New Jerusalem's Divine Inhabitants

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 21:3)

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

(Revelation 21:22)

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. … 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.

(Revelation 4:2-5)

In this section, we will discuss who will inhabit the New Jerusalem. From the outset, it must be stated that, at present, no one resides in the heavenly city, for God is still preparing the city (i.e., putting on the finishing touches) for His people. The city will only be revealed in its completed state at the end of the age (Revelation 21:2). Thus, other than the apostle John, no one has been shown what the heavenly city looks like. Even John was not permitted to reveal much detail about what he saw, which is why Scripture provides little information about the New Jerusalem. It is only at the end of the age that the New Jerusalem will be revealed to the saints and occupied by them for the first time. Sadly, many deceivers have profited by falsely claiming to have visited the New Jerusalem and writing books to describe their fantasies of what it is like. Nevertheless, each one will be held accountable on that day.

The primary inhabitants of the New Jerusalem are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The first passage quoted above clearly states that God will dwell with men. This passage refers to God the Father and, in context, to His dwelling in the New Jerusalem. The second passage refers to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, for Jesus is the Lamb of God. This passage also confirms that both the Father and the Son will dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem. The third passage refers to the seven Spirits of God, which is the Holy Spirit. In this passage, we see the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, indicating that, like the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit always abides with God. Thus, these passages clearly show that, in the New Jerusalem, for the first time in all of God’s creation, mankind will dwell in the physical presence of Almighty God.

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.

(Revelation 4:4)

Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; For the Lord of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously.

(Isaiah 24:23)

The second category of individuals who will reside in the New Jerusalem is the twenty-four elders. As the first passage quoted above reveals, these elders are permanently seated on thrones around the throne of God. The second passage refers to God’s reign in the New Jerusalem and indicates that the twenty-four elders will remain present before God in the heavenly city. Although Scripture does not reveal who these individuals are, we know they are not men descended from Adam, as they were seated in the presence of God before Jesus presented His atoning blood to the Father for the sins of mankind (Revelation 5:8).

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders.

(Psalms 107:31-32)

Scripture does not reveal when God created the elders seated before Him in heaven, but it seems they have been in God’s presence from eternity. The passage quoted above, written roughly a thousand years before Jesus came to earth, mentions that when men gave thanks and exalted the Lord in the assembly of the people, they did so in the company of the elders, indicating that the elders were already present before God at that time.

Michael E.B. Maher

The End of the Age

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