THE CHURCH IN ETERNITY THE HOLY CITY THE NEW JERUSALEM

Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
The Tabernacle gave us a type of the Lord’s church as she serves him in this present age. The Temple, built by Solomon, showed how she will serve with Him during the one thousand years of his reign on this earth. Both this present age and the millennial age will come to an end.

Paul speaks of glorifying God in a world without end. God has been meticulous in providing details in pictures and types for the present age and for the one thousand years of her reign with Christ. It is only reasonable to expect that He will give us some idea of what is in store for the Age of the Ages, eternity. He has given us the picture and it is a glorious one. It is not as detailed as the others, but perhaps the reason for this, is that we can understand no more than the glimpse he gave to us. Like the other pictures, this is also a building and what a building it is! It too, is the dwelling place of God in the midst of His redeemed people.
Rev 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.
Rev 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.

Let us get the time of this event fixed in our minds. Our present age will have ended with the rapture and the resurrection. The judgment for rewards will have taken place and the Tribulation will finally have finished the time of punishment for the nation of Israel.

The one thousand -year reign with Christ upon the Throne and His Bride by his side will be completed. Satan will be confined forever in the bottomless pit of hell, and the earth, moon, sun and stars will be no more; having fled from the face of the righteous One at the Great White Throne Judgment. The wicked dead will have been raised, judged, and cast into the pit where Satan, the Beast and the false prophet are.

The Eternal Age, The Age of the Ages has arrived and the Lord’s Church is THERE! There is a new heaven and a new earth and the Holy City, the New Jerusalem is the most prominent feature of it.
Two questions must be answered:
1.Is the language describing the Holy City symbolic or does it describe something real and tangible?
2. Exactly what does the city represent?
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 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.
Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
As to the first question, it is both real and symbolic. The Tabernacle in the wilderness was a real, movable place of worship and yet, it was symbolic in that it was a type of the New Testament church. The Temple of Solomon was a very real and tangible building , yet it was a type of the Church in the Millennial reign of Christ.

The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, will be a very real and glorious structure. It will be the most prominent feature of the new heaven and the new earth. It, also, is symbolic of the Church and the redeemed Nation of Israel in the Age of the Ages, Eternity. The passage from the twenty-second chapter of Revelation tells us exactly what it represents and there can be no justification for altering, adding to or detracting from God’s Word concerning it.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

There can be no doubt that this city is the Bride, the Lamb’s wife. Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Paul’s statements in the Book of Ephesians is definite as to the identity of the Bride.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 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. Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
The WALL around the City represents God’s chosen Nation, Israel. God is giving us a preview of how things will be in eternity.

Nowhere in this picture or anywhere else in the Scripture, do we find even a hint of the commonly pictured concept of winged creatures with halos strumming on harps. He doesn’t give us a lot of detail as to the place or our activities, perhaps because it is so far beyond our present comprehension that it would only have confused us. The things He does tell us may not be appealing to many, who are attached to our present sense of aesthetics. After all, most of us enjoy seeing a beautiful sunrise or sunset. We find the moon and the stars pleasant to behold and we all enjoy a trip to the beach. How often have we stood transfixed as we gazed upon the ceaseless motion of the ocean? None of these will be present in the eternal age.

Since we will have new bodies with new natures and new concepts, it will not be missed. Christ will be there and that is all that will be important to those who shall inhabit eternity. The earth will be completely remade to receive this City. The present earth is not suitable as a site for such a structure.
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Mankind is hard pressed to find a safe site for much smaller things without earthquake faults or unstable soil. Where, on the face of this present globe would one safely place an edifice, which is one thousand five hundred miles in all directions, including height? Like the creatures upon it, this present earth is plagued with instability caused by sin. The new earth will be, like our new bodies, free from all imperfections. Moses erected the Tabernacle and Solomon built the Temple. Christ built His Church of which these were types.
Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: This City is the eternal House of God and is being built by God. Rev 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.

This City is not an afterthought with God. Abraham knew of it and looked forward to someday seeing it. Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: Heb 11:10 For he looked for [forward to] a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God..

The size of this City makes it the most conspicuous feature of the New Earth. It measured 12,000 furlongs, [stadai] in every direction. Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. This is slightly more that one thousand five hundred miles.

