New Jerusalem

In revelation its speaks about New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, a Heavenly Jerusalem after our present world is gone. Say Im a "real" christian, and ive been "marked with the seal of God on my forehead" so I dont go to hell. Why would I, living in America thousands of years later, want to live in Jerusalem?

 

New Jerusalem is the ultimate. The city of God. No starvation, death, hunger, etc. You know, no sunlight because the Lamb is the light.

Jerusalem today, the US today is no comparison.

 

Because Jerusalem in Revelation (like 90% of the rest of the book) is metaphor. Jerusalem was the crown jewel of Israel. It was the location of the temple of solomon and the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. For a Jew, there was no other city like it. It was the dwelling place of God on earth.

To say that there will be a new Jerusalem doesn't imply that the physical city of Jerusalem will be re-constructed, but that God again will dwell on Earth as ruler. That there will again be the crowning jewel residing on the earth. It would really speak to a Jew of the 1st century. Unfortunately, we in the here and now do not understand the full impact of the metaphor.

 

Yeah, i've realized that its a metaphor probably like all of Revalation, but I'm interested in hearing what someone who takes the bible literally would think, though. It just seems like another 'the jews are the chosen people' scenario to me.

 

Yes. We were just talking about this in class today.

This whole rapture obsession in the evangelical wing is kinda..interesting considering in Revelation it says that a New Jerusalem (a new world under God's reign) will descend upon earth..... the focus is not on our moralism and how if we're good enough we will get raptured away to heaven.

If getting into heaven was based on our goodness and perfect morality, then heaven would be empty since none of us is perfect like the Creator.

 

its not based on perfect morality, its based on what we feel in our hearts. We dont have to be perfect.

 

Yes. I agree. That's what I mean.

I mean to say that the Rapture makes no sense to me, and I don't talk about it to people, nor do I care to read books about being left behind.

 

well people would be raptured if their hearts were true, i guess rapture IS the last judgement?

 

Jesus Christ- And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
The New Jerusalem will be the city constructed by God, for God and His people. The measurements of the city will be found I believe in the Book of Ezekiel.

 

If the New Jerusalem spoken of in the Book of Revelation was just a metaphor, why would the entire 40th chapter of Ezekiel, be totally dedicated to giving the measurements of that city?
Understand, that the vast majority of Jews chosen by God, will mostly be in Hell. Only a small number of Jews will be in heaven. The Bible states, ''though they number as the sands of the sea, only a remnant will be saved.''

 

The New Jerusalem descends from out of heaven at the end of the Great Tribulation. The rapture occures 7 years before. God removes those who truly love Him because the world for the next 7 years will be under Satans control.
The Tribulation will be a day of complete horror. Man and demons will coexist, earth will be Hell. Being good does not get you raptured, being a Christian does.

 

I was thinking about the city name Jerusalem on the way to the library today. I was going to tell people how the name Jerusalem means "teaching of peace" in Hebrew.

Nice that God set up a thread for me to tell you guys this. The New Jerusalem already decends from heaven in the words we speak. The teaching of peace is to see God's hand in all actions, even those we do not enjoy.

Last night, God sent me a vision of despair and lonliness. At first, I was slightly angry, but I tried to understand. The understanding I achieved was this: that this is how those who do not know of the truths of God will feel upon the day that God reveals God's true nature to the whole world.

This group includes those who believe in Satan and other powers of darkness- who deny God's love by their inner thoughts. People like this would think that the vision of despair and lonliness was an attack from Satan, instead of accepting it as divine guidance from our loving God- showing me what lies within the hearts of unbelievers, what needs to be rooted out.

It was sortof a kick in the ass, made me realise that I have a lot of work to do on this earth, to teach others of God's love patiently, instead of just jetting and going to the next world. I mean, I would have guilt if I did not fulfill my portion of God's plan (but God will not let me fail- God just shows me what I (and others) would feel if I did not do as God intends). This has to be the reason Jesus was willing to be crucified....

 

Yep. That's what it's all about. My point about this rapture idea is: all these calculations about the exact way that the Tribulations and such will occur are all hypothetical. I think this Left Behind theology is so dangerous. It is illogical to try to apply BIBLICAL prophecies to POLITICAL situations as our current president George W. Bush is doing.

Except unlike Philip Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, (who have even published their own Bible with color charts detailing the coming tribulation,..**sick!!**) George Bush DOESN'T HAVE A PLAN in Iraq and that's why he's not revealing a plan to end the war in Iraq.

