Preterism & the New Jerusalem

[Lehigh]

The New Jerusalem

We read about the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21and 22. As we go through the description given of the New Jerusalem we must remember that no scripture is of a private interpretation. The Bible will clearly tell us what or who the New Jerusalem represents. We don't have to guess we just need to pray with an honest and sincere heart that the Lord open our spiritual eyes to the truth of His Word.

Many people take this passage literally. Some believe that we will dwell in a literal place approximately 1500 miles square by 1500 miles high. Some believe we will literally walk on streets of pure gold and the gates will be of actual pearls. We must use the Bible to understand and interpret it's own symbols. We must, in some cases, disregard our preconceived ideas and let the Bible explain itself. God's ways are not our ways. We see the true meaning of these symbols as we study the Word of God. Symbolic language is used in describing Jesus. For example we can read how Jesus was referred to as the Lamb, the Branch, the Root, or the Lion. We know that Christ did not come as a literal branch or lamb. He was God in the flesh of a human being. Other passages of the Bible and especially Revelation use symbols to describe things for us. In Revelation 13 we see a seven-head ten-horned beast arise out of the sea. No one believes that this dreadful beast will literally rise out of the sea, at least I hope not. The New Jerusalem is no different. God is using language that we can relate to in describing something to us. God is not interested in literal gold, pearls, etc. The things important to God are spiritual in essence and not material. For our finite minds, to have something to relate to, God gives us the symbolic description of the New Jerusalem. We will now begin to look into what the Bible has to say about the New Jerusalem by comparing scripture to scripture. Not what we think, but what the Bible says.

We will start in revelation 21:1.

Revelation 21:1 ... And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

We can compare this scripture to Isaiah 65:17-18.

Isaiah 65:17-18 ... 17) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18) But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

We see here the prophecy of the creating of the new heavens and new earth, but when does this occur? We go back to the beginning of the passage in Isaiah 65:1-5.

Isaiah 65:1-5 ... 1) I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2) I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3) A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4) Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5) Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

Isaiah 65 is directly referred to in Romans chapter 10. We get an understanding of who is being talked about in Isaiah 65 by comparing these two passages.

Romans 10:20-21 ... 20) But Esaias (Isaiah) is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21) But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
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CONT'D.....
http://apostolicpreterist.com/Preterism___The_NJ.html

[Lehigh]

[EDEN2004]

The New Jerusalem

We read about the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21and 22. As we go through the description given of the New Jerusalem we must remember that no scripture is of a private interpretation. The Bible will clearly tell us what or who the New Jerusalem represents. We don't have to guess we just need to pray with an honest and sincere heart that the Lord open our spiritual eyes to the truth of His Word.

Many people take this passage literally. Some believe that we will dwell in a literal place approximately 1500 miles square by 1500 miles high. Some believe we will literally walk on streets of pure gold and the gates will be of actual pearls. We must use the Bible to understand and interpret it's own symbols. We must, in some cases, disregard our preconceived ideas and let the Bible explain itself. God's ways are not our ways. We see the true meaning of these symbols as we study the Word of God. Symbolic language is used in describing Jesus. For example we can read how Jesus was referred to as the Lamb, the Branch, the Root, or the Lion. We know that Christ did not come as a literal branch or lamb. He was God in the flesh of a human being. Other passages of the Bible and especially Revelation use symbols to describe things for us. In Revelation 13 we see a seven-head ten-horned beast arise out of the sea. No one believes that this dreadful beast will literally rise out of the sea, at least I hope not. The New Jerusalem is no different. God is using language that we can relate to in describing something to us. God is not interested in literal gold, pearls, etc. The things important to God are spiritual in essence and not material. For our finite minds, to have something to relate to, God gives us the symbolic description of the New Jerusalem. We will now begin to look into what the Bible has to say about the New Jerusalem by comparing scripture to scripture. Not what we think, but what the Bible says.

We will start in revelation 21:1.

Revelation 21:1 ... And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

We can compare this scripture to Isaiah 65:17-18.

Isaiah 65:17-18 ... 17) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18) But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

We see here the prophecy of the creating of the new heavens and new earth, but when does this occur? We go back to the beginning of the passage in Isaiah 65:1-5.

Isaiah 65:1-5 ... 1) I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2) I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3) A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4) Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5) Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

Isaiah 65 is directly referred to in Romans chapter 10. We get an understanding of who is being talked about in Isaiah 65 by comparing these two passages.

Romans 10:20-21 ... 20) But Esaias (Isaiah) is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21) But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

CONT'D.....
http://apostolicpreterist.com/Preterism___The_NJ.html

Lehigh I want to learn more about preterism so when I ask you questions, don't feel like I am trying bash your views, I just want to understand the view.
What does the new heaven symbolize?
What does the earth symbolize?

[Lehigh]

Since the old heaven and earth that passed away was a metaphor for the temple and the law , then the new heaven and earth is the kingdom of God on earth and in heaven now.

For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.-2Cor.6:16

[notreligus]

This should be taken literally. Compare the first three Chapters of Genesis and the last three Chapters of Revelation.

God's intent has always been to have a relationship with mankind.  This will be consumated when all of God's people are with God for eternity in the New Jerusalem.  This is no temporal kingdom. 

Peter said that this Earth would be destroyed, as we know it, and it there will be a new heavens and a new Earth.  Peter is not a liar. 

You Preterists....you seem to have nothing to look forward to.  Very sad indeed. 

[3 Resurrections]

notreligus  -  The New Jerusalem is NOT HEAVEN itself.

It is a gift to earth that comes down from God OUT OF HEAVEN.  That means these two things are not the same, if one comes OUT OF the other.  "And 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."  (Rev. 21:10)  If the New Jerusalem (the "mother of us all") is already established as a reality on earth, this explains why Rev. 22:15 still shows that there are "dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" existing  and operating just OUTSIDE the open gates of the city.  The New Jerusalem is not our final goal - heaven is - where these evil doers are not around anymore.  This is something to look forward to.

What is sad is that so many do not seem to realize that they are living in this city already.  It's as if God gave you a gift and you laid it on a shelf and are ignoring it.  This is insulting to Him.

[Tertullian]

Peter said that this Earth would be destroyed, as we know it, and it there will be a new heavens and a new Earth.  Peter is not a liar. 

You Preterists....you seem to have nothing to look forward to.  Very sad indeed.

Notreligious has been around here for a while...

I don't feel envy for those who look forward to the destruction of the Earth.  Not sad at all. 

Peter didn't say the Earth would be destroyed.  Fire is a metaphor for destruction, not necessarily destruction of something flammable.  No one takes everything Peter said literally about he earth and works being burned up.  I submit that many people choose wrongly on what they take literally.