JerUSAlem Old and New
The word "Jerusalem" appears in the Bible 767 times; 626 times in the Old Testament and 141 in the New Testament (including "new Jerusalem)." Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the capital city of Israel. It is located in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is home to iconic religious sites, and is the place of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
Psalms 125:2 - “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.”
What is the "new Jerusalem?"
God gave the apostle John a vision of the new Jerusalem, which is the church of God in its new and perfect state -- the church triumphant. Modern religion often refers to "church" as if it were a building or place of worship, but the "church" is God's people, the spiritually-born believers (saints). The Bible calls "church" the "bride of Christ" and likens it to "a bride adorned for her husband."
Revelation 21:1-2 – “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. 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."
Christ makes all things new!
Revelation 21:5 - “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
The new heaven and the new earth will not be separate from each other. Just imagine, in new Jerusalem: God will dwell with His people forever, saints will be in their glorified bodies, and the "old" world full of its trials and troubles will have "passed away." There will be no sea, which represents freedom from whatever might divide the saints; every barrier between Creator and creation is permanently removed.
God's people will rejoice in this holy city full of perfect happiness in the presence of God and the Lamb! No more tears, no more death, sorrow, pain or crying.
Revelation 21:3 - "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
"John saw a city that could not be hidden;
John caught a glimpse of the golden throne.
I want to go to that city he saw …
New Jerusalem.
John saw the lion lay down by the lamb;
And he saw the saints worship the great I AM,
Crying worthy, worthy is The Lamb!
I want to go to that city he saw …
New Jerusalem."
~ Lyrics by Paula StefanovichThe new JerUSAlem appears after the final judgment, and represents God's redemptive plan where heaven and earth unite, demonstrating God's sovereignty over history. Born-again believers will inherit a city beyond imagination!
God's holy city will be inhabited only by those who are saved by the blood of the Lamb and have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Don’t delay! Carpe diem!
Did you notice the letters ‘U-S-A’ are in the word ‘JerUSAlem (God’s holy city)? USA, the nation ‘Under God'.
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