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Then I saw the Holy City1 New Jerusalem2 [Isaiah 52:1] descending down out of the Celestialum from The God.3 It was prepared like a bride adorned [Isaiah 61:10] for her husband.4 [2 Corinthians 11:2]
| 1 | Holy City: The designation occurs 16 times: Revelation 3:12; 14:20; 20:9; 21:2, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 23; 22:3, 14, 19. The images echo Isaiah chapters 51, 65. The angelic realms as a corporate body are compared to a “heavenly Jerusalem.” [Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22-24] |
| 2 | New Jerusalem: The term occurs 3 times: Revelation 3:12; 21:2, 10. The celestial Jerusalem becomes a “new” Jerusalem upon the arrival of the glorified Saints who become the ruling body. [1 Corinthians 6:2] |
| 3 | Descending down out of the Celestialum from The God: There are four words to emphasize the direction of the movement from heaven to earth: descending, down, out of, from. Can there be any question the New Jerusalem is settling upon earth? Compare the Greek EPI at Revelation 5:10. |
| 4 | A bride adorned for her husband: When does this “descent” occur? The “city” exists as early as Revelation 11:2 before the three and a half years of Great Oppression. This is probably the same “city” of Revelation 14:20 outside of which the winepress of Armageddon is trodden. This is likely that same city for which the ancients longed. (Hebrews 11:10, 16) It may be that “city” toward which the early Christian Saints had come or approached, Heavenly Jerusalem. (Hebrews 12:22) That is, the “city to come.”(Hebrews 13:14) In this vision the City is “prepared as a bride” and is so seen in more graphic detail (Revelation 21:9, 10) where the City is called the Lamb’s Wife. Therefore, they must be married. This spiritual heavenly marriage must begin when the husband “receives home to himself” his Church. (Revelation 14:3; Ephesians 5:32; 2 Corinthians 11:3; John 3:29; 14:2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) The New Jerusalem could begin its descent after this “marriage” union in order for the Winepress to be “trodden outside the City.” (Revelation 14:20) This phrase is found again at Revelation 22:15 so the City must descend while these are still in existence. The sequence of events would seem to be: Jesus returns in glory, all dead Christians are raised and judged, the “goats” are destroyed, the living Saints are raptured and enter their home, the marriage feast occurs, then the New Jerusalem descends and takes action against Babylon the Great, with the War of Armageddon to follow. |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose Revelation 21:2 as the theme verse of chapter twenty-one – All Things New! John now returns to that moment before the Thousand Years and after the ruin of Babylon the Great when the Holy City New Jerusalem descends to the earth. [1-4] It has its new citizens within it – the glorified Church – and it is compared to a newly married bride. Those inhabitants of the New Jerusalem will thus live with God in His “tent” as their pain and tears are wiped away “and death is no more.” God Almighty on His Throne now declares, “I am making all things new!” [5-8] A promise is given to the Christian Saints that if they conquer they will inherit their place in the New Jerusalem and enjoy a new relationship with Him.
As it descends from heaven the New Jerusalem is described by John. [9-14] The gates and the foundation are described. John is told to measure the city. [15-21] There are further descriptions. The Holy City is the center of worship and further described. [22-27] Only those written in the Lamb’s book of life may enter the city.
Abba our Father bless those future citizens of New Jerusalem.
[5 October 2002]
