The "Beloved City" versus "New Jerusalem"
Context, Leading up to the Revelation of These Two Cities:
In Revelation 19, we see the return of Jesus, of whom John said, in Rev19:11-16, "I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. 13 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called 'The Word of God.'(John 1:1-5) 14 The armies[angels - 2Thess1:7] which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. 15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, 'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'"
After this, there was so much war with great loss of life that the birds were invited to "Be gathered together to the great supper of God" to eat the flesh of all those who were killed by the army[angels - 2Thess1:7] of Christ.(Rev19:17-18). Another result of this war was that "The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur."(Rev19:20)
- "The beast" was spoken of in Revelation, chapters 12,13,17,18 and possibly elsewhere.
- Regarding "the false prophet", see Matthew7:15;24:11,24; Mark13:22; Luke6:26; Acts13:6; 2Peter2:1; 1John4:1; Revelation16:13;19:20;20:10;
Revelation 20 speaks of satan being put into "prison"(Rev20:2-3,7) for one thousand years so that he could no-longer tempt "the nations"(Rev20:3-8). This should seem curious to those of us who have been taught differently. Check it out for yourself so you can see this is really what was recorded for us from Father God, through His Son, through His Son's angel, who showed these things to John(Rev1:1-2;22:6,16;), who recorded it for us to read and understand. "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand."(-John, Rev1:3)
At about the time that satan(and his demons) went to jail, John was shown a resurrection(Rev20:4-6) of those who were given life after death. This would have happened at Christ's second coming(1Thes4:13-18), probably before the war of Revelation 19. Of those, it was said, "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years."(Rev20:6). There was no mention of where they were reigning. However, the context strongly suggests that they would reign over "the nations" which satan was not allowed to tempt until after the thousand years. This may seem strange to some of us, but please read and study these things for yourself, understanding the Bible "just as it reads", rather than through the "filter" of what we have been taught. Now, let us look at what happens next...
The "beloved city"
Revelation 20:7-10 "And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. 10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
- Here, we saw that those who attacked "the saints" and "the beloved city" found their end in the same "lake of fire" as "the beast and the false prophet" 1000 years earlier.
- For those of us who were taught differently, we may be disturbed to see that the saints were NOT inside of "the beloved city". Rather, they were camped outside of that city. Others may wonder why we would be "disturbed" by this. The reason is that some of us were taught that this "beloved city" is the "New Jerusalem" that came down from Heaven. If that were so, the saints would certainly be inside the city. Here is something else to consider: Can you imagine why God would set His "holy city, New Jerusalem"(Rev21:2) on this sin-filled planet? I'm guessing that even the sight the "New Jerusalem" would destroy any and all sinful creatures who would see it. Furthermore, wouldn't the "New Jerusalem" be contaminated/marred by even touching this sin-filled planet?
- Whatever the correct answer is, according to Revelation 21, the "New Jerusalem" will not come down from Heaven until this planet is fully destroyed and re-created, as documented next...
The "holy city, New Jerusalem"
Revelation 20:14-15 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. (last 2 verses of chapter 20)
Revelation 21:1-4 "I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, 'Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and [Father] God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.'"
- Regarding, "a bride adorned for her husband", it looks similar to "the marriage of the Lamb" in Rev19:6-9 -- but it may NOT be the same...
- Not only did this city come down from heaven after the earth was "burned up" - "dissolved with fervent heat"(2Pet3:10-13) and re-created. But, death was also destroyed(Rev20:14) before this city came to earth. For all these reasons, it is impossible for "the beloved city" of Rev20:9 to be the "New Jerusalem".
- So, what is "the beloved city"? Friends, we must learn to understand the Bible, "just as it reads". We also should consider the teachings of the old testament about How much Father Jehovah and His Son loved Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob(renamed to "Israel") and How they loved the city of Jerusalem so much that God's holy city come down from Heaven is named "New Jerusalem". While understanding these things, it seems we have no choice but to accept "the beloved city" as the literal city of Jerusalem in the country of Israel. For some of us, this revelation is shocking...
Concluding Remarks
I have spent the last year studying this and other related topics and only now have I become confident enough in this teaching to publish it. This revelation of "the nations" existing and being ruled by God's saints and the city of Jerusalem still standing 1000 years after Christ's second coming is a lot to take in all at once. But, not only is this prophesied in Revelation 19-21, but it is also prophesied by several prophets in what is commonly referred to as the "Old Testament".
My purpose of this study is only to document the difference between "the beloved city" and "the holy city, New Jerusalem". There are many more related topics to study and questions to be answered. Perhaps, I will publish more on these topics -- topics regarding the 1000 years following Christ's return and the "... Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he[Christ] sent and made known by his angel[Rev22:6,16] to his servant, John, who testified to God's word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand."(Revelation 1:1-3) Amen.
- Here is a study about "the testimony of Jesus Christ" => http://sidnash.org/?tJC
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah (Deut8:3; Matt4:4)
-Sid Nash: 01/24/2024. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/MK/BelovedVSHolyCity.html