City of Abraham

New Jerusalem will be populated fulfilling the covenant promises to bless all nations in Abraham – Revelation 21:24-22:5.

The Book of Revelation concludes with the image of the glorious City of “New Jerusalem” populated by the “innumerable multitude” composed of men redeemed from every nation. It represents the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham of “land” and “blessings to the nations.” All this was accomplished by the shed “blood of the Lamb,” Jesus of Nazareth.

God promised Abraham that “in you, all the clans of the Earth will be blessed.” Kings would come from him, and he would become the “Father of a multitude of nations.”

[Vancouver photo by Lise Savard on Unsplash]

The vast extent of the promise was illustrated when the Creator of all things challenged the Patriarch to number the stars if he could, for “so shall your seed be” - “North and south, east and west, for all the land that you see, will I give to you and your seed, for an everlasting possession.”

The covenant foresaw something larger than the small territory of Palestine or the nation of Israel. “By faith,” Abraham “became a sojourner in the Land of Promise… For he looked for the city whose builder and maker was God” – (Hebrews 11:9-10).

In Chapter 21 of Revelation, the dimensions of the Holy City coincide with those of the “New Heavens and New Earth.” It is the “Paradise of God” where the “Tree of Life” stands, giving life to the “nations.”

This “Tree” is the Cross of Calvary. As the Risen Christ promised to saints who overcome, “To him will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God” – (Revelation 2:7).

What was lost due to the disobedience of Adam will be restored in “New Jerusalem,” but also infinitely enhanced and enlarged. The “curse” will be no more, and even its return will cease to be possible.

The description of the city includes allusions to the Old Testament stories of Adam, Abraham, and Israel. What God intended in the first creation was not abandoned. Instead, it will be fulfilled in the New Creation. Likewise, the covenant promises of land, kings, and “blessings to the nations” will be consummated in “New Jerusalem,” including the promise to regather the tribes of Israel.

The “nations” are portrayed positively and negatively in the Book of Revelation, likewise, the “Kings of the Earth.” It depends on how they respond to the “Lamb.” Those who submit to him are found in “New Jerusalem.” The Redeemed includes the multitude of men “purchased” from every “nation” - (Revelation 21:24-27).

Jesus “shepherds the nations” with his “rod,” but he does not use it to pulverize them into dust. Instead, he is guiding the nations so that his glorious city will be populated fully - (Revelation 5:9, 7:9, 12:5, 15:4, 19:15).

Likewise, he is the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” They will bring “their glory into the city, and the glory and the honour of the nations.” Many will find their names written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” - (Revelation 1:4-6, 6:15, 17:2, 17:18).

The inclusion of the nations and kings fulfills the covenant promises to Abraham. In him, “all the nations of the earth are blessed,” and kings have come from his loins. The group excluded from the city is the “Inhabitants of the Earth,” the men who gave their allegiance to the “Beast from the Sea” and “took its mark” - (Genesis 12:3, 17:6, 22:8).

“And He showed me a river of water of life.” This clause echoes the final vision of the prophet Ezekiel when he saw a river flowing out from “under the threshold of the house,” providing healing and life, only now, it has become healing for all the Nations - (Ezekiel 47:1-12, Revelation 22:1-5).

TREE OF LIFE

In the clause “Tree of Life” (‘xulon zōés’), the Greek noun translated as “tree” or ‘xulon’ was applied to “wood” used in construction or for firewood rather than living trees; that is, dead wood. The same Greek clause is found in the Septuagint rendering of Genesis 2:9 to represent the original “Tree of Life.” Elsewhere, ‘xulon’ is applied to the Cross of Christ. John wishes us to make this connection. Christ Crucified is the Tree of Life - (Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24).

“There will be no curse any longer.” The term “curse” echoes the Genesis story when the Earth was “cursed” because of Adam’s disobedience. This curse has been reversed by the death of the “Lamb” - (Genesis 3:17-19).

In the City, “There will be night no more… for the Lord God will give them light.” This alludes to the promise of restoration to Israel found in the Book of Isaiah including the regathering of the nation to the Promised Land. God will display His glory over Israel so that the “nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” - (Isaiah 60:1-3, 60:19-22, Revelation 21:23-27).

The Book of Revelation squares the “biblical circle. The “Lamb” reverses the “curse” and redeems God’s “good” creation. His promises find their fulfillment in Jesus.

The call for Adam to “take dominion over the Earth” and the covenant promise of land to Abraham and “his seed” are fulfilled gloriously and beyond human expectations by Jesus of Nazareth. Men and women redeemed by him will dwell securely forever in the “City of New Jerusalem,” the true City of Abraham.

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SEE ALSO:

• Kings and Nations - (The promise to bless all nations in Abraham culminates in the vast multitude of the Redeemed that will inhabit New Jerusalem)

• One People - (By his Death and Resurrection, Jesus formed one covenant community - One New Man - based on faith in him, not ethnicity or nationality – Ephesians 2:11-22)

• Salvation for the Nations - (The Gospel of the Kingdom announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)