Revelation 21: Structure and Meaning of the Holy City, New Jerusalem
- Structure of the Spiritual Temple (Heavenly)
The Spiritual Temple Composed of Jesus and the 12 Disciples:
Center: Jesus (Lamb, Master of the Temple)
Founding Stone: 12 Apostles (Peter, Andrew, James, John, etc.)
Characteristics: The Heavenly Temple Made up of Spiritual Organizations
According to Revelation 21:14, “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” This means that the 12 disciples of Jesus became the foundation of the heavenly temple. 2. The Real Structure of This Land (Earthly Things)
12 Tribes of Spiritual Israel:
12 Gates: Each contains the names of the 12 tribes of Israel
East, West, South, and North: 3 gates in each direction, totaling 12
Composition: 12,000 from each tribe, totaling 144,000
Revelation 21:12 says, “It had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and over the gates were twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”
- The Meaning of “Becoming One”
The Principle of Matthew 6:10
“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
This means that it is made on earth based on the pattern of heaven. The specific process of becoming one:
The temple of the spiritual world comes down
The holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God
The spiritual organization composed of Jesus and the 12 disciples
United with the 12 tribes of this earth
The 12 tribes of Israel, spiritually recreated
Each tribe is named after one of Jesus’ 12 disciples
A total of 144,000 sealed ones
God’s tabernacle is with people
Revelation 21:3: “The tabernacle of God is with people”
The temple of the spiritual world and the people of this earth become one and God dwells together
- The actual meaning symbolized by this
Past model (Old Testament era)
Heavenly things: The temple of Jerusalem in the spiritual world
Earthly things: The tabernacle made by Moses and the 12 tribes of physical Israel
Result: God’s presence in the tabernacle
Current reality (New Testament era)
Heavenly things: The temple of the spiritual world composed of Jesus and the 12 disciples
Earthly things: The 12 Tribes Created Newly Spiritually (144,000 People)
Result: A World of Eternal Life Where There Is No More Death and God Dwells with Them
- Why Must We “Become One”?
God’s Plan of Restoration
God Left Because of Adam’s Sin (Genesis 3)
Death Ruled for 6,000 Years
God’s People Are Recreated and God Returns in the End Times
Conditions for Eternal Life
Revelation 21:4: “God will dwell with them… There will be no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain.”
Only when the temple in heaven (spiritual world) and the people on earth (physical world) become one will death end and eternal life begin. 6. Practical Application
For all these prophecies to be fulfilled:
There must actually be 12 tribes on this earth named after the 12 disciples of Jesus
12,000 from each tribe, a total of 144,000 people, must be sealed
They must become one through the Word of God (truth)
The Spirit of God must be present in this community
Ultimately, “the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven” is not simply a future hope, but God’s specific plan that must actually be fulfilled on this earth.
