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The New Jerusalem, How ‘New’ Is It?

Is it a City made of "Spirit", a "Physical" City of bricks and mortar, or a "Spiritual" City?

Revelation 21:2 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 3:12 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.

Let’s dissect this verse 12 of Revelation 3 a bit. The ‘him’ has to ‘overcome’ something in order to be made a ‘pillar’ (a prop or support) in the temple of “my God”. The “my God” must be the ‘Father’, as it is the Son of Man speaking. So, these particular ‘overcomers’ will become main stays in the temple of the Father (God).

The “and he shall go no more out:”, just means that this ‘him’ won’t have to be separated from the Father any more. Next, this ‘Son of Man’ (Revelation 1:13) will write upon these ‘him’ the name of “my God” who is the Father. The ‘him’ will also receive the ‘name’ of the ‘city of my God’, (or in other words the Father’s city - the ‘city of God’) upon them as well. Then, finally, these ‘him’ will receive the ‘new’ name of the Son of Man, too.

So, these ‘overcomers’ receive three different names, the Father’s, the Father’s city, and the Son’s new name. But are these three different names? From many scriptures we know that the Father’s Name is YHWH.

Next, please notice what is said in this verse and what is not said, as we continue. The verse does not state that the ‘name’ of the city of God is ‘new’. Neither does it mean that the city is a “new Jerusalem”, but rather that the city Jerusalem has been refreshed.  New York City is not ‘new’, is it? It was 300 years ago, but not now. But what would you say about the city of ‘York’ in England? It is even older. However, if it were bombed in the next war and then rebuilt, it would not be ‘New’ York, but it certainly could be a new (or rebuilt) York, could it not? The same principle applies here. The city is Jerusalem that is ‘made’ new again by the habitation of God, etc. This is no different than the third name they will receive. This ‘new name’ of the Son of Man does not mean that the Son of Man is ‘new’ or completely different in form and substance somehow, does it? Rather, it is just another name to be applied to the same Son of Man at this time.

Finally, please note that the word for ‘new’ here is the Greek, “kainos” (#2537), which does not mean the same as the other Greek word for ‘new’, which is “neos” (#3501).  Kainos means fresh or recent, of a new kind, what we might say is ‘refreshed’. (Neos-the word not used, means new or recently born.) Kainos can be used as neos, but when and where it is, please check the context.

As for the ‘come down out of heaven’ part, let’s continue.

Psalms 48:1 <<A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Psalms 48:2  Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Psalms 48:3  God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

Psalms 87:3  Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

Isaiah 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. (So, it was ‘faithful’ and holy, but now it isn’t? Will it once again be holy and faithful?)

Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake; (not a resurrection, but the result of the re-gathering, notice the full context) put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

Jeremiah 31:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity (which means to ‘bring them back from captivity'); The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Foundations require terra firma to be set into. Greek for ‘foundations’ is #2310, themelios)

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (We will see if this city is spiritual or physical as we continue, if it is not yet apparent.)

Hebrews 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

In Hebrews Paul is writing to Christians. The reason so many Christians misunderstand so much of the book of Revelation is because they fail to distinguish between the destiny of a Christian and the destiny of those who survive as humans into the millennium.  The destiny of those Paul is writing to in Hebrews is to become spirit beings, and spirit beings don’t need physical entrapments.  On the other hand, fleshly humans who live into the millennium will need physical surroundings to exist.  

For example, let’s take a closer look at Hebrew 12 and notice how Paul quotes the Old Testament, but imputes things in the present time that are not a part of the original intent and are relevant only to Christians. Yet there are parallels and similarities, and rightly so with the physical nation of Israel. This is a perfect example of why Peter said that Paul’s writings are difficult to understand. Paul uses Old Testament quotes in two different ways and the reader must be alert to which one is used, otherwise the real meaning will not be understood.

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion (Zion), and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Verse 22 places Christians at Mount Zion now, AND Paul continues, to the "city" of the living God – which "is" the "heavenly" Jerusalem, also to the general assembly, which is human and physical and already in existence. It is their "registration" that is "in" heaven. The Jerusalem Paul mentioned is not the physical "city" of Jerusalem, but the "spiritual" city, which IS the PEOPLE with a new heart. "Heavenly" here is an adjective, which describes the "nature" and not the "location" of this "Jerusalem". This is all figurative for those with new hearts, just like the new Jerusalem in Revelation, Isaiah, etc. We are not at Mount Zion, literally, and neither were those that this epistle was written to. They were not even "in" Jerusalem, but they are still the "heavenly" Jerusalem. The "heavenly" Jerusalem IS the PEOPLE and the new Jerusalem IS the PEOPLE, too. Just a different set of people at a different time, but for a very similar reason. 

