FORERUNNER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
I. INTRODUCTION
A. This angelic explanation describes the dynamic
quality of life in the New Jerusalem. Jesus will restore to us all that He
originally intended for us when creating the garden of Eden. The New
Jerusalem coming to the Millennial earth assures us that our reign will
succeed and release a supernatural dimension of resurrection life to the
earth.
20 That He may send
Jesus…21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all
things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets… (Acts
3:20-21)
B. The New Jerusalem is the place where resurrected saints will live.
However, we will reign on the Millennial earth with governmental
responsibilities. The saints will easily travel from the New Jerusalem to
the Millennial earth as angels now travel from heaven to earth. We will
come much more frequently than angels now appear because the veil between
the two realms will be lifted.
C. Government is the main theme in chronological section #5 and its
angelic explanation. In other words, they focus on who sits on the
governmental thrones of the earth. After Jesus brings His Throne to earth,
He gives thrones to the saints (Rev.
20:4) and drives Satan’s throne off the earth (Rev.
20:3). Then Jesus prepares the nations for the Father’s Throne to come
to earth (Rev
21:3).
3 Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall
be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Rev.
21:3)
D. The truths here are given to strengthen us so we resist temptation
and endure persecution. Whatever it costs to overcome, living with Jesus
in the New Jerusalem is worth the sacrifice. Those in the Harlot Babylon
religion will live forever in the Lake of Fire because of following the
Antichrist’s leadership. The Bride will live in New Jerusalem because of
Jesus’ leadership.
E. Satan and all his demons will be cast to the earth (Rev.
12:9). He will give his throne to the Antichrist (Rev.
13:2). Hundreds of millions of demons now in the bottomless pit will
be released (Rev.
9:3,
16). The Antichrist will seek to kill any who refuse to worship him (Rev.
13:8,
12,
15). This will lead to billions of people engaging in Satan worship,
thus, operating in the same spirit. In Gen. 3 Satan brought the seeds of
hell to the Garden of Eden. Those seeds of evil will be fully ripe by the
time of the Tribulation. It will be hell on earth in some places (Rev.
12:9;
13:2;
6:8).
9 The Devil…was cast
to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him… (Rev.
12:9)
3 The Dragon
(Satan)
gave him (Antichrist)
his power, his throne … (Rev.
12:3)
F. In Rev. 21-22, Jesus brings the garden of Eden to replace the
Antichrist’s empire with its “hell on earth”. Jesus will reverse the
tragedy that occurred in Eden. He will cast Satan into prison (Rev.
20:1-3) and call forth the New Jerusalem to descend to the earth. When
the New Jerusalem comes to earth, then heaven is literally on earth.
II. THE CENTERPIECE OF
GOD’S PURPOSE: BRING HEAVEN AND EARTH TOGETHER
9
Having made known to us the mystery
(hidden plan)
of His will…10 that He might gather together in one ALL things in Christ,
both which are in heaven and which are on earth. (Eph.
1:9-10)
A. The centerpiece of God’s eternal purpose is for Jesus to come back
to establish His Kingdom rule over all the earth as He joins the heavenly
and earthly realms together. Heaven speaks of the supernatural realm where
God’s presence is openly manifest. Earth speaks of the physical realm as
the place where natural process, human emotion and physical sensation
reach full expression.
B. Jesus will rule the earth with the natural processes not suspended,
yet enhanced by the Spirit’s supernatural dimension like when Jesus
appeared after His resurrection (Jn. 20-21; Acts 1).
III. JESUS’ THRONE OF GLORY: 2
DIMENSIONS OF ONE THRONE (EARTHLY/HEAVENLY)
A. At the Second Coming, Jesus will establish His Throne of Glory on earth in Jerusalem.
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory…then He will sit on the Throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them… (Mt. 25:31-32)
17 At
that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the
nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. (Jer.
3:17)
B. Jesus’ Throne of Glory will be connected to the Holy of Holies in
the Millennial Temple.
4 The glory of the
LORD came into the Temple
(Millennial Temple)...
6 I heard Him (Jesus)
speaking…from the Temple (Holy of
Holies)...7 He
said, "This is the place of My Throne and the place of…My feet, where I
will dwell in the midst of Israel…forever.” (Ezek.
43:4-7)
C. Jesus’ Throne is in the earthly Millennial Jerusalem and the
heavenly New Jerusalem.
3 The Throne of God
and of the Lamb shall be in it
(New Jerusalem).
(Rev.
22:3)
D. Does Jesus have one Throne or two? Is it on the Millennial earth or
in the New Jerusalem? Yes! His Throne of glory is both on earth and in
Heaven. It is one Throne with two expressions.
E. I suggest that Jesus’ Throne of glory is a vast governmental complex
with the “far north end” of it extending into the New Jerusalem and the
“far south end” of it based in the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem in what
I refer to as a “Corridor of Glory” between the two Jerusalem's.
F.
The New Jerusalem will descend to a place above Millennial Jerusalem
on Mt. Zion creating a vast “governmental complex” joined by a “Corridor
of Glory.” This governmental center of heaven and earth is referred to as
Jesus’ Throne of glory (Mt.
