23.6 New Jerusalem is a real city (2)

Series 23

Episode 6

Prologue

Brothers and sisters, today’s topic of Treasures for the Soul is “New Jerusalem is a real city (2)”. 2 Corinthians chapter 12 gives an account of Paul being caught up into paradise, the new Jerusalem, which is a real city. Galatians 4:26 also mentions “the Jerusalem above,” hence it's clear that this is not referring to the church, but the city. Revelation chapters 21 and 22 state “these words are trustworthy and true” when mentioning the new Jerusalem. We know that new heavens and the new earth are real. Therefore, the new Jerusalem cannot be a mere symbolic expression. the new Jerusalem is a real city.

Message

Part 1 

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 reads, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.”

Part 2 

Paradise is in heaven. Actually, the heavenly Jerusalem is paradise, and it is the most amazing garden city. It is more beautiful than the garden of Eden. In heavenly Jerusalem, Paul said that “he heard things that cannot be told.” If the new Jerusalem were only a symbolic expression, it would be very strange for Paul to be caught up to someplace that didn’t actually exist. Paradise is a real place. Believers who passed away are already with the Lord in paradise, which is the new Jerusalem.

Part 3 

It wouldn’t make sense to think of the new Jerusalem as the church either. Galatians 4:26 reads, “But the Jerusalem above is free and she is our mother.” The Jerusalem above is the heavenly Jerusalem. I would find it strange if it referred to the church. The verse that says “She is our mother” means that the heavenly Jerusalem is our mother. It would be impossible for the church to be its own mother. Hebrews chapter 12 says that we have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God. If the city was the church, it would not make sense to say that we, as the church, have come to the church. We have come before God, not before a symbol or a sign.

Part 4 

What Revelation chapter 21 tells us is true. Let’s take a look at verse 5: “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” 

Part 5 

Revelation 21:1-2 reads, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” 

Part 6 

All of us believe that the new heaven and new earth are real. Verse 2 reads, “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Here it says “prepared.” Given that the new heaven and new earth are real, you cannot say that the new Jerusalem is something symbolic or immaterial. The city will come down out of heaven from God to the new earth. If New Jerusalem was the church instead of a city, then the saints would have no place to live. They would have to roam around on the new earth, while the people of the coming generations would have their own homes. On the contrary, the church is the most glorious and prestigious group of people in the whole universe. It would not make sense that believers with resurrected bodies would have no place to stay, but angels and other humans would have their own dwellings. If heaven was empty and there was no dwelling place for the saints, then I cannot imagine what would happen to those who have already fallen asleep in Christ.

Part 7 

This city is extremely beautiful, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The bride will surely make herself very beautiful on her wedding day. Here it uses a simile to compare the city to a bride.  But we cannot say that the bride, which is the church, is the city itself.  It Would be ridiculous to think that the new Jerusalem was a symbolic expression. How could a symbol prepare itself as a bride and come down out of heaven? I don’t understand this interpretation.  It makes it difficult for us to understand the rest of the biblical truths. 

Part 8 

When the Bible defines something as holy, it is often referring to something real, either a person or a thing. Since the new Jerusalem is called the holy city, it must be a real city. Therefore, this city is as real as the tabernacle and the temple, which were real structures in the Old Testament time. The tabernacle and the objects inside had special meanings. Likewise, the temple was real, and the objects inside also had their own meanings. Therefore, the new Jerusalem is a real city that carries even more extraordinary meanings.

Part 9 

Revelation 21 Verse 5 is clearly written, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” This makes it very clear to us that all the things to come are true, even though they seem too incredible to us. These words would be unnecessary if it was talking about something that wasn’t real.

Part 10 

Revelation chapter 22 gives us an account of the city and what can be found in the city. What did the angel say? Revelation 22:6 says, “And he said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true.’” These words were spoken previously by the One seated on the throne; now the angel was repeating these same words. These words were spoken when the new Jerusalem was first mentioned, and they were now being repeated here. It is very dangerous for us to say that the new Jerusalem is a symbol instead of a real city. A symbolic expression can be interpreted in many different ways. But the words spoken by the angel are trustworthy and true. We are truly so blessed! New Jerusalem is so beautiful and real!

