The term ‘New Jerusalem’ has captured the attention of so many people, and in so many ways. Ever since the Apostle John recorded his great vision, many have marveled at the thought of the perfect existence it offers; Elysian Fields where people are continually happy a Paradise free of want and fear. Some are even of the view that when the Church speaks of New Jerusalem it really means Heaven on Earth. But like all such things, we should not be surprised to find a fable or two hiding in the background. So we would be wise to first establish what New Jerusalem isn’t.
Most modern dictionaries define New Jerusalem as either; the final abode of souls redeemed by Christ, or an ideal earthly community or similar. Many teach that the return of Jesus will begin a peaceful reign of a thousand years when New Jerusalem comes down from Heaven. There are numerous conflicting opinions, each with an interpretation tailored to a religious belief or point of view; one maintains it to be an actual city of spiritual significance. It is none of these things.
Catholic teaching holds that New Jerusalem is a symbol of the Roman Church, the bride of Christ. As such, it exists simultaneously in Heaven and upon Earth through the communion of the saints. One of many Protestant views believes it to be a city Jesus will present to His Bride the Church. To the Latter Day Saints, New Jerusalem is where the Saints will gather and Jesus will rule during the Millennium. Their Zion will be built upon the American Continent, the earth will be renewed and the holy dwelling will descend and reside there. Still others believe heaven and earth will be recreated with New Jerusalem as its capital. It is none of these either.
William Blake is likely the source of much of this thinking with his epic New Jerusalem poem: “And did the Countenance Divine, shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here, among these dark Satanic Mills?” The short answer is, No.
There is however, one opinion on New Jerusalem, which gets closer to the truth believing it is the Tabernacle of God; it certainly has something to do with indwelling. This is quite different from another common view that Jerusalem and Zion are synonyms. Zion is not Jerusalem, and we will get to that in part two.
So, let’s have a look at what Paul said about Jerusalem. For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Gal 4:25-26)
Paul draws a clear distinction between the earthly and the heavenly; the flesh and the spirit, one in bondage, the other set free. That Paul clearly saw the difference, he detailed in his first letter to the Church at Corinth. Now this I say, brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1Cor 15:50) New Jerusalem therefore has everything to do with the spirit, and nothing to do with flesh, blood or material things.
Jerusalem
Its name has received many interpretations over the years. The oldest known form, ‘Uru-sa-lim’ is typically understood as the City of Peace, or Salem. Other readings have the ‘possession’ or ‘foundation’ of peace. Before the Israelites arrived, Jerusalem was the city of Jebusites who Joshua attempted to dive out but failed. Later Judah successfully engaged them around 1000BC preparing the way for David. Under Solomon, Jerusalem grew in power, population and area. Expansion outside the original city saw the construction of a new outer city wall adding to the circle of fortification, which included the new suburbs. In Paul’s time, Jerusalem, then under Roman control, was the largest urban centre in the region; the hub of commerce throughout Asia Minor, and trade with distant lands like Britain and Spain.
The thing, which sets Jerusalem apart, is its history. Long before Israel arrived it was an Egyptian outpost during the reign of Akhnaten c.1450BC. As a trading centre, Jerusalem has seen a variety of peoples pass through (or stay) at some time or other. It was also a city of religious diversity; the worship of many ancient deities, the rise of diverse theologies, the birth of Talmudism, and the circumcision of the Son of Man all took place there. Christianity, Judaism and Islam, each claim Jerusalem as a place of religious significance. It is now the Capital of the Jewish State and currently has no official religion.
The view held that the Jewish Capital will become New Jerusalem, literally Heaven on Earth, is unsound. There is no basis in Scripture Jesus will return to Earth in human form to rule for any period of time. He is calling us to Him; it is not the other way round. To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God: (Rev 2:7)
These and similar ideas about New Jerusalem, and a few other distractions, began to see the light of day around the time the ‘pre’ and ‘post’ millennial conversation entered the church. It was the beginning of a serious decline, resulting in more schisms and the arrival of replacement theology, this in turn seeing a further reduction of apostolic teaching and Biblical truth.
For example, New Jerusalem is mentioned only twice in the Bible. The word ‘antichrist’ is seen only four times, yet these terms have taken on more misunderstanding than almost anything else in the Holy Book. The terms ‘rapture’ and ‘trinity’ are not even in it, and now dominate church teaching. We seem to have an innate capacity to dream up all sorts of imaginary things when it comes to the Bible, including all the views on New Jerusalem, none of which are correct.
New Jerusalem is a personal spiritual journey.
We are helped on our way by the Apostles and Spirit of Prophesy. Through the inspiration of His Holy Spirit, Jesus gave both the Old and New Testament writers a lighted path for us to follow. He has supplied us with the tools necessary, including our faith given by His Grace. Everything we need is in the volume He lovingly prepared for us. It is now down to us what we do with it.
And while it is our personal journey of faith, its beginning is with Jacob, Rachael and Leah. It is here we find clues and some answers to the gates, walls and foundation of New Jerusalem. We also discover why the Tribes of Israel set camp the way they did, and why they travelled in a particular way. When we begin to see the meaning in all this, then John’s great vision will begin to make a lot more sense. In part two we will open the Gates to New Jerusalem and look at what Jesus and the Apostles said about them.
Peace and love as always,
James