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The City of God

Illustration of The City of God

In the unfolding story of redemption, the city of God stands as the sacred dwelling where the Almighty chooses to make His presence known among humanity. Beginning with the earthly Jerusalem where God is in the midst of her, the vision expands to the heavenly Jerusalem and culminates in the holy city new Jerusalem descending from above. This progression reveals the divine purpose to restore perfect communion with His people, free from all curse and sorrow, as the eternal home of the redeemed.

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Key Passages

God Is in the Midst of Her

Psalms 46:4-7

The psalmist celebrates Jerusalem as the city God inhabits and protects - a place of security because of divine presence, not human walls.

The city of God is made glad by the river of God's presence-she shall not be moved.

T4here is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

The Heavenly Jerusalem

Hebrews 12:22-24

Hebrews reveals that believers have already come to the heavenly Jerusalem - the true city of God that earthly Jerusalem only shadowed.

Believers have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem with innumerable angels.

B22ut ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The Holy City New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:10-27

John sees the final city descending from heaven - God's dwelling with humanity made permanent, beautiful, and accessible to all nations.

John sees the holy city descending from heaven, radiant with God's glory, needing no temple or sun.

A10nd 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: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lambโ€™s book of life.

Did You Know?

1

Jerusalem was the city where God chose to place His name. Every pilgrimage, every feast, every sacrifice pointed toward it. The city itself became a living sermon about God's presence.

2

The prophets saw a day when the nations would stream to this city. They also saw a day when the city itself would be judged for its unfaithfulness.

3

John saw the holy city coming down out of heaven. No temple in it, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city is no longer a destination. It is our eternal home.