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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 7 - YES, I AM COMING SOON! (REVELATION 19:11 - 22-21)
PART 7.5 - THE NEW WOLRD OF GOD (REVELATION 21:1-8)

3. The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)


Jerusalem, the city of peace, means for the most Jews more than a city. Jerusalem is the heart of Israel (Psalm 137:5-6) the place, where God dwells. From there, they believe, the Messiah after his coming will rule over the nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9-12). The presence of God in the Holy City means for the members of the Old Covenant protection, power and fulfilling of their calling (Zechariah 9:9-16). Without Jerusalem the most Jews are missing the centre of their being.

The earthly Jerusalem, however, will not endure forever, but vanish together with the sinful earth. Upon the city of Jerusalem lies a heavy burden. Jesus called it a murderer (Matthew 23:37-39). The wrath of God fell upon this city, primarily not because of the crucifixion of Jesus which its inhabitants had been forgiven (Luke 23:34), but because most of them rejected “the Promise of the Father” or mocked it (Acts 2:13; 8:1; 9:1; 12:1-3, and other verses). In 70 A.D. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. The temple was razed, and the Jews were banned from their capital for 1878 years or sold as slaves all over the world.

Nowadays, too, after setting up the state of Israel in 1948, Jerusalem still has not become a city of peace yet. The eternal peace between God and men has been sealed on Golgotha, outside its city walls, by the blood of Jesus Christ, but the prophets of the Old Covenant had already learnt that in the last days all nations of the world will storm against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:1-3) and capture and plunder the Holy City (Zechariah 14:1-5). And John saw even deeper into the future. He looked beyond this city built of stones toward the eternity and saw a completely New Jerusalem coming down from heaven.

PRAYER: Almighty God, we feel pain because of the hatred and wars around the capital Jerusalem. Your Son bore the suffering of the cross there, and then He poured out Your Holy Spirit on men in spite of the mockery of some of its people of Him. Please forgive all those who participated in destroying and eliminating this city. Prepare us for pure peace and divine righteousness that You may love to dwell in us forever. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. Why did Jesus say that Jerusalem would not find comfort and peace before He comes?

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