Chapter 21 of Revelation reveals events that will take place in the future...

• In the future, New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven, to rest on the Earth.
• Since the prophecies in Revelation 21 are not as yet fulfilled, the present location of New Jerusalem is in God's Heaven. Its future location is on Planet Earth.
• TAKE NOTICE - At present, New Jerusalem (Paradise) is a place within God's Heaven. Thus, New Jerusalem is NOT ALL of God's Heaven.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God Rev 21.2b

A great study on Heaven by Bible Bell:

New Jerusalem is laid out as a square. Its length and breadth are equal.		And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its breadth. Rev 21.16a
The perimeter of New Jerusalem is 12 thousand furlongs.		And he (the angel) measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Rev 21.16b
Each furlong equals one-eighth of a mile. Accordingly, the perimeter of New Jerusalem is 1,500 miles. Since New Jerusalem is laid out as a square, this means that each side of New Jerusalem is 375 miles long. In summary, New Jerusalem has an area of 140,625 square miles, or 90 million acres.		Fur·long (fûr“lông”, -l¼ng”) n. Abbr. fur. A unit for measuring distance, equal to one-eighth mile (201 meters). American Heritage Dictionary

The outer boundaries of the garden city are established by a large wall that completely surrounds it. The wall measures 144 cubits. In our OPINION, this is a measure of the wall's height.		Then he (an angel) measured its (New Jerusalem's) wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits Rev 21.17a
216 Feet High One cubit is approximately one foot and a half. Therefore, the height of the wall approximates 216 feet.		CUBIT - Strong's Number: 4083 (pechus) Denotes the forearm, i.e., the part between the hand and the elbowjoint; hence, "a measure of length," not from the wrist to the elbow, but from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow joint, i.e., about a foot and a half, or a little less than two feet, Matt. 6:27; Luke 12:25; John 21:8; Rev. 21:17. Vine's New Testament Dictionary
Translucent Jasper New Jerusalem's wall is constructed of jasper. Jasper is a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz that may be red, yellow, or brown.		And the construction of its wall was of jasper Rev 21.18a
In our OPINION, New Jerusalem's wall is a translucent sheet of jasper. That is, the garden city's wall transmits light.		JASPER - Strong's Number: 2393 (iaspis) A Phoenician word (cf. Heb. yash'pheh, e.g., Exod. 28:20; 39:16), seems to have denoted a translucent stone of various colors, especially that of fire, Rev. 4:3; 21:11, 18, 19. The sardius and the jasper, of similar color, were the first and last stones on the breastplate of the high priest, Ex. 28:17, 20. Vine's New Testament Dictionary
12 Foundation Pillars (Stele) New Jerusalem's wall has 12 foundations. The names of the 12 apostles of Jesus are inscribed on the foundations. The foundations are adorned with precious stones.		Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev 21.14 And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones Rev 21.19a
In our OPINION, the wall's foundations are 12 supporting pillars (stele), one at each corner of the wall, and two on each side of the wall.		STELE - an upright stone slab or pillar engraved with an inscription or design and used as a monument. New World Dictionary
The Gates of New Jerusalem The wall of the garden city has 12 gates, three on each side. There are 12 angels who attend the gates. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are inscribed on the gates.		Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Rev 21.12-13
Each of the 12 gates is constructed of one pearl. Note 4		And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. Rev 21.21a

