Hebrews 11:8-16 “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. (9) 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; (10) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. … (13) 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. (14) For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (15) And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) 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.”
The New Jerusalem is the city of God. God Himself has both designed it and He has built it. And so, as God is perfect, so the city that He has built is also perfect. In the above passage of scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that from its foundations to its pinnacle, the builder and maker of the heavenly city, is God Himself. That same passage goes on to say; 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, nevertheless God has already completed the city of the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:2-3 “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) 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.”
The New Jerusalem is currently being reserved in heaven, for the saints. The above 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, in this passage we see that the city will come from God, and that the city has been prepared by God.
Michael E.B. Maher
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