NEW HEAVEN/NEW EARTH - THE ETERNAL HOME OF EVERY SAVED BELIEVER IN CHRIST JESUS

[Brother-Paul]

NEW HEAVEN/NEW EARTH - THE ETERNAL HOME OF EVERY SAVED BELIEVER IN CHRIST JESUS

HEAVEN – THE ETERNAL HOME OF EVERY SAVED BELIEVER IN CHRIST JESUS

we are told was in the first garden and will be in our new Heaven/New Earth, it will come down out of the We have so far discussed the ‘CURRENT HEAVEN’ which is the temporary heaven, the place saved believers go prior to Our Lord’s Return in Glory when he will defeat the devil and create the New Heaven/New Earth for us to be with Him in our new resurrected bodies.

We now start a new thread, so as to not mix the Current Heaven with our Eternal Home

For those who want to find out more about the Current Heaven, where saved loves ones go up to Christ’s Return in Glory, where we will go if we experience the first death this side of Christ’s Return, here is the link >>> THE CURRENT HEAVEN

Paradise was lost when Eve and Adam sinned, they were banished from the Garden of Eden, removed from Paradise with God. But, Paradise will be regained, renewed, restored and that is where every saved believer will go to, those in the Current Heaven now, and those on earth now who are saved right up to Christ’s Return in Glory.

Let us start our journey by reading Revelation 21 and Rev 22:1-5

We have something special very special to look forward to.

Will it be Paradise regained, like Adam and Eve were in yes and no, it will be far better than what Adam and Eve experienced prior to the fall.

God created and gave them the Garden of Eden, it included many things, all listed in the Bible for us, one of the items was the Tree of Life, which is now in the Current Heaven with the New Jerusalem ready for when Christ returns, and defeats the devil and makes all things new. What a sight it will be, the New Jerusalem will be over 1400 miles long, over 1400 miles wide, over 1400 miles high, our minds cannot fully visualise what the New Jerusalem will be really like, especially the height, but scripture 'has a lot of clues' for us to read and to share together. Please do take part, please do share what you see, from scripture, what our New Home will be like with our Lord and our new resurrected bodies. How different do you think it will be, please use scripture to confirm and please do add the translated Bible version you are quoting from.

Revelation 21 New King James Version (NKJV)

All Things Made New

21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

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

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

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

11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The River of Life
22:1 And he showed me a [a]pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Verses 6-21 of Chapter 22 left out at this stage whilst we look at what the Eternal Heaven will be like for all Saved believers.

Please share what you see, what you read, in the above and all scriptures, allowing the Holy Spirit to lift our spirits,

WHAT IS THE NEW HEAVEN/NEW EARTH GOING TO BE LIKE FOR ALL SAVED BELIEVERS IN CHRIST?

 

[Brother-Paul]

The first thing we should consider, after Christ returns and defeats the devil is, the New Heaven/New Earth, which will be created/restored/made new, just before we receive our resurrected bodies.

The question we should therefore ask is, will the current earth be totally destroyed by fire and a new one made, or will the current earth be purified from sin and the curse and restored to its original glory?

Please include scripture and Bible version to confirm your views/understanding, there are as we know different views on this subject, but it is important, is it not, to consider what happens as it is to be our New Eternal Home. Then we can look into what it will be like for all saved believers with our new resurrected bodies.

Blessings

 

[Hekuran]

Romans 8 talks of creation awaiting its release from the bondage to decay, and the end of Revelation "behold, I am making all new things new".

We can't discount the passages about being burned up by fire - I think that the best way to read them is to think of a refining fire. All the dross, wickedness and stains of sin will be destroyed, leaving what is pure and lasting, as God originally intended his creation to be.

That fits with the teaching on our resurrection bodies - they will be our bodies, somehow glorified and made new.

 

[Kathleen F.]

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is very important, to the Child of God! As we wait for the Glorious Appearing of our Lord Jesus, in the Clouds of Glory!

