is, the New Jerusalem, the capital of his kingdom, ‘prepared as a bride adorned for her husband’.10 After receiving the kingdom he will come in glory, as King of kings and Lord of lords, for the redemption of his people11 and to participate with them in the marriage supper of the Lamb.12 Clearly, then, the bride represents the holy city, and the virgins who go to meet the Bridegroom, represent the church. In Revelation, God’s people are invited to the marriage supper. If they are guests, they cannot also represent the wife.13

After two thousand years, Christ will come down on the Mount of Olives, where he rose after his resurrection, and where angels repeated the promise of his return.14 The New Jerusalem, then descend from heaven in its dazzling splendour and will sit in the purified place prepared to receive it. God himself, his people and the angels will be in the holy city.15 They will only enter in the city if they are written in the book of the Lamb’s life.16 God’s people will be privileged to hold open communion with the Father and the Son.17 Now we see the image of God reflected like a mirror in the works of nature and in his dealings with men; but then we shall see him face to face, without a veil that hides him from us. We will be in his presence and behold the glory of his face. There the redeemed shall know their real nature. The loves and sympathies which God Himself has planted in our souls will find the truest and sweetest meaning.

The pure deal with holy beings, the harmonious social life with the blessed angels and with the faithful people of all ages who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, the sacred ties that bind together ‘the whole family in heaven and on earth’18, is the joy of the redeemed. The great controversy will have end. There will be no more sin or sinners. The whole universe will be cleansed. One pulse of harmony and gladness will beat in all creation. From Him who created all things they will flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the smallest atom to the greatest world, all things animate and inanimate, will declare in his unblemished beauty and perfect joy that God is love.19

 

Biblical References:

  1. John 14: 1-3
  2. Hebrews 11: 8-10, 13-16
  3. Philipenses 3: 20, 21; 1 Thessalonians 4: 17
  4. Revelation 21: 9-27
  5. Revelation 21: 1-5, 9, 10; Isaiah 66: 22, 23
  6. Isaiah 62: 1-3; 65: 17-19
  7. Revelation 22: 1-5; 21: 22-26; Zachari 14: 8, 11
  8. Revelation 19: 1-8; Daniel 7: 9, 10
  9. Matthew 25: 1-13
  10. Daniel 7: 13, 14; Revelation 21: 2
  11. Matthew 8: 11; Luke 22: 30
  12. Matthew 26: 29;
  13. Revelation 19: 9
  14. Zachari 14: 3-5, 9; Facts 1: 9-12
  15. Zachari 8: 3, 8; Revelation 22: 3; 21: 22, 23
  16. Revelation 21: 27
  17. Matthew 5: 8; Isaiah 52: 7-10; 1 Corinthians13: 12
  18. Ephesians 3: 15; Revelation 5: 13
  19. 1 John 4: 8-10, 16; 5: 11, 12