Introduction
In the Beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). He planted a garden in the mountain country of Eden and made Humanity to reign with Him on the Earth. We were to continue the work of organizing the surrounding jungle into more cultivated, dedicated real estate. In the end, as Revelation 21:2 says,
[John] saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
The question today is: Why a holy city, not a holy garden?
Holy City Promised
Not an idyllic, pasture- like place with a few people living nearby. John’s vision was for crowds of people living in neighborhoods and communities. They will be dependent on each other’s work and agreeable exchange of value for their needed provisions.
There will be no places of chaos and death such as the sea or the desert. There will be no deadly wild animals, for
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat…
(Isaiah 11:6-9)
No Sun or Moon will exist for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp (Revelation 21:23). Also, the spiritual beings manifested in the heavenly objects will be cast down by the power of the King through His worldwide Ecclesia.
Humans Disobeyed and Thwarted the Plan
Adam and Eve began humans’ practice of taking what the Creator forbade them for a time. Cain began the violence of person against person that led to the building of cities for mutual protection and provision.
The strong began to rule over and enslave the weak. They began to take the people’s resources through taxation. They made their young men into cannon fodder for the conquest of other cities and nations. People separated themselves from outsiders within and without.
All this was inspired by lesser spiritual beings, called other gods, the sons of God, His divine council, angels, principalities and powers, the powers of darkness. The Creator had delegated these spiritual beings to rule over the various nations/ ethnos (Deuteronomy 32:8-9).
Creator Offers Relationship with Him
This requires a hearing heart.
Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).
Hear [listen], O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Deuteronomy 6:4).
The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing (John 5:19).
All this requires trust and obedience.
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)
My righteous one will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11).
Yahweh Gave Instructions/Torah How to Live Together
Love God; love your neighbor.
These instructions were given to His chosen people. They were to separate themselves from the ungodly practices of the nations with their principalities and powers. The Israelites were to demonstrate Yahweh’s wisdom and love. They were to entice the other nations to surrender to Yahweh until His Kingdom covered the whole Earth.
City Built by Humans, Ruled by King Jesus
Following His death and return to life, Jesus instructed His apprentices, those He named His colonial leaders (apostolos), to teach His commands to the whole world. For everyone, this requires personal surrender to Him, which can be done daily when you “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)”
Every person is given the opportunity to pursue his/ her own purpose and by it create wealth by serving it to others. Everyone depends on God’s help through the service of others. This leads to good living in the Holy City and others.
It calls for separating ourselves from dependence on and obedience to the principalities and powers that rule so many people. This requires continual adjustment of one’s thinking and attitudes in order to change one’s behaviors.
This was made possible by the death of Jesus on the Cross. He took away all of Humanity’s rebellion against God, guilt over that rebellion, and shame for the resulting imperfections. He and the Father sent Holy Spirit to make us new creatures who trust and obey Him. We become holy people, doing God’s will, kings and queens who rule on the Earth as His viceroys . As His co-rulers, we overcome any obstacles in ourselves, in others, in society.
The King has called His Ecclesias to bring Heaven’s culture to our surrounding neighborhoods. Thus, all around the world, the Holy City where Jesus reigns is brought into the Earth.