The new and heav­en­ly Jerusalem

The Bible ends with the New Jerusalem, the city of God that will descend from God out of heaven. It is the final fulfillment of God's eternal plan. But this city does not come down from heaven suddenly and unprepared. Rather, it has been in preparation for 6,000 years and its construction continues to this day. After almost 6,000 years of human history, the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent. When he comes, the 1000-year kingdom of peace of Christ on earth will begin. During this time, the marriage feast of the Lamb will take place. Afterwards, the New Jerusalem will appear as the Lamb's wife:

And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)

Since the restoration of heaven and earth in Genesis 1:3 to 2:3, we therefore recognize three stages: 6000 years of humanity, 1000 years of the kingdom of peace, new heavens, new earth and New Jerusalem for eternity.

6000 years of mankind

About 6000 years have passed between Adam and today. In the Bible, 6 is the number for man. So we see that God gives man 6000 years to carry out his work with man. This work is the holy city, the New Jerusalem. God began this work with the patriarchs. It says of Abraham, for example:

... He waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)

Abraham was already waiting for the New Jerusalem!

With Moses, the time of the Old Covenant began, in which God received a whole people - the 12 tribes of Israel. God also continued to work with them on the New Jerusalem. How do we know this? Revelation 21:12 says that the names of the 12 tribes of Israel are written on the gates of the New Jerusalem. So God prepared the entrance to this wonderful city through them, because salvation comes from the Jews (cf. John 4:22; Romans 1:16).

The time of the New Covenant began with Jesus Christ. At the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus chose 12 disciples, who were later called the 12 apostles of Jesus (with the exception of Judas, who was replaced by Matthias; cf. Acts 1:26). These 12 apostles are the foundation stones of the wall of the New Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 21:14). So we see that this heavenly city will continue to be built in the New Covenant. In other words, the building of the New Jerusalem extends right up to the present day. We Christians today must allow ourselves to be transformed into the image of Christ so that we fit into the New Jerusalem.

1000 years of the kingdom of peace of Christ

After almost 6000 years of human history, the return of Jesus is imminent. The 1000-year kingdom on earth will then begin. As already mentioned, the wedding feast of the Lamb with his people will take place at this time. However, not all Christians will have unconditional access to this feast. Only those Christians who have consciously prepared themselves throughout their lives will enter. We can see this, for example, in the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. All 10 are virgins, i.e. they are born-again Christians. But only 5 are wise and prepare themselves. When the bridegroom comes, only the 5 wise virgins enter the wedding (v. 10). The 5 foolish ones are denied entry. Jesus says to them: “I do not know you.” Not only do they miss the wedding feast, but they also have to go and buy oil. They have to make up for what they missed out on during their lifetime. Like the unfaithful slave, they will be thrown into outer darkness - there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (cf. Matthew 25:30). In other words: Those who miss the transformation today will have to make up for it later in the 1000-year kingdom with much suffering. Why? So that in the end everyone will be perfected and fit into the New Jerusalem.

The New Jerusalem in eternity

At the end of the 1000-year kingdom, the New Jerusalem comes from God out of heaven to earth. At that time, all believers are completely transformed and perfected. They are saved to the uttermost, as Hebrews 7:25 says. From that time on, God has achieved his goal. The New Jerusalem remains the tent of God from eternity to eternity.

Conclusion

So we must recognize: God will reach his goal with us believers. The only question is when. Do we allow ourselves to be transformed today? Are we building the church according to the pattern of the New Jerusalem? If we cooperate with the Holy Spirit today and allow ourselves to be saved to the uttermost, we will enter the marriage feast of the Lamb as a reward. If not, God will have to straighten us out during the 1000-year kingdom so that we all fit into the New Jerusalem. Let us be wise today!