New Heaven New Earth Part 2

New Heaven New Earth Part 2

Revelation 21:2

Review

Then I saw…

Revelation 21:1 (NIV) — 1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

Judgement Day is over.

All sinners of all ages, Satan and his demons, have been sentenced to the “Lake of Fire”.

Banished gone for all eternity.

Notice the word NEW

This is not a fresh coat of paint.

It’s brand new freshly created.

The old earth has passed away.

Quote: “The old order was in “bondage to decay” (Rom. 8:21) and “groaning … in pains of childbirth until now” (Rom. 8:22), awaiting the day when “the heavens … will be dissolved” and “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness will dwell” will be established to forever replace the old (2 Pet. 3:12–13).”

New Jerusalem

Holy City

Revelation 21:2 (NIV) — 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

In verse one John describes the New Heaven New Earth in a general sense

In verse two he adds an element to landscape

The Holy City (New Jerusalem)

We could describe it like our Washington DC

A capital city

Also, an actual city.

New Jerusalem

The new Jerusalem is not heaven, but heaven’s capital.

It is not synonymous with heaven, because its dimensions are given in 21:16.

Revelation 21:16 (NLT) — 16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.

It will be the third city named Jerusalem in redemptive history.

The first is the historic Jerusalem, the City of David, which currently exists in Isreal.

The second Jerusalem will be the restored Jerusalem where Christ will rule during the millennial kingdom.

Matthew 27:53 (BSB) — 53 After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.

The second Jerusalem will be the restored Jerusalem where Christ will rule during the millennial kingdom.

Zech 14:8-11, Isaiah 2:2-4, Isa 65:17-25, Zech 8:3-8, Jer 31:38-40

Zechariah 14:11 (ESV) — 11 And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.

But the new Jerusalem does not belong to the first creation.

It will be a new eternal city.

Revelation 21:10 (ESV) — 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

Interesting fact: The old Jerusalem was in ruins for twenty-five years when John received this vision.

Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD in retaliation for the Jewish people revolting against Rome rule.

The argument could be made that it is God’s Judgement on Israel.

Chase a rabbit

Dome of the Rock

Following Muslim conquest of Jerusalem from the Byzantine Empire in 638.

The Muslims constructed the Dome in 691-692.

The structure’s origins reflect both religious devotion and political assertion.

Rather than functioning as a place of worship, it was designed as a shrine protecting the Foundation Stone—the rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.

This is the same place that The Holy of Holies sat before 70 AD.

The temple will be restored in the millennial kingdom.

The Restored Temple

The Millennial Temple will exist during the thousand-year kingdom and will feature distinct characteristics.

It will include Gentile worshipers

God’s Shekinah glory

Expanded architecture

An enlarged Temple Mount.

This is described in Ezekiel 40-48

The New Jerusalem will not have a temple.

Revelation 21:22 (ESV) — 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.

The Father and the Son will be the temple.

John 1:14; 2:19–21

Heavenly Jerusalem  

Functioning City

Quote: The concept of a city includes relationships, activity, responsibility, unity, socialization, communion, and cooperation. Unlike the evil cities of the present earth, the perfectly holy people in the new Jerusalem will live and work together in perfect harmony.

It’s a city coming down from heaven.

Hebrews 11:10 (NLT) — 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

The implication is that it already exists, a truth reinforced by Hebrews 12:22–23

Hebrews 12:22–23 (NIV) — 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

Heavenly Jerusalem

All of heaven is currently contained in the new Jerusalem.

It is separate from the present universe, which is tainted by sin.

Jesus said he was going there to prepare a place for us.

John 14:1–3 (ESV) — 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Believers who die go to the “heavenly Jerusalem,”

This heavenly Jerusalem will descend into the New Earth.

Revelation 21:2 (NIV) — 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

It will serve as the dwelling place of the redeemed for all eternity.

The Throne of God  

The throne now resides in heaven.

Hebrews 4:16 calls it the Throne of Grace.

We have access to the throne by means of Christ being our high priest.

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) — 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The Throne will reside in the millennial kingdom in the Old Revived Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:11 (ESV) — 11 And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.

The New Jerusalem is will also be where the throne of God will reside.

God will dwell among his people.

The bride.

Revelation 21:2 (NIV) — 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

We will dive into this much deeper next time.

The imagery here is beautiful.