In a Christian bookstore some years ago, I was looking for study materials and workbooks for my Sunday school class. I noticed among the books one that had a picture of a cube. I began to scan through the book, only to find that it was about "Heavenly Jerusalem." I, of course, had read the description of the holy city in the 21^st chapter of Revelation a number of times, and knowing the physical description in the Scriptures, I saw the absurdity of explaining this passage literally, when I saw the artist?s conception.

I have since heard many references to, and even read "translations" of the Bible which describe this "1500 mile" city that will descend from heaven, and although that is roughly the equivalent distance of 12,000 furlongs, the figure used by the King James Version and original texts, it is unreasonable to believe that this city is literally 1500 miles wide, long, and high (approximately half of the distance across the U.S.), especially in light of the fact that the wall of the city is only 210 feet high.

It can only be understood, then, as a spiritual description of the holy city, which is, according to the Apostle Paul, the church. "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven." (Heb. 12:22-23)

It is in error that many have converted the measurements to miles and feet as one would convert between metric and English to determine the volume of a bottle of soda or the boiling point of water. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, regarding the teaching method of the Spirit of God. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:12-14)

Our Lord himself said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) The flesh profiteth nothing! To view the passage in Revelation 21 according to the flesh is of little or no value. The Holy Spirit revealed the city to John, and only by the same Spirit will our souls profit by the understanding of its true, spiritual meaning.

If we, therefore, desire to be taught by the Holy Ghost, we must let him "compare spiritual things with spiritual." Let us, then, turn to the Scriptures and learn what they say about Heavenly Jerusalem.

Just prior to the extensive description in Rev. 21:10-27, the angel tells John his intent. He says, "Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb?s wife." In this sermon, it is my hope that you will see that the angel did not promise to show John the bride and then change his mind, but that this city IS the bride, hidden in symbols. This same revelation that was sent and signified by Jesus? angel unto His servant John is now available to us, to show unto us, His servants, things which must shortly come to pass.

By David M. McNabb