Notice the use of "heavenly" elsewhere.

In Hebrews 3:1 we see that they were partakers of a "heavenly" calling, but where were they? Right here on earth the whole time.

In John 3:12 "Heavenly" things are things that effect those on the earth, just as do earthly things. This is not about "location", but about a new heart, just as the new Jerusalem is about the new heart of those who ARE the "city".

Paul, continues in Hebrews 12 to apply Old Testament quotes to Christians in a way not a part of the Old Testament purpose. He does so with the "shaking". So, when He "shakes" the world yet once more Paul is using the Haggai scripture (also Joel) to show that this refers to the demise of the stony heart and introduction of the new one for the Christian. Paul did not change the OT meaning of the original, but modified, or "adapted", the quote for the Body of Christ. Haggai and Joel, etc., will still be fulfilled as originally intended.

Finally, as to the point raised earlier that the "city" IS the "people" let’s look at:

Isaiah 62:1 ¶ For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. (Remember that this is all about the city of Jerusalem, right? Just for the sake of following the context let me simply ask you to use Jerusalem for the moment and please temporarily ignore Zion. The whole "context" is Jerusalem. Everything described herein is to or about the city, isn’t it? Possessive cases are all from the perspective of Jerusalem, aren’t they? In other words "Thy crown of glory … , the "Thy" is Jerusalem, ok? Now, insert Jerusalem [or Jerusalem’s – possessive, whichever fits in English], into every "thy" & "thou" & "thee" & "thine" and read it that way, and let’s see how this reads now. This way we cannot lose the all important literal "context"!),

3 Thou (Jerusalem is a "crown") shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem (as in the various precious stones of the new Jerusalem?) in the hand of thy God.

4 Thou (Jerusalem) shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy (Jerusalem’s "land") land any more be termed Desolate: but thou (Jerusalem) shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy (Jerusalem’s) land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. (Notice the marriage talk, much like a "bride adorned for her husband"?)

6 ¶ I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

8 The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

9 But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

10 ¶ Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. (Verse 12 connects the "city" to the "people". Thus, God is really speaking to the "people" who are the "city", just as in Revelation 21.)

Revelation 21:10   And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, (I thought it was a ‘new’ city, but here it says holy? Hmmm…How many "holy cities of Jerusalem are there?)

Galatians 4:25   For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (Perhaps we could say that the ‘heavenly’ Jerusalem is not in bondage, but what “is” the bondage, and what removes it?)

Galatians 4:26   But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (What makes this Jerusalem ‘free’ and our Mother? Perhaps Paul can clear that up for us in Galatians 4. Is it not that the thing that makes one Jerusalem in ‘bondage’ and the other Jerusalem ‘free’ the difference between the ‘Old Covenant’ and the ‘New Covenant’?! Doesn’t this also show that the ‘church’, ekklesia, is still looking for the New Covenant to come, too?)

Revelation 19:7   Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (This verse uses a word that implies a translation to ‘wife’ and not a woman.)

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (These saints are not the ‘church’, of course, but the same saints that will live in the new Jerusalem and rest of Israel. For a fuller look into this please see The Time After Jacob’s Trouble. They are living, breathing humans.)

Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (If ‘thy Maker’ is the husband, who do you think is the ‘wife’, or ‘bride’?)

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (So, could we say that to be adorned as a bride prepared for her husband, is the same as being clothed with the garments of salvation, or the robe of righteousness?)

Isaiah 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah (#1166, married): for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married (#1166). (Notice the context here, God is speaking to the ‘land’ of Israel, but isn’t it really directed to Israel itself?)

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (This does not make the ‘church’ the bride, as Paul is only speaking of the church in the terms that the Jews were familiar with from the Old Testament where Israel was to marry their God. Notice that it is ‘Paul” who does the ‘espousing’ here, not God or Jesus. Paul is simply being expressive with the language as he paints a picture for the Corinthians with words of images he has grown up with all his life. The non-Israelite or non-Jew Corinthians knew nothing about the marriage of Israel to the God of Israel, but we do, so if we misunderstand this what is our excuse?)

