New Jerusalem Shows God’s Great & Varied Wisdom
God created all things so that now “the multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through the church” (Eph. 3:9-10). This is what He purposed in eternity. He is currently working out this purpose in the church and will have the full manifestation with New Jerusalem.
The New Jerusalem, as the ultimate consummation of the church, is full of wisdom. God designed the New Jerusalem with His wisdom, and this city displays His wisdom. To say that the New Jerusalem is a physical city depreciates God’s wisdom and belittles this eternal, wise Architect. If we have the realization that the New Jerusalem is a sign that signifies many spiritual, divine things, then we begin to see the wisdom of God in this city. God is a wise designer and artificer who designed such a city to be a full manifestation of His multifarious wisdom.*
The Greek NT word translated multifarious is used only in Ephesians 3:10. It means something (here, God’s wisdom) manifested in many ways. This is the display of God’s wisdom shown by the many aspects of New Jerusalem presented in Revelation 21–22.
New Jerusalem is the ultimate manifestation of God’s wisdom, but He also wants it to “be made known through the church” today. Thus, the gospel of the kingdom should be proclaimed “to all the nations” (Matt. 24:14). The gospel brings forth salvation to people in every kind of society, in any economic situation, and under any kind of government. This displays God’s multifarious wisdom.
* From chapter 27, Witness Lee, God’s New Testament Economy, published by Living Stream Ministry, © Witness Lee, 1986.
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Posted by Don on November 16, 2022
