Thoughts upon the New Jerusalem

This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. – Acts‬ ‭1:10-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. – Revelation‬ ‭21:2-3 ESV

God is a governing force, and all men as well as all creation willingly submit to governance whether it be through man, Nature, or God. All creation submits to something. No man is an island and not one thing is isolate, alone, or disconnected from all other things. We are one unit of creation which God alone controls. Many men, beasts, and forces attempt for however long to instill their own form of governance upon others, themselves, or perhaps even the entire world, or all of creation. It is not real. It will not last. We are not in control. 

The concept and visualization of the New Jerusalem has perplexed and confounded me for quite some time – decades at this point. The Christian eschatology is fascinating to me largely because it is so seemingly mysterious and ambiguous. One would think the ultimate destiny and conclusion of mankind and creation with God would be the most important point to hone in on, state clearly, and without confusion. And yet here we are now with   thousands of years and a long, sordid history of many, many peoples continually attempting to understand, proclaim, and declare this is the end. This is the moment. This is Christ returned. The New Jerusalem. Personally I think very, very few people understand or have ever understood what exactly this all means. We know Jesus himself also did not have the full understanding of it for he literally told us that. 

But living in today’s world I am beginning to understand the New Jerusalem. Just as Jesus Christ could not resurrect without his crucifixion so too must we live under great tyranny in order to awaken into the New Jerusalem. Many have lived in the holy city that is the New Jerusalem for thousands of years going all the way back to Adam and Eve – the first of these men. But today we are witnessing and will continue to witness the liberation of great masses as they too walk across the golden thresholds into the glimmering New Jerusalem. There is no end or limit to this blessing. The city is always available, open to those who show their credentials, their documented proofs of who they are and of what citizenship they too claim. Our heritage is one of greatness as the Lord has said only God is great. And His city too is such. It is a city of majestic freedom with shimmering golden streets, resplendent walls, and comforting buildings. We walk the streets joyful, each of us unveiled before those among us, complete, together, more than sufficient. This world can not contain the New Jerusalem, but the New Jerusalem can certainly contain this world. For this is the Christ’s Plan all along. The complete message and being of Christ, the Logos, from before creation, beyond all things as well as beyond the nothing. The great temple that has stood upon this earth is reborn, revitalized anew and is with us again in the New Jerusalem. Nothing is the same here. All is recognized, all is known, all is renewed. A direct, full emanation, God being completely among us, with us, as us, unmasked and fully revealed. For God’s complete being is God’s complete governing. He is King. We then all live golden and good again. God the Father rules steady and true always forever as Christ presides over our proceedings; all our matters and affairs He handles and administers. There is no problem too great for Him or for us and this marks the founding of the new city – the New Jerusalem. Everyone wishes to enter but not all can simply because not all will.

There are many variations of this unwillingness, each unique in its deception and lie, but all the same in being simply not enough. God shall not be mocked nor abused for He governs the New Jerusalem. And this is precisely why Christianity is steeped in mystery. Jesus spoke to many in parables and to many others he spoke not at all, but now we know and have known for many years. The time has come to understand, finally, and to live through that understanding with our experience, our vision, our perception and sense. Again it is not for all, indeed probably not for many, and yet even still many are now entering the good city. More than perhaps ever before for the Lord has come again. His lightness is heavy upon our hearts. He impresses upon us again as we are squeezed like grapes in a press. Our suffering is our salvation. How else can it be? Is there any other way after He showed us? The time has finally come for all of us to see a numerous few walk within the stately walls of the New Jerusalem. Many will know for all will see. Indeed they are seeing it as this is written. As you read these words the city has descended. It has emerged out of the ether like a great whale rising to the surface of the water. It is here. He is here. Life is before us. Praise be to those who transform their witness into walking. The Lord has much more than a manger in the New Jerusalem and as such we too can find refuge, slumber, and rest there. The weight and pain of this world is nothing at all compared to the luxuries the Lord provides! It is forevermore. It is golden. It is great. 

God is the most true and straight and just. He is our one true Lord and the only one we can completely honor, respect, and trust. Nothing else compares. All fall short. God alone completes all things anew. And as one resides in His Kingdom more too shall immigrate. The population is growing now. The city is beginning to bustle. The New Jerusalem is here. And as each one lives with Him all others, however few they may be, can be seen as well. Our community is strong though it may be small.

The blessings pour forth continually like a strong river through mountains. The earth, whatever she may be, is born again, renewed in the Spirit, renewed by the Spirit, and because of that we are all blessed again. Blessings upon blessings enumerate themselves for us continually. And as a citizen of the New Jerusalem there are responsibilities we always meet head on completely. For all is fulfilled in Christ as all is fulfilled by Christ. We find our salvation through Him. He is our blessing. We are the benefactors. The city is now ours too. When the weights of this world become too much for you to bear then you can walk freely into the New. The city awaits, majestic, towering, high on the hill for all to see even from a great distance. The climb may be steep, painful, and jarring but in time it can be made. It has been made before and therefore it shall be made again. Find your way and the city shall arise before you. All is available. Nothing is ever held back except by our own devices and machinations. We alone stand before the holy gates as we alone stop ourselves from entering. Those who learn to enter the city, enter the city. It is mysterious because it is mysterious. Known to those knowing. Alive to those living. Witnessed by those who have witnessed. It cannot be another way for God is truly.
 
There is no allegiance more uniform, sanctified, and holy than God’s. Ours alone is a great suffering which culminates to a great awakening. In the world’s frenzy for power, unknowingly, they usher in the Golden Age of the Christ. The great seals are unraveling, the scrolls are being read again, and the Lord has returned, once again, as always, He brings with Him a new world order, the real order, the New Jerusalem. All are able to enter. Already a large group of the few walk the golden streets. Many more may enter if they so choose, and eventually all will choose, all will enter. But today is the day we live and today is the day we must step forth. The choice is simple enough – pack up your belongings, the few we all have, and move everything to the New Jerusalem. Take up residence here. Sleep here. Wake up here. Enjoy the sun rising upon this holy city. Break bread here and drink the wine. Let us live out our lives here within the walls of the New Jerusalem so that when we eventually do pass away from this world our place beyond is already prepared, our home standing strong, a warm fire within, piping hot bread, good wine on the table. Then we will be ready, waiting for our grand communion in our resurrected bodies alive and ascending the New Jerusalem.