The present earth and heavens are sustained by the Word of God Who created it in the beginning. But they are kept in store and reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

There is coming a day called the day of the Lord which will come unexpectedly when the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. All these things will be dissolved. Apostle John saw this in his vision: “The heaven and earth fled away from the face of the One who sat on a great white throne and there was found no place for them. There was no more sea”. Believers are looking forward to and hasting unto this day of the Lord. But they are also looking beyond this day – look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Pet 3:13).

The marriage of the Lamb will take place in heaven. The Church, composed of believers of Jesus Christ, is the bride that the Bridegroom was looking forward to. He will take her to His chamber and make her His wife.

Guess who would be the marriage party? The five virgins (undefiled) were well-prepared and waiting for the Bridegroom! The virgin friends of the Shulamite of the Song! – all the believers of God that were anticipating the arrival of the Seed of the woman and that belonged to the believing line of the Man Child – the meek – would inherit the new earth. Abraham was looking for this country! Guess who would be the best-man / friend of the Bridegroom? John the Baptist! "The friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled", (Jn 3;29) said John.

The New Testament Church will inhabit a holy city. It is called the New Jerusalem the apostle John saw coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Jesus said, “Him that overcomes, I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name”. – Rev 3:12. This New Jerusalem is the Church redeemed by the Lord Himself and purchased by His blood that was shed on the cross. Christ, the head and the church, His body will make the whole that God purposed originally. The culmination of all that God planned even before the foundation of the world would have happened then. The great 'I am' who is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end would have declared, “It is done”.

The conception (of an earthly Jerusalem) is based on prophecies that predict a glorious future for Jerusalem after the judgment (Isa 52:1). In Revelation, however, it is not descriptive of any actual locality on earth, but allegorically depicts the final state of the church 'the bride', 'the wife of the Lamb' Rev 21:2; Rev 21:9), when the new heaven and the new earth shall have come into being. The picture is drawn from a twofold point of view: the new Jerusalem is a restoration of Paradise (Rev 21:6; Rev 22:1; Rev 22:2; Rev 22:14); it is also the ideal of theocracy realized (Rev 21:3; Rev 21:12; Rev 21:14; Rev 21:22). The latter viewpoint explains the peculiar representation that the city descends "out of heaven from God" (Rev 21:2; Rev 21:10), which characterizes it as, on the one hand, a product of God's supernatural workmanship, and as, on the other hand, the culmination of the historic process of redemption. –Geerhardus Vos, ISBE.

Jerusalem is Uru + Sala + im. Uru is township/city; Sala is best/ more than enough; im is a plural suffix. New Jerusalem (Salaim Pudoor) is the best city ever made composed of the saved ones of God. God will reside with His people in this city forever. There will be no more pain, sorrow, or want. His children will enjoy His presence and the fellowship of the saints in this Uru.

It was for this Church that the Lord prayed while here on earth: Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which Thou hast given me – John 17:24. This New Jerusalem is called the tabernacle of God. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. – Rev 21:3. Jehovah-Shammah!

And, God shall wipe away all tears 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. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. –Rev 21:4, 5.

God has planned new heavens and a new earth. Peter says about this, “We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”. – 2Pet 3:13. This is according to His promise. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. – John 14:1-3.

This Church is also called the Bride of Christ. It is this Bride that the angel showed in a vision to the apostle John, descending out of heaven from God as the great city, the holy Jerusalem. It had the glory of God. In fact, it is Jesus Christ who has given His glory to His Bride. Her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a Jasper stone, clear as crystal. Transparent. Nirvana – Neervannam in Thamizh; not naked but clothed with God’s glory. The transparency enables the glory of God to shine through His people with no absorption or quantum loss. His character is entirely revealed in them. They do not become God(s). They become nothing while He will be all in all.

The people of the city of New Jerusalem would come down from heaven to occupy the new earth. The new earth would have been made by God fit for the dwelling of His sons. The atmosphere would be new. Since there was no sea as per John's vision, all water in them would be indefinitely flowing streams free of salt. A water canopy might be around this planet providing the best environment for His people to live. The earth, He has given to the children of men. (Ps 115:16) He has established this earth forever. (Ps 78:69)

The city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. The street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. Neervannam again. Ultimate bliss.

New Jerusalem was a foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: twelve thousand furlongs as measured by a golden reed. This thousand would again mean 'very big' or enormous. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. A pyramidal shape! It is built as a city that is compact together. – Ps 122:3. It is also described as a 'comely' city – graceful and handsome (Song 6:4). And the Lord is its Builder. – Ps 147:2.

New Jerusalem had a great and high wall measuring a hundred and forty-four (twelve times twelve) cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel (messenger) that John saw. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. – Rev 21:14. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. – Rev 21:19. The wall signifies the boundaries within which the city is being built. The Apostles’ doctrines are the foundation and the framework within which the city of God is being built. Anything that does not fit into these doctrines stays outside i.e., can’t enter the city.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the Great King. Ps 48:1, 2.

And its gates shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. It will be like the first day (and the days of the first week) when the earth was revamped; there was no sun, moon, or external light till the fourth day. It will be day all day because of the presence of the 'Light'. However, there will be an evening and a morning every day.

There was no temple in New Jerusalem: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men! God does not confine Himself within an enclosure.

For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the Horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for Mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon Himself shall His crown flourish. – Ps 132:13-18.

New Jerusalem had in it the throne of God and of the Lamb; He will reign Sovereign as ever.

New Jerusalem also had a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. He will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. And it will never run dry. The Holy Spirit is the fountain of life.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. – Ps 46:4, 5.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: (there seems to be a periodicity but the duration of a month is not mentioned!). It will produce perennial fruit for the sustenance of life. Even the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (The pain might have been because of the wounds that were borne while here on earth for the cause of Christ!). And there shall be no more curse: The 'Paradise lost' by the first Adam is 'Paradise regained' by the last Adam, Jesus, for His 'Wife', the Church.

They which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will enter into this New Jerusalem. This will be the address of the overcomer in Christ. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth would have brought their glory and honor into it. And they would bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. – Rev 21: 24, 26.

His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face; and His name shall be on their foreheads. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Time shall be no more!