New Jerusalem's Divine Design

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

(Revelation 21:9-16)

One of the first things we notice about the New Jerusalem is its immense size. The above passage of Scripture describes the city as being laid out as a square, measuring 2,400 kilometres long and 2,400 kilometres wide. These measurements yield a city of approximately 5.7 million square kilometres, roughly half the size of the United States of America, which is enormous for a city. What about its height? The Scripture teaches that its length, breadth, and height are equal. When some read that the city’s height equals its length and breadth, they assume God has made the heavenly city like a giant box, 2,400 kilometres high. However, this is not the case, for God does not dwell in a box—He never has and never will. God does dwell on Mount Zion (Isaiah 8:18), and it is the height of Mount Zion that the Apostle John describes in the above passage. This explains why John says he was carried away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain. In other words, the city of the New Jerusalem is located at the top of Mount Zion, which is why Scripture describes the city as being on the sides of the north of Mount Zion (Psalm 48:2). As mentioned earlier, when discussing the size of the new earth, Mount Zion, at 2,400 kilometres high, will be the highest mountain on the new earth. It will have a vast plateau at its peak, capable of accommodating the heavenly city of Jerusalem.

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

(Revelation 4:2-6)

At the very centre of the New Jerusalem will be the throne of God. Due to its elevation within the city, His throne will be visible from every part of the city. The above passage of Scripture provides a brief description of the throne of God and its surroundings as they currently exist in heaven, with one missing detail: our Lord Jesus is now seated on His throne at the right hand of God (Hebrews 12:2). As mentioned earlier, a veil currently separates God from the rest of His creation. However, when God brings the New Jerusalem down from heaven, that veil will be removed, and we will see Him face to face. The sea of glass before the throne, as mentioned in this passage, is the area where God’s creation will gather to worship before Him in the age to come.

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

(Revelation 8:3-4)

Another aspect of the area around the throne of God is His altar. The above passage describes the altar that stands in the presence of God. This same altar will continue to stand before God throughout eternity, and the prayers of the saints and the children of God will continue to be offered on that altar before Him as incense.

"For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the Lord, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the Lord.

(Isaiah 66:22-23)

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

(Revelation 4:6)

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

(Revelation 15:2)

We have already examined the above passages of Scripture to show that all of God’s creation will stand before His throne on the sea of glass to worship Him. In this section, discussing the design of the New Jerusalem, we focus on the dimensions of this area around the throne. An area of approximately 20,000 square kilometres will be needed to accommodate a multitude of roughly 60 billion people standing around the throne of God and the Lamb to worship before the Lord. To provide perspective, this means the person standing at the back of the crowd will be approximately 70 kilometres from the throne of God. God will ensure that He is clearly seen and heard by all His creation, so the distance from the throne will not be an issue. Regarding the design of the New Jerusalem, these dimensions of the inner court area provide a clearer picture of what the city will look like.

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)

We have already examined this passage earlier, but it is quoted again here to confirm that the residences of the saints will account for most, if not all, of the buildings in the heavenly city. As previously stated, God the Father has already built all the residences in the city, and our Lord Jesus is currently putting the finishing touches on each residence based on the good works done by the saints in this life. Based on an estimated population of 300 million saints, each residence will be located on a property of approximately 4 acres. Each residence will be surrounded by a perfect garden, continually in full bloom.

Michael E.B. Maher

The End of the Age

Buy Now

Donate

Payoneer