Location of the New Jerusalem in Revelation
The New Jerusalem is depicted in the Book of Revelation as a holy city that descends "out of heaven from God" [1, 2, 4]. This imagery suggests a divine origin and a celestial nature, distinguishing it from earthly cities. John, the author of Revelation, describes seeing this city "prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband" [4].
The concept of the New Jerusalem is introduced in Revelation 3:12, where it is promised to those who overcome, stating, "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, and my own new name" [2]. Later, in Revelation 21:2, John explicitly states, "I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God" [1]. This descent from heaven is a key aspect of its location and nature.
The New Jerusalem is distinct from the earthly city of Jerusalem, which is a historical location in Judea, known for its elevation and its significance as a "mountain city" [3, 5]. The earthly Jerusalem has been called "the city of God" and "the holy city" [5], and its name itself means "possession of peace" or "foundation of peace," possibly referring to the two mountains, Zion and Moriah, on which it was built [5]. However, the New Jerusalem in Revelation is consistently described as originating from heaven [6].
Commentators emphasize this distinction. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note that the "descent of the new Jerusalem out of heaven is plainly distinct from the earthly Jerusalem" [6]. John Gill identifies the New Jerusalem with "the church of God," encompassing "all the elect of God, the whole body and society of them, being as a city, compact together" [7]. He further describes it as the "happy state of the church" that will reside in "the new heaven and the new earth" [8]. Matthew Henry also refers to it as a "heavenly state" [9].
The description of the New Jerusalem includes a "great and high" wall, twelve gates guarded by twelve angels, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on the gates, with the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb on the twelve foundations [11]. These details, according to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, imply that the millennial Jerusalem will have its "exact antitype in the heavenly Jerusalem which shall descend on the finally regenerated earth" [11]. The city's gates are never shut, signifying "perfect liberty and peace" [11].
While the earthly Jerusalem holds significant religious importance, with Jewish tradition, for example, centering calculations for the new moon on the city of Jerusalem and its surrounding areas [10], the New Jerusalem in Revelation transcends a physical, earthly location. It represents a spiritual reality, a divine dwelling place for God's people, coming from God himself [1, 2].
Sources
- Revelation “I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. -- Revelation 21:2”
- Revelation “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. 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, and my own new name. -- Revelation 3:12”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jerusalem — (the habitation of peace), Jerusalem stands in latitude 31 degrees 46' 35" north and longitude 35 degrees 18' 30" east of Greenwich. It is 32 miles distant from the sea and 18 from the Jordan, 20 from Hebron and 36 from Samaria. "In several respects," says Dean Stanley, "its situation is singular among the cities of Palestine. Its elevation is remarkable; occasioned not from its being on the summit of one of the numerous hills of Judea, like most of the towns and villages, but because it is on the edge of one of the highest table-lands of the country. Hebr”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 21:2 (LITV) — And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, having been prepared as a bride, having been adorned for her Husband.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jerusalem — Called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the "city of God," the "holy city;" by the modern Arabs el-Khuds, meaning "the holy;" once "the city of Judah" (2 Chr. 25:28). This name is in the original in the dual form, and means "possession of peace," or "foundation of peace." The dual form probably refers to the two mountains on which it was built, viz., Zion and Moriah; or, as some suppose, to the two parts of the city, the "upper" and the "lower city." Jerusalem is a "mountain city enthroned on a mountain fastness" (comp. Ps. 68:15, 16; 87:1; 125:2; 76:1, 2; 122:3”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 21:2: And I John--"John" is omitted in A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS; also the "I" in the Greek of these authorities is not emphatic. The insertion of "I John" in the Greek would somewhat interfere with the close connection which subsists between "the new heaven and earth," Rev 21:1, and the "new Jerusalem" in this verse. Jerusalem . . . out of heaven-- (Rev 3:12; Gal 4:26, "Jerusalem which is above"; Heb 11:10; Heb 12:22; Heb 13:14). The descent of the new Jerusalem out of heaven is plainly distinct from the earthly Jerusalem in which Isr”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 21:2: And I John saw the holy city,.... The same with the beloved city in Rev 20:9 the church of God: sometimes the church militant is called a city, of which the saints are now fellow citizens, governed by wholesome laws, and enjoying many privileges; but here the general assembly and church of the firstborn, or all the elect of God, are intended, the whole body and society of them, being as a city, compact together; called holy, not only because set apart to holiness by God the Father, and their sins expiated by the blood of Christ, or because he is made sanctificatio”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 21 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 21 This chapter contains an account of the happy state of the church, consisting of all the elect, both Jews and Gentiles, which will take place upon the first resurrection, and will continue during the thousand years' reign mentioned in the preceding chapter. The seat of the church in these happy times will be the new heaven and the new earth, Rev 21:1 the church that will dwell there is described by its names, the holy city, and new Jerusalem; by its descent, from heaven; and by its state and ornament, being prepared and”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 21:9: We have already considered the introduction to the vision of the new Jerusalem in a more general idea of the heavenly state; we now come to the vision itself, where observe, I. The person that opened the vision to the apostle - one of the seven angels, that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, Rev 21:9. God has a variety of work and employment for his holy angels. Sometimes they are to sound the trumpet of divine Providence, and give fair warning to a careless world; sometimes they are to pour out the vials of God's anger upon impenitent sinners”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Sanctification of the New Month 11:17: Since the sighting of the moon is significant only in Eretz Yisrael as explained, 22 For the New Moon can be sanctified only in Eretz Yisrael , as stated in Chapter 1, Halachah 8. all our calculations are centered on the city of Jerusalem and locations within six or seven days' journey [from it. [In these places,] the moon is frequently sighted, and the people come and give testimony in the court. 23 The positive value of testimony from locales of more than a day's journey is mentioned in Chapter 3, Halachot 15”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 21:12: And--A and B omit. Eze 48:30-35, has a similar description, which implies that the millennial Jerusalem shall have its exact antitype in the heavenly Jerusalem which shall descend on the finally regenerated earth. wall great and high--setting forth the security of the Church. Also, the exclusion of the ungodly. twelve angels--guards of the twelve gates: an additional emblem of perfect security, while the gates being never shut (Rev 21:25) imply perfect liberty and peace. Also, angels shall be the brethren of the heavenly citizens. names of .”