Notes on the new Jerusalem

 

Is the New Jerusalem as a literal place a novel idea?

No, Tertullian and many other church fathers wrote about it:

"But we do confess that a kingdom is promised to us upon the earth, although before heaven, only in another state of existence; inasmuch as it will be after the resurrection for a thousand years in the divinely-built city of Jerusalem, let down from heaven"

Tertullian (Against Marcion, Book III)

 

 

Scripture relating to the new Jerusalem

 

Revelation 21:1-3

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

 

Heaven and earth are re-created. And so likewise is the Holy City.

 

 

Revelation 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

 

Just as precise measurements are given at the building of the tabernacle and other Old Testament building projects, these precise measurements indicate this bit of revelation, like John being at Patmos, are to be taken literally.

 

 

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

 

The burning up of the heavens and earth fits with there being a new heaven and a new earth.

 

 

Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

 

The Lord Jesus Himself confirms that the current heaven and earth will pass away.

 

 

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city

 

The tree of life is a portrayed literally in Genesis. The new Jerusalem is Eden restored.

 

 

Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

 

There is a Jerusalem which is above.

 

 

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

 

Paul affirms that we seek a city that is to come. There is NO suggestion that this is meant to be something merely spiritual.

 

 

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,

 

He underlines this point in Hebrews. Mount Sion is where Moses literally went to encounter God. The New Jerusalem is where God will come down when there is a New Heaven and a New earth. (Read the context of Hebrews 12). To say the Heavenly Jerusalem is a symbol then implies you doubt the reality of Moses meeting the LORD at Mount Zion.

 

 

©2025 Luke Appleton