In the Book of Revelation we are told about a new Jerusalem that would replace old Jerusalem which has stood since the days of Abraham and Melchisedec.  That same Jerusalem has passed through alternate stages of holiness and evil, brilliance and depravity over the centuries.  Today her streets are covered with litter and filth.  Feral cats chase rats down liter covered streets.  Her inhabitants, having rejected their Messiah, have gone the way of the world.  In spite of this the Jews located both in Jerusalem and throughout the world, along with the other 98% of Israelites remain God’s chosen people who will one day return to Him as depicted in Ezekiel 37.  Until then this dirty, Christ-rejecting city will exist as is until it is destroyed by God’s enemies who will conquer the nation called Israel as well as her Israelite brethren known as the United States and Britain.  In spite of Jerusalem’s present physical and spiritual condition, God has promised to replace her with the largest and most beautiful city ever to exist on earth.  New Jerusalem will replace old Jerusalem and will become His universe headquarters.  New Jerusalem will cover the area God promised to the Law-obeying descendants of Abraham, along with those Gentiles who become spiritual Israelites by obeying the Law of God.  This incredible city will stretch east and west from the Euphrates River to the Nile River.  It will encompass a square area 1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide and be surrounded by walls 1500 miles high (Rev. 21:16).  From this glorious city God, Jesus and Their Very Elect saints will rule the earth and the entire universe for ever.  The sights now being seen through the Webb telescope will be the domain of God’s saints who will be able to travel into the far galaxies that not even the Webb telescope can see.  We are told that the whole of creation “groans” in anticipation of seeing the manifested of the sons of God in their born again bodies who will be the caretakers of all that God has created (Rom. 8:19).

Beginning with verse one of Revelation 21 John tells us what he saw in the vision that is the Book of Revelation.  In the vision other particulars of this incredible city are stated.  All things, God told him, would be made new.  As John watched in awe he saw heaven and earth pass away and a new heaven and new earth materialize, followed by the arrival of the holy city, new Jerusalem which descended down from heaven in all of her majesty.  Then a voice came from heaven telling him that, following the arrival of new Jerusalem, God would live among His holy saints.  They would be His people and He would be their God.  Those Words, He declared, were faithful and true.

New Jerusalem, John’s vision tells us, has several outstanding characteristics.  The city will be filled with the glory of God so that there will be no need for the sun or the moon.  There will be no darkness there because God will be the light of it (Rev. 22:5).  The wall surrounding the city will have twelve gates made of pearls on which will be written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.  The foundation of the wall will consist of twelve types of precious stones.  On the wall will be written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  The wall will be made of jasper and the city itself will be pure gold as clear as glass.  From their headquarters in new Jerusalem God’s servants “will reign for ever and ever” over the universe (22:5).  This is a promise from God.  Second Corinthians 1:20 tells us: “For all the promises of God are in Him (Christ) are yea (yes) and in Him, amen (the truth, a certainty).  Note that for the promises to be granted, one must be IN CHRIST, meaning in obedience to Him.  Note that Paul “in Him” twice.

Those who will have been saved during the millennium will occupy the earth outside of new Jerusalem where those who obeyed God during their earthly lives (first resurrection saints) will live.  Those who will be raised up in the second resurrection and who embrace God during the millennium will live normal lives and will visit new Jerusalem from time to time.  The kings of the nations will bring their treasures into the city (21:22-24,26).  Read The Three Resurrections.  Key word–Three.  God’s throne will be in the city.  His servants will see Him and will serve him.  His name will be written on their foreheads (22:3,4).

Now let us turn back to the 21st chapter of Revelation beginning with verse six.  Here God tells us that He is Alpha and Omega–the beginning and the end.  He vows to give to him that thirsts (for righteousness–Mat. 5:6) the fountain of (eternal) life freely.  He who overcomes (Satan) will inherit all things (the whole of creation–see Rom. 8:19) and will sit with Christ on His throne (Rev. 3:21).  God will be His God and he will be God’s son.

Then in verse eight He says that the UNBELIEVING and all other sinners will burn in the Lake of Fire.  Please read the Introduction to this website and study the list of church “truths” that are the exact opposite of what God tells us in His
Word.  Those who believe or practice one or more of those Satanic lies will, as God Himself said in verse eight, “… burn in the lake of fire.”  This, God tells us, is the second death.  L.J.