The New Jerusalem
When most people hear the phrase “New Jerusalem”, they immediately think of Revelation 3:12 and Revelation 21:2, 10. The Bible says a great deal about two Jerusalem’s, an Old Jerusalem and a New Jerusalem.
Paul the Apostle spoke of the contrast between the two Jerusalem’s in Galatians 4:22-26, 31. The Old Jerusalem signified Old Covenant Israel in bondage. The New Jerusalem was from above consisting of both Jew and Gentile.
In Galatians 4:29, Paul said the Jerusalem that now is, was the persecutor of God’s Elect, the Church. It was this persecution that Israel was filling up the measure of her sin. (Matthew 23:32-36)
She had killed the prophets and Jesus her Messiah. (1 Thessalonians 2:15) For this sin, Israel was cast out. In place of the Old Jerusalem, the Jerusalem that is “above”, that is the New Jerusalem would stand triumphant. This New Jerusalem would be identified as the City of God. (Isaiah 65:17-19)
Galatians and Revelation depict two women representing two cities. Galatians spoke of Hagar who represented the Old Jerusalem of the first century.
This Jerusalem of the first century was guilty of persecuting the seed of promise. Revelation 17:6 and Revelation 18:24 speak of the woman or the Old Jerusalem persecuting the seed of promise.
Galatians also speaks of another woman who represented the Jerusalem “above” or the New Jerusalem. This woman and her seed stand triumphant when the Old Jerusalem is cast out. (Galatians 4:23-31)
In Hebrews Chapter 12, we see the contrast of two mountains, Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion. Just as in Galatians chapter 4, we can see these two mountains representing the two Jerusalem’s. Hebrews 12:18-21 explains that they have not come again to the mount that could be touched, that is Mt. Sinai but have now come to Mount Zion.
They had actually come to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. (Hebrews 12:22-24) The contrast between the two cities is clear. The Old Covenant Jerusalem had to give way to the New Heavenly Jerusalem. (Hebrews 13:14)
The Book of Revelation was written prior to the Fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 and was concerned with the demise of the Old Covenant world of Israel not the end of time.
God had to fulfill His promises to Israel (Romans 15:8), and thus bring their distinctive history to a close in order for salvation to be offered to all Nations. (Isaiah 52:7-8, 10) The mystery of God was Jew and Gentile in one body in Christ. (Romans 16:26)
The Old Covenant Law was the barrier between Jew and Gentile. As long as the old system stood, there was no access to the presence of God. When the Old Covenant Jerusalem fell and the Temple was destroyed, that which separated the multitudes of the redeemed of all Nations, kindreds, people, and tongue was removed. (Revelation 7:9) Salvation through the Blood of the Lamb is represented here.
In AD 70 of the first century, the Old Jerusalem and the Old Covenant that God had with Israel came to an end and the New Jerusalem and the New Everlasting Eternal Covenant of Jesus Christ came into being. (Isaiah 65:17-19)
God said He was going to create a New Heaven and a New Earth, a New Jerusalem wherein dwelleth righteousness. (Isaiah 66:22) The Scripture tells us that there would be one heart and one Way in this New Everlasting Covenant. (Jeremiah 31:31-34, 32:39-40)
The New Heaven and New Earth are covenantal.
They are not literal or geographically located somewhere but are dimensional. Hebrews 12:22-24 tells us that the Church, the Body of Christ is here now.
Hebrews 12:22-23 identifies the Church as the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is here amongst us NOW! We can be born into it or dwell on
The Kingdom of God is a Spiritual Kingdom and the only way to enter into it is to be born again of the water and of the spirit. (John 3:3,5,7, Acts 2:37-39)
Heaven, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Kingdom of God are all around us. What Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden was spiritual life.
This spiritual life has now been restored. We today have access to the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is our source of life and overcoming power so that we can live and serve the Lord now. Jesus is the Tree of Life. (John 6:32-35, 15:5) We don’t need the Tree of Life in heaven; it is now that we need it to maintain spiritual life. (Matthew 4:4)
Conclusion
There are many people today who place everything into a futuristic setting, not realizing that physical words are often used to denote spiritual events and spiritual realities.
Like bookends on a shelf, the Book of Revelation was completely fulfilled by AD 70. Old Jerusalem was replaced by New Jerusalem which is the Heavenly Jerusalem. (Hebrews 12:22-23)
When Jesus returned in AD 70 of the first century, He married His Bride the Church, the New Jerusalem and is here with Her now and throughout Eternity. (Revelation 21:1-3, 9-10, 22:1-2, 17)
Today, the Spirit of God through His Bride, the Church, is saying to whomsoever is athirst “Come, and take this Water of Life freely.”