The Book Of Revelation And The City Of God

 The book of Revelation is one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible (Ogden, 2015). A significant contributor to the misunderstanding is when the book was written. Revelation was written somewhere between 64 -67 AD and describes the desolation of Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem, including the temple and the priesthood (Ogden, 2015). These events were foretold in Deuteronomy (4:23-27), repeated by the prophets (Isaiah Daniel, Zechariah, and Ezekiel), and foretold again by Jesus (Lk 11, 13, 19, 21; Matt 22, 24; Mark 12).  In sum, the Book of Revelation is about how God removed the physical Jerusalem so that the Jews, Gentiles and the entire world could see the Heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21, 22).

It may surprise you to know that Revelation chapters 21 and 22 are not about heaven per se but are about the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God, which is the church of Christ here on earth. In heaven, the city of God is the Old and New Testament saints (in paradise) who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) throughout the ages. One, among many, convincing reasons these two chapters are not about heaven is that you can go in (be added) and out (fall away) of this city; obviously, we cannot (nor would we want to) go in and out of heaven!

It may also surprise you to know that Revelation Chapter 5 describes “The New Testament Throne Scene” and reveals the fulfillment of a 600-year-old prophecy about our current reign with Jesus while on earth (not some future reign of 1000 years as proposed by secular scholars and men of worldly renown)? Consider what verses 9 and 10 have to say:

“9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

There was something new to sing about: The transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament order had just been observed. This verse is the remarkable fulfillment of Daniels’ 600-year-old vision (Dan 7:13-14). Approximately 200 years before Daniels’ vision, Isaiah prophesied a new song would be a song (Isaiah 42:1-10). Consider the phrase “They shall reign on the earth.” This reign  was the beginning all men after that who would be in the Kingdom of Christ would reign on earth (Acts 2:24).” The idea that Revelation 5:10 portrays some future reign of 1,000 years on earth by Christ and his saints are not taught in this verse and Chapter or elsewhere in Revelation!

When Revelation is interpreted soundly, reasonably, scripturally, and free of contextual errors, the reader discovers that it is bursting with spiritual gems that can lift the spirit and provide the full assurance of faith in God’s will and His heavenly city that here on earth, is the church of Christ.             ~Herb Turner