In this section we want to discuss who will inhabit the New Jerusalem. On this point, I need to state from the outset that at this present time, no one resides in the heavenly city, for God is still preparing the city (i.e. putting in the finishing touches) for His people, and the city will only be revealed in its completed state at the end of the age (Revelation 21:2). And so, other than the apostle John, God has shown no one what the heavenly city looks like. And even John, was not allowed to reveal very much detail about what he saw, which is why we have very little information given to us in scripture, about what the New Jerusalem is actually like. And so, it is only at the end of the age that the New Jerusalem will be revealed to the saints, and also be occupied by them for the very first time. Sadly on this point, many deceivers have made a lot of money, by lying about their so called visits to the New Jerusalem, and then writing books to describe their fantasies of what the New Jerusalem is like. Nevertheless, each one will be held to account on that day.
Revelation 21:3 “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.”
Revelation 21:22 “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
Revelation 4:2-5 “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. … (5) 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.”
The first and foremost inhabitants of the New Jerusalem are God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The first passage quoted above, very clearly states that God will dwell with men. This passage is referring to God the Father, and in context, it is referring to God the Father dwelling in the New Jerusalem. The second passage quoted, refers to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, for Jesus is the Lamb of God. The context of this passage also refers to both the Father and the Son dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem. The third passage quoted, 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, for as does the Lord Jesus, so the Holy Spirit always abides with God. And so, very clearly from these passages, we can see that in the New Jerusalem, that for the first time in all of God’s creation, that mankind will actually dwell in the physical presence of Almighty God.
Michael E.B. Maher
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