The New Jerusalem. [John.]

 Reading the last two chapters of Revelation is like arriving at an oasis after a rough blistering desert.
 Unfortunately many modern Christians think about the New Jerusalem passages point entirely to the future  Much of what John describes in the Holy City is yet to come, but the Christian view of history sees the future kingdom of God overlapping with the present, and the new Jerusalem depicts that future reality breaking into the present world. John does not feature the new Jerusalem as the place where believers go when they die. Rather, it is a heavenly community becoming tangible on earth among people who call Jesus Lord.
Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  He expected his followers to live changed lives now, not just in some future age. Pharisees once asked Jesus when the kingdom would come. He replied, " The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed....For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you" (Luke 17: 20-21). Paul said " If anyone is in Christ, there is a new : Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. (2Cor. 5;17). These and other New Testament indicate that a restored creation is already beginning to break into the present.
 Parts of Revelation appear to be a handbook on present-day citizenship for the New Jerusalem. In the face of a powerful empire that acts like a beast, John portrays Jesus as a lamb. Disciples of Jesus are those who follow "the lamb wherever he goes" (14:4). engaging a fallen world with the same vulnerability and love Jesus showed. Their is no indication in revelation that followers of Jesus use force to defend themselves or to bring in the Kingdom: " If you kill with the sword, with the sword you must be killed. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints (13:10).
 Believers need community to remain faithful to Jesus, and John sketch of the new Jerusalem is packed with insight  for the life and mission of the church. The Holy City is "coming down out of heaven from God" ( 21:10). Salvation is a divine activity, not a result of our plans and efforts. The community is built on Jesus  and the disciples (21;14). under scoring the unique authority of Christ. and those who knew him. The New Jerusalem is big enough to encompass John's entire world- about 1,400 miles in every direction. (Rev. 21:16).
 The new community taking shape among followers of Jesus will have fabulous wealth, symbolize  by an array of jewels on the foundation (21: 18-21)). But in contrast to ancient or modern society, wealth is shared by all. The New Jerusalem is a welcoming and accessible city: the gates are never shut, and even the kings of the earth bring in their splendor (21: 22-25). Inclusion of these kings is startling, since they were promoters of the emperor cult and adultery with the Beast. (chap 18). God's grace is greater and wider than we can imagine.
 Nothing oppressive or impure will survive when the reign of God comes to completion. Satan will be bound for a thousand years and then summarily defeated (20:10). People who will be excluded appear to be those who persist in the kind of unholy allegiance that some people gave to Rome. reference" the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters (22:15), may point to those who "commit adultery" with Rome, who approved the execution  of believers, or who engage in emperor worship. Despite somber warnings, Revelation is framed with grace and invitation. At the beginning of the book Jesus says, " If anyone hears my voice And opens the door, I come in and eat with him, and He with me.'(3:20). A "river of the water of life" flows out from the throne of God in the New Jerusalem, and trees nourished by that water produce leaves " for the healing of the nations"(22: 1-2).
 The book with an invitation: " who ever is thirsty, let him come... let him take the free gift of the water of life" (22:17).