The Jerusalem which is above is the heavenly city of promise which God has prepared for His saints

[Scott Downey]

The city God has prepared for His people to inhabit is not the bride of Christ, we are the bride of Christ

What is New Jerusalem?

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What is New Jerusalem? Definition and Overview The term “New Jerusalem” refers to the glorious city that Scripture depicts as the eternal dwelling place of God with His people. It is portrayed most vividly in Revelation 21-22, where the apostle John witnesses a vision of “the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2). This city is a central aspect of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan to redeem and restore creation. New Jerusalem stands in contrast to the earthly Jerusalem and represents the culmination of the divine promise to dwell among His people forever. Biblical Foundation Throughout the Old and New Testaments, biblical authors allude to a time when God would renew all things, culminating in a city of perfection and divine fellowship. The prophet Isaiah recorded a promise from the Lord: “For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). This new creation, spoken of centuries before Christ, sets the stage for what believers in the New Testament would later identify as God’s everlasting kingdom and city. In the New Testament, references to the city appear in various contexts. The apostle Paul makes mention of “the Jerusalem above” (Galatians 4:26), underscoring that believers’ true citizenship is in the heavenly realm. Likewise, Hebrews 11:10 speaks of Abraham looking forward to “the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God,” echoing the imagery that would reach its climax in Revelation’s depiction of New Jerusalem.

etc...

 

[Scott Downey]

Prophetic Anticipation in the Old Testament

Several Old Testament passages foreshadow a re-created earth and a renewed city:

• Isaiah 66:22 describes a new heavens and new earth as an enduring place for God’s faithful.

• Ezekiel 37 and 48 point to the unification and total restoration of God’s people in a place where the Lord would dwell among them.

Though these verses may have had partial fulfillments historically (for example, the return from exile in Babylon), the final and complete fulfillment is seen in the Revelation account, where the city is everlasting and untainted by sin.

Revelation’s Detailed Description

Revelation 21-22 offers the most comprehensive description of New Jerusalem:

• Divine Origin: John states, “I saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2). Its origin is not human effort but God’s direct action.

• Presence of God: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man…” (Revelation 21:3). The text emphasizes God’s immediate presence with His people, signifying the end of separation caused by sin.

• Physical Magnitude and Beauty: The city is described as having massive dimensions, walls of jasper, and foundations adorned with precious stones (Revelation 21:19-21). Its radiance and grandeur underscore the glory and holiness of God.

• Removal of Suffering: Within the city, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…” (Revelation 21:4). This speaks to a complete reversal of the curse of sin.

• River of Life and Tree of Life: Flowing from God’s throne is the river of the water of life, with the tree of life bearing fruit for healing (Revelation 22:1-2). This imagery recalls Eden’s perfection and emphasizes full restoration.

Spiritual and Eschatological Significance

New Jerusalem is not merely a symbolic concept. Scripture consistently portrays it as a real future dwelling place of the redeemed. It symbolizes the completion of God’s redemptive plan, in which He renews creation and fully reconciles humanity to Himself.

For believers, the promise of this divine city offers hope amid present struggles. The vision of New Jerusalem stands as a reminder that history is moving toward a purposeful end-God’s eternal kingdom-where sin, suffering, and death will be forever abolished. This fosters resilience and steadfast faith, pointing people toward a living hope anchored on God’s unchanging word.

 

[Scott Downey]

Come on people, don't go all weird on the Holy City, where God and man dwell together on the New earth
The New Jerusalem is a lovely place, decked out AS a bride adorned for her husband, but it is not THE bride of God.

What does it mean that the church is the bride of Christ? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the church is the bride of Christ? Is the church Christ’s body, Christ’s bride, or both?

www.gotquestions.org

The imagery and symbolism of marriage is applied to Christ and the body of believers known as the church. The church is comprised of those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride (Ephesians 5:25–27). Just as there was a betrothal period in biblical times during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding, so is the bride of Christ separate from her Bridegroom during the church age. Her responsibility during the betrothal period is to be faithful to Him (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24). At the rapture, the church will be united with the Bridegroom and the official “wedding ceremony” will take place and, with it, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1-2).

