Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
With so much focus on earthly Jerusalem by much of the mainstream Church, it is easy forget that New Jerusalem is the focus and center of the Church according to the new testament. Here is part 1 of my study of New Jerusalem. Galatians 4:25-26 (ASV) 25Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother. Paul says that earthly Jerusalem is a city of bondage and those that count her as the center of worship, i.e. the mother of the Church, are also in bondage with her. This is because earthly Jerusalem rejected Jehovah's Son and held on to the old ceremonial system of worship centered around the temple in Jerusalem. In contrast, Paul says that New Jerusalem in heaven is free as our those who look to New Jerusalem as the center of worship i.e. the mother of the new covenant Church. What is this heavenly Jerusalem free from? The old ceremonial system of worship with it's temporal ordinances. Hebrews 11:8-16 (ASV) 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.9By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a [land] not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:10for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:12wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.14For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.15And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. While much of Christendom's hope is in earthly Jerusalem, the bible teaches that our hope is in heavenly Jerusalem. Even Abraham sought out a city not made of man's hands but instead Jehovah God's hands (verse 10). Those who confess that they are pilgrims on the earth make it clear that they seek a heavenly country, a country of their own. The hero's of the faith talked about in Hebrews 11 sought a better country that is heavenly not an earthly one (verses 14 and 15). The author of Hebrews is making clear that the Jerusalem in heaven is better and superior to earthly Jerusalem. He is agreeing with Paul's statement in Galatians 4. Today's Christian has been hoodwinked to look to earthly Jerusalem as the holy land and the inheritance of future Kingdom age. Even the men and women of old sought out heavenly Jerusalem not the earthly one. Earthly Jerusalem served only as a type of the real one which is in heaven. The type is never as good as the antitype. In verse 16 of Hebrews 11, the author says that Jehovah God has prepared for the saints a city. In context of the previous verses we know that this is a heavenly city not an earthly one such as modern Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:18- 18For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,19and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;20for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;21and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:22but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel. Here in Hebrews 12, the author is making the contrast between Mount Sina which represented the old covenant with it's mediator Moses and it's former glory with the new covenant Mount which is Zion in heaven. Those who are in the new covenant with the mediator of that covenant Jehoshua do not approach Mount Sina but instead look to Mount Zion in heaven. We know the author is talking about heavenly Zion as he states it is the city of the living God and then goes on to state directly that the city of God is the heavenly Jerusalem. Remember Paul said that Sina which represents earthly Jerusalem is in bondage and that true new covenant believers don't look to it, but rather they look unto New Jerusalem in heaven which is free. This mirrors what Hebrews 12 says, which is that we as new covenant believers don't approach Mount Sina in earthly Jerusalem but rather we approach the heavenly Mountain which is Zion, the city of Jehovah God (Jehovah Shammah). Moses was the mediator of the old covenant which was centered in earthly Jerusalem and given on Mount Sina thereby the author of Hebrews says that we as new covenant believers have our own mediator which is Jehoshua Messiah (verse 24). In verse 23, we see that headquarters of the new covenant Church is in heavenly Zion which is called the Church of the firstborn Son of God Jehoshua. The membership books of the Church are in heaven i.e. the lambs book of life. This is why it is not neccessary to sign up to be a member at any Church organization as all true believers are enrolled in heaven as members of the one true Church. Do you see that earthly Jerusalem has no more significance for the new covenant believer? The General assembly which constitutes all members of the Church have their names written in the true Jerusalem, the heavenly. In a sense even the angels are part of the Church insofar as they serve the Son of God and minister unto us. Part and parcel of the new covenant mediated by Jehoshua and compacted by His blood is that we also have a New Jerusalem and a heavenly Zion rather than the earthly one's that are connected with the old covenant mediated by Moses. Hebrews 13:10-14 (KJV) 10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. The author of Hebrews continues to contrast earthly Jerusalem of the old covenant with my New Jerusalem of the new covenant. He says that the Messiah rejecting Jews have no right to eat at the altar of the Church (verse 10). The point of the author saying this is that the priests of the old temple system were still holding on to an