The Tabernacle was the center of all activity in Israel’s wanderings and the Temple stood out in the History of the nation in her land. During the millennium the Church and Israel will have prominence as Christ reigns as King of Kings. The Church will assume her rightful place as His Bride and Israel will have her place as his chosen Nation. The House of God has, in every age, exceeded the previous age in glory.

In the Age of the Ages, both Israel and the Church will be seen in the ultimate manifestation of their Glory. 'And the city lieth foursquare.' The Brazen Altar, the Altar of Incense and the Breastplate of the High Priest were some of the previous items, which were to be foursquare. The Holy of Holies, in both the Tabernacle and the Temple were not only foursquare, but like this City, the height was the same as the width and length. Whatever else this might indicate, one thing is sure: However one approaches each of these items, they were the same. Each seems to say, "This is the way it is, regardless of what men may try to make of it."

In the previous structures, various numbers were used to indicate differing truths. In the New Jerusalem, the number twelve is used almost exclusively. This is the number for Divine Government. In this eternal Age there is no other power. The time of the fulfillment of this prophecy will have arrived; 1 Cor 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

All things will have been made new and there will be no other power. The damage done to men, nations and even the earth will have been corrected and there will be no thoughts for action other than the will of God.

This great Truth is shown in the construction of the City also. The Tabernacle had been made of boards, covered with Gold. The Temple walls were of Stone covered with Cedar Wood and Gold. This City has no wood and no stone. It is built of the purest Gold. Even the streets are paved with it. Nothing is to be found in or around the City, which is not completely Divine.

The Tabernacle had no windows, signifying that there was to be no other light enter, than that provided by the Lamp Stand. There was to be no light emitted to the outside, thus showing that the instructions of the Word are for the Lord’s people and not for the world at large. Thus it is during this present dispensation.

The Temple on the other hand had windows designed to project the light from the Lamp Stands outward. This typified the world walking by the light of the Word during the Millennial reign.

In the Eternal City, there are no windows, for there is no need for them. The entire city acts as a Lamp Stand and Christ is the Light. The whole world will indeed walk in the light of the Word, for the Lamb, the Living Word, is the Light. There will be no need for the sun and there will be no night.

While the City is a picture of the Glorified Church in the eternal age, Israel is here also. God’s chosen Nation is not, nor shall she ever be, a part of the Church. Her identity shall always be preserved. She is pictured here in the Wall, which surrounds the City. During the thousand-year reign, the Capitol City of the world will be Jerusalem, in the Nation of Israel. Those who will pay homage to the King, will be forced to honor His Nation.
Zec 8:22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
Zec 8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

This is a grand and glorious illustration of God’s faithfulness to His promises. Both the Lord’s nation and His church have been despised by the world, and Satan’s crowd has done their best to destroy them. God has watched over them and shall deliver them to victory. The Redeemed Church and the Redeemed Nation shall have the honor, for all eternity, of being the focal point of attention as the Lamb dwells in them. This City’s wall is one hundred and forty four cubits high. This is Israel’s final and most glorious position in the grand plan of God. Christ and His Bride will dwell in her midst for all eternity.

This nation will have gone through twelve major changes in her government. They are: the time of the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Then she was in Egypt for over four hundred years; Next came the Tabernacle as they were led by Moses and later the Judges; They then demanded and were given a king; Next came the time of captivity in Babylon; and then by the Medes and the Persians; They were then restored to their land during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah while still under the domination of the Persians, Greeks and Romans; The next major event was being presented with their Messiah and King and rejecting him with the cry, ‘We have no King but Caesar!"; After this they suffered under the ‘Caesars’ of the world until they became a nation again in 1948; The Tribulation as prophesied by Daniel and their suffering under the rule of the anti-christ is next on God’s schedule for them; After this will come the one-thousand year reign as they are totally restored; and finally, they will enjoy all the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so many generations before.