In the eternal state, believers will have access to the heavenly city known as New Jerusalem, also called “the holy city” in Revelation 21:2 and 10. The New Jerusalem is not the church, but it takes on some of the church’s characteristics. In his vision of the end of the age, the apostle John sees the city coming down from heaven adorned “as a bride,” meaning that the city will be gloriously radiant and the inhabitants of the city, the redeemed of the Lord, will be holy and pure, wearing white garments of holiness and righteousness. Some have misinterpreted verse 9 to mean the holy city is the bride of Christ, but that cannot be because Christ died for His people, not for a city. The city is called the bride because it encompasses all who are the bride, just as all the students of a school are sometimes called “the school.”

Believers in Jesus Christ are the bride of Christ, and we wait with great anticipation for the day when we will be united with our Bridegroom. Until then, we remain faithful to Him and say with all the redeemed of the Lord, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

 

[Marty fox]

'As a bride adorned'. It is gussied up and very pure, white, lovely, clean and a nice place.

Not a bride, we are the bride of Christ
We will live in that city

What Is the New Jerusalem?

After God remakes the heavens and the earth, the Bible speaks of a city called the "new Jerusalem" coming down out of heaven. It will be an actual

www.blueletterbible.org

Summary

After God makes a new heaven and new earth, then the city of the new Jerusalem will come down from heaven. Its glorious description is given to us in Scripture. Although it will be a city of incomparable beauty, the greatest thing about it is that the Lord will dwell there with His people.

John and the angel clearly shows us here that the New Jerusalem is the church

Revelation 21
2 Then I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [f]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the [g]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the [h]great city, the [i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Where is heavenly Jerusalem located? Some people say it’s not in new heaven/new earth because that hasn’t been created yet, but if it’s in old heaven/old earth then it passes away per Revelation 21:1.

What is your opinion, was the heavenly Jerusalem and new heaven/new earth all created at the same time?

The heavenly Jerusalem is not a literal city with a literal location. It's a symbolic representation of the new covenant church.

Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God symbolically represents that the bride/church will no longer be separated with some of us on earth and some in heaven and that there will no longer be any separation of God's location from the location of His people. We will all be together in the new heavens and new earth at that point where we will enjoy eternity together in a place where "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" (Rev 21:4).

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

John and the angel clearly shows us here that the New Jerusalem is the church

Revelation 21
2 Then I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [f]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the [g]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the [h]great city, the [i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Right. The Lamb doesn't have two brides. But, right now the church is not all together in one place like it will be when God brings heaven together with earth without any separation between the two any longer. That's what Rev 21 is about.

 

[Scott Downey]

John and the angel clearly shows us here that the New Jerusalem is the church

Revelation 21
2 Then I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came [f]to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the [g]bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the [h]great city, the [i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven

When the angel says he will show the bride, that is the people of God who live in the holy city, not the physical city.

The bride is the body of believers inhabit this city.

You are conflating v9 and v10 as to assume the city is the bride.

If I say to you I am going to show you the people of NYC, I would take you to NYC city. Then you would see the people of the city.

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[Marty fox]

When the angel says he will show the bride, that is the people of God who live in the holy city, not the physical city.

The bride is the body of believers inhabit this city.

You are conflating v9 and v10 as to assume the city is the bride.

If I say to you I am going to show you the people of NYC, I would take you to NYC city. Then you would see the people of the city.

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No that is different they didn't say the body of Christ they said the bride of the Lamb. Read the descriptions in the verses.

You could show me people of NYC in California if some of them were there

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Abraham will definitely be remembered but I would say as a new creation because he was in Christ.

Here is how the NIV translates

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

That verse has nothing to do with the new heaven and new earth, but rather with each individual who is in Christ being made new spiritually.