 

[Brother-Paul]

Romans 8 talks of creation awaiting its release from the bondage to decay, and the end of Revelation "behold, I am making all new things new".

We can't discount the passages about being burned up by fire - I think that the best way to read them is to think of a refining fire. All the dross, wickedness and stains of sin will be destroyed, leaving what is pure and lasting, as God originally intended his creation to be.

That fits with the teaching on our resurrection bodies - they will be our bodies, somehow glorified and made new.

@Hekuran & ALL

The question I guess is, is everything destroyed by fire and made new, or is everything destroyed by fire as a refining fire, 'through Christ' all things are made new.

Made new as in restored? Or made new as totally new?

Looking at a few scriptures we have... (please add others you may know of.

Here it refers to PERISH but we saved believers will endure.

Psalm 102:25-26 (NKJV)
25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.

Here is refers to PASS AWAY

Luke 21:33 (NKJV)
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Revelation 21:1 (NKJV)
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.


But there also verses that do not say everything will be perish or pass away


Important message from the prophet Isaiah I think, the former shall not come to mind or be remembered any more. But the New Heaven/New Earth is created before we are given Resurrected bodies.

Isaiah 65:17 (NKJV)
17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

Hebrews talks of a second shaking of the earth, only this time the Heavens and the earth will be shaken. Our Kingdom cannot be shaken, because God is our consuming fire! But only the things shakeable shall be shaken, earthly, worldly things, sin and the curse and the unbelievers. Does this not point to shaking everything not acceptable in God's eyes and restoring the Heaven and Earth?

Hebrews 12:25-29 (NKJV)
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,
26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven."
27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire

Here in Peter we have the word dissolved, the heavens are dissolved, earth not mentioned, but we look forward, according to His Promise, for New Heavens and New earth

2 Peter 3:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Everything in the heavens will be dissolved,
Heaven 2 outer space - man, satellites, etc, being on fire, and will melt with fervent heat.
Heaven 1 our atmosphere - anything in the sky - WAR!

The Heavens and Earth will be shaken, as all ungodly things are burned by fire, perish, pass away.

My thoughts are that the New Heaven/New earth will be made new, not totally destroyed.

What are your views, based on scripture, please include verses and Bible translations as it helps us compare scriptures together.

Blessings

 

[Brother-Paul]

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is very important, to the Child of God! As we wait for the Glorious Appearing of our Lord Jesus, in the Clouds of Glory!

It sure is @Kathleen F.

We have looked at the Current Heaven and discussed what we can know about the place we all go if we die this side of our Lord's Return in Glory for the 'ekkesia' His Church, His Bride. This was discussed in another post so as not to mix the differences between the Current Heaven and The New Heaven/New Earth.

We are now starting to move into this exciting area, our new eternal home, but before we do we are looking at what scripture says, after His Return and defeating the devil, the New Earth/New Earth, was is created, was it made new, was it restored. Some think everything will be burned and everything will be brand new, others believe what is not acceptable to God, sin, the curse, those who refuse to believe, items in this world polluted by sin and the curse, is it just them that are shaken and burnt up, and the New Earth and heavens made new from the old.

We all have our thoughts on this, some may have been preached to us, but what we are looking at here is 'what does scripture say' about this.

Bless you

 

[Brother-Paul]

Will anything of this world go through to the New Heaven?

We know that everything will be tested by fire.

We are not old that wood, hay and straw will be in heaven, but scripture does quote of precious items gold, pearls stones of all kinds, they must come through the fire as they are on earth and will be on the New Earth.

1 Corinthians 3:9-17 (NKJV)
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Rev 21:18-21 (NKJV)
18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

SAVED SOULS

Daniel 12:10 (NKJV)
10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

Will the earth whole cosmos be removed and replaced? Although some scriptures might seem to suggest this, there are lots of verses that talk of 'regeneration' and 'renewal' not just by being born-again.

