Before we contemplate the reality of the New Jerusalem, we must understand the significance of Jerusalem, and its destiny, prior to the Incarnation.

Jerusalem became the royal city of David after he defeated the Jebusites and took the city from them. David built a palace there from which to rule the nation of Israel, and his son, Solomon, built a temple so that the Israelite nation could worship God.

Jerusalem became a city of governance and worship. A city that symbolized national and spiritual unity.  Jerusalem became the fulfillment of the children of the Exodus.  The realization of the promise given to those who had left Egypt.

But the earthly Jerusalem was imperfect in unity, fulfillment, and realization.  Although the One True God had revealed himself to Israel, and gave them His law, and decreed that a dwelling be built for Him, the Israelites continued to worship other gods, follow their own laws, and instead of being united they fought with each other.  Until, eventually, the earthly Jerusalem came to represent division and false worship.

During that brief time, under the reigns of kings David and Solomon, Jerusalem had represented the crowning achievement of Israelite glory--a city that equaled or surpassed the cities of other nations.  And it was that moment of glory, those 80 years under David and Solomon, the people of Judah remembered and made the center of their identity after they were taken captive by the Assyrian-Babylonian empire.  The memory of Jerusalem became a hope--the feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.  Salvation.

PSALM 122

I rejoiced when they said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

And now our feet are standing

within your gates, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, built as a city,

walled round about.

There the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD,

As it was decreed for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

There are the thrones of justice,

the thrones of the house of David.

For the peace of Jerusalem pray:

May those who love you prosper!

May peace be within your ramparts,

prosperity within your towers.”

For the sake of my brothers and friends I say,

“Peace be with you.”

For the sake of the house of the LORD, our God,

I pray for your good.