Some folks think that New Jerusalem is a cube, because Revelation 21.16 says, "Its length, breadth, and height are equal."		And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Rev 21.16
Based on the various verses that describe New Jerusalem, it is Bible Bell's OPINION that New Jerusalem is a huge area of land -- a garden, to be precise. It is square, not cube-shaped. Our rationale is given in following paragraphs...
The Bible says New Jerusalem is laid out as a square. It does not say it is laid out as a cube.		And the city is laid out as a square (tetragonos), and its length is as great as its breadth. Rev 21.16a
In Revelation 21.16, "square" translates the Greek word tetragonos. Tetragonos means four cornered. A square is 4-cornered whereas a cube is 8-cornered.		tetragonos ^5068^, "four-cornered" (from tetra, and gonia, "a corner, or angle"), is found in <Rev. 21:16>.# (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) (Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance 5068 - tetragonos four-cornered, i.e. square: KJV--foursquare.
A cube would be a building.  New Jerusalem is Paradise -- a garden (Gk paradeisos), not a building.		Strong's Exhaustive Concordance 3857 - paradeisos a park, i.e. (specifically) an Eden (place of future happiness, "paradise"): KJV--paradise.
New Jerusalem is surrounded by a wall. A cube-shaped New Jerusalem would be a building, 350 miles tall. A building such as this would not need a wall. A private garden would.		Also she (New Jerusalem) had a great and high wall with twelve gates Rev 21.12a
A river flows in New Jerusalem. Orchards of fruit trees are there. These are attributes of a garden. not of a giant, cube-shaped building.		And he (an angel) showed me (the apostle John) a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. Rev 21.1-2a
The fact that New Jerusalem's height is the same as its length and breadth does not mandate a cube-shaped building. Mount Zion is located at the heavenly New Jerusalem. The height of the Mount defines the height of the city.		Its (New Jerusalem's) length, breadth, and height are equal. Rev 21.16b But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem Heb 12.22a
NOTE 2 -- The Size of New Jerusalem
Revelation 21.16 may mean that each side of New Jerusalem is 12,000 furlongs (1,500 miles). Bible Bell interprets this verse as referring to New Jerusalem's perimeter, NOT each side. Revelation 21.16 says the angel measured the city. We think this means the city as a whole, not just its respective sides. By Bible Bell's interpretation (OPINION), each of the city's four sides would be 3,000 furlongs (375 miles).		And the city (New Jerusalem) is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as its breadth. And he (an angel) measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Rev 21.16
Note 3 -- The Foundations of the Walls of New Jerusalem
Notice that it is New Jerusalem's wall that has foundations, NOT the garden city itself. A garden city does not need foundations. A wall does.		Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev 21.14
Notice also that it is possible to view precious stones and the names of the apostles on the foundations. This viewing would not be possible if the foundations were embedded in the earth under the wall. This leads us to conclude that the foundations are pillars (stele).		Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev 21.14 And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones Rev 21.19a
Note 4 -- The Pearls, Precious Stones, and Golden Streets of New Jerusalem
The Bible clearly states that New Jerusalem is adorned with huge pearls, streets of pure gold, and all manner of precious stones. Some folks say that these adornments brand the description of the garden city as being symbolic or even mythical in nature.		And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones Rev 21.19a And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. Rev 21.21
Some folks even say (in effect), "There ain't no such thing as a pearl big enough to be a city gate." To which statement Bible Bell responds, "Mere humans can make imitation pearls that big. OF COURSE God can create real pearls of any size that suits His purpose."		But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'' Mt 19.26
The Bible clearly states that God adorned New Jerusalem as a bride for her husband. We humans give jewels and gold to those we love. Why should we have any difficulty in believing that God gives such gifts to His loved ones (the citizens of New Jerusalem)?		Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev 21.2
The only reason that there are precious stones, gold, and other beautiful things on the earth is because God created them. You see beauty throughout God's creation -- butterfly wings, crystalline snowflakes, flowers, multi-colored fish and birds -- beauty! God enjoys beauty. That's why He created jewels and other beautiful things on earth. And that's why He created jewels and other beautiful things in Heaven. Why should anyone have even the slightest difficulty in understanding that? Post Script - When you thank God for (e.g.) bringing a beautiful newborn baby into your family and heart, remember -- a dog or a tree would not recognize the beauty of that baby. But YOU do. Thus, you should thank God, not only for the child's beauty, but for the fact that He vested you with the discernment to see and relish the beauty of that child. POINT IS - your very ability to recognize and enjoy beauty, to relish the perfume of flowers, to be transcended by music, ALL are gifts from God to you.