Matthew 19:28 (NKJV)
28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

I personally cannot accept, in my heart, that the earth and heavens will be totally replaced, renewed. Surely God would not destroy all that he made and said was good. It is sin that has polluted this earth. Will he not, make all things new from what he already made, purging and purifying by fire and judgement. So when we read of the New Heaven/New Earth this is not a replacement but what already is cleansed, purified and made new. I remember reading somewhere that someone said, if God was to destroy the earth and the heavens and start again, surely the devil will feel he has won!

Therefore the passing away mentioned in Rev 21:1 and 2 Peter 3:10 surely means the old has passed away, the old sin, wickedness and the curse. These items and everything polluted will be burned up with fervent heat. This will no doubt include the evil things in the final battle, at Christ's Return. The military killing machines, the bombs, everything sinFULL.

2 Peter 3:10
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Whole creation groaneth in pain together, including us, waiting for the redemption of our body, the hope we have in Christ for our redeemed glorious bodies, on a redeemed restored new earth with Jesus our precious Lord and Saviour.

Romans 8:19-25
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth?
25 But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Saved believers and the restored new earth and heavens, our new home for Eternity. How wonderful will that be?

Everything being Raised, Restored, Renewed to new life.

 

[Brother-Paul]

What will the New Heaven/New Earth will be like?

Starting at the beginning, the devil has been defeated, the New Heaven/New Earth has been restored and made new.

The New Jerusalem has come down from Heaven.

What are we told about the New Jerusalem on the New Earth?

Please include scripture verses and the Bible translation you are quoting from.

 

[Brother-Paul]

The first reference in scripture for the New Jerusalem is...

Revelation 3:12 (NKJV)
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more.
And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.
And I will write on him My new name.

The second and only other reference is...

Revelation 21:2 (NKJV)
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Each time the Bible mentions New Jerusalem, it is said to come down from heaven, where angels guard the city’s gates.

Rev 3:12 & Rev 21:2 above,

Revelation 21:10 (NKJV)
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The New Jerusalem, the Great city is Large! 1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide and 1500 miles high!

Revelation 21:16 (NKJV)
16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

It is estimated that the distance from sea level to the atmosphere is around 100 kilometres, that is approximately 62 miles. This seems to say that the New Jerusalem that comes down from the current heaven is over 1400 miles above our atmosphere. We can visualise the length and width but the height is beyond comprehension.

Israel is 263 miles north to south and 71 miles wide at the widest point. The New Jerusalem is huge.

Don't let anyone tell us that very few people go to Heaven, Jesus said, My Fathers house has many mansions, many room, Saved souls from all generations will be in this massive city. Wow!

The New Jerusalem is called the Bride, the Lamb's wife. It is the one True Church, the ekkesia.

Revelation 21:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

It is built on the foundation of the Apostles.

Revelation 21:14 (NKJV)
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Continued

Revelation 21:13-15 (NKJV)
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

The New Jerusalem, the Holy City, that will come down from Heaven to earth, is 1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide, and is square.

It has three gates on the east, north, south and west sides.

The eternal city is not only the home of the bride; it is the bride!
A city is not buildings; it is people.
The city John saw was holy and heavenly; in fact, it descended to earth from heaven, where it was prepared.

John's description staggers the imagination, even accepting the fact that a great deal of symbolism is involved.

Heaven is a real place of glory and beauty, the perfect home for the Lamb's bride, the One True Church the ekklesia.

The city's description follows the pattern John's readers were familiar with: foundations, walls, and gates.

The walls and gates speak of protection. God's people will never have to fear any enemies.

Revelation 21:18 (NKJV)
18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

The foundations speak of permanence, in contrast to the tents in which "pilgrims and strangers" lived (Heb. 11:8-10).

As we know, building foundations are usually underground, but these foundations will be visible and will be garnished with precious stones.
Each separate foundation will have its own jewel, and the blending of the colours will be magnificent as God's light shines through.

