(By Asher Intrater) Three times in the book of Revelation it is stated that heavenly Jerusalem descends from heaven. To the faithful at the church in Philadelphia, identified as a great example of a church, God promised:
Revelation 3:12
“I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.” At the founding of the new heaven and new earth at the end of the millennium, John foresees the new Jerusalem as well. The Jerusalem of above is the dwelling place of all the angels who stayed loyal to God, and of the spirits of godly men and women who have passed away. Since the international community of people who believe in Yeshua, that is, the church, is called the bride of Messiah (Eph. 5), so also heavenly Jerusalem is called here a “bride,” since that is where the people are:
Revelation 21:2-3
“… the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Look! The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. They shall be His people …” The descent of the New Jerusalem is a joining together of the dwelling places of God and man into one. Most of chapter 21 is dedicated to describing this heavenly dwelling place. It is the final restoration of the Garden of Eden, the ultimate marriage of the Lamb and the total reconciliation between God and mankind. CONTINUE
