What is New Jerusalem?
New Jerusalem is a city in present Heaven that is also called the Holy City or City of God. In the future when the earth is transformed and becomes a part of the New Heaven, New Jerusalem will be the capital. The city is beyond our imagination, and words are inadequate to describe it. However, words are all we have right now.
Present Jerusalem
First, let’s discuss the Jerusalem that exists today in the Middle East. It has a population of about 747,600 and is about 48.3 square miles1. Here’s what it looks like today:
Here’s a model of the way the city looked around the time of Jesus:
You’ll notice a wall surrounds the city. One entrance into the city leads to a large temple.
What New Jerusalem is Like
Like present Jerusalem, New Jerusalem is called a city(Heb. 11:16; 12:22; 13:14). Like any city, it will have residents, visitors, buildings, gatherings and events.
Some people like the country and hate cities because of crime, pollution and noise, but this city will be different from any other. After all, its builder is God(Heb. 11:8-10). The city shines with the glory of God(Rev. 21:11). There is no need for the sun or moon to provide light as the glory of God provides the light(Rev. 21:23). Unlike cities on earth, it will have no crime, pollution or corruption(Matt. 6:20; Rev. 21:27). The city also has no temple or church as God and the Lamb are the temple(Rev. 21:22).