The City of God: Heavenly Jerusalem
Revelation 21
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
There is majestic city in the northern realm of this stratosphere. It is God’s Eternal City and its majesty is indescribable in our English language. Apostle Paul was caught up to visit this city and was not allowed to tell the sights he saw. The only reason had to be God’s desire for us to serve Him, not just want to visit His glorious realm. I have personally asked to visit that great city so I could return to tell the story. So far I have been denied. Believe me, we are talking about a city so far beyond our minds that this world’s most beautiful sight is far inferior.
Imagine the day when God’s New Heaven and New Earth are all redeemed and purified in the same glory. The cheap beauty of human hands will be forever vanished. Human efforts to beautify their bodies will finally be seen as cheap carnality. Our redeemed temples will all be nothing but sheer beauty. I beg of all my reader to start living for the future glory and give up the cheap life of our world system. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
The Central Court of God’s Glorious Kingdom, the most Majestic place in the entire Universe, is the Temple of God in Heavenly Jerusalem. As David suggested, there are many Ivory Palaces in God’s Homeland. The Temple, where God’s throne and altar are located and where Christ sits on His Father’s Right Hand, is most Holy and absolutely Grand. This Temple has been given little attention in Scripture because the Bible focuses primarily on redemption. God’s eternal glory and riches do not need defending nor even glorifying because He exists in a realm outside the limits of our understanding. The Psalmist David wrote by the Holy Spirit, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” (Psalms 48:1-2)
Apostle John’s vision of the Heavenly Temple is a spectacular part of this Masterpiece Book called Revelation. To view this open Temple is evidence that the Tribulation period is coming to completion. I believe this open Temple will be seen from the earth and will strike terror in the minds of the Antichrist crowd. “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory (SHEKINAH) of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” (Revelation 15:5-8)
Psalm 48
1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
I personally believe that this is a distinct order of Angels. They should be called the Melchizedek Priesthood. There are clearly five orders of angels: Archangels, Cherubim, Seraphims, Priestly angels, and Servant angels. These seven angels that are seen in these chapters are of the order of Priestly angels. Melchizedek was the High Priest of their order and descended to minister to Abraham, to serve him communion in the prophetic assurance of the coming Christ. This order of the priesthood is higher in authority than the Levitical priesthood because it is a Heavenly order. This is the reason why Jesus Christ was a priest after the order of the Melchizedek priesthood and not the order of the Levitical priesthood.“For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 7:14-17)
This Heavenly temple is as superior to Solomon’s temple as the city of Heavenly Jerusalem is superior to earthly Jerusalem. Solomon’s temple was worth billions of dollars and was absolutely the richest Temple or structure ever built. Yet, it pales before God’s Heavenly Temple. New Jerusalem will be even greater in worth and larger in size. It is the only Scriptural reference (1500 Miles square and high) that has been described in the Holy Bible. This city actually incorporates the Temple that has been merged together to become the home of the Bride for eternity. The Temple and New Jerusalem will be a part of each other. The Priestly angels have accomplished their worship in this temple since they were created – a length of time that we have no means to measure. The overcomers, the Elders that will become His army, His kings, and His priests, will soon be His Bride. As His Bride, we will be pillars in His eternal Temple. “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:12)
Ezekiel 40
1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the Lord was upon me, and brought me thither.
2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
These seven priestly angels, united together will begin the proceedings as seen by John. It was an awesome display of power and authority. The attire of their priestly garments from this majestic Temple, the very central location of the Father’s throne and dwelling, together was beyond description. John did not try to explain the incredible drama. This is probably the same reason Paul states that it was not lawful to describe such a vision to fallen man. (2 Corinthians 12:4) Paul mentioned that this scene is reserved for the occasion that John is writing about and cannot be told until we view it in the day of perfect fullness. That was God’s rule of disclosure. Those Temple angelic priests in their attire have never been seen except in the revelations that John and Paul were privileged to see. But we will see them at the right moment. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (I Corinthians 13:12)
John 14
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
They have in their possession “the last plagues” to fill up the wrath of God. Sin has done its damage beyond explanation. Human suffering because of sin is an unexplainable mountain of sorrows. Every wrecked life, every broken home, every soul destined for the Lake of Fire, and every sorrow is contained in the winepress. It must be accounted for in the last expression of wrath. Even the sorrows of Christ’s life and death and His sacrifice to redeem will be accounted in the final acts of cleansing and purification. This Heavenly Temple is the seat of God’s Holiness. Every expression of these Priestly Angels is the rectifying of all blasphemy and abomination. When they finish their action the earth will be ready for the finishing of all Redemption. The Final Return of Jesus Christ to rule this earth is soon to follow.