The heavenly Jerusalem, the Bride, is it a real city? Aren't we looking for the heavenly city? Isn't the heavenly city our mother?
There are spiritual realities embued with meaning that remain spiritual realities. Yes there is an heavenly city, and yes that city is our mother, and His bride, and there is still an heavenly city.
Hopefully that will help express how I think of this.
"I saw a great sign in the heavens, a red dragon . . .", I'm not thinking here of a reptilian denizon of the earth, rather, "that ancient serpent . . . Satan", this is specifically who we're talking about there.
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Not that the Word of God is a hammered metal sword, that's a fleshy sword, this is a spirit-sword and I don't know what that looks like but it works the same, when used correctly, it's a powerful weapon.
Much love!