Revelation 21:21 (NKJV)
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Revelation 21:19-20 (NKJV)
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
The walls and gates speak of protection. God's people will never have to fear any enemies.

There is No Temple in the New Holy City because, The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple.

What a picture we are seeing, no wonder John was in awe. No sun or moon because the Glory of God illuminated the city, The Lamb of God is the Light.

Revelation 21:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

The twelve gates in the four walls of the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, will not shut it's gates, imagine the light shining from this magnificent place.

There will be angels at each gate which seems quite strange, why are they guarding the gates?

Revelation 21:12 (NKJV)
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates

Because only the save, whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life, that is us, every saved believer, only those whose name is in the book are allowed into this wonderful place God has already prepared for us.

Revelation 21:24-27 (NKJV)
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

NEXT
John allow us to see what he saw, that only Saved believers will see, the Holy City, Paradise is just waiting in heaven for us right now, it will come down to earth for us, when Christ returns in Glory, defeats the devil and makes all things new. The New Jerusalem, the Holy City, the ekklesia, the one true Church, the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, we will be allowed inside this beautiful place God has prepared for us, but only those whose name is in the Book of Life will be able and allowed to enter in.

(To be continued)

 

[Hekuran]

John's description staggers the imagination, even accepting the fact that a great deal of symbolism is involved.

I think that a helpful way to put it. Do I think the Jerusalem will be literally 1500 miles high? No. John is using symbolism to point to perfection and completeness on a scale that is beyond our imagination or even the categories of our imagination.

 

[Brother-Paul]

I think that a helpful way to put it. Do I think the Jerusalem will be literally 1500 miles high? No. John is using symbolism to point to perfection and completeness on a scale that is beyond our imagination or even the categories of our imagination.

I totally agree brother, thanks for your comments.

 

[Brother-Paul]

I am sure we all agree we will be in awe, totally amazed at the beauty and splendour of it all. We have so much to look forward to. Thanks be to God.

The Bible gives us the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, from Genesis to Revelation, from creation of the first church, Adam and Eve with God, to the created, newly restored, New Heaven/New earth. Between these two stages mankind messed up, polluted and damaged what God had created for us, God the Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord restores it all to become even more beautiful than it first was.

All good books have a beginning and an end, with a story in between. The Bible has an amazing beginning, an even more amazing end, and between is the greatest love story ever written.

The first picture God gives us in Genesis, is in the Garden of Eden, and in the garden there are four elements. At the end of the Bible we are given this amazing picture of The New Jerusalem, again there are four particular elements, which are the reflection of the four elements found in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden.

These can be read in Genesis 2:8-14, Genesis 2:18-24 and in Revelation Rev 21:1 to Rev 22:2 and are briefly covered below.

1 - Genesis - We see the Tree of Life at the centre of God's Garden. Genesis 2:9. God recommended Adam should eat from this tree, by eating from the Tree of Life Adam would live forever.

1 - Revelation - At the end of the Bible we also see the Tree of Life Rev 22:2. The Tree of Life here in the New Jerusalem grows along side the River of Life, The leaves of the trees will be for healing the nations. Once again mankind we will be able to eat from the Tree of Life, and have Eternal life, but these Tree's of Life will be even better, each one will have twelve fruits, one for every month of the year. The fruit from these trees are for us, but John also says the leaves will be for healing the nations, why would the nations want healing if everything in the new Jerusalem is restored and made perfect? Could this be meant that the leaves are for healing the nations at Christ's return and making all things new, we do not know.


2 - Genesis - We see a river flowing into four heads, to reach the four directions of the earth. Genesis 2:14. God planned for the flowing rivers to flow out to all humanity. He wants the river of life to flow into every persons being and spring up as 'living waters'

2- Revelation - We see just one river, the river of The Water of Life, flowing our to reach the four directions of the earth. Revelation22:1 & Revelation 21:13. The river of The Water of Life flows from the Throne of God, in the middle of the street, then flows out to everyone from the gates on the east, north, south and west walls on the four sides of the city.