The Orchard of God All along the river's verdant banks you see lofty, fruit-bearing trees... Trees of Life -- a vast Orchard of Life -- lift their leafy arms, all along the unending flow of Life's River. Everything around you teems and throbs with Life. Everlasting Life! Joyous, Eternal Life!		...on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Rev 22.2
And your heart overflows with praise and worship of the Creator and sustainer of ALL life -- the Living God! Halleluyah!		In Him (God) we live and move and have our being Acts 17.28a (Jesus said to the Father...) And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17.3
No Houses in Heaven? In Bible Bell's OPINION, neither you nor the other citizens of New Jerusalem will live in houses or buildings. As to this OPINION, consider the following...
In John 14.2, Jesus told us that He was going to prepare a place for us in Heaven. As shown in the panel alongside, John 14.2 refers to our heavenly domicile by two Greek words: (1) topos (2) mone		(Jesus told us...) In My Father's house are many mansions (mone); if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place (topos) for you. John 14.2
Depending on context, topos can mean any of the following... Region Locality Room A place occupied by a person or thing A couch at a table		TOPOS is used of "a region" or "locality," frequently in the Gospels and Acts, in Luke 2:7 and 14:22, "room"; of a place which a person or thing occupies, a couch at table, e. g., Luke 14:9,10, RV, "place" (KJV, "room") (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) (Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Mone means "a staying place" or "abode." Vine's Expository Dictionary says: "There is nothing in the word to indicate separate compartments in heaven."		MONE - Primarily "a staying abiding" (akin to meno, "to abide"), denotes an "abode," translated "mansions" in John 14:2; "abode" in v. 23. There is nothing in the word to indicate separate compartments in heaven; neither does it suggest temporary resting places on the road. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) (Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Accordingly, John 14.2 can be interpreted to mean that Jesus promised to prepare a region (topos) in Heaven to be an abode (mone) for God's people... The "region" is that area within the vastness of God's Heaven whereat is located Paradise -- the New Jerusalem. The "abode" is New Jerusalem itself -- the Garden of God -- NOT apartment buildings or a tract of houses.
As It Was in the Beginning, So Shall It Ever Be In the beginning, God gave His people a Garden to live in. Not a house, but a Garden. In Bible Bell's OPINION, your future home in Heaven will be like that of your forebears, Adam and Eve. Not a house, but a Garden.		The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. Gen 2.8
No houses in New Jerusalem!! Ah, but where will you sleep? Where will you find shelter and privacy?
The simple answer is that your glorified resurrection body will require neither sleep nor shelter nor privacy, for the simple reason that... Your body will be like that of Jesus Your body will be incorruptible and immortal -- not subject to aging, tiredness, or death		(The Lord Jesus Christ...) will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philipp 3.21 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Cor 15.53 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He (Jesus) is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3.2
At Last -- A House to REALLY Live In! God has promised to give you an immortal, incorruptible body. That lovely, perfect, wonderful body is the only "house" that your redeemed and joyous spirit -- the REAL you -- will ever need. Halleluyah!		For we know that if our earthly house (our current bodies), this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God (our resurrected, glorified bodies), a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Cor 5.1
A List of What's Missing in Heaven Moreover... There will be no more sin And no more curse Hence there shall be no storms. No pollution. No violence. No shame. No fear. No jealousy. No hatred. Only love and respect, one for the other, among all God's people. In God's perfect Paradise, who will need or even desire to be sequestered behind the four walls of a house? Nobody!		But there shall by no means enter it (New Jerusalem) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Rev 21.27 And there shall be no more curse Rev 22.3a

What Is Heaven Like?

When I get to heaven,
I will not know the time.
I pray God puts your mansion,
Right next door to mine.
© Melinda Tanner