The New Heaven and New Earth
One of my favorite songs is Phil Wickham’s Hymn of Heaven. If you haven’t listened to it, let me encourage you to stop reading right now and go listen to it. The song beautifully conveys the longing in many of our hearts to experience the joys of eternal life with Christ our Savior.
As we come to Revelation 21-22, we come to the end of the Bible. The New Heavens and New Earth awaits those who “conquer” (Rev 21:7). That is to say, those who remain faithful to Christ without falling away will experience eternal paradise. Before we jump into this text, though, it will be helpful to go back to the very beginning of the Bible to see how this text is a fitting end to the story.
Eden as a Garden-Temple
Desmond Alexander notes, “The opening chapters of Genesis anticipate that God’s plans for the earth center on the creation of an extraordinary temple-city where God will dwell in harmony with humanity.” 1 God, therefore, designed Eden to be a temple-sanctuary—a place where God would dwell with his priest-kings.
We can know the garden was a proto-tabernacle/temple by observing the parallels that exist between the garden and later sanctuaries:2
- The Lord walks in Eden as he later does in the tabernacle (Gen 3:8; Lev 26:12; Deut 23:15).
- Both Eden and the tabernacle/temple’s entrances face the East (Gen 3:24; Exod 25:18-22; 1 Kgs 6:23-29).
- The tabernacle menorah symbolizes the tree of life (Gen 2:9; Exod 25:31-35).
- The river flowing out of Eden resembles the river flowing out of the future temple (Gen 2:10; Ezek 47:1-12).
- Precious metals and stones decorate both the garden and later sanctuaries (Gen 2:11-12; Exod 25:7-31).
Moreover, the tasks to “work and keep” the garden are the exact same tasks performed by the Levites in the tabernacle (Gen 2:15; Num 3:7-8; 8:26; 18:5-6) symbolizing that the first couple were proto-priests ministering in their proto-tabernacle. God tasked the first humans to expand the borders of their sanctuary by being fruitful and multiplying until the whole earth was filled with priest-kings (Gen 1:26-28).
The goal of creation, therefore, is for the entire universe to function like a temple. People, with their priestly status, ministering in God’s presence.
But the first priestly pair revolted. They did not “work and keep” the garden and allowed the serpent to enter. Instead of having dominion over the animals, they subjected themselves to the serpent. God, therefore, banished them from the garden-sanctuary to live in exile. While in exile, they attempted to build their own city-temple at Babel/Babylon, but the Creator put them down.
God, therefore, started anew with a pagan named Abram. Through covenant, God promised that he would bring about his temple-city through Abram’s line. The author of Hebrews remarks:
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. . . . For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God . . . These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, . . . But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city (Heb 11:8-16)
The author of Hebrews makes clear that Abraham longed for a better land—a heavenly city—designed and built by God. And he notes that all believers will live in that city. As we come back to Revelation 21-22, we see that one day this temple-city will become reality for all believers.
The New Heaven and New Earth
This final vision of Revelation tells us where everything is headed. Since this present order will pass away (Rev 21:1), God is going to establish “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev 21:1; Isa 65:17; 66:22).
John sees the New Creation like “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev 21:2; Isa 62:4-5). This heavenly city is a clear contrast to the wicked harlot-city Babylon which God previously destroyed. It makes sense, therefore, to conclude that this new creation is both a place and a people—a beautiful people at that.
This new city is “the dwelling place of God” (Rev 21:3) which carries strong tabernacle/temple connotations. It was in the tabernacle/temple, after all, where the Lord dwelt among his people (Exod 25-31; 1 Kgs 6). John continues, “He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Rev 21:3). God frequently employed this covenant formula in the OT (Gen 17:8; Exod 29:45; 2 Sam 7:24; Jer 31:1), but in the New Creation, the covenant will be fully realized.
The New Creation is a place where death will be no more, and suffering will be a mere afterthought (Rev 21:4). This place, however, is not for everyone. It’s only for those who overcame the beast, the false prophet, the dragon, and any other worldly power (Rev 21:7). Those who didn’t overcome will find their portion in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8).
The New Jerusalem
The New Creation is also described as the New Jerusalem. The city contains precious metals and jewels just like Eden and the OT sanctuaries (Gen 2:11-12; Exod 25:7-31; Isa 54:11-12; Rev 21:18-20). But around this city are high walls with twelve gates and twelve foundations. The high walls symbolize the safety of those who dwell within. The twelve gates are engraved with the twelve tribes of Israel symbolizing that the OT people of God are in the city. Furthermore, the twelve foundations with the twelve apostle’s names symbolize that the NT people of God are inside as well. In short, the number twelve symbolizes the complete people of God.
John continues with the symbolic number by stating that the heavenly city measures 12,000 stadia in its length, width, and height (Rev 21:15-16). The city, therefore, is a perfect cube. Only one other place in the Bible is a perfect cube—the Holy of Holies (1 Kgs 6:20). Here we can see how the biblical narrative comes full circle. God created Eden (a garden-sanctuary) with the New Jerusalem (a cosmic-sanctuary) in mind. The tabernacle and temple were simply placeholders and shadows that pointed towards the greater reality of the New Jerusalem.
Because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb live there, John says no temple will be in that city (Rev 21:22). Neither sun nor moon will exist there either since the glory of the Lord will provide all the necessary light (Rev 21:23).
Because of how safe this place will be, John notes that the city gates will always be open. In the ancient world, high walls and durable gates kept people safe from intruders. These images (the big walls and open gates), of course, are merely symbolic. If taken literally, the two images contradict one another. Why have such impressive walls if you’re going to leave the gates open? These images simply note that nothing or no one wicked can enter the city. The people inside are safe and secure.
The River of Life
Again, we come full circle as we return to images of Eden. Revelation 22 notes that a river of the water of life flows out of the throne of God and the Lamb through the street of the city. On each side of the river, one finds the tree of life. The river flowing from the throne alludes back the river flowing out of the temple in Ezekiel 47. This river symbolizes that God is the author of life. Furthermore, the tree of life alludes back to Eden (Gen 2:9), and conveys the idea that the city’s inhabitants will live forever.
The trees produce different fruits each month—fruits that possess healing powers. Again, we must read this text symbolically as no one will be getting sick in the New Jerusalem. The healing fruits simply represent that no one ever has to worry about sickness or death in the heavenly city.
We read that those who have God’s name on their foreheads will “see his face”—something commonly known as the beatific vision. God’s name on people’s foreheads symbolically represents that these people belong to and identify with God. This symbol is in clear contrast to those who receive the mark of the beast.
The Heavenly City will be a place of everlasting bliss. Sadness, sickness, evil, and death will be forever eradicated.
Bringing it to a Close
As we conclude this series in Revelation, we end on a high note. The New Creation sounds amazing! And it’s promised for everyone who faithfully endures to the end. Yes, it can be tempting to side with worldly powers. The allure of fitting in and not being disliked are real temptations for every Christian. Yet, the message of Revelation is clear. God is king. He sovereignly reigns over all things. He will one day squash the enemy. And those who remain faithful to him to the end will experience eternal blessings. So Christian brothers and sisters, stay true to the faith. Resist the temptations to fit in with the world. In the end, it will be worth it.
