Most artists assume the New Jerusalem to be cube-shaped. I believe it to be a square-based cone whose height is equal to the length of the side of its base. I can see it being similar to some pyramids, purely for aesthetic reasons. If the new earth also rotates, then the shape of the pyramid is better suited to that as well.
Ah, what a great future we have for the saints redeemed by the Most High!
That verse in Isaiah 65:17 is indeed about the heavens in the plural form. It refers to this first heaven, or the earth's atmosphere, and as the second heaven, the starry sky around it, or space, and perhaps some other heavens that we cannot see now(?). According to the NT, paradise is the third heaven.
Verse 21:1 of the Book of Revelation has the following content:
>>And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea exists no more.<<
- The artist's picture I copied is so special that it shows large lakes, the existence of which is also possible in a new country(?)
We will receive the eternal Kingdom
Adonai Yeshua promised it to us in Matt. 25:31-34
>>31 But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit down upon his throne of glory, 32 and all the nations shall be gathered before him; and he shall separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and he will set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on [his] left. 34 Then shall the King say to those on his right hand, Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from [the] world's foundation:<<
We notice from the last sentence of the passage how planned the salvation of the chosen people has been! It has been part of our Creator's plan even before the foundation of the world, and therefore even before the creation of our ancestors.
What will that eternal Kingdom be like?
>>9 but according as it is written, Things which eye has not seen, and ear not heard, and which have not come into man's heart, which Elohim has prepared for them that love him, 10 but Elohim has revealed to us by [his] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of Elohim.<<
Their special attention was drawn to the fact that on the table in everyone's room there is a big open Bible with its leaves fanned out. There is no lamp in the room, but the pages of the Bible illuminate the room. The Bible is the original revelation of our Creator's creations and teachings, which every saint studies alone there with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
According to Daniel, it is an eternal Kingdom with the Son of Man (Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach) as king and his chosen saints will inherit it. Dan. 7:18
In the NT we are told the following enigmatically: 1. Cor. 2:9-10
>>9 but according as it is written, Things which eye has not seen, and ear not heard, and which have not come into man's heart, which Elohim has prepared for them that love him, 10 but Elohim has revealed to us by [his] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of Elohim.<<
In the 1970s, I read author Mel Tari's books "Like a Mighty Wind" and "Like the Hum of the Silent Wind", which tell about a huge Christian revival around the 1965s in Indonesia. A lot of the same healing and other miracles happened there as in the early apostolic period and the arrival of communism was prevented.
One third book "Visions behind the curtain" told how the little children in the Adullam's Orphanage had been filled with the Holy Spirit and they started speaks with new tongues. At the command of Adonai Yeshua and led by the Holy Spirit they traveled from village to village on the island of Timor proclaiming the Good News (gospel) and many wonders happened and many sick were healed.
During the journey, they were taken up to the Holy City and were allowed to eat delicacies and drink refreshing juice. They said that on the table all the objects, even the spoon, were singing the praises of Adonai without ceasing! They were also shown a room such as all the redeemed saints have there, each one for private use.
Their special attention was drawn to the fact that on the table in everyone's room there is a big open Bible with its leaves fanned out. There is no lamp in the room, but the pages of the Bible illuminate the room. The Bible is the original revelation of our Creator's creations and teachings, which every saint studies alone there with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Only the first of those books is available:
Like a Mighty Wind: Mel Tari, Cliff Dudley - Amazon.com
What is the heavenly Jerusalem like?
First of all, it is our eternal hometown, where we each have our own apartment. I believe that we can choose the furniture that suits our own taste and pick up the furniture from the heavenly furniture store. After all, we are individuals there too!
Revelation tells a lot about that eternal City of Elohim and the Lamb and his saints. For example, the following description applies to it: Rev. 21:10-27
>>10 He carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from Elohim, 11 having the glory of Elohim: her light was like unto a gemstone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:
12 having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 He that spake with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 The city lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth (2304 km) : and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits (72 m), according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18 The building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto pure glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious gemstones.
The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. (See attached picture below)
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the several gates was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 I saw no temple therein: for Yehowah Elohim the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.
23 And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of Elohim did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb. 24 The nations shall walk amidst the light thereof: and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it.
25 The gates thereof shall in no wise be shut by day (for there shall be no night there) : 26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it: 27 and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life.<<
As the last verse (27) shows, there are clear requirements to get there!
Let us sanctify ourselves and separate ourselves from all defilement by repenting and cleansing our souls by faith in the holy blood of the Lamb (Yeshua) slain on Calvary, and by faith we will gain access to that wonderful and incomparable Hometown, built for us!
Songs suitable for the topic
The Holy City, Jerusalem
How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
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