Yes, according to the Bible not only does the future hold place for a “new heaven” and a “new earth” … but also a new and holy City, one called “Jerusalem!” Let me prove the point: “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. And I John saw the holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1-2
Today we focus on verse 2, having spoken of verse 1 yesterday. “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 Book of Revelation once earlier mentioned this unique Place. The Church at Philadelphia is promised: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is NEW JERUSALEM, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Revelation 3:12, the City of God!
I believe this is a “holy” city (spelled “agios” but pronounced “hag-ee-os” with the accent on the first syllable) because God is there! Way back in Ezekiel 48:35 we get a preview: “And the name of the CITY from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.” A translation of the Hebrew words “Jehovah Shammah.”
Furthermore, looks to me like this City is real, literal, one of God’s new creations! The Greek noun for “city” is “polis,” which may be derived from “polus,” their word for “many.” Indicating a populated place, not a lonely off-the-road single unit house.
We will be TOGETEHR as Believers in Jesus, for all eternity!
Why not just call this place “Heaven?”
The Name/Title God has given it reveals His love for the City of Jerusalem proper. The Old Testament is replete with hints of God’s delight in the City. Like His promise in Psalm 122:6. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Not to mention Jesus’ New Testament Lament over the City, because of her sins. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37
The verb “prepared” is “etoimazo.” meaning “made ready!” Its construction now complete! God apparently is still a Builder, folks.
The City being compared to a “Bride” (in Greek “numphe,” taken from “nupto,” meaning “to marry”) hints at her future inhabitants. The Bride of Christ, the Church, the family of God! Technically, the New Testament Church! All who are Blood-washed since Calvary, Jew or Gentile. Yet I do suspect there will be Jews (recently Born-again, at Jesus’ Second Coming) living on the New Earth.
The “Bride” connotation suggests love and peace and harmony and respect continually.
The verb “adorned” is “kosmeo,” meaning “arranged, put in order, garnished, trimmed!” Its noun, “kosmos,” means “world” in the new Testament. And its root verb is probably “komizo,” suggesting “love, care, provision.”
Sort of a “Heaven come to earth” kind of picture here!
Now later in the chapter (Revelation 21) a fuller description of this City will be given. More about it then, of course.
Should I die today, I will immediately be “taken” to the Heaven I’ve heard about all my life. “Absent from the body … present with the Lord” (Second Corinthians 5:8) Also called the “Third Heaven” by Paul in Second Corinthians 12:12. But after the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus to earth … I believe we will be residents/citizens of this “New Jerusalem.”
Eternally so.
Again, we will “stick” with our chapter, a new verse each day, and watch Truth unfold before our very eyes!
Heaven, what a Place!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell