New Jerusalem: The Promise of Renewal and Communion

Some Christians hope to enter New Jerusalem because they see in the prophetic images presented in the New Testament an undeniable promise of the restoration of creation and the establishment of eternal communion with God. These Christian expectations are based on the biblical text that portrays a future when the former heaven and earth will give way to a new one, in which God will dwell permanently with people, freeing them from sorrow and suffering.

Thus, a key text in Revelation describes the vision of the holy city:
"I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying: 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them; they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.'"
(source: link txt)

This picture symbolizes the hope for the ultimate transformation of human nature and creation, which will come under the will of God. For those who interpret these images literally or as a promise of future reality, New Jerusalem becomes the ultimate goal of history—a place where the transformed nature of humanity enters into direct communion with God, the highest aim of creation.

Another source emphasizes that New Jerusalem has always been a symbol of the Kingdom of God, in which God's intimate closeness with humanity is embodied through the image of the tabernacle—a tent where God resides among His people:
"The next picture shows us New Jerusalem, which has always been a symbol of the Kingdom of God, and the voice speaking from heaven in the first eight verses precisely conveys the meaning of this new city, the meaning of this existence. 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men'…"
(source: link txt)

Thus, although some may argue that Scripture does not support a literal expectation of entering New Jerusalem, for many Christians the prophetic texts become a source of hope, as they see in them a promise of a radical transformation of the universe and the establishment of an eternal covenant with God. This belief in the renewal of the world and God's dwelling among people permeates the entire Christian eschatology, making the concept of New Jerusalem a fundamental part of Christian hope.

Supporting citation(s):
"I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband…" (source: link txt)
"The next picture shows us New Jerusalem, which has always been a symbol of the Kingdom of God, and the voice speaking from heaven in the first eight verses precisely conveys the meaning of this new city, the meaning of this existence. 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men'…" (source: link txt)

New Jerusalem: The Promise of Renewal and Communion

880879878877876875874873872871870869868867866865864863862861860859858857856855854853852851850849848847846845844843842841840839838837836835834833832831830829828827826825824823822821820819818817816815814813812811810809808807806805804803802801800799798797796795794793792791790789788787786785784783782781