19:28;
25:31). This is seen when taking into account all the specific details
of the prophetic Scriptures. It is not clearly revealed as such, but is
understood by implication. It will be a vast high City that connects with
the earth.
G. The New Jerusalem will descend to the Millennial Jerusalem
connecting the two Jerusalem's.
H. There are four reasons the New Jerusalem is close to Millennial
Jerusalem yet not on the earth.
1. First, Millennial Jerusalem is about 10 square miles or 4,500 rods X 4,500 rods (a rod is approx. 10.5 feet; Ezek. 48:30-35; 45:6; 48:15-19). The New Jerusalem is 1,380 miles (Rev. 21:16) thus it is far too large for the 10 mile area of Millennial Jerusalem. Most believe the unit of measure is rods (10.5 feet) not cubits. The NKJV adds the word cubits in italics to designate it is not in the original text.
2. Second, the kings of the Millennial earth come into the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:24-26).
24 The (Millennial) nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the (Millennial) earth bring their glory and honor into it…26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. (Rev. 21:24-26)
3. Third, the leaves in the New Jerusalem are for the healing of the Millennial nations. Therefore, people on the Millennial earth have access to these healing leaves (Rev. 22:2).
2 The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the (Millennial) nations. (Rev. 22:2)
4. Fourth, angels guard the entry to the City to keep sinners out (Rev. 21:12, 27; 22:14-15). Angels guarded the entrance to the garden of Eden after Adam sinned Gen. 3:22-24).
12 She had a.…high wall with 12 gates, and 12 angels at the gates… (Rev. 21:12)
27 There shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. (Rev. 21:27)
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters… (Rev. 22:14-15)
IV. THE CORRIDOR OF
GLORY: DYNAMIC CONVERGENCE
A. There are at least 12 characteristics of Millennial
Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem that overlap. There will be a dynamic
convergence of different expressions of glory between the two cities. To
converge means to come together from different directions (heavenly and
earthly dimensions) to an intersecting point to achieve union. Each
dimension has distinction, yet with a significant merging or overlapping
to form one unified reality. There will be at least 12 areas converging:
1) Mountain,
2)
Jerusalem with
12 gates, 3) House of
God, 4) Holy of
Holies (Temple-House of Prayer), 5)
garden of Eden,
6) River of Life,
7) Tree of Life
(12 fruits every month), 8)
Highway,
9)
whirlwind
(funnels), 10) cloud
of glory, 11)
smoke of glory 12)
shining fire.
B.
Jesus’ Throne is in context to the great
Mountain-City-House
with dynamic convergence of
two Jerusalem's
(Millennial and Heavenly), two
Holy of Holies
(House of Prayer), two
Gardens, two
Rivers, two
Trees and the two
Highways with
the whirlwind,
cloud of glory
smoke and
fire.
C.
The New Jerusalem descending to earth will create a new situation in
which the spiritual and natural realm will operate together dynamically.
This will cause an open heaven over the earth as the veil is lifted. A
tidal wave of glory will spread to all nations from Millennial Jerusalem.
14 The earth will be
filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD… (Hab.
2:14)
D.
In Bethel, only 12 miles north of Jerusalem, Jacob saw a place in
which a supernatural ladder extended from earth to the gate of heaven. He
saw angels ascend and descend between the heavenly and earthly realms.
Jacob’s ladder reveals the connection of these two realms.
12 He dreamed…a ladder
was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the
angels of God were ascending and descending on it…17 He said, "How awesome
is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the
gate of heaven!" (Gen.
28:12-16)
E.
In Gen. 2-3, God walked with Adam in face to face fellowship as
spiritual and natural realms operated together.
A veil was created between
these two realms when Adam sinned.
This City will be the first city in
history to combine the supernatural dimensions of heaven with the natural
conditions of earth under God’s favor.
Jesus rules in heaven as the Son of
God (heavenly Jerusalem) and on the earth as the Son of David (earthly
Jerusalem).
V. THE NEW JERUSALEM
DESCENDS TO EARTH TWO TIMES
A. The New Jerusalem will descend to the earth in two
stages. First, it will descend at the Second Coming to begin the
Millennium (Rev.
21:10).
Second, after the Millennial earth is cleansed with fire to
become the New Earth that has no sea will occur in the age-to-come. (Rev.
21:2).
10 He…showed me
the…holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God… (Rev.
21:10)
2 I, John, saw the
holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven… (Rev.
21:2)
B. By understanding the structure of Rev. 21-22 we see the two descents
of the New Jerusalem. We know that the events in
Rev. 21:9-22:5 refer to the Millennium because the nature of what is
described includes the eternal and temporal realms being together. In
other words, we see the eternal state of the resurrected saints in the New
Jerusalem along with Millennial conditions.
C. The “same” angel showed John the Bride in
Rev. 21:9-10 and the Harlot Babylon in
Rev. 17:1-3. They are parallel visions that are both clearly
parenthetical sections in which an angel explains significant details and
events that do not occur on earth in chronological order. Because
Rev. 21:9-22:5 is a parenthetical section, its events do not occur
until after the events in
Rev. 21:1-8 (the New Heavens and Earth, etc.). The descent of the New
Jerusalem in
Rev. 21:2 is the last event in the last chronological section (Rev.