outdated sacrifical system not realizing that the once and for all sacrifice has been made in Jehoshua. Unless you believe in the full atonement for sins at the cross then you have no right to eat at the communion altar of the Church. These priests of the old covenant were still offering animal sacrifices whereas the new covenant Church was offering spiritual sacrifices. Jehoshua suffered outside of the religion of the Pharisees being perescuted and died outside of the temple worship system as He was rejected as Messiah by many of the Jews. We also as his brethren must bear the reproach of Jehoshua and turn away from the Messiah rejecting religion of the Jews and have nothing to do with any temple or sacrificial worship system that is tied to the old covenant. This includes looking to earthly Jerusalem as the center of worship for the Church. The early Church's testimony of Jehoshua Messiah put them at odds with the Jewish religion and thereby they were cast out of the synagogues and temple. The author of Hebrews is encouraging the brethren to leave the old covenant worship system and he states that the Messianic's have no continuing city here meaning in a broad sense the world as a whole but specifically he is talking about earthly Jerusalem. We see that both the author of Hebrews and Paul emphasize the new Jerusalem as the hope of new covenant believers now let's look at the very words of Jehoshua. John 13:31 - 14:3 (ASV) 31When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him;32and God shall glorify him in himself, and straightway shall he glorify him.33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say unto you.34A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.36Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered, Whither I go, thou canst not follow now; but thou shalt follow afterwards.37Peter saith unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee even now? I will lay down my life for thee.38Jesus answereth, Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. John 14 1Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.2In my Father`s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. As Jehoshua is nearing the cross He prepares the disciples for the reality of His departure from them. Jehoshua tells His disciples that where He is going they cannot come. Here Jehoshua is referring to His resurrection and ascension as in verse 31 He speaks of God glorifying Him referencing His resurrection and ascension. He mentions 3 times that God will glorify Him in the context of Him departing from the disciples and going to a place where they cannot go. Jehoshua is obviously at the doorstep of His death as this is the night of the last supper and Judas leaving the disciples to betray Jehoshua. The context of this passage in John 13 and 14 is regarding Jehoshua's death, resurrection and ascension . Jehoshua will depart from the disciples via His death however He will then go to a place where they cannot go speaking of His ascension into heaven. The Son of God gives the solemn words to His disciples that, like He told the Jews, they cannot go where He is going to be. The place Jehoshua is talking about is obviously heaven (new Jerusalem) which we know to be true as that is exactly where He ascended to be at the right hand of God the Father. This is why the disciples and the Jews will not be able to go where He is going. This statement by Jehoshua wouldn't make any sense if the Messiah was speaking about earthly Jerusalem as the Jews and the disciples had access to that city before and after Jehoshua's death and resurrection. In verse 36 Jehoshua gives hope to Peter and His other disciples by saying that although they cannot follow Him now to where He is going they will follow Him (Jehoshua) afterwards. What is this "afterwards" that Jehoshua is referring to? Let's go to the book of Matthew ch.19 for the answer: 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Here in Matthew, Jehoshua tells His disciples that in the regeneration (resurrection of the dead) that they will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. As they followed Jehoshua during His earthly ministry they will also follow Him in the resurrection and also inherit thrones. The disciples then have the same hope that Jehoshua had during His ministry which is to be resurrected and sit on the right and left hand of Jehoshua Messiah. Jehoshua's hope was to be resurrected and then sit on the right hand of God. As Jehoshua sat on His throne in New Jerusalem, the disciples will also sit on thrones in New Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:2 (ASV) 2looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. The same joy and hope that was set before Jehoshua is set for us. That hope is to obtain the throne promised to us in heaven i.e. New Jerusalem. Jehoshua makes this promise to those who overcome as He did in Revelation 3: 12He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name. Jehoshua's promise to the saints here in Revelation 3 has nothing to do with inheriting anything in earthly Jerusalem but rather the heavenly Jerusalem which is called "the city of Jehoshua's God". Jehoshua says that New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven. Clearly the hope of the saints in the world to come has nothing to do with earthly Jerusalem but rather New Jerusalem which is the only city of Jehovah God.
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