 

Well maybe we should of left the former leader of Iraq in power with his two lovely sons. That way we could be sure more suicide bombers families would be taken care of. And who would care, they were only killing Jews anyway. And the future of Iraq and the surrounding nations would always be at the mercy of madmen. So what if the formen leader gased 50,000 woman and childern. Who cares if one million of Iraqs men died undrer his reign. Its much better to do nothing, than to try and accomplish a free society governed by the people. Maybe if America did not go to war with Hitler we would of all been better off. By now, we would all be speaking a second language I'm sure, German. Yea do nothing, always look the other way. Yea, that's a great plan.

 

Kharakov, why should anyone be upset when God reveals His true nature. You have already told us every religion is ok. They all lead to the truth. Or is it just every religion but the Christian faith. And Jesus never said He came to bring peace, just the oppsite. He said He came to put mother against daughter, father against son. He stated, He did not come to bring peace. So, whoever is talking to you, is not the God of the Bible. That's why the Bible states you need to test the Spirtis to see if they are speaking God's truth. The Satan you don't believe in God states will come to you as an angle of light. The Bible states that any Spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ is Lord does not come from God. Who do the Spirits speaking with you confess is Lord?

 

They shouldn't, but many will find that their lives have been lived foolishly, and regret the evils they have done.

They are all starting points on the search for God. This does not mean they are all correct, it means they all have their God given purpose.

Of course not.

Campbell, I said the word Jerusalem means "teaching of peace" in Hebrew.
""I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.""

You need to be able to do the same in your brothers. To see what motivates them so that you can help them overcome their sin.

This would be you. You masquerade as a messenger of God while spreading sin.

Even one that does can spread sin if the spirit does not know the difference between right and wrong.

They do not. Even Job knew that his calamity was brought upon him by the Lord, although in the story the spirit of the accuser sought to test Job as you seek to test me now.

 

So God started all these religions, but the religions are leading people in oppsite directions. Because the religion that was started by God is not correct. Remember, God is not the author of confusion.

And you say Satan is not a real being, even though the Bible indicates he is?

And my message is the same message that was given to us by Jesus Christ, which states, ''that unless a man is born again, he will not enter into the Kingdom of God.'' And you say that message is sin. So what you are telling me is that the message of Jesus Christ was a lie.

And the story of Job clearly points to Satan as the accuser. Only you did not use his name, to cover for him. You really seem to look out for Satan Kharakov.

 

I did not come to make peace, but to turn father against son, mother against daughter.

No, because they are different.

Remember the quotes within the bible in which God says "I will send them confusion."

"Get thee behind me Satan."

Jesus says this to Peter when he is ignorant of the ways of God. Any Satan is an accuser or slanderer of God's plan.

No, I say "They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm." of souls such as you. I also say "16They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."

No, I say your perversion of the message of Jesus Christ is a sin.

You pervert the message of this story by your sinful interpretation. It is within God's own glorious mind that these questions arose, that God could test Job and show Job God's power.

Satan means "the accuser" or "the slanderer".

I do care about Satans (accusers or slanderers), such as yourself, which is why I rebuke thee, Satan.

 

The reason God did not come to bring peace, is because Christ is asking us to take a stand for Him. You cannot follow other religions, and think we will all be one happy family in the end.

God does not send confusion to His people, only to those who oppose Him. And He is not the author of confusion, for the righteous.

And when Jesus said to Peter, get thee behind me Satan. It was because Jesus knew that the words coming from Peter, were motivated by Satan.

Actually Kharakov. Most of the time I just believe what Jesus states so clearly. The Bible speaks of Satan and how he tried to over power the God of heaven. The story is found in the Old Testament, and his demons were the one's Christ cast out of people in the New Testament. Do you believe that Christ cast demons out of people Kharakov?

 

According to Scripture, America will be ripped apart by an earthquake and will be split into three sections, it will also be destroyed by a group of Northern Nations that will attack her without warning, and they will set all of her cities on fire. America's end will come in one hours time. America is targeted in Scripture for destruction. And after the event the Bible states that no one will even be able to live in that land again, no one will even be able to go back to even remove a stone for a foundation, for the land will be completely polluted. It even states that men in ships far out at sea will not want to get to close to her, but will cry when they see her burning. And the merchants of the earth will be saying, ''there is no one left to buy our goods.''