The New Jerusalem
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Artwork Used By Permission © Pat Marvenko Smith
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1 THEN I saw an angel descending from heaven; he was holding the key of the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and a great chain was in his hand. 2 And he gripped and overpowered the dragon, that old serpent [of primeval times], who is the devil and Satan, and [securely] bound him for a thousand years. 3 Then he hurled him into the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and closed it and sealed it above him, so that he should no longer lead astray and deceive and seduce the nations until the thousand years were at an end. After that he must be liberated for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom authority to act as judges and to pass sentence was entrusted. Also I saw the souls of those who had been slain with axes [beheaded] for their witnessing to Jesus and [for preaching and testifying] for the Word of God, and who had refused to pay homage to the beast or his statue and had not accepted his mark or permitted it to be stamped on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived again and ruled with Christ (the Messiah) a thousand years. 5 The remainder of the dead were not restored to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed (happy, to be envied) and holy (spiritually whole, of unimpaired innocence and proved virtue) is the person who takes part (shares) in the first resurrection! Over them the second death exerts no power or authority, but they shall be ministers of God and of Christ (the Messiah), and they shall rule along with Him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his place of confinement, 8 And he will go forth to deceive and seduce and lead astray the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth--Gog and Magog--to muster them for war; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they swarmed up over the broad plain of the earth and encircled the fortress (camp) of God's people (the saints) and the beloved city; but fire descended from heaven and consumed them. 10 Then the devil who had led them astray [deceiving and seducing them] was hurled into the fiery lake of burning brimstone, where the beast and false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (through the ages of the ages). 11 Then I saw a great white throne and the One Who was seated upon it, from Whose presence and from the sight of Whose face earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books. 13 And the sea delivered up the dead who were in it, death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) surrendered the dead in them, and all were tried and their cases determined by what they had done [according to their motives, aims, and works]. 14 Then death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:1-15 Amplified Bible
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6 And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three and one-half years).
And now we get a glimpse of the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem, as heaven is opened and she emerges from the bridal chamber (the cheder yichud or eremos) and she is lowered out of heaven by God.
1 THEN I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth, for the former sky and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband;
And one of the seven angels who had carried one of the seven bowls (from the seven bowl judgments) came and declared, "Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb's Wife."
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues (afflictions, calamities) came and spoke to me. He said, "Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
Then in the Spirit He conveyed me away to a vast and lofty mountain and exhibited to me the holy (hallowed, consecrated) city of Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, Clothed in God's glory [in all its splendor and radiance]. The luster of it resembled a rare and most precious jewel, like jasper, shining clear as crystal.
10 Then in the Spirit He conveyed me away to a vast and lofty mountain and exhibited to me the holy (hallowed, consecrated) city of Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, 11 Clothed in God's glory [in all its splendor and radiance]. The luster of it resembled a rare and most precious jewel, like jasper, shining clear as crystal.
It had a massive and high wall with twelve [large] gates, and at the gates [there were stationed] twelve angels, and [on the gates] the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were written: On the east side three gates, on the north side three gates, on the south side three gates, and on the west side three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation [stones], and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
12 It had a massive and high wall with twelve [large] gates, and at the gates [there were stationed] twelve angels, and [on the gates] the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were written: 13 On the east side three gates, on the north side three gates, on the south side three gates, and on the west side three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation [stones], and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he who spoke to me had a golden measuring reed (rod) to measure the city and its gates and its wall. The city lies in a square, its length being the same as its width. And he measured the city with his reed--12,000 stadia; its length and width and height are the same. He measured its wall also--144 cubits by a man's measure, which is [the measure] of the angel. The wall was built of jasper, while the city [itself was of] pure gold, clear and transparent like glass.
15 And he who spoke to me had a golden measuring reed (rod) to measure the city and its gates and its wall. 16 The city lies in a square, its length being the same as its width. And he measured the city with his reed--12,000 stadia (about 1,500 miles); its length and width and height are the same. 17 He measured its wall also--144 cubits (about 72 yards) by a man's measure [of a cubit from his elbow to his third fingertip], which is [the measure] of the angel. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city [itself was of] pure gold, clear and transparent like glass.
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19 The foundation [stones] of the wall of the city were ornamented with all of the precious stones. The first foundation [stone] was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony (or white agate), the fourth emerald, 20 The fifth onyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each separate gate being built of one solid pearl. And the main street (the broadway) of the city was of gold as pure and translucent as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Omnipotent [Himself] and the Lamb [Himself] are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the splendor and radiance (glory) of God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its lamp.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each separate gate being built of one solid pearl. And the main street (the broadway) of the city was of gold as pure and translucent as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Omnipotent [Himself] and the Lamb [Himself] are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the splendor and radiance (glory) of God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its lamp.
