There are two parts to your question here. 1. Do I believe that the New Jerusalem is a physical city and 2. Do I believe all saved people will enter into to it. Let me start with number 1. I believe that the New Jerusalem is both a metaphor and a physical city. Why do I believe it is a physical city?
Because The New Jerusalem, is described vividly in the final chapters of the Bible, which has inspired countless interpretations over the centuries. While some view it as a symbolic representation of the Church or spiritual perfection, a close reading of Scripture suggests that the New Jerusalem is not merely a metaphor, but a literal, physical city. The biblical text presents detailed dimensions, material descriptions, and interactions that support the view of a real city descending from heaven to become the eternal dwelling place of God and His people.
Detailed Physical Description in Revelation
Revelation 21 provides an extraordinarily detailed account of the New Jerusalem’s appearance. John writes, “The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide… 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long” (Revelation 21:16). This amounts to approximately 1,400 to 1,500 miles in each direction, including its height—a measurement that defies symbolic interpretation due to its geometric specificity.
Further, the city is described as being constructed of tangible materials: “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass” (Revelation 21:18). The foundations are adorned with twelve precious stones, and the twelve gates are each made from a single pearl (verses 19–21). Such extensive material details are unusual if the intent is purely symbolic. The precision of these descriptions suggests a real, physical place.
Jesus’ Promise of a Prepared Place
In John 14:2–3, Jesus comforts His disciples with a promise: “In my Father's house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you.” The Greek word used for “place” (topos) refers to a specific location. Jesus speaks of an actual dwelling prepared for believers, not a vague spiritual state or metaphorical concept. This aligns with the later vision of the New Jerusalem as the place where God and humanity will dwell together eternally.
The Faith of Abraham in a Literal City
The idea of a literal heavenly city is not confined to Revelation. Hebrews 11:10 tells us that Abraham “was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” The writer of Hebrews reinforces this idea in verse 16: “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” This expectation of a tangible city—built by God Himself—is echoed in the vision of the New Jerusalem, suggesting continuity in God’s plan from the Old Testament through the New.
A City that Descends to Earth
Revelation 21:2–3 states: “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… And I heard a loud voice… saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people.’” The language of descent indicates spatial movement and implies that the city will be situated on a renewed Earth. If the city were purely symbolic, such a description would be unnecessary and misleading. Instead, the text portrays a physical relocation of the divine dwelling to Earth, culminating in an eternal union between God and redeemed humanity.
Nations and Kings Interact with the City
Revelation 21:24–26 describes the nations walking by the light of the city, and the kings of the Earth bringing their glory and honor into it. These verses suggest that there will be real political or cultural structures interacting with the city, pointing again to its literal existence. The presence of nations and kings implies a functioning society centered around a physical capital—the New Jerusalem.
Conclusion
The biblical evidence supports the view that the New Jerusalem is not simply a symbol of spiritual ideals or the Church, but a real, physical city. The vivid descriptions in Revelation, the promises of Christ, and the faith of the patriarchs all point toward a literal fulfillment of God’s plan to dwell with His people in a tangible, eternal home. Far from being abstract, the New Jerusalem is portrayed as the climactic realization of God’s redemptive work—a city with foundations, built by God, descending to Earth to usher in the fullness of His kingdom.
Your postulation that the the great multitude will be excluded is not found anywhere in scripture.
How could you say I did not address your post, when I did.
#1
I asked you pointedly if Jesus is married to a literal city.
If you believe it's a literal city, then why are you beating around the bush, rather than giving a direct answer?
It's because you know, that to say yes, would be ridiculous, and to say no, would be to deny the scriptures which I particularly quoted.
Revelation 21:9,
10
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
That addressed your answer.
#2
Regarding the "city with foundations", that Abraham looked forward to, I referred to the scriptures, which showed clearly that city is the said New Jerusalem... with foundations.
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Now, therefore,
you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
1 Peter 2:5,
6
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 Therefore it is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen precious cornerstone; and the
one believing on Him, shall not be put to shame."
Even the text you quoted in Revelation 22, refers to the same city.
It's only because you see it as literal, that you are not seeing these texts, as they are to be understood.
To run with the idea that the city is literal, one would have to be ignoring the scriptures that shows it's figurative
Hence, why I asked if you think Christ is married to a building.
#3
Earlier, you said,
To be married to Chist is to be one with him as He is with The Father. “That they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11).
You did not hesitate to offer that information.
However, now that it is clear that the Church is the same as the New Jerusalem, made up of the 144,000 Saints, which is the bride of Christ, you are having difficulty saying, yes this is the body of Saints - the same spiritual house that God was building as a place in which to dwell.
Just like the temple Solomon built, after the one that preceded it, but this one is spiritual - not the shadow, but the reality. The one in heaven. Hebrews 12:22
So, yes, I did address that as well.
#4
Your claim with no scriptural support was challenged, with a direct request to provide the scripture that says New Jerusalem is on earth - Which scripture in the Bible says New Jerusalem is
on earth, or is that your assumption?
What was your response?
More non-answers to support your non-answer. I’m sure you aware that ad hominem attacks are logical fallacies because they are designed to discredit a person rather than the the argument.
Not in response to the post you were responding to. You had no answer for that one.
No you did not. You did not address that post at all.
Yours are merely claims. You have not refuted a single argument I’ve made accept by simply stating that they are false. Big red x’s are not arguments.
It was a sophomoric question which I assumed was rhetorical. It’s like me asking you if Christ is married to 144,000 virgin men? So do you think Christ is marrying 144, 000 virgin men?
Answer to what? The text plainly say, God will dwell with men. You showed me no such text. There is no text that says “the Great multitude is not on Mt. Zion.
"Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head" (Isaiah 51:11)
Not a single response to that question and others, nor any scripture... but one which refers to the Israelites return from captivity to Jerusalem, as if to say, this applies to Hebrews 12:22
So, you use the shadow, to apply to the reality.
Even if you make the claim it does, the scriptures refute that claim.
Isaiah 2:3
And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Really, MS, you aren't addressing any of my posts.
You're simply making assertions; failing to back them up; and hand waving away every scripture that refutes your beliefs.
Finally. Where in the Bible do we find "Christ is married to 144,000 virgin men".
I thought every person who read the Bible seriously, know that the Bible does not say 144,000 men, but rather 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads, and144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
Everyone who has seriously considered the Bible, know that these ones who are in heaven, are neither male nor female Galatians 3:29, and their virginity is spiritual 1 Corinthians 11:12.
This is how I know you are not serious. I have been trying to be patient, but I don't think I can keep asking you to answer simple questions, and have you ignore them and just keep bouncing around with unrelated responses.
So, there comes a time when one has to end a cycle that produces nothing.
I won't be responding to you unless I get an answer to those four questions.
You take care as well.
