The New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem

 

It has been interesting to me to turn on the radio and television and hear that Israel and Jerusalem are still in the spotlight even today.  As I read the Word of God, I read that Israel still has a special spot in the heart of God.  It is so important to our well being as a nation to protect Israel and show our support of these people.  I believe that our future as a nation will be directly related to our relationship to God’s Holy people.  We need to be very careful and attentive to how our government and we as a nation are relating to Israel and Israel’s future.  “Why do I bring this up?” you may be asking.  Sounds very much like a political statement today. Maybe so, but I feel that we may be going down the wrong track right now, and it is time we wake up to what is going on. We need to pray for Israel and its future.  Yes, it is so important that we think about and concern ourselves with the current Jerusalem, and we also need to consider the New Jerusalem.  The New Jerusalem will be very different than the Jerusalem of 2009.  In Chapter 21 of Revelation, we read of this place that John saw.  Oh, how I look forward to the NEW Jerusalem! “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God himself will be their God.  HE WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:3-4).”  John saw this vision of the New Jerusalem right after he saw the great white throne judgment, which is believed to be at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:11-15). This is the judgment of unbelievers in which they are judged according to their works and sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, a time of much sorrow and eternal death.  I am so glad that John’s vision did not end there.  After all judgment, both the judgment seat of Christ (for believers) and the great white throne judgment (for non-believers) is complete, the Lord will usher in a time where there will be no more judgment.  A time where there will only be praises to the great I AM.  At the end of Revelation, Jesus gives us a promise “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:12-13).”  Is it important how we work out our faith?  According to Jesus’ own words, it is!  “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ (Revelation 22:17).”

Come Quickly Lord Jesus!

Aaron Hodges