The Measure of the City- 12,000 furlongs (stadia)
If we pay close attention to the Scriptures we are being shown the Wife of the Lamb by one of the angels that had the seven bowl judgments,
9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues (afflictions, calamities) came and spoke to me. He said, Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.
And concerning the New Jerusalem we see the declaration in heaven, saying, "See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God."
3Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.
So then, by this declaration we can see that the everything about the New Jerusalem, the Wife of the Lamb, has to do with the oneness of God with His people and they with Him. With this in mind lets look at the measure of the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 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. 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.
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15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 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. 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.
So now we need to stop and take a minute to understand this; if we were to look upon the New Jerusalem straight on we would see a square rather than a cube, this being the case, let's take the measure. Along the top and bottom we would come up with 12,000 furlongs (or stadia), so now we have 2 measures of 12,000 furlongs (stadia). Next we need to measure the height (up one side, then the other) and again we would come up with 2 measures of 12,000 furlongs (stadia). If we were to walk around to the opposite side of the New Jerusalem and gaze upon her straight on, again we would see a square rather than a cube. So now let's take the measure across the top and bottom, again, we come up with 2 equal measures of 12,000 furlongs (stadia); and up both sides, 2 equal measures of 12,000 stadia (furlongs). Now up to this point we have 8 equal measure of 12,000 furlongs (stadia), if we continue along to one side we need only measure the top and bottom (the two sides are common and have all ready been measured) and we come up with 12,000 furlongs (stadia) each, taking the total number of measures to 10 times 12,000 furlongs (stadia). If we continue along to the opposite side, again, we need only measure the top and bottom because again the two sides are common and have already been measured; across the top and bottom we discover another 2 equal measures of 12,000 furlongs (stadia) bringing our total measure to 12 times 12,000 furlongs (or stadia). So what is the total "measure" of the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem? The total measure is 12 times 12,000 which equals 144,000! And this is exactly we what the Scriptures reveal in verse seventeen, "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."
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 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. 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.
The word "cubit" comes from the Greek word, "pechus" which is an undefined "affinity", which means that a "cubit" is a substituted measure, for example, if you were using inches as a measure than the cubit would be inches, if the unit of measure being used is a foot than a cubit or "pechus" would be in feet, if the unit of measure was a mile then the "cubit or pechus" of measure would be a mile, so in this case the unit of measure (by the standards of men, which is what the angel used in order for us to grasp the "measure") is a furlong or stadia; therefore, the total measure of the wall of the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem, is equal to 144,000 furlongs or stadia. This begs the question, "What is a furlong or a stadia?" The word, "furlong" comes from the Greek word, "stadion" which means a "stade or a certain unit of measure" and by implication means a "stadium" or "race course"; in other words, the implication is the containment of a course that was to be run or "raced" and that course has been encapsulated from beginning to end. How does this apply? If we were to take a snapshot of a man's life from the beginning of His spiritual walk to the end, we would be encapsulating the course or race that the individual ran, in other words, that snapshot would become a stade or stadia of furlong of the spiritual life and the snapshot would encapsulated or "captured" the course or race that was run from the beginning to the end; therefore, we would have a stade or furlong of the race and this would be the snapshot. So it can be said, that the spiritual life of a man from beginning to end, viewed in such a snapshot is the "stadium" of his or her life. This we see when we dig a little deeper into the definition of a stade in the original Greek. The word, "stade or stao" is derived from the word, "histemi" which means "stand" or "place of abiding" and refers to that which was foreordained or "tithemi" (from the Greek meaning place "place" or "established within God"). Therefore, the measure of the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem is not "stadiums" in the physical sense of a stadium but rather the furlongs or stadia of a spiritual race that was completed. With this said, we can safely say that the measure of the Wife of the Lamb is the spiritual lives or races that were run by 144,000 people, which brings us back to the 144,000 that were sealed during the opening of the sixth seal.
1 AFTER THIS I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, firmly holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow on the earth or sea or upon any tree. 2 Then I saw a second angel coming up from the east (the rising of the sun) and carrying the seal of the living God. And with a loud voice he called out to the four angels who had been given authority and power to injure earth and sea, 3 Saying, Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor the trees, until we have sealed the bond servants of our God upon their foreheads. 4nd [then] I heard how many were sealed (marked) out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: there were 144,000. 5 Twelve thousand were sealed (marked) out of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 of the tribe of Gad, 6 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, 12,000 of the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh, 7 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 of the tribe of Levi, 12,000 of the tribe of Issachar, 8 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 of the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 of the tribe of Benjamin.
