New Jerusalem is the Spiritual Reality of OT Symbols
Ephesians 3:4-5 speaks about the mystery of Christ, “which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men.” God’s mystery was not made known but was shown in symbols.
The Old Testament is full of pictures, signs, of New Testament spiritual realities. An example is the passover lamb in Exodus 12 and the lambs as offerings in Leviticus 1, 3–5. The reality is in John 1:29; John the Baptist saw Jesus and declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The New Jerusalem is also the ultimate consummation of the positive types, figures, and signs of the Scriptures. In Genesis 2 we see the tree of life, a river, gold, bdellium, onyx stone, and a couple—Adam and Eve. In the New Jerusalem we also see the tree of life, the river of water of life, gold, pearl, precious stone, and a divine couple with the Lamb as the Husband and His redeemed people as His wife.*
There are so many symbols in Genesis 1–2 which have their reality in New Jerusalem. Much more is presented at The Garden of Eden and New Jerusalem.
The Old Testament tabernacle is also a figure—the New Testament reality is Jesus Himself. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” (John 1:1, 14).
The OT has symbols but the NT has the reality. New Jerusalem is the ultimate reality of so much. It is not a physical symbol but a spiritual reality.
* From chapter 26. Witness Lee, God’s New Testament Economy, published by Living Stream Ministry, © Witness Lee, 1986.
Photo courtesy of burningwell.org.
Posted by Don on October 19, 2022