3 - Genesis - We see three kinds of precious materials. Gold, Pearls and Onyx. Genesis 2:11-12. God desires to have a building but in Genesis these precious stones are scattered and not built up.

3 - Revelation - In the New Jerusalem, in the new city, we see again three types of precious stones, Gold, Pearls and Precious stones. Revelation 21:18-21. Here though we see them built together as a beautiful city.


4 - Genesis - Here we see Adam and Eve, signifying God and His Church, Genesis 2:18-24 & Ephesians 5:22-29. It is not good for man to be alone, or for God to be alone. The Bible is very clear throughout, man an God were planned to be together, and will one day be back together, Jesus is the bridegroom who longs to be with His Church, His Bride.

4 - Revelation - The New Jerusalem, the entire city, is a couple, the bride and the bridegroom, the ekklesia and Jesus. Ephesians 2:20 says, "Having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone." Revelation 21:14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.


Revelation 22 (NKJV)
The River of Life
1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

(To be continued)

 

[B-A-C]

I think that a helpful way to put it. Do I think the Jerusalem will be literally 1500 miles high? No. John is using symbolism to point to perfection and completeness on a scale that is beyond our imagination or even the categories of our imagination.

You may be right, I don't know. But I tend to think it is a literal physical measurement.
1500 miles isn't that far, or unimaginable. I've driven that far several times. Even rode motorcycles that far. Some people ride bicycles or even walk that far.
Paul went from Jerusalem to Rome. (over 1400 miles).

The astronauts that went to he moon, went about 400,000km or 250,000 miles one way, and then came back.
However when the Bible uses physical dimensions, it usually means them in a literal sense.

 

[Brother-Paul]

You may be right, I don't know. But I tend to think it is a literal physical measurement.
1500 miles isn't that far, or unimaginable. I've driven that far several times. Even rode motorcycles that far. Some people ride bicycles or even walk that far.
Paul went from Jerusalem to Rome. (over 1400 miles).

The astronauts that went to he moon, went about 400,000km or 250,000 miles one way, and then came back.
However when the Bible uses physical dimensions, it usually means them in a literal sense.

1500 miles long and wide was not the issue I don't think brother, it was the height. That was why I earlier compared the dimensions stated with the length and breath of Israel, and then sea level to atmosphere, it was well outside.

But what we are actually being shown is the size of the New Jerusalem, on the earth. The New Jerusalem being the body of Christ, the ekklesia, with our Lord, in His Light.

We will shortly be coming to, the gates from the New Jerusalem where we will be able to come and go, go out into the world and come back to the Holy City.

I find dimensions in the Bible important, there are many examples as we know, the ark being probably the main one, it had to be built to the size God said. So looking at the New Jerusalem 1500 miles across, 1500 miles up and down we can visualise that, but 1500 miles high. Ermmm. But part of Revelation is as brother @Hekuran said is symbolic. But not all of it.

Bless you.

 

[B-A-C]

1500 miles long and wide was not the issue I don't think brother, it was the height.

The Bible doesn't normally mix metaphors. When it is speaking figuratively, that's one thing. When it is speaking literally that's another thing.
But it doesn't normally mix literal language and metaphorical language in the same passage, unless it is specifically stated.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to this very important and exciting topic.

We have been given an image of the New Jerusalem, the size, the gates on each side and which way they face, let those who think Heaven is a small place think again, over 1400 miles each way is massive.

So we have seen the New Jerusalem as John saw it, as he was told to write it down, it sure will be amazing.

We all know the verses in John's Gospel when Jesus tells us about Heaven, the verses read to believers and none believers alike. Giving those left behind false hope if the person who passed away was not born again.

John 14:1-4
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

The New Jerusalem is the Church, the bride of Christ.

