The New Jerusalem of chapter 21 is described in heavenly images in chapter 22. We have presented evidence that the New Jerusalem exists now. Saints are strangers and exiles on the earth at this present time but have their citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20). The New Jerusalem is the city of God where he dwells in distinction from the old physical temple where God dwelt. Neither one was a physical or material dwelling for God. Both represent a connection and spiritual fellowship where man and God can meet and be joined together. The New Jerusalem is depicted as a bride, the bride of Christ. The holy place of the Temple signified the earth while the inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, represented heaven (Ps. 78:69; Heb 8:5; 9:24-26). Interestingly, just as there is a Jerusalem in heaven (Gal 4:26, Heb 12:22) and a Jerusalem on earth there is also an Eden in heaven and an Eden on earth. “On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers.” (1 Kings 6:29). Notice that this garden imagery was present in both the holy place and Most Holy Place mirroring the fact that there was both an Eden in heaven and an Eden on earth.
The New Jerusalem just like the Temple in Jerusalem was a microcosm of heaven and earth. And just as the Temple in Jerusalem was designed to look like and thus signify the Garden of Eden in both heaven and earth, the New Jerusalem is also depicted so as to resemble Eden with trees whose leaves “are for the healing of the nations” calling to mind the tree of life in Eden. The fact that the New Jerusalem is Eden is also implied by the fact that in the New Jerusalem there is no longer any curse (v. 3), which we will explore in our next blog.
In the description, the new Jerusalem begins with a river of life. The text reads, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” Is this river literal? John 7:38-39 reads, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet been glorified.” Then, John sees the tree of life in the new Jerusalem.