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THE NEW JERUSALEM

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The hyperlinks on these pages go to the scriptures along with a few comments that are meant to prove the context and meaning of these symbolisms. So please take the time to left click and read them.

Just as the rituals that Israel had were mere symbols of the realities that were to come, so the city of Jerusalem was a mere symbol of the realities that were to come. The New Jerusalem in Revelation, itself a symbol given in vision form to John, came from the Old Testament. In other words God was teaching John (and us) the word of God already written, by way of symbolic visions.

Revelation 21

1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

What John was seeing was the word of God in symbolic vision form, he was not seeing a physical happening to the planet. You will see this as we continue, and although there are references to the physical end of the planet in the bible, this isn't one of them.
Here are a few verses that set a theme for a new heaven and a new earth.
Then notice the term “and there was no more sea” you will see this listed through out the Old and New Testaments as the symbolic term for the nations.

2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

The new Jerusalem is the bride of Jesus Christ - Revelation 21: 9-10. You will begin to see very clearly now that this bride, the new Jerusalem, is merely a symbol of those who put their trust in, and therefore obey God.
The wife of Christ. is what the churches are referred to in Paul's letters.
In the Old testament there are numerous profound references were God calls the new Jerusalem and\or those who serve him his wife.
In the parables of the New Testament the followers of Jesus are the guests of the wedding and he is the bridegroom.
It is evident from these scriptures that the new Jerusalem, the bride of the groom, the wife of God the husband are all symbolic terms for the exact same thing, i.e. those who serve God.

This New Jerusalem is represented as the one from above or "heaven" in- Galatians 4: 26,
it also represents the Jerusalem of promise in the last chapters of Isaiah., and the Jerusalem of promise and the prophetic in many other scriptures.

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Again John is seeing and hearing the same symbolisms contained in the Old and New testaments that represent the present reality of being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and becoming a habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2: 22.
Old Testament verses like Leviticus 26: 11-12 are quoted to represent the present reality of
2 Corinthians. 6: 16, which Hebrews: 8: 2; 9: 11 confirms.

4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Eternal life begins when one puts their trust in Christ, that these bodies we live in die is not even an issue in the language that Jesus uses in the New Testament, which is the same language that is used in the above verse. You can see this in these verses....
God wiping away all tears from your eye's, no more sorrow crying or pain. These verses again come from Isaiah's symbolism of the realities that were coming to the earth for those who serve God. Of course these are not the only Old testament scriptures that say these things.
The New testament is also full of descriptive language about these very real and present realities that come when one follows the lamb of God, some of these things can be had under any earthly circumstances, while others may be attained in their proper time and season, such as when the sowing of the word of God in the earth mixed with the blood of the saints via persecution can result in a more just and godly society.

Some might say "but we still have sorrow crying and pain;" to that I answer- Hebrews 4: 1-2, 11

5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

That all things are new is standard New Testament language to describe the new life one finds in Christ.
Yet this was promised and prophesied in the Old Testament.

6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

What is done? We will stick to the mysterious plan of God to reconcile the world back to himself and his government in this subject rather than point out some other things that are done also.
The fountain of the water of life or the "living water" is a symbol of the Holy Spirit that was promised to Jesus as the seed of Abraham. Jesus is then the distributor or giver of this living water to those who put their trust in him.

7. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

This verse in the context of this chapter clearly implies that the way that these many precious promises and prophecies written in symbolic form are not inherited without overcoming sin and therefore its effects in the present evil age. Just as Jesus overcame the world so are those who have been adopted by the Father as his own children are to overcome and triumph in this life.

8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This verse lists some of the characteristics of those who do not overcome the world in Christ and what their end is. The lake of fire and the second death symbolize well the words of Christ and is taught in the Old Testament.

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 show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

There are dozens of verses listed under verse two of this chapter that cover the subject of the bride, the Lamb's wife. Here are a few more.

10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The great and high mountain, symbolizing the influence and/or dominion of God's Govt. on earth. Mt. Zion with the earthly Jerusalem on top of it is a symbol of it. There are many O.T. scriptures on the subject of the mountain of the Lord with many symbolic scriptures associated with it that warrant a separate Bible symbolism subject, so I won't go into great detail on it now.
The descending out of heaven from God of the city is standard New Testament language to describe anything that came from God in this earth.

11. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

This verse is from those same Old Testament scriptures we have looked at that symbolically describe Gods faithful children as the city of Jerusalem who's light and glory is from God and is God.

14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The foundation of the city are the words of the Apostles and the Prophets, Jesus’ words being the chief cornerstone.

18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

1 Co 3:12;

To be continued......