19:11-21:8).
9 Then one of the
seven angels who had the seven bowls…talked with me, saying, "Come, I will
show you the Bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 He carried me away…to a great and
high mountain, and showed me…the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven…
(Rev.
21:9-10)
1 Then one of the
seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to
me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great Harlot…3 So he
carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet beast…. (Rev.
17:1-3)
VI. DESCRIPTION OF THE
CITY AS THE HOLY OF HOLIES: EXTERNAL VIEW (21:9-21)
A.
The City’s design: the City is described as a cube
(21:16) like the Holy of Holies in Solomon's temple in which the inner
sanctuary was 20 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 20 cubits high (1
Kings 6:19-20)
B.
The City’s adornment: has eight of the precious stones (21:19-20)
that the high priest wore on his breastplate when entering the Holy of
Holies signifying nearness to God (Ex.
28:17-20;
39:10).
C.
The City’s glory: filled with the Shekinah glory as in the Temple (2
Chr. 5-7) yet with the brightness of ancient jasper which is different
from modern jasper (Rev.
21:11,
23;
22:5).
10 …The holy
Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God.
Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as
crystal. (Rev.
21:10-11)
D.
The City’s construction:
gates (21:12b-14),
walls (21:12a, 14-18),
foundations (21:12, 19-20) and
street (21:21; 22:2). The gates are about
every 500 miles if they are evenly separated over 1380 miles. Chicago,
Dallas and Minneapolis are each about 500 miles from Kansas City.
12 She had a great and
high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates…13 three gates
on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three
gates on the west…16 The City is laid out as a square; its length is as
great as its breadth. He measured the City…12,000 furlongs
(1,380 miles).
Its length, breadth (width),
and height are equal (cube).
17 He measured its wall: 144 cubits
(216 feet thick)...18
The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the City was pure gold,
like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall…were adorned with all
kinds of precious stones…21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each gate
was of one pearl. The street of the City was pure gold, like transparent
glass. (Rev.
21:12-21)
E.
The City’s size: the walls are 1,380 miles (about 7,000,000 ft.) in
length, height, and width (Rev.
21:12b-14). A furlong (NIV stadia) is a Greek measurement that is
approx. 600 feet). Outer space is 800 miles from earth. The walls are 216
feet or 72 yards thick (21:15-17).
VII. DESCRIPTION OF THE
CITY AS THE GARDEN OF EDEN: INTERNAL VIEW (21:22-22:5)
A. John gives us an internal view of the City as the
ultimate Garden of Eden. He describes the City’s beauty (21:22-27) and
its
life with face to face communion with God (22:1-5). It is a worshipping
City with no temple (21:22; 22:4a); an illuminated City with no sun
(21:23; 22:5); a governmental City with God’s Throne (21:24, 26; 22:3-5d);
a servant City that works (21:25b; 22:3c, 5a) and a holy City without any
sin (21:27, 8; 22:14-15).
B. John described the beautiful light source of the City (21:23-24;
Ezek. 43:2;
Isa. 60:20).
23 The city had no
need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God
illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 The nations…shall walk in its
light… (Rev.
21:23-24)
C. Life in the City (Rev.
22:1-5): the river of Life (22:1) and the tree of Life (22:2) point to
Eden. John saw a pure river of water of Life clear as crystal and a tree
of Life with twelve kinds of fruit. Leaves of the tree were for the
healing of the nations (22:2). There shall be no curse (22:3).
1 And he showed me a
pure river of water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne
of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side
of the river, was the tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree
yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the
healing of the nations. (Rev.
22:1-2)
D. The saints shall serve God in a face to face relationship filled
with holiness (Rev.
22:3-5). God’s light will impart power, wisdom and holiness to those
ruling with Him (Rev.
22:5). The saints will not be idle but will be administrating His
government with authority over a billion galaxies.
3 And there shall be
no more curse, but the Throne God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His
servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be
on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor
light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign
forever and ever. (Rev.
22:3-5)
VIII. THE CITY OF THE
GREAT KING: MILLENNIAL JERUSALEM AND NEW JERUSALEM
34 Do
not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's Throne; 35 nor by the
earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the City of
the great King. (Mt.
5:34-35)
2 In the latter days
the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills…3 Many shall say, "Come,
and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of
Jacob... from Jerusalem. (Isa.
2:2-3)
1 Great is the LORD,
and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain.
2
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the
sides of the north, the city of the great King. 3 God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge. 4 For behold, the kings
(Millennial kings)
assembled, they passed by together. 5 They saw it
(New Jerusalem connected to the
Millennial Jerusalem),
and so they marveled; they were troubled, they hastened away. 6 Fear took
hold of them there, and pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, 7 as when You
break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. 8 As we have heard, so we
have seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God
will establish it forever. 9 We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, in the midst of Your temple.
10 According to Your name, O
God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full
of righteousness. (Ps.
48:1-10)
1 The Mighty One…has
spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth.
3 Our God
shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and
it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. (Ps.
50:1-3)
7 Give Him no rest
till...He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isa.
62:7)