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed (ananeoo, #3501- neos & #303) in the spirit of your mind; 24)  And that ye put on the new (kainos) man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. (Notice that the ‘renewed’ (refreshed) “new” man is still a human, but with a change of attitude or heart, so to speak. This is the exact same application that ought to be applied to the ‘new Jerusalem’! Yet many refuse to see this and ignore it in order to promote themselves as the ‘church’ in place of the proper recipient.)

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish… 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (For many it continues to be a great mystery because they have placed the church into territory that it neither deserves nor belongs.)

Thus, we can hopefully now see that the ‘new Jerusalem’ of Revelation fame is the Jerusalem of old with a change of heart as the result of the full implementation of the New Covenant. It is not a "spirit" city coming from outer space to this earth. It is not a "physical" city coming down from outer space. It is a revitalized and reborn city where God is the center of its attention and the way the people in it think. It is populated with living breathing humans who are Israelites and now more "spiritual" in nature than ever in history. Just as God has decreed in so many scriptures. This article contains only a brief few of the many scriptures on this subject. The "new Jerusalem" is the "spiritual" city of Israel. 

Many people who read the Bible have never realized that much of what is written in what is known as the ‘New Testament’ is comprised of direct and indirect quotes from the Hebrew scriptures commonly referred to as the Old Testament. Enormous quantities of New Testament scripture aren’t ‘new’ at all. We find that in the book of Revelation alone there are 285 references and quotes from the ‘old’ Hebrew scriptures of God! Actually, even the doctrine (teaching) of Christ Jesus is primarily based on the Hebrew scriptures. When Jesus taught His disciples about who He was and where He came from, He used the Hebrew scriptures to do so. Even the early Christian church functioned solely on and with the Hebrew ‘Old Testament’. Only then it wasn’t ‘old’. Today, many people think it is ‘old’ and therefore out dated, but the ‘new’ addition reminds us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16. We might recall that when this ‘scripture’ was written, the ‘only’ scripture available for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness was the “Old Testament” scripture. 

For those who would like to believe that the ‘city of our God’ is not a physical city with physical humans, but with a "new" heart, we only ask that they consider the roots of the book of Revelation and the language in which it is presented. John used figurative language to paint a picture for all future generations that would have the opportunity to read this book. For example the ‘locusts’ of Revelation 8 are not really locusts. How do we know this?  Because locusts eat green things, but here they are told to not hurt green things, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their forehead. Also, don’t forget the description of the locusts; that just doesn’t describe the insect we know as a locust. John is simply using what he is familiar with to describe what was unfamiliar to him. The exact same principle applies to the understanding about the ‘new Jerusalem’. The prophets of old had written about a Jerusalem to come that would be faithful and righteous. The Jerusalem in John’s day certainly was neither, but when John went to write about the Jerusalem he saw in vision, the same one that so many other prophets had written of, he used even more colorful language.  The prophets of old had no such opportunity to “see” what the new Jerusalem would look like and therefore described it in a more ‘down to earth’ fashion. Yet John was privileged to see it in person while he was in vision. Nevertheless, be assured, they all described the very same ‘new Jerusalem’! 

So, when it comes to the ‘pearly gates’ of the city, or the enormous size, including the supposedly 1,500 mile height of it, let us remember the words of those other prophets of God. This "new Jerusalem" is not for resurrected Christians, but rather for those living and breathing people of the ancient nation of Israel who live into the wonderful world tomorrow. All these things, the stones, the gold, the dimensions, symbolize the beautiful perfection and magnitude finally established in this ancient city and this holy mountain, or perhaps more accurately stated, in the circumcised hearts of this ancient people and nation of Israel under the new covenant, where the God of Israel, our God, has determined to dwell forever.

Now that one has had the opportunity to consider these scriptures in the light and perspective of the prophets of old as well as the prophets of new, you may reconsider it in a whole different way. For those who may wonder about just who are the nations of Israel today please see the article, The United States and Britain  in Prophecy elsewhere on this website.

Let’s go forward in our study of God’s Word and worship Him in the proper Spirit and in the Truth. Remember, “Let God be true and every man a liar”. Let’s believe God and not our traditions. Amen.

Richard L. Fix

January 2003

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