City Living in New Jerusalem
Notes and Speculations from the Bible
Notes and Speculations from the Bible
Speculations about HeavenPeople are far less interested in knowing God than we suppose!
There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open grave; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18) 8000 million people live on our planet today. That's way too many! (See Worldometers, and Population/Memory Loss by Steve Campbell). If 10% of earth's present residents know God through Jesus Christ, that would be a mere 800 million who are destined to live in God's city, New Jerusalem, ("who go to heaven" in other words) Adding in all those who have believed in Jesus since Pentecost, in the true Church Jesus has been building, could at least double the total. God wants no one to perish, He desires that none should be lost. Yet God can not violate our freedom to say "no." We have been made in God's own image, and we each have considerable freedom of choice. Only 5% of today's citizens of the world are Americans. Most are Blacks, Orientals, Hispanics, etc. Some observers claim that 20% of Americans today are Christians. This is more “reasonable.” We know it’s not going to be 100% (Universalism). But the majority of believers do not have a current, viable walk with Jesus, sad to say. (See The Church Papers). Half of the people joining us at the rapture (believers from the past since Pentecost) will have died between 33 AD and yesterday, so they won’t all share our present cultural values, knowledge, memory base, and our tastes in art, music, clothing, friends, and so on. Heaven will not be a Democracy but a Theocracy! That's hard to envision in light of our history!
The wedding is yet to happen. Jesus is not marrying us for our money, our good genes, or our good looks, or our head knowledge. Resurrection bodies won’t have bad breath. The Bride-to-be is a whole bunch of people headed for deep union and communion with the bachelor Groom. The Groom, Jesus, is the best qualified man who has ever lived. The Bride of Christ is not a single Jewish girl His age. She is millions of us, all ages and stages, males and females (only two genders), and from all walks of life. Lots of children!
“Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” |
Everyone says they wants to go to heaven when they die. But the Place Prepared is for men, women, boys and girls who know Jesus as a living Person. The citizens of New Jerusalem have been called and chosen over the past 2000 years by God. Every citizen will know and cherish their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He's the Lord of heaven and of earth.
Brothers, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:17-21)
The Rapture
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4) |
God who IS Love desires that none should be lost and all that all who will may come. Yet in each generation only 10 or 20% of folks down on the planet apparently become saved. This would seem to be the testimony of history. The belief that all are saved, as in Universalism, can’t be defended from the Bible. God can’t violate our freedom of choice. He has made us very much like Himself in our free will. What behooves us who know Jesus is surely to each be fully available to our Lord without strings attached, so that Jesus, not “self,” is what outsiders see in us. I often wonder how many have turned away from Jesus because of me?
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:16–17)
The Queen of Sheba was probably a black woman. Solomon of course was Jewish. The Bride of Christ is mostly a gentile--with a few embedded Jewish believers in Yeshua. Genital sexuality will be unnecessary in New Jerusalem.
“For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30)
Some men and women reading through the Song of Solomon find it erotic and sensually stimulating. It seems to me this is because of the projection of our own hearts onto the text. As we grow pure in heart in our relationship with the Lord Jesus we have less to project onto the book from our own unconscious unresolved issues. Some Jewish rabbis down through the ages have recommended that the book not be read by anyone under thirty years of age. The Song does produce highly subjective reactions in most readers. These reactions usually change over time indicating that the Song is a fully inspired part of God's Word. Like the rest of the Bible Canticles has life-transforming, redemptive power behind it. The Song mirrors back to the reader his or her own spiritual and emotional level of growth and maturity at all stages of life. No reputable scholar considers Song of Solomon to be erotic literature. It is a love story and there is a clear progression both of self-understanding of the lovers, and in their relationship as the story unfolds...
Christian commentators have long interpreted the Song of Songs as a picture of the Church as the Bride of Christ. God loves His only Son and by the Holy Spirit He has called out and prepared for Jesus a beautiful, virgin bride. In type this is illustrated in Genesis 24. Abraham's servant (type of the Holy Spirit) was sent by Abraham (type of the Father), into the far country to secure Rebekah as wife for his beloved Son, Isaac, (type of Christ). While Jewish symbolism sees Israel as the wife of God, the church is composed of Jews and Gentiles. In the present age of history the church is the special group of believers who are being called out to become the virgin Bride of Christ. This picture comes up several times in the Book of the Revelation. Similarly, the Apostle Paul writes,
"I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband." (2 Corinthians 11:2)
"Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (Ephesians 5:21-33)
The Wife of Jehovah and the Bride of Christ | The Marriage of the Lamb
The Revirginized | Your Wedding Invitation from Jesus | Made in the Image of God
Intimacy with God | Jesus Hasn’t Married Yet | Commentary on Song of Solomon.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible...
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
...And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Hebrews 11)
“...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:17:23)
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son... (Revelation 21:3-7)
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.“ (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)
“...but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel... (2 Timothy 1:10)
“...and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.“ (1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10)
Your Timeline: You did not choose to be born nor pick your patents. Your bio dad determined your gender. You are a created spirit created, chosen, destined to live out your life. You were born mortal and have been appointed to die.
“...And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.“ (Hebrews 9:27, 28)
The Place Prepared And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.“ (John 14:1-3)
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-3)
You've Been a Friend | Take your Shoes off Moses | El Shaddai | Thy Word s a Lamp Unto my Feet... | Marching to Zion
On Jordan's Stormy Banks | There is Power in the Blood| | Diamonds is the Rough | Short Life of Trouble | Canaan's Land
All the Good Times are Over |m All the Good Times are Lost and Gone | Heavenly Sunshine
Little Log Cabin in the Lane
Oh I’m gettin’ old and feeble and I cannot work no more
The children no more gather ’round my door
And old masters and old mrs they are sleepin’ side by side
Near the little old log cabin in the lane.
Oh the chimney’s fallen down and the roof’s all caved in
Lettin’ in the sunshine and the rain
And the only friend I’ve got now is that good old dag of mine
And the little old log cabin in the lane
Oh the trees have all growed up that lead around the hill
The fences have all gone to decay
And the creeks have all dried up where we used to go to mill
And things have changed their course another way
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How many who make it to heaven know the Bible? How many are familiar with Human history? Not many!
When we all get to Heaven —for seven years prior to the Second Coming— 95% will possibly need to go to Bible school to catch up? The vast majority who are saved will know very little about Who saved them and from What. They will at least be in a safe place. Meanwhile back down of earth millions who ma even know the Bible well will stay lost because they keep rejecting Jesus. If they change their minds after the rapture the only way to being with Jesus is via the guillotine.
At the entrance door Into heaven—the 