Finally, Revelation has a new Jerusalem, where there would be no suffering or death. God would dwell with humans in this new Jerusalem. There was a long description of this new Jerusalem in Revelation. There would be a a river of life and trees of life. The curse of sin would come to an end. Is this a description of heaven?
new Jerusalem
The conversation about measuring Jerusalem (Zech 2:2-2:5)
“Then I said.
‘Where are you going?’
He answered me.
‘To measure Jerusalem!
To see what is its width!
To see what is its length!’
Then the angel,
Who talked with me,
Came forward.
Another angel
Also came forward
To meet him.
He said to him.
‘Run!
Say to that young man!
Jerusalem shall be inhabited
Like villages without walls,
Because of the multitude
Of people,
As well as animals
In it.’
‘I will be
A wall of fire
All around it.’
Says Yahweh.
‘I will be the glory
within it.’”
Zechariah then questioned the man with the measuring cord in his hand. He responded that he was going to measure Jerusalem to find out its width and length. The angel that had been talking to Zechariah heard from another angel that the new Jerusalem would not need walls, because so many people and animals would be there. Instead, Yahweh would provide protection with a wall of fire all around it, like a ring of fire. Yahweh was going to bring glory to Jerusalem, because he was going to bring his glory to Jerusalem.
The holy portion of the land (Ezek 45:1-45:1)
“When you allot the land
As an inheritance,
You shall set apart
For Yahweh
A portion of the land
As a holy district,
Twenty-five thousand cubits long,
Twenty thousand cubits wide.
It shall be holy
Throughout its entire extent.”
Here is the grand design for the new Jerusalem. Yahweh wanted Ezekiel to set aside a large portion of the land to be holy, a true holy land. This was the expectation of a new configuration for Jerusalem, the holy city, not just the Temple itself. This rectangular area was about 25,000 by 20,000 cubits, a large section of land about 9 miles by 8 miles wide. How he was going to get this really big area was not clear.
Peaceful times (Isa 65:24-65:25)
“‘Before they call,
I will answer.
While they are yet speaking,
I will hear.
The wolf shall feed together
With the lamb.
The lion shall eat straw
Like the ox.
But the serpent’s food shall be dust.
They shall not hurt.
They shall not destroy anyone
On my holy mountain.’
Says Yahweh.”
Everything will be wonderful in the New Jerusalem. Yahweh, in the first person singular, says that he will answer before they call. He will hear them while they are still speaking. The wolf and the lamb would eat together, while the lions would eat straw like oxen. However, the food for the serpent would be dust. They will not hurt or destroy anyone on his holy mountain.
The happy people in Jerusalem (Isa 65:21-65:23)
“They shall build houses.
They shall inhabit them.
They shall plant vineyards.
They shall eat their fruit.
They shall not build
With another inhabit it.
They shall not plant
With another eat it.
Like the days of a tree
Shall the days of my people be.
My chosen ones shall long enjoy
The work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain.
They shall not bear children for calamity.
They shall be offspring
Blessed by Yahweh.
Their descendants shall be blessed
With them.”
Everyone will be happy in this new Jerusalem. When they build a house, they will live there, since no one else will live there. If they plant vineyards, they will enjoy their fruit, since no one else will enjoy their crop. Their lives will be long like the days of a large tree. They will benefit from their own work. They will not labor in vain. Their children will not have misfortunes because they and their children will be blessed by Yahweh.
The new people of Jerusalem (Isa 54:13-54:14)
“All your children
Shall be taught
By Yahweh.
Great shall be the prosperity
Of your children.
In righteousness,
You shall be established.
You shall be far from oppression.
You shall not fear.
Terror shall not come near you.
If anyone stirs up strife,
It is not from me.
Whoever stirs up strife
With you
Shall fall
Because of you.”
Second Isaiah says the children at the new Jerusalem will be taught directly by Yahweh. They will have great prosperity. Righteousness shall prevail. There will be no oppression, fear, or terror because of the established righteousness of this city and its people. However, there is a caution. If anyone stirs up strife, it is their own fault. Yahweh will not stir up any arguments. If they are not righteous, they will have to take care of it themselves.
The jeweled bride (Isa 49:17-49:18)
“Your builders outstrip your destroyers.
Those who laid you waste,
Go away from you.
Lift up your eyes all around you!
See!
They all gather,
They come to you.
Says Yahweh.
‘As I live,
You shall put all of them on
Like an ornament.
You shall bind them on
Like a bride.’”
Second Isaiah has the many builders outnumbering the few disappearing destroyers in the New Jerusalem. He wanted them to look all around. They would all come together. This New Jerusalem would be like a bride with many ornaments and jewels all over it.
The cornerstone of justice at Zion (Isa 28:16-28:16)
“Therefore thus says Yahweh God.
‘See!
I am laying in Zion
A foundation stone,
A tested stone,
A precious cornerstone,
A sure foundation.
‘One who trusts
Will not panic.’
I will make
Justice the line
With righteousness the plummet.’”
Yahweh, via Isaiah, says that he is going to lay a new tested foundation as the precious cornerstone in Zion. People who trust in Yahweh will not panic. The line and the plummet lead bob for this construction of the new Jerusalem will be justice and righteousness.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 