So here we see that God "sealed" those that would make up the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem, "And [then] I heard how many were sealed (marked) out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: there were 144,000."
1 AFTER THIS I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, firmly holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow on the earth or sea or upon any tree. 2 Then I saw a second angel coming up from the east (the rising of the sun) and carrying the seal of the living God. And with a loud voice he called out to the four angels who had been given authority and power to injure earth and sea, 3 Saying, Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor the trees, until we have sealed the bond servants of our God upon their foreheads. 4And [then] I heard how many were sealed (marked) out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: there were 144,000. 5 Twelve thousand were sealed (marked) out of the tribe of Judah, 12,000 of the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 of the tribe of Gad, 6 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, 12,000 of the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh, 7 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 of the tribe of Levi, 12,000 of the tribe of Issachar, 8 Twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 of the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 of the tribe of Benjamin.
What throws people off here is the phrase, that describes the 144,000 as being out of every tribe of the sons of Israel and that is because of a lack of understanding of the true Israel the true "sons" of Israel which was established by the Promise. The Apostle Paul tells us that not all who are descendants (by the blood line) of Jacob (Israel) belong to the true Israel, and not all that are of the blood line of Abraham are is true descendants, but rather through the line of Isaac as it is written, "And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, [the promise was] Your descendants will be called and counted through the line of Isaac [though Abraham had an older son]." For it was through the line of Isaac that the Promise came.
6 However, it is not as though God's Word had failed [coming to nothing]. For it is not everybody who is a descendant of Jacob (Israel) who belongs to [the true] Israel. 7 And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, [the promise was] Your descendants will be called and counted through the line of Isaac [though Abraham had an older son]. 8 That is to say, it is not the children of the body [of Abraham] who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted [as Abraham's true] descendants. 9 For this is what the promise said, About this time [next year] will I return and Sarah shall have a son. 10 And not only that, but this too: Rebecca conceived [two sons under exactly the same circumstances] by our forefather Isaac, 11 And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order further to carry out God's purpose of selection (election, choice), which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him Who calls [them], 12It was said to her that the elder [son] should serve the younger [son].
And again we see that Paul explains that he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly and publicly but rather he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and true circumcision is of the heart.
28 For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God.
So what we see here as being the true Israel, is a holy nation obtained by the Promise.
5 Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.
And it was through the message of the Gospel that the Twelve would have the position of judging and properly discerning who the Twelve Tribes of Israel would be because of the Promise.
28Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, in the new age [the [b]Messianic rebirth of the world], when the Son of Man shall sit down on the throne of His glory, you who have [become My disciples, sided with My party and] followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
And therefore, the Twelve Tribes of Israel belong to the true Israel by Promise, which is the Church of Jesus Christ, a holy nation, and therefore, James addresses the Church as the Twelve Tribes scattered among the Gentiles!
1 JAMES, A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings (rejoice)!
Therefore, the 144,000 make up the Wife of the Lamb and they come from the true Israel by Promise, a holy nation, the Church.
17The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need [a]of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost.
And so the Holy Spirit and the Bride call out to all those who are invited to the wedding and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
5 Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, Praise our God, all you servants of His, you who reverence Him, both small and great! 6 After that I heard what sounded like the shout of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of terrific and mighty peals of thunder, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! For now the Lord our God the Omnipotent (the All-Ruler) reigns! 7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. 8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white--for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people). 9 Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true words (the genuine and exact declarations) of God.
After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]! And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures, and they fell prostrate before the throne and worshiped God. Amen! (So be it!) they cried. Blessing and glory and majesty and splendor and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might [be ascribed] to our God to the ages and ages (forever and ever, throughout the eternities of the eternities)! Amen! (So be it!) Then, addressing me, one of the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people] clothed in the long white robes? And from where have they come? I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun smite them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
9 After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. 10 In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]! 11 And all the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures, and they fell prostrate before the throne and worshiped God. 12 Amen! (So be it!) they cried. Blessing and glory and majesty and splendor and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might [be ascribed] to our God to the ages and ages (forever and ever, throughout the eternities of the eternities)! Amen! (So be it!) 13 Then, addressing me, one of the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said, Who are these [people] clothed in the long white robes? And from where have they come? 14 I replied, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun smite them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Then he showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Through the middle of the broadway of the city; also, on either side of the river was the tree of life with its twelve varieties of fruit, yielding each month its fresh crop; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing and the restoration of the nations.
1THEN HE showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2Through the middle of the broadway of the city; also, on either side of the river was the tree of life with its twelve varieties of fruit, yielding each month its fresh crop; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing and the restoration of the nations.