Series 23

New Jerusalem is a real city

Message Date: 2020-04-10

The Lord said He went to prepare a place for us. When He has prepared it, He would come again to take us to be with Him. This place is New Jerusalem. However, many Christians nowadays are not so clear whether the New Jerusalem in heaven is a real city. Being affected by Greek culture and beliefs, some think that physical substances are not spiritual. So, they take New Jerusalem as a non-physical symbolic expression. Satan also wants to make people unclear and unsure of the things in heaven, so that they would not desire them. This series of messages list out many Bible verses to assure us that New Jerusalem is indeed a real city, which is also full of spiritual meanings.
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23.1 God has prepared a heavenly home for us

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23.2 Is the heavenly new Jerusalem a real city?

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23.3 Satan causes man not to be clear and assured about the things in heaven

4

23.4 Are physical substances not spiritual?

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23.5 New Jerusalem is a real city (1)

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23.6 New Jerusalem is a real city (2)

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23.7 New Jerusalem is a real city (3)

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23.8 New Jerusalem is a real city (4)

9

23.9 New Jerusalem is a real city (5)

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Introduction

01 Introduction of Treasures for the Soul

Series 1: Being Heart to Heart with the Lord

1.1 The Most Blessed Generation
1.2 Message from John the Baptist
1.3 Abide in the Lord Always
1.4 Abide in the Lord’s Love at All Times
1.5 The Lord Speaks to Us and Helps Us in Our Hearts

Series 2: Being Heart to Heart with the Lord Throughout this Year

2.1 God’s Greatest Work Starts in Our Hearts
2.2 To Be Heart to Heart with the Lord Throughout the Year
2.3 Our Spirits can Feel God and Have Fellowship with Him
2.4 The Importance of Peace
2.5 Our Spirits Need the Words of God
2.6 Give the Lord Time and Space to Speak in Our Hearts

Series 3: Let Our Hearts be Influenced

3.1 The World Needs People Who Deeply Experience God
3.2 Just as His Anointing 
Has Taught You, 
Abide in the Lord
3.3 Be Influenced 
by the Lord Throughout 
this Year

Series 4: The Importance of Peace

4.1 Enjoying God’s Peace in Your heart
4.2 Let Not Your Hearts be Troubled, Neither Let Them be Afraid.
4.3 How Should Our Spirit Respond to the Lord?

Series 5: Our Spirit Being Able to Enjoy the Lord

5.1 Our Spirit is Satisfied Only When We Worship God and Deeply Experience Him
5.2 How to Worship God with Our Spirit
5.3 Looking at the Lord with our Inner Eyes
5.4 Our Spirit Needs to Enjoy the Lord Himself
5.5 The Song of Solomon Often Mentions About “Eyes”
5.6 Realize Being Heart to Heart with the Lord in Singing and Worship

Series 6: Live out the Life of being Heart to Heart with the Lord

6.1 Living a life of union with the Lord in a stable pattern every day
6.2 Enjoying the Lord and not being disturbed
6.3 The Importance of Seeing Him with Our Spiritual Eyes

Series 7

7.1 Learn to Protect Our Spirits From Virus Prevention
7.2 Our Spirit Can Hear, Think, and See
7.3 How to Live a Life of Faith
7.4 The Importance of the Mind
7.5 David’s Eyes Beheld the Lord Always

Series 8: During the last supper, the Lord spoke about the essence of the blessings of the new covenant.

8.1 The Lord established with us the eternal love covenant by His blood
8.2 The Lord Treasures the New Covenant and Break-Bread Meeting the Most
8.3 Love Encounters
8.4 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the fourth blessing
8.5 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the first blessing (1)
8.6 Before His Crucifixion, the Lord clearly explained the essence of the blessings of the new covenant: the first blessing (2)

Series 16: We Have Come to Mount Zion and the Heavenly Jerusalem

16.1 See that the Lord is at the right hand of the Father
16.2 Coming to Mount Zion (1): the meaning of Mount Sinai
16.3 Coming to Mount Zion (2): the difficulty in forgiveness of sins
16.4 Coming to Mount Zion (3): to Live in Grace
16.5 Having Come to the Heavenly Jerusalem
16.6 What is in the heavenly Jerusalem (1)?

