“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Rev. 22:1-2 KJV)
This passage is Jesus describing to us The New Jerusalem. This is the place Jesus referred too when He said,
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3 KJV)
I believe that Scripture shows that at the Rapture event, before the Tribulation Period begins, believers will be snatched off the Earth and find themselves in the place Jesus has been preparing for all who believe on Him for salvation; The Bride Of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2). This place is what many refer too as “Heaven”. Only Church Age believers, from the cross to the Rapture event to come, will reside in this Heavenly City.
During the 7 year Tribulation Period on Earth, the Bride of Christ will reside in this city located in the 3rd Heaven where God is. After the Tribulation Period, this physical 3 dimensional object/city will leave the 3rd Heaven and start it’s way toward Earth from space. The New Jerusalem is not on Earth during the 1000 year Millennium reign of Christ on Earth (The Kingdom Age). At the Second coming of Christ we see the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven (space). It will arrive hovering the Earth at some distance not mentioned, after the Second Coming. Why do I believe will it not land on the Earth?
If we look at Rev 20:9 it describes the final rebellion after Satan is released for a short time near the end of the 1000 year Reign of Christ on Earth.
“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:9 KJV)
Let us look at this verse as written in the Greek to gain a better understanding about this beloved city. It says that those rebelling against Christ and being led by Satan, “went UP on the BREADTH of the Earth”. The original Greek word for ‘UP’ is ‘anabainō’ and means ‘to climb…ascend’. The original Greek the word ‘BREADTH’ is ‘platos’ and means ‘a great extent’. The original Greek word for ‘EARTH’ is ‘gē’ and means ‘the earth as a whole, the earth as opposed to the heavens’.
This verse mentions two locations. One is the camp of the saints (City of Jerusalem in Israel on Earth) and the other ‘the BELOVED city’ (The New Jerusalem hovering above the Earth in space). It does not state one place being attacked in this final rebellion led by the devil. It seems to indicate an attack on the camp of the saints on Earth and a Beloved City. I believe this beloved city is the New Jerusalem.
Because of the enormity of the size of the New Jerusalem which is 1500 miles x1500 miles x 1500 miles it does not seem plausible to land on Earth and that it has 3 dimensions and is within our 3D universe. It is so huge that the Earth would likely wobble if it was on the planet.
The survivors of the Tribulation Period in the future will see The New Jerusalem coming. Unlike the Rapture, which is in the twinkling of an eye, in an instant, the Tribulation survivors (both believers watching for it and unbelievers not watching for it) will have time as it approaches the Earth. The unbelievers will have great fear and hide themselves in caves in terror of it approaching. Believers will be getting very excited!
After Christ judges the survivors of the Tribulation Period (Sheep and Goats Judgement), surviving believers will start repopulating the Earth in mortal bodies. Old Testament saints will be bodily resurrected at that time and will reside on Earth in Israel. Israel is the camp where they will rule over the nations as Jesus has appointed tasks and positions for them to do and fulfill; they will rule as priests. They will live on the Earth. The Bride of Christ have glorified bodies and reside in The New Jerusalem forever, and will be Kings and Priests. And so, the 1000 year Kingdom Age will begin like this.
The Tree Of Life is mentioned in the Garden Of Edan and the fruit and leaves from it sustained Adam and Eve. It has properties giving immortality. Why would it be needed in the New Jerusalem when all who reside there already have eternal glorified bodies that can never become ill nor die? Well when we look at the words closely, it does not state that the residences of The New Jerusalem will be the ones needing it.
“…and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Rev. 22 KJV)
These are for the ‘healing of the nations’. They will be no nations in the New Jerusalem and so this means it is for the mortals living on Earth. The leaves and fruit will give them long life and healing. They will live very long lives, up to 1000 years even as did those before the flood. Remember, the Bride of Christ will reside in The New Jerusalem and be ‘kings and priests’. We will be going back and forth to Earth and the New Jerusalem in helping rule , reign and teach with Christ on the Earth.
