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A SYSTEMATIC STUDY IN BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

CHAPTER X

-THE ETERNAL KINGDOM-

“(WHO) says of Cyrus (Refiner, Furnace), He is My Shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasures, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.” (Isa.44:28)

“I have raised Him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all His ways: He shall build My city, and He shall let My exiles go free...” (Isa.45:13; Ref. Jn.14:1-4; Isa.61:1; Lu.4:18)

“In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” (Jn.14:2)

The picture given in these Scriptures has a shadowy reflection of that of Jesus, the Master Builder.  Which is completely consistent with the Scriptures of Rev.21 and 22, where we see the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God [pre-built].  The fulfillment of the city that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were looking for: A heavenly city whose builder and maker was God. [Heb.11:10]  This city that Abraham looked for also had foundations: Twelve foundations named for the twelve apostles. [Rev.21:14]

Could the city that is being described in Rev.21:11-21 be the same city that we see being described in Ezekiel chapters 40-48?  It would appear that this is highly probable in the pictorial sense. 

The measuring line shall go out further—it shall not be plucked up. [Jer.31:38-40]  

For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come. [Heb.13:14] 

The new Jerusalem, Rev.21:9-22:5 / Ezek.40:1-48:35, the capital of the new earth.

-New earth parallels found in the Old Testament and in the New Testament-

The new earth parallels that are found in the Old and the New Testaments, truly highlights some revealing aspects of the Eternal Kingdom: Facts that should cause us to believe that these two pictures are pointing to the same time frame in God's eternal blueprint.

(1)  New earth conditions. (Isa.65:17a / Rev.21:1 and 2; and 2Pe.3:13)

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth...”

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: For the first heaven and first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.” 

“And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”

“But, according to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.”

(2)  Waters of life flow from God's throne. (Ezek.47:1-11/Rev.22:1)

“Behold, waters (of life) flowed out from under the threshold of the house eastward...” (v.8: Healing waters)

“And he showed me a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb...”

(3) The holy city will be four square. (Ezek.48:20/Rev.21:16a)

“All the oblation shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand: You shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possessions of the city.”

“And the city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its width...”

(4)  The tree of life grows next to the river. (Ezek.47:12/Rev.22:2-3)

(a) “And by the river upon its banks, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall its fruit fail: It shall (b) bring forth new fruit every month, because of the waters that issue out of the sanctuary; and (c) the fruit thereof shall be for food, and (d) the leaves thereof for healing.”

(a) “And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, (b) yielding its fruit every month: and (d) the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: And His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face; and His name shall be (written) on their foreheads.”

(5)  The gates of the city will not be shut. (Isa.60:11a/Rev.21:25)

“(Your) gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night...”

“The gates thereof shall not be shut by day (for there shall be no night there)...”

(6)  God and Jesus light the city. (Isa.60:19, 20/Rev.21:23; and 22:5)

“The sun shall be no more your light of day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you: But Jehovah will be unto you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.”

“(For) THE CITY has no need of sun, neither of moon to shine upon it.  For the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.”

“There shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: And they shall reign for ever and ever.”

(7)  The city has twelve gates named for the twelve tribes of Israel. (Ezek.48:30-35/Rev.21:12 and 13)

“And these are the egresses of the city: On the north side four thousand five hundred reeds by measure; and the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: The gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.  And at the east side four thousand five hundred reeds, and three gates: Even the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.  And the south side four thousand five hundred reeds by measure, and three gates: The gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one. At the west side four thousand five hundred reeds, with their three gates: The gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; (and) the gate of Naphtali, one.  It shall be eighteen thousand reeds round about: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah is there.” (Jehovah-Shammah)

“Having a wall great and high; having 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: On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.”

(8)  In the new city, there will be no more hunger, thirst, or tears.

(Isa.49:10/Rev.7:16 and 17; and 21:4a)

“They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: For He that has mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water will He guide them.”

“They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat: For the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their Shepherd, and shall guide them to fountains of waters of life: And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

“And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes...”

(9)  God will dwell with man. (Ezek.37:27-28; 48:35; Zech.14:9/Rev.21:3) (Jehovah-Shammah)

“My tabernacle also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  And the nations shall know that I am Jehovah that sanctified Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever more. The name of the city from that day shall be Jehovah is there.”

“And Jehovah shall be King over all the earth: In that day shall Jehovah be One, and His name One.” (Ezek.48:35; Zech.14:9)

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them...”

(10) Only those written in the book of life may enter the city. (Isa.4:3/Rev.22:14    Ref. Rev.21:27)

“And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, that remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written (unto life).”     

“Blessed are they that washed their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by way of the gate into the city.” (Only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life can enter.)

(11) Worship will be mandatory. (Isa.66:22-23; 60:12; and Zech.14:16 and 17/ Rev.21:26)

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, says Jehovah, so shall > your seed and your name remain.” 

“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, says Jehovah.”     

“They shall bring the glory and honor of the nations unto (the city)...”

The worship of the King, Jehovah of Hosts, is mandatory upon the new earth.  For those who fail to come to Jerusalem to worship, we read:

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of Hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.  And it shall be, that whoever of all the families of the earth that go not up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of Hosts, upon them there shall be no rain...  (This is the plague that Jehovah will smite those that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”  [Zech.14:16-18]

“For that nation and kingdom that will not serve You shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly (dried up) wasted.” [Isa.60:12])

-New earth conditions - Overview-

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come to mind.  (But you), be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My People; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying.  There shall be no more then an infant of days, nor an old man that has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall  not plant, and another eat...  My elect shall long enjoy the works of  their hands.  They shall not labor in vain... > for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.  And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food.  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain, says Jehovah.” (Isa.65:17-25;  Ref. Isa.11:6-9)

“I Jesus have sent My angel to testify unto you these things for the churches.  I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright, the Morning Star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, come!  And he that hears, let him say, come!  And he that is thirsty, let him come: He that will, let him take of the water of life freely.” (Rev.22:16 and 17)      

See-ESCHATOLOGY OVERVIEW /WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO RAPPROCHEMENT ESCHATOLOGY