“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)
Where is that “City with Foundations” whose builder and maker is God? Do you think this describes Heaven or the Kingdom of God or the congregation of God’s people or the fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ? Let’s explore this desired destination a little bit further, and find the city with foundations that both Abraham and all those who yearn for the presence of the LORD God and seek after!
Let’s look for clues in the Word of God!
“For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.” (Hebrews 12:18-24)
Take a moment to read Hebrews 12:18- 24 and then record different clues about the City of God. When you have completed your analysis, compare your statements of facts with ours:
1. It sits upon a mountain that cannot be touched
2. It cannot be burned with fire
3. It cannot contain blackness, darkness or tempest
4. It is founded atop Mount Sion
5. It is the city of the living God
6. It is the heavenly Jerusalem
7. There are many, many angels within it
8. It is the home of the general assembly of Christians
9. It is the home of the church of the firstborn
10. It is the home of those whose names are written in Heaven in the book of life
11. It is home to the LORD God and the Lord Jesus Christ whom judge all
12. It is home to the spirits of just men made perfect through the shed blood of Jesus Christ
13. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the new covenant that gives entrance to the City of God.
How did you do? Let’s go to another Scripture and look for more evidence to the City of God.
John was instructed by the Lord to write to the angel of the church of Philadelphia…
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:10-13)
Once again, prepare some statements of fact that you can pull from Revelation 3:10-13 that will tell you more about the city of God.
Let’s see if your list matches with mine!
1. The church of Philadelphia, who keep the Word of God with patience, will enter into the City of God
2. The worldly who succumb to temptation will NOT enter into the City of God
3. The church should hold fast to the Word of God because Jesus Christ will come quickly; they should protect their crown at all costs!
4. If they overcome, they will be a pillar in the temple of God and they will never leave it again.
5. The name of the LORD God will be written upon them
(Up to now, it’s been all been a specific message to the church of Philadelphia. But now, the message gives clues to the rest of us to guide us further in learning about the city of God!)
1. THE NAME OF THE CITY OF GOD IS NEW JERUSALEM!
2. NEW JERUSALEM will not stay in Heaven, but will come down from Heaven!
The message from the Lord to the angel of the Church of Philadelphia was made specifically to them. But, we learned a little bit more about the City of God by searching the Scripture for clues.
When you study the Word of God, however, you must take care that you only state as fact, that which is true. For instance, there is nowhere in the Scripture we just studied that even remotely suggested that it is only the Church of Philadelphia that would be allowed to enter the City of God. Although the message was to them it did not limit others from other places. Yet, through the study of that message, we gained clues to help us discover the things about the City of God.
Stay on track with your study, and don’t infer or add to make things fit!
The next Scripture both proves my point that others will enter the City of God, as well as identify a little bit more about it.
“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:12-17)
Same exercise applies…open your trusty notebook, and find those statements of fact!
How do your fact clues compare to mine?
1. The Lord Jesus Christ makes believers holy with his shed blood.
2. He died outside the gate, without a camp, without a community, without a city.
3. Followers of Jesus Christ are without a camp and gate also.
4. Followers of Jesus Christ have no city, and suffer the same reproach as Christ did
5. Christians do not have a city on this earth that will continue on forever
6. Christians seek after the City of God to come that will exist forever
7. Christians should praise God continuously for the City that will one day come to believers
8. Christians are instructed to obey those who have rule over you, and submit to their orders, for they will be giving an account of your performance to God
Once again, take care that you only write statements of fact that are clearly representative of the intended meaning, in the perfect context, that the Word of God is written.
The City of God is the New Jerusalem! It is the City we long for greatly! It has not come to us yet, but will one day be inhabited by faithful Christians.
”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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”(Revelation 21:1-8)
The City of God, the New Jerusalem will come down from God out of Heaven. The Tabernacle of God will be adorned for her husband, the Lord Jesus Christ. God will be with men, and dwell with the inhabitants of New Jerusalem! In the city of New Jerusalem, there will be no tears, death, sorrow, crying or pain. The things of sadness from this life will pass away. All things will be made new and clean and righteous!
New Jerusalem will not have any fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters or liars; for the deadly lake of fire is reserved for them. The City of God, the New Jerusalem, will flow with the water of life freely. All Christians that overcome the things of this world will inherit the things of God. Through the faith of Abraham, and the promise of inheritance of God’s things, the LORD God will be a faithful Christian’s Father God. It began with Abraham’s faith to journey away from his known city to the promised city of God and ends with our moving into New Jerusalem with the presence of our Lord dwelling with us eternally! I can hardly wait!
