Useful Bible Studies > Revelation Commentary > chapter 21
Long ago, God chose Jerusalem to be a very special place. It was not important only because it was Israel’s capital city. Here was the temple, the house of God upon this earth (Psalm 122). Here was the only place where God’s people from the nation called Israel, offered their gifts to him (Deuteronomy 12:5-14). Here was the place where God’s people brought their prayers to him (2 Chronicles 6:12-42). Here, God was present in a special way (2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Isaiah 6:1-5). It was a beautiful and wonderful place (Psalm 48:1-3).
However, the people in Jerusalem often disappointed God (Isaiah 1:21-23; Luke 13:34). Many of them refused to serve God and, instead, they behaved wickedly. God wanted to use Jerusalem in order to show his kindness to people from every nation. However, at such times, Jerusalem’s people behaved like the people in any city which does not serve the real God.
During the 1000 years in Revelation 20:4-7, Christ will rule from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:16-21). Then Jerusalem really will benefit the whole world, as God always intended. At that time, we will start to see how wonderful the city of God is. However, that is just the beginning. It is the New Jerusalem, upon the new earth, where God will complete all his promises to his people. There, his people will always live with him.
People only began to build cities on this earth after they had decided to oppose God (Genesis 4:17). Jerusalem, like every city on this earth, was the product of human effort. However, only the city that God makes, will really be strong (Psalm 127:1). So the New Jerusalem will come down from God himself. It is God’s work, and it is truly beautiful. Like the people who live in it, the city is called his bride (19:7-9; 21:9). As a wife belongs to her husband, so this city will belong to God always (compare Ephesians 5:22-32).
Next part: God will live with his people (Revelation 21:3)
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© 2016, Keith Simons.