A study about New Jerusalem- The Bride of Christ
Sept 29, 2020 12:30:19 GMT -6
Natalie, mike, and 3 more like this
Post by rt on Sept 29, 2020 12:30:19 GMT -6
The Bride- New Jerusalem
The wife of the Lamb, dwelling in the holy city called New Jerusalem, descends to receive her inheritance, which is eternity on the new earth, there is no longer a temple because God and the lamb are its temple and its source of light, and therefore there is no need for sun or moon. John describes a glorious city made of jasper, clear gold and precious gems representing the tribes of Israel. The size is enormous, approximately 1400 miles wide, long and high, with walls 200 feet thick. Contained within are the river of the waters of life and the tree of life bearing life giving fruit, with its street of gold- a microcosm of the new earth within a very large city, similar to Noah’s ark, it will fill the new earth with its inhabitants, all those who will have been resurrected to eternal life.
New Jerusalem is the heavenly city, scripture mentions this city here:
The passage above compares Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Old Covenant law with Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. Moses was the mediator for the nation of Israel; he was terrified to approach the living God. Believers under the New Covenant do not need to fear because they have a perfect mediator, Jesus Christ, the son of God. The general assembly of the church of the first born (Jesus Christ) are enrolled as citizens of the city, made perfect through the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith” because it documents the faith of the Old Testament patriarchs. Here we see that though they did not yet receive the promise of the Savior, they still yearned for their inheritance, the city built by God, with foundations.
I would like to elaborate on some of the physical characteristics of New Jerusalem that John describes for us in Revelation 21, beginning with that foundation.
The Foundation
Revelation 21: 14 tells us that the city has twelve foundation stones, with the names of the twelve apostles written on them. The foundation was adorned with every kind of precious stone, and each foundation was made up of a different gemstone (verses 19, 20). Interestingly the breast piece of the Old Testament high priest had twelve gemstones embedded into it, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. As mentioned above, the Old Testament patriarchs desired a city with foundations; however they did not receive the promise of the Messiah in their time. The city plans were drawn up, but the construction could not commence until the cornerstone was laid first.
Jesus is the cornerstone, the first living stone of the heavenly city. Once the cornerstone is laid the construction of the city can commence. The passage above calls believers “living stones” who are being built up as a “spiritual house”. The first “stones” to be laid after the cornerstone, are the foundation stones. The Apostles were the first believers and the first to share the gospel. They became the foundation of the city. Every other believer that came after them would build upon their foundation.
The Gates
Revelation 21 tells us that there are three gates for each of the four sides of the city wall, facing in the cardinal directions, East, North, South and West for a total of twelve gates. Each gate was guarded by an angel and each made of a single giant pearl. (That’s one huge oyster huh?) It’s interesting that the gates are made of pearls and associated with the tribes of Israel. Pearls are made when an irritant makes its way into an oyster or clam and in response the mollusk excretes a chemical that deposits on the irritant, layers of this deposit create a pearl. Indeed throughout the Old Testament Israel is sited as failing to obey the law of God, and it isn’t a stretch to assume that God was often irritated with them. In contrast the rest of the wall is made of precious stones, which are made as a process of metamorphosis when minerals in the earth are put under intense heat and pressure, creating various gemstones. But I digress, I think the point being made in the passage is that the nation of Israel, God’s original chosen people provide the gateway into the city. Through them came the Messiah.
Jesus replied with the following when he encountered the woman at the well (John 4):
Without the nation of Israel there wouldn’t have been a Savior born to save mankind, without the Old Covenant there would not be a need for a New.
Consider these passages :
God promised that He would circumcise the hearts of the nation of Israel; it wasn’t the outward symbol of circumcision that proved one to be faithful, but the inward circumcision of the law written on their hearts demonstrated in their lives by true faith.
The Size
2,250,000 square miles, 1400 miles wide, long and high, laid out in a square (Verse 16).
images.app.goo.gl/LvBsxGhsVmHsZsiY7
Its Beauty
The city as we are told is made up of precious gems, and clear streets of gold. Within its walls and beyond its gates lie the river of the water of life, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb and the Tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a different one each month. Leaves of this tree were used for healing, I believe this refers back to the millennium, before the judgment, since John uses the past tense to describe the “healing”. It is illuminated by the glory of God, with no need for the sun or the moon. In short; the city is stunningly and breathtakingly beautiful.
The Bride of Christ; the inhabitants of New Jerusalem; are the treasure. Believers are the hidden treasure and the fine pearls that Jesus died for to secure as an inheritance (gentiles and Jews?). He gave up all He had and paid for us with his blood so that we might become a holy priesthood, a kingdom unto our God.
Revelation 21:9-27
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall.
16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal.
17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.
18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone 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, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;
26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;
27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:1–5
1 And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
2 in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him;
4 and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
5 And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall.
16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal.
17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.
