Editorials
the bright and morning star
One of the most inspiring images in the Word is the Holy City New Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven – the New Church descending on earth.
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were
passed away. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from
God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (John 21:2)
This is a beautiful vision, but it is not something for us just to witness.
We are all called to play a role in establishing the New Church on earth – by
establishing it first in our hearts and minds.
The Lord has been gently leading us throughout the Word to this vision.
That is why the Holy City is “prepared as a bride,” because a bride represents a
new, fuller love of the Lord, now seen and understood as a visible God. This is
the promised “Spirit of Truth” come to lead us into all truth.
There is also a promise within this vision that after all of the battles with
the evil and dragons in the world: “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 on the throne said, Behold I make all things new.” (John 22:3,4)
So this is a culmination of conflict and judgment, but also the beginning
of “all things new” – a new heaven, a new church, and a new spirit within us.
The New Church ultimately is not an organization but the place where God
resides within each of us. It is being established in heaven and descending on
earth wherever people learn and love the newly revealed truth and take it into
their lives.
The shining Holy City is pure gold, representing the Lord’s pure love for all
mankind. Its 12 gates of pearl illustrate one of the great promises of the New
Church – that there is not just one way to know and live the truth, but that
everyone who loves God, keeps His commandments, loves the neighbor and
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