Series 9: Being Heart to Heart with the Father

9.1 Being Heart to Heart with Abba (Part 1)
9.2 Being Heart to Heart with Abba (Part 2)

Series 10

10.1 The Love Desire in the Depths of Abba and the Lord’s hearts
10.2 Fruit of the Lord’s Crucifixion: Eternal Life
10.3 The Lord Came to Manifest the Father’s Name
10.4 The Father Sent His Only Begotten Son
10.5 Reminders on enjoying heart to heart with the Father
10.6 The Father’s Desire for Me is Forever Steadfast

Series 11

11.1 The preciousness of the Letter to Philemon
11.2 The most profitable; the most accepted.
11.3 Charge That to My Account
11.4 The Father made the Lord our eternal High Priest by an oath (1)
11.5 The Father made the Lord our eternal High Priest by an oath (2)
11.6 We are the Lord’s darling love

Series 12

12.1 The Lord’s Words at the Last Supper
12.2 Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing.
12.3 What is true faith?
12.4 Look upon the Lord in glory
11.5 Trust and Peace (1)
12.6 Trust and Peace (2)

Series 13: The Lord’s Gentleness and Humility

13.3 The Lord’s Gentleness and Humility (Part 2)

Series 14: Manifold evidence

14.1 How does the infinite Lord see us?
14.2 We are the ultimate and final love of the Lord
14.3 The Lord is forever a Man; He once died for us
14.4 The Lord’s manifold love evidence (Part 1)
14.5 The Lord’s manifold love evidence Part 2

Series 15: Understand How Our Spirit Works And Be Heart To Heart With The Lord Continuously

15.1 We Can Only Enjoy God By Faith
15.2 His Words Abide In Us
15.3 Live With The Lord
15.4 Seek The Things That Are Above
15.5 Understand How Our Spirit Works: Will, Mind And Feelings
15.6 Guard And Uplift Our Mind

Series 17: Know that the Church is the Firstborn

17.1 Know that the church is the firstborn
17.2 The Blessing of the Firstborn (Part 1)
17.3 The Blessing of the Firstborn (Part 2)
17.4 The Lord redeemed us to be the firstborn (Part 1)
17.5 The Lord redeemed us to be the firstborn (Part 2)

Series 18: The Blessings to be the First Born

18.1 Israel is God’s Firstborn Son (Part 1)
18.2 Israel is God’s Firstborn Son (Part 2)
18.3 To be united with the Lord and become the Firstborn
18.4 The Lord is the Firstborn
18.5 The Blessing of the Firstborn: Kingship
18.6 The Blessing of the Firstborn: a Double Portion of the Blessings

Series 19: Coming to Mount Zion to Appear Before God

19.1 The Lord is the way, and the truth, and the life
19.2 Live in Grace. Enjoy the Father and the Lord
19.3 Mind the things that are above (1)
19.4 Mind the things that are above (2)
19.5 Appear before God in Mount Zion

Series 20: The final destination of our spirit and eternity is the heavenly Jerusalem

20.1 The Lord Desires Most for Us to Draw Near to Him (1)
20.2 The Lord Desires Most for Us to Draw Near to Him (2)
20.3 The Lord Becomes the Way so that We can Come Before God with Confidence
20.4 The Heavenly Jerusalem, Destination of Our Spirits and Eternity (1)
20.5 The Heavenly Jerusalem, Destination of Our Spirits and Eternity (2)

Series 21: Live Out the Life of the Firstborn: Be A Priest

21.1 The Father made the Lord the High Priest
21.2 Priesthood: One of the Blessings of the Firstborn
21.4 The Precedents of Priests in the Bible (2)

Series 22: When Believers Die, They Will Go to the Heavenly Jerusalem

22.1 The Heavenly Jerusalem is paradise (1)
The Heavenly Jerusalem is paradise (2)
The Spirits of the Righteous Made Perfect

Series 23: New Jerusalem is a real city

God has prepared a heavenly home for us
Is the heavenly new Jerusalem a real city?
Satan causes man not to be clear and assured about the things in heaven
Are physical substances not spiritual?
New Jerusalem is a real city (1)
New Jerusalem is a real city (2)

Series 24: God prepares for us

Genesis 22: Father and Son went together
Genesis 22: For us, the Father gave His only Son
Genesis 22: The Lord will provide
24.4 God’s preparation for us

Series 25: The Father and Son Affection

25.1 The Lord Came to Make Known the Father
25.2 The Father and Son Affection (Part 1)
25.3 The Father and Son Affection (Part 2)

Series 26: We are a royal priesthood

26.1 God who alone does wondrous things
26.2 The Lord is the High Priest
26.3 We are a royal priesthood (1)
26.4 We are a royal priesthood (2)
26.5 The life of a priest

Series 27: Who are you in the infinite one’s loving heart?

27.1 Meditate on who you are in the infinite Lord’s loving heart
27.2 Meditate on who you are in the infinite Lord’s loving heart (2)
27.3 Meditate on the infinite Lord’s words at the last supper

Series 28: The conclusion and climax of the book of Hebrews

28.1 Sing praises at Easter (1): The defeat of death
28.2 Sing praises at Easter (2): The risen Lord has swallowed up death