18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone 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, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;
26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;
27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:1–5
1 And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
2 in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him;
4 and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
5 And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.
The wife of the Lamb, dwelling in the holy city called New Jerusalem, descends to receive her inheritance, which is eternity on the new earth, there is no longer a temple because God and the lamb are its temple and its source of light, and therefore there is no need for sun or moon. John describes a glorious city made of jasper, clear gold and precious gems representing the tribes of Israel. The size is enormous, approximately 1400 miles wide, long and high, with walls 200 feet thick. Contained within are the river of the waters of life and the tree of life bearing life giving fruit, with its street of gold- a microcosm of the new earth within a very large city, similar to Noah’s ark, it will fill the new earth with its inhabitants, all those who will have been resurrected to eternal life.
New Jerusalem is the heavenly city, scripture mentions this city here:
Hebrews 12:18–24
18 For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,
19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word should be spoken to them.
20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
18 For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,
19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word should be spoken to them.
20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
The passage above compares Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Old Covenant law with Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. Moses was the mediator for the nation of Israel; he was terrified to approach the living God. Believers under the New Covenant do not need to fear because they have a perfect mediator, Jesus Christ, the son of God. The general assembly of the church of the first born (Jesus Christ) are enrolled as citizens of the city, made perfect through the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 11:8–16
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;
10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised;
12 therefore, also, there was born of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;
10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised;
12 therefore, also, there was born of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith” because it documents the faith of the Old Testament patriarchs. Here we see that though they did not yet receive the promise of the Savior, they still yearned for their inheritance, the city built by God, with foundations.
I would like to elaborate on some of the physical characteristics of New Jerusalem that John describes for us in Revelation 21, beginning with that foundation.
The Foundation
Revelation 21: 14 tells us that the city has twelve foundation stones, with the names of the twelve apostles written on them. The foundation was adorned with every kind of precious stone, and each foundation was made up of a different gemstone (verses 19, 20). Interestingly the breast piece of the Old Testament high priest had twelve gemstones embedded into it, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. As mentioned above, the Old Testament patriarchs desired a city with foundations; however they did not receive the promise of the Messiah in their time. The city plans were drawn up, but the construction could not commence until the cornerstone was laid first.
Acts 4:10–12
10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone.
12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”
10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone.
12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”
1 Peter 2:4–6
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.”
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.”
Jesus is the cornerstone, the first living stone of the heavenly city. Once the cornerstone is laid the construction of the city can commence. The passage above calls believers “living stones” who are being built up as a “spiritual house”. The first “stones” to be laid after the cornerstone, are the foundation stones. The Apostles were the first believers and the first to share the gospel. They became the foundation of the city. Every other believer that came after them would build upon their foundation.
Ephesians 2:19–22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord;
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord;
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:9–11
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The Gates
Revelation 21 tells us that there are three gates for each of the four sides of the city wall, facing in the cardinal directions, East, North, South and West for a total of twelve gates. Each gate was guarded by an angel and each made of a single giant pearl. (That’s one huge oyster huh?) It’s interesting that the gates are made of pearls and associated with the tribes of Israel. Pearls are made when an irritant makes its way into an oyster or clam and in response the mollusk excretes a chemical that deposits on the irritant, layers of this deposit create a pearl. Indeed throughout the Old Testament Israel is sited as failing to obey the law of God, and it isn’t a stretch to assume that God was often irritated with them. In contrast the rest of the wall is made of precious stones, which are made as a process of metamorphosis when minerals in the earth are put under intense heat and pressure, creating various gemstones. But I digress, I think the point being made in the passage is that the nation of Israel, God’s original chosen people provide the gateway into the city. Through them came the Messiah.
Jesus replied with the following when he encountered the woman at the well (John 4):
John 4:22
22 “You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
22 “You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Romans 9:4–5
4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Without the nation of Israel there wouldn’t have been a Savior born to save mankind, without the Old Covenant there would not be a need for a New.
Consider these passages :
God promised that He would circumcise the hearts of the nation of Israel; it wasn’t the outward symbol of circumcision that proved one to be faithful, but the inward circumcision of the law written on their hearts demonstrated in their lives by true faith.
Deuteronomy 30:6
6 “Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.
6 “Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.
Romans 2:28–29
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Romans 2:14–16
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
The Size
2,250,000 square miles, 1400 miles wide, long and high, laid out in a square (Verse 16).
images.app.goo.gl/LvBsxGhsVmHsZsiY7Its Beauty
The city as we are told is made up of precious gems, and clear streets of gold. Within its walls and beyond its gates lie the river of the water of life, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb and the Tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a different one each month. Leaves of this tree were used for healing, I believe this refers back to the millennium, before the judgment, since John uses the past tense to describe the “healing”. It is illuminated by the glory of God, with no need for the sun or the moon. In short; the city is stunningly and breathtakingly beautiful.
Matthew 13:44–46
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The Bride of Christ; the inhabitants of New Jerusalem; are the treasure. Believers are the hidden treasure and the fine pearls that Jesus died for to secure as an inheritance (gentiles and Jews?). He gave up all He had and paid for us with his blood so that we might become a holy priesthood, a kingdom unto our God.