The final phase is that pictured in the wall of the Holy City. The height being one hundred and forty four cubits tells us that this is the culmination of the history of Israel. Twelve is the number, which indicates heavenly government. When a number is used in multiples ,it seems to signify the ultimate or completion of that which is indicated. This is the final, concluding episode in the history of the nation of Israel. Never again will they lapse into idolatry, nor forsake their God. Never again will they be dispersed or taken into captivity. They will have achieved their eternal destiny. What a splendid destiny it shall be. As the glory of the nations is brought to Christ by their kings, homage must be paid to the Nation, which the kings of the earth have so long despised. There will be no entrance into the City, except by passage through the Wall around it. The only openings in the wall are those honoring the Twelve Tribes of the Nation of Israel. Granted, this may seem to be a bit contrived to make the numbers fit. It is only offered for the purpose of accentuating the fact that twelve is the number which points to divine government and Israel is the only NATION ever founded directly by God and Governed by Him.

While other nations, such as our own, have been blessed and have served a purpose in God’s plan, only one has had her constitution written by the finger of God!

The Breastplate of the High Priest was decorated with Twelve precious stones. Upon each stone was engraved the name of one of the Tribes of Israel. As he entered into the presence of God during his daily ministering, each person of the nation was represented upon his breast. The counterpart of these stones upon the breastplate, in the eternal age, will be found in the very foundations of the wall. In thinking upon what these jewels represent, my mind is continually drawn back to the promise God made to His Nation; Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Inside the Tabernacle and the Temple were the places called the Holiest of All, which was separated from the sanctuary by the veil. In the Holy City there is no such separation. Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple [shrine] therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

It is certainly noteworthy that even in the eternal age, Christ will still be seen as the Lamb by those who have been redeemed by His Blood. Whatever else he might be; Avenger, Judge, King, or Bridegroom, this aspect of Christ will never diminish. He will forever be the one who loved us and died for our sins. So far we have noticed the Lamb, the Bride and the Nation of Israel. We must ask ourselves, "What about the rest of the redeemed?" After all, not all of the saved join a Scriptural New Testament Church and not all the redeemed are of Israel. We saw these people represented in the Millennial age in those who ‘went up to Jerusalem to worship. They are mentioned in connection with the Holy City as ‘the nations of them which are saved.’ Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

These nations are not of Israel. Israel is represented in the wall of the City. Neither are they of the Church, even though the Church is made up of obedient redeemed out of all nations. The Church is the Bride, the lamb’s Wife and is represented in the City. There are those who teach that the Bride will be composed of all the saved. If this were true, then who are these nations of saved who are neither Israel nor the Bride? During the Law age, those who would serve God acceptably, either had to be Israelites or become proselytes of Israel. He gave no instructions for acceptable service outside the Law of Moses. For this present dispensation he gives instruction for service in a New Testament Church. There are no instructions for service anywhere else. Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

By designating the place where He will receive glory, He automatically rules out any other place. There are no rewards promised except for obedient service. In this present dispensation, obedience is to be found no where else, but through one of the Lord’s Churches. Christ is the foundation stone of His Church. 1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

For those who refuse to build upon this foundation or insist upon building with the wrong material, or in the wrong manner, disappointment awaits. 1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. He will have nothing for which he can be rewarded and thus will enter into eternity empty handed. He will be saved, but will be as one who escapes from a burning house with nothing but his life. He will neither be an Israelite nor a member of the Bride. He will be of the ‘nations of them that are saved.’ These will honor the Lord and glorify Him. Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

In doing this they will honor not only the Lord, but also His nation and His Bride. Yet the individuals of these nations are not privileged to do the bringing of their honor to the Lord. This is a privilege that will be reserved for their kings. Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Who are these kings who have this responsibility? They will be those who have been found worthy because of their faithful stewardship in this present life to be rewarded with positions of responsibility. Luke 19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Luke 19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
Luke 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Luke 19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
Luke 19:19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, seems to represent the corporate body, the Glorified Bride, while the Kings of the earth are the individuals who, as part of that Bride, were found worthy to receive the Lord’s commendation and the reward of positions of authority. They were judged to be worthy on the basis of their faithful stewardship and were not granted honors arbitrarily on any other basis. This is what the Lord meant when he told the mother of Zebedees children, "Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." He could not give it because it must be earned by faithfulness. Rewards are often spoken of in the New Testament as ‘crowns’. Crowns represent honor and authority.2 Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
1 Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 Pet 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

These crowns are not granted for frivolous service or disobedience. Those who refuse in this life to serve faithfully will be denied access to that City. Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.