Revelation 21:2 (NKJV)
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:9-14 (NKJV)
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

John says the city shines like a brilliant jewel, because God the Father and the Lamb dwell in the city, the sun and moon are pretty much pointless—there’s no night in this city.

Revelation 21:11 (NKJV)
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

Revelation 21:23 (NKJV)
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

The whole city is a study of twelves:
12 gates
12 angels at the gates
The gates feature the names of the 12 tribes of Israel
12 foundations of precious stone
The foundations feature the names of the 12 apostles
The city is 12,000 stadia long, wide, and high (that’s, like, 2.7 BILLION cubic miles)
Walls 144 cubits thick

A study of these twelve would make another interesting topic.

There is No Temple.
That's’ because Jesus and God are already dwelling openly in the city, the whole city is sacred.

Revelation 21:22 (NKJV)
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Before we move inside the city, let us note, this is the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, it is the Church, the Bride of Christ, it is God's abode, there will be no darkness 'in the city' because Jesus is the Light. No sun and no moon, 'in the city' Jesus is the Light.

Revelation 21:23 (NKJV)
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

We noticed the twelve gates, three on the East, three on the North, three on the south, three on the West, these gates are always 'open' with an angel at each gate.

John states that the nations walk by the light of this city. But he also notes that the kings of the nations bring their splendor into the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:24 (NKJV)
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

When God made all things New, He made a New Heaven and a New Earth, and the New Jerusalem which was already created in the Current Heaven, came down on to the New Earth. What is interesting is that we will not need to stay in the New Jerusalem, the 1400 mile cube with no day and night, we will be free to go in and out of the gates which the angels stand at. We will be able to explore the New Earth, without sin and the curse, without thorns and thistles, without the pollution and damage previously done by man.

So it the world is new and there is no sin and pollution, everything is made new, why are the angels guarding the twelve gates to the Holy City?

We can no doubt think of many reasons, the Holy City, the Church, the Bride of Christ is PURE, it is the angels job to guard, as they have always done. The angels have always had a job to do, God doesn't make us or them redundant, he makes things better for us. Standing guard at the gates of this beautiful and Holy place is possibly their reward, I am sure they will love every minute of it.

They are making sure nothing impure enters the New Jerusalem.

It is probably another reference to the Jewish temple.

A good deal of the Law of Moses deals with laws regarding purity—that is, how to live in a way that allows the Israelites to stay in the presence of God without being completely consumed by the intensity of his glory. As a rule, the closer you came to the living God, the purer you had to be.

Priests had to maintain high levels of purity, as they spent the most time in God’s dwelling place.

The people didn’t need to be as pure, but they still needed to abstain from certain behaviours.

John sees that in the New Jerusalem, the whole city is PURE.

(To be continued, next we enter the Holy City, then we can discuss what we think it will be like to not just be part of and within the New Jerusalem, but also what it will be like to venture out onto the New Earth.)

 

[B-A-C]

But, Paradise will be regained, renewed, restored and that is where every saved believer will go to,

There is some debate about this. Satan will be gone. He can't influence anyone anymore.
But... there are some interesting verses about whether there will still be sinners after the New Jerusalem comes down.

Rev 22:3; There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;

No longer a curse? Curse of sin? Possibly the sinful nature getting passed on through the bloodline of Adam?

Rev 22:14; Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15; Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

Who are these "dogs" (unbelievers), sorcerers (drug takers, alcoholics), immoral people (illicit sex), murderers, idolators and liars who are
outside the city?

Curse of the mortal body? If this is true, then why....

Rev 22:2; in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Ezek 47:12k "By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

Who are the people who need healing?

 

[Brother-Paul]

Those last two verses refer to inside the great city not outside. It is garden or Eden restored and made better. It is the glorious bride of Christ, His Church, within the city walls.

The river flows down from the throne of God, only one river in the new city which differs from the Garden of Eden.

 

[Brother-Paul]

At what stage does the Millennium period fit into this picture?

We have a lot to take in brother, some questions will remain until we get there, then they will not matter.