Are Heaven and New Jerusalem the Same Place?

The New Jerusalem is an actual, physical city located within the third heaven. Jesus referred to the New Jerusalem as the “city of My God” in Revelation 3:12. And one day, this holy city is going to descend from heaven. We read in Revelation 21:2 that John “saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Since we know that God dwells in the third heaven, we can assume that He is preparing this city in the third heaven—the city which will eventually become the “capital” of heaven and that final abode of His children. During the Millennium, the New Jerusalem will hover over the earth; and during the eternal state, it will rest upon the ground—being the most incredible city anyone has ever beheld.

Can one city really accommodate all the believers who have ever lived?

Heaven’s capital will easily be able to house all of the people who have ever trusted in Christ. And this heavenly city will not be crowded, by any means. Notice what John says in Revelation 21:16, “its length, breadth, and height are equal,” each “wall” measuring twelve thousand furlongs. This means the New Jerusalem is about 1,500 miles wide, 1,500 miles long, and 1,500 miles high—that’s more than two million square miles on the first “floor” alone! And given that this city is cubical, we can assume that it will have more than one level. Remember, we cannot fathom the grandeur of this place. It will be unlike anything we have ever seen, and there is no question that it will be able to house every believer who has ever lived.

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For a complete study of heaven, request Dr. Jeremiah’s book, The Promise of Heaven: 31 Reasons to Get Excited About Your Eternal Home