New Jerusalem's Divine Design

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. … These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

(Hebrews 11:8-16)

The New Jerusalem is the city of God. God Himself has designed and built it. As God is perfect, so the city He has built is also perfect. In this passage of Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches that from its foundations to its pinnacle, the builder and maker of the heavenly city is God Himself. The same passage states that God has (past tense) prepared the city for us. In other words, even though the new heavens and the new earth have not yet been created, God has already completed the city of New Jerusalem.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

(Revelation 21:2-3)

The New Jerusalem is currently reserved in heaven for the saints. This passage of Scripture describes the future event when that city will descend from heaven to the new earth that God the Father will create. Again, we see that the city comes from God and has been prepared by God.

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

(John 14:2-3)

In this passage, when He speaks of His Father’s house, our Lord Jesus refers to the heavenly city of New Jerusalem. The word translated “mansions” in this passage can more accurately be translated as “dwellings” or “residences.” Thus, Jesus explains that the city comprises many residences. He then states that He is preparing a place for each of His saints. This does not mean that Jesus adds a new residence to the city for every saint who enters the kingdom, as all the residences are already in place. Jesus confirms this truth in this passage, stating, “In My Father’s house are (present tense) many residences, and I am going to prepare one of them for each one of you.” In other words, from eternity, God has built each residence for each of His saints when He originally designed and built the city. Currently, Jesus is making each residence individually suitable for each saint, or, in other words, putting the finishing touches on each saint’s residence in the eternal city.

So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."

(Matthew 20:23)

As we examine the heavenly city in more detail, we will see that it contains not only residences but also thrones. In this passage of Scripture, our Lord Jesus alludes to two of the thrones when He speaks of who will be seated at His right hand and on His left. In context, James and John had asked Him if they could be seated on His right hand and on His left in His kingdom. The point I wish to highlight from this passage, however, is that God the Father has already preordained which saint will be seated on which throne in eternity, which is why Jesus said He did not have the authority to assign those positions. Thus, just as God the Father has preordained which saints will sit on which thrones in the heavenly city, He has also preordained which residence each saint will occupy in the heavenly city.

Michael E.B. Maher

The End of the Age

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