The last apocalyptic element in our review is the New Jerusalem:

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (21:2)

As an apocalyptic image, we must keep in mind first of all, that it is a symbol. Later, John will begin to give details about the city such as its dimensions and landmarks, and we will see that these are also symbols. It symbolizes the consummated Kingdom of God, the community of the redeemed. This symbol might remind us of texts such as Isaiah 65:17 with the creation of “a new heaven and a new earth”.

John describes the city as a temple where God is present:

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (21:22)

Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (21:3)

This temple aspect of the New Jerusalem is a key point, for why would there be a temple, if God is a resident of the city? The temple is the Old Testament element that was said to be the dwelling place of God on the earth. In old Jerusalem, it was the central feature of the city, the reason for its importance to the people, for it was where God dwelt. Even so, God was not approachable for men, for His Spirit dwelt in the Most Holy Place, where no one could ever go, except the High Priest, once per year after going through the required protocols. Yet, if you recall the story, when Jesus died on the cross, the curtain that separated the Most Holy Place from all contact was torn in two, because His death changed everything.

In this present age, we as the followers of Christ have received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us, which is why there is not building that is the temple in the New Testament; we are the temple on the earth, for God’s Spirit dwells within us, and this is a wonderful thing; more wonderful than most of us realize, for we have His presence as those of the Old Testament never did. In the New Jerusalem, we will have His presence even more directly than we do now, for He will be present in His fullness, as we will be in our fullness as well. It will be more like the Garden of Eden was when Adam walked and talked with God “in the coolness of the evening”.

Now that we have completed our look at these apocalyptic elements of Revelation 20-22, let’s have a look at the parallel between our section and Ezekiel 37-48: See you next time!