The New Jerusalem - Messianic Revelation Teaching

The New Jerusalem - Messianic Revelation Teaching

This teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, likely delivered by Matthew Vander Els, delves into the profound and symbolic meaning of the New Jerusalem as depicted in the Book of Revelation. The message emphasizes that understanding this vision is not just about a future reality, but also about how believers should live in the present. The core of the teaching revolves around the interpretation of Revelation as a letter of resistance and encouragement to early Christians facing persecution from worldly empires, urging them to maintain their loyalty to Jesus Christ.

Understanding Revelation's Genre and Purpose

The speaker highlights that Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse of John, is written in the apocalyptic genre, which is characterized by explosive and vibrant symbolism intended to reveal deeper spiritual truths rather than literal events. The letter was meant to encourage believers to solidify their allegiance to Jesus as the true king, even when faced with trials from earthly powers. Despite the appearances of a world in chaos, the message is that Jesus, or Yeshua, is on the throne and in control. The term "apocalypsis" itself means a revealing of what is actually happening in the spiritual realm. The journey through Revelation reveals that the conquering Lion of Judah is, in fact, a slain Lamb who achieved victory through the shedding of blood, calling its followers to overcome in the same way.

The Vision of a New Creation

The teaching then focuses on Revelation 21, which presents the final vision of a new creation. John sees a new heaven and a new earth, with the former having passed away. A common misconception is that God will simply discard the old earth and create a completely new one. However, the speaker argues that the biblical narrative suggests a resurrection or renewal of the existing creation. Drawing on the Greek word "ekinos," which means new in quality rather than time, the new heaven and new earth represent the perfected vision of God's original creation in Genesis, where God intended to dwell with humanity. This renewed Edenic vision involves God bringing heaven down to earth, rather than believers escaping earth to go to heaven.

Interestingly, John notes that there is no more sea in this new creation. Symbolically, in Revelation 13, the sea is depicted as the cosmic origin of evil and chaos. In the Old Testament, the sea also represents a place of death and the chaotic waters where mythological monsters like Leviathan reside. Therefore, the absence of the sea signifies the removal of all disorder and chaos that opposes God's dwelling with humanity. Another interpretation suggests that the sea's absence signifies the destruction of Babylon's economic system, which relied heavily on sea trade and the importation of luxury goods. In contrast, the New Jerusalem's blessings come from within, such as the life-giving river and the tree of life.

This vision of new creation aligns with Old Testament prophecies, particularly Isaiah 65:17, which speaks of God creating new heavens and a new earth where former things will not be remembered. The context in Isaiah describes a restored Israel in a restored creation, filled with joy and gladness, where death and violence are eliminated, and the harmony of Eden is restored, even to the point where a lion will eat straw like an ox.

The New Jerusalem: Bride and Temple

John's vision continues with the descent of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, from heaven. This city is described with specific measurements: 12,000 stadia in length, height, and width, forming a perfect cube. It has twelve gates, each bearing the name of a tribe of Israel, and its walls are immense. Notably, the city's perfect cube shape echoes the dimensions of the Most Holy Place in Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 6:19), the dwelling place of God's presence. The city's measurements and the twelve gates, representing the twelve tribes, further emphasize its connection to the people of God.

The New Jerusalem is also depicted as the bride of the Lamb. While Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 and Ephesians 5 refers to believers as the bride of Christ, John sees the city itself adorned like a bride. This symbolic representation suggests that the New Jerusalem is not just a physical location but embodies the people of God, collectively representing all nations, tongues, tribes, and peoples loyal to the Lamb. The city is also portrayed as the temple, the dwelling place of God's spirit among humanity.

Contrasting with Babylon: A Worldly System

In stark contrast to the New Jerusalem is the city of Babylon, described as the harlot of Revelation. Babylon represents a corrupt worldly system characterized by wealth, luxury, and the exploitation of others. Its adornments of fine linen, purple, scarlet, gold, precious stones, and pearls symbolize its economic power and the world's allure to its riches. The merchants of the earth mourn its destruction because their trade, including that of luxurious goods and even human lives, ceases.

The teaching cautions against simplistic interpretations of Babylon, such as identifying it with specific individuals or organizations based on their attire. Instead, Babylon is presented as a spirit, an ungodly economic system personified, driven by the pursuit of wealth at the expense of justice and the exploitation of the vulnerable. This imagery draws from Ezekiel's descriptions of Tyre (Ezekiel 27-28), a wealthy city that embodied a similar system.

Living as Citizens of the New Jerusalem Today

The implication of this "new creation now" is that believers are called to live as citizens of the New Jerusalem in the midst of the world. This involves embodying the values and characteristics of this holy city: a place of light where darkness, lies, and impurity cannot enter. Just as the New Jerusalem's gates are always open to welcome the nations to give glory to the Lamb, believers should approach others with mercy, grace, and forgiveness, recognizing that they are seeing people enslaved by sin, not enemies.

Application for Everyday Life

• Cultivate Loyalty to Christ: In every decision and challenge, prioritize your allegiance to Jesus above worldly pressures.
• Embrace the Reality of New Creation: Recognize that through faith in Jesus, you are part of a new creation now, not just in the future.
• Live with Hope: Let the hope of the coming New Jerusalem drive your actions and interactions, knowing the ultimate victory belongs to God.
• Reflect the Light of God: Strive to live a life characterized by truth, justice, and love, mirroring the nature of the New Jerusalem.
• Examine Your Worship: Evaluate where you invest your time, money, and energy, as this reveals what truly holds worth in your life.
• Resist the Spirit of Babylon: Be mindful of worldly systems that prioritize wealth and luxury at the expense of others, and choose a different path.
• Extend Mercy and Grace: See others through the lens of the cross, recognizing their enslavement to sin and offering compassion.
• Reject Vices Opposed to God's Kingdom: Actively work to eliminate lies, fear-driven compromises, immorality, and misplaced worship from your life.
• Be an Ambassador of God's Kingdom: Live in a way that demonstrates the reality of God's reign and the hope of the New Jerusalem to those around you.
• Seek God's Presence: Just as the New Jerusalem is the dwelling place of God, cultivate a personal relationship with Him through prayer and seeking His Spirit.

In conclusion, the teaching encourages believers to live in the present with the hope and reality of the New Jerusalem, understanding that this future city of God casts its light and influence into their lives now. By aligning their hearts and actions with the King and His coming kingdom, they can experience a foretaste of this new creation and be effective ambassadors of God's love and truth in a world still influenced by the spirit of Babylon.

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