Jerusalem the "New"

In an earlier discussion, we went over some examples of the nicknames in Revelation given to unfaithful Jerusalem. The unfaithful Jerusalem of the 1st century had rejected Jesus as king (John 19:15). The parable of the wicked tenants (Luke 20:9-19) was a summary teaching by Jesus of how the prophets had been sent ahead of the messiah, yet they and the messiah were rejected. This parable was so pointed that the teachers of the law and chief priests began to "look for a way to arrest him immediately because they knew he had spoken this parable against them" (Luke 20:19). 

Jerusalem the old was a Sodom (Rev 11:8), an Egypt (Rev 11:8), a Babylon (Rev 14:8, 16:19, 17:5, 18:2, 18:10, 18:21). As Sodom was overrun by evil, so too was Jerusalem. As Egypt was an oppressor of God's people, so too was Jerusalem. As Babylon was self-righteous and proud, so too was Jerusalem. Jerusalem was unfaithful to God, having had every opportunity to return to the Lord yet choosing to continue in rebellion. Therefore, Jerusalem the old was fully warned of judgment, entirely given chance to repent, and then fully rejected that chance and thereby received judgment in 70 A.D. 

The "old" Jerusalem was the place given many nicknames. It was the historic city home to the Jewish leadership that crucified the Lord Jesus. While it was supposed to be the epicenter of loyalty to the One true God, it became the place of execution for the Son of God. The "new" Jerusalem is something different from the historic city of the 1st century. What the "old" Jerusalem could and should have been, is what the "new " Jerusalem would certainly be. 

With old Jerusalem's downfall squarely in view in Revelation 18 and 19 the question then arises: Why does Revelation then talk about a "New" Jerusalem?

While the book of Revelation has many nicknames for the unfaithful "old" Jerusalem, there are a few times Jerusalem is mentioned with great excitement and goodness. A fascinating feature of Revelation is how Jerusalem is explicitly named. The 1st century historic Jerusalem is always referred to via symbolic nicknames. A"new" Jerusalem is mentioned by name explicitly 3 times in Revelation (3:12, 21:2, 21:10). 

The reason I keep calling Jerusalem either "old" or "new" is because this is how the text of Revelation speaks of Jerusalem. The first time Jerusalem is mentioned by name in the book of Revelation it is accompanied by the word "new" (τῆς καινῆς Ἰερουσαλήμ):

Revelation 3:12 (ESV): The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

This "new" Jerusalem originates from God. This "new" city has as its founder none other than the Almighty. The name of the city is "my own new name". The speaker in Revelation 3:12 is the resurrected Lord. This is Jesus, speaking of a new city, which has its beginnings from God, whose citizens will be those who conquer. Those who conquer are those who have kept Christ's word and not denied his name (Revelation 3:8). 

We begin to see in this first citation of the "new" Jerusalem that it is a group of people who are loyal to Christ. They are a special people who are given a unique name from Christ. Together, they form a group of people established by God. We begin to see how this "new" Jerusalem is not primarily about a geographic space, but is primarily about a particular people. 

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) 

While the old Jerusalem was a historic city, this new Jerusalem is known as the "Holy City". Jerusalem was frequently referred to as the "holy city" throughout the Old Testament. And while the historic Jerusalem was faithful to God, it was the holy city. It was a dwelling of people set apart for the purpose of worship for the One true God. It was a crowning pinnacle of human thriving as a example of blessing from God. Historic Jerusalem ceased to be the holy city as it rejected the prophets and the messiah. This is one of the reasons why the book of Revelation (and many of the Old Testament prophets) directs such bold language of marital unfaithfulness towards historic "old" Jerusalem. When Jerusalem was unfaithful to God, it was behaving like an unfaithful spouse. 

This "new" Jerusalem however is set apart and holy. It is special in it's unique position as being founded by God. It is special in it's unique relationship as a bride. The imagery of marriage cannot be disassociated from the discussion about the New Jerusalem. Faithful love between two parties is the word picture used to describe the New Jerusalem. While the old Jerusalem was like an unfaithful spouse, the new Jerusalem is a gloriously adorned bride. With the old, unfaithful spouse set aside via lawful, rightful divorce, a new spouse prepared by God is made ready for her nuptials:

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:9-10)

The city of New Jerusalem is a people, established by God, set apart for the everlasting delight of the Lamb. This is an apocalyptic wedding, pointing to the glorification of the church in the final return and consummate union with Christ. 

A few quick words of encouragement regarding "New Jerusalem". 

1. Believers in Christ do not need to look for a future city of geographic space on earth. There is no new physical temple Christians need to look to being built. Believers are the new temple, and the New Testament speaks of the building of a new Temple when it speaks of the people of God. 

2. Believers in Christ can truly take hold of hope that eternal delight is the end-product of this great union with Christ. It's no accident that wedding language is the word-picture given through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Fulfillment, completion, happiness, delight, companionship, satisfaction, these are all mixed into the hopes of two willing and excited people entering into marriage. We, who are in Christ, have eternal joy awaiting us in the final consummation of the union between the Lamb and his bride. 

3. A hallmark of those included in "New" Jerusalem is conquest. Victory over sin is achieved only through faith in the Lamb. The victorious Christian life is lived out not in the accumulation of material wealth, nor in the absence of present suffering. The victorious Christian life is often lived out in the midst of material lack, and the abundance of present suffering. Victory over sin and temptation is found as we follow the Lord. In every aspect of our lives, as we grow in long-suffering patience, compassion, peace, goodness, gentleness, mercy, and righteousness, we are experiencing the conquest of Christ over sin in our lives. We should not expect to live perfectly without sin on our way to eternity in "New" Jerusalem. We should expect to see growth, maturity, and progress as the work of Christ in us claims victory of sin. It is only when we are in the presence of the Lord that we will fully realize that glorious state of rest wherein the only thing we experience, is the total, complete, comprehensive rest from sin, it's effects, and death. 

The description of the New Jerusalem in eternity and en route to eternity is one to find comfort. 

"22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:1-5)

Oh, what a day it will be! To be face to face with our Lord and Master! Until that time, let us fight the good fight, and persevere clinging to the Lamb who we will spend eternity with.