The New Jerusalem
A Sermon by the Rev. Malcolm G. Smith
W
hy Jerusalem? Have you ever wondered about that? Why not Bethel or
Bethlehem?
We’re talking about the establishment of the New Church today. Often
around June 19th we talk about stories from the book of Revelation because
some of the elements are symbolic of the New Church. And at the end of the
book – chapters 21 and 22, the last two chapters of the Bible – there’s this
vision of a huge, golden, holy city, coming down from heaven.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth
had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for
her husband. (Revelation 21:1-2)
Lots of different aspects of this city are described. The detail that caught
my attention this time was Jerusalem. It’s called “the holy city, New Jerusalem.”
Why not the city of Bethel, which means “house of God,” or Bethlehem,
where the Lord was born? Or why not just call it the holy city and have no
name attached? It’s a bit of an intellectual starting point but as I researched
it I realized that the holy city being called the New Jerusalem has something
important to teach us about what it means to be part of the New Church – or
any church for that matter.
Let’s explore this with some fun facts in the Bible. The word Jerusalem
occurs 806 times in the Bible – 660 times in the Old Testament and 146 times
in t