 

[Marty fox]

The heavenly Jerusalem is not a literal city with a literal location. It's a symbolic representation of the new covenant church.

Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God symbolically represents that the bride/church will no longer be separated with some of us on earth and some in heaven and that there will no longer be any separation of God's location from the location of His people. We will all be together in the new heavens and new earth at that point where we will enjoy eternity together in a place where "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" (Rev 21:4).

Yes amen the disriptions prove that.

Is it just a coincidence that the walls are 144 cubics thick? Would we even need walls? 12x12=144

Is it a coincidence that theres 12 gates & 12 foundations.

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[Truth7t7]

Excellent verses. I can see that Jesus went to prepare a place just after the cross but I don’t see any other verses that describe Him creating a NHNE. If it’s took six days of work to create the first heaven and earth then it’s reasonable to think it would take a similar amount of time to create a NHNE.

When do you see the NHNE being created?

The creation of God in the 7 day week in Genesis was laid out to establish the 7 day week, and the sabbath day of rest, do you believe God is restricted to earthly time to create the NHNE, I don't think so

The NHNE already exist, because his spoken word states such, God is outside of time, Jesus is the Alpha/Omega, the first and the Last, pretty hard for the human mind to grasp but we as humans are catching up to what already exists in his eternal words

Sorta Mind Boggling

 

[Truth7t7]

The heavenly Jerusalem is not a literal city with a literal location. It's a symbolic representation of the new covenant church.

Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

The new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God symbolically represents that the bride/church will no longer be separated with some of us on earth and some in heaven and that there will no longer be any separation of God's location from the location of His people. We will all be together in the new heavens and new earth at that point where we will enjoy eternity together in a place where "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" (Rev 21:4).

Do you believe in a literal New Jerusalem in the NHNE as seen below, or do you believe the throne of God/Jesus and the river and tree of life, the gates and city mentioned is symbolic?

Revelation 21:1-3 & 21-26KJV
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

Revelation 22:1-3KJV
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

 

[Scott Downey]

John 3 and the Bride of the Bridegroom. The bride is the church and the church is made of individual members
Next thing people will say is the city is the church, not the people of the church, and Christ died for the city to bring it to God.


27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’

29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”


The church is the body of Christ
Colossians 1:18
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

Colossians 1:24
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

Romans 12:5
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

 

[Scott Downey]

Next they will say Christ being the head of the body, is like Frankenstein, whose head was transplanted onto a different body.

 

[Scott Downey]

The Bride of Christ - Biblical Meaning of the Church Explained

The Bride of Christ is a prominent symbol and metaphor used in Scripture to describe God’s relationship with his beloved bride, the church. Portrayed as the bridegroom in this relationship, God reveals Himself to be faithful, loving, and committed to a covenant union with his church, comprised...

www.christianity.com

"And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:9)


“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom." (Matthew 25:1)


"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

 

[Scott Downey]

Who is the Bridegroom coming for, the city? OR is he coming back for us.

Matthew 25

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour [b]in which the Son of Man is coming.

 

[Marty fox]

Next they will say Christ being the head of the body, is like Frankenstein, whose head was transplanted onto a different body.

What are you talking about here? Nobody is saying anything like that why would you go there?

The church is the body of Christ His bride and we make up the New Jerusalem

 

[Scott Downey]

What are you talking about here? Nobody is saying anything like that why would you go there?

The church is the body of Christ His bride and we make up the New Jerusalem

Why? because your being ridiculous.

The Bridegroom returns for the Bride, which is His church, made up of individual believers, not a city. And the city is where God and men dwell together.

 

[Marty fox]

Why? because your being ridiculous.

The Bridegroom returns for the Bride, which is His church, made up of individual believers, not a city. And the city is where God and men dwell together.

I quoted John's and the angels words

 

[Scott Downey]

I quoted John's and the angels words

People quote many verses to support their premill theology too.
On ignore.