The carnal man interprets Gods words into time and events to come into being for the carnal senses. Something that is not yet but will be. They call this prophesy. But prophesy is just the speaking forth what already is and always will be that is to be revealed, or unveiled. We are instructed by scripture to look to the invisible. Not the future. 2 Corinthians 4.18
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It is like a pioneer who travels lands for new discoveries. There are many who have traveled to name new lands mountains and species for each new discovery they find. But what they discover did not just come into being the moment they found it. Other peoples had names for these things according to their culture. But a new people forage through the land and come across something they have not seen before and call it new. It was only new for them. It became new because they just found it, but it had already been there.
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This is the way it works with what we call the new creation in scripture. It is what was there from the beginning (1 John 1.1+). So it is not new in the sense of just now come into existence for God is not that. It is that you just discovered it.
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Even like today some talk of having a new house or a new car, but somebody had it before them. This is the way it is with things of God. We don’t wait to possess them later but to discover. We don’t wait to be with Him later as though He is not yet for He said He would never leave us. He is like a vast land with innumerable treasures for you to discover about Him for the first time as you sojourn with Him in the here and now. This too is the Kingdom of God.
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Think about with Columbus giving his first account of the new land. It was old for the Indians. Or some of the early travelers coming back with news about a new culture and a new tribe or city they discovered. It was only new for them because they had just experienced it for the first time.
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This is the way it is with the “New Jerusalem come down out of Heaven from God” (Revelation 21.10). It is not new in the sense of it just being made or Jesus would not have said to the Samaritan lady at the well “the time that is coming now is when you will no longer worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem (on Earth), for the Father is spirit and seeks such to worship Him in spirit and truth”. The city that comes down out of heaven is spirit and truth.
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And this is the new city in the new land, the promise land “In Christ” where the promises have their fulfillment. Which is the reason why in all the new testament there are no references to the land as though it is future for in Christ is the fulfillment of all things. Not Jesus the man but His invisible eternal self. Not in time and matter but spirit and truth. All things are In Christ and all the promises of God are yes and amen In Him. 2 Corinthians 1.20. They are actuated In Him.
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So if you are looking forward to an event in the future to see the Kingdom of God having the New Jerusalem with buildings and a temple with the Holy of Holy’s on earth you are seeking something that will not be, and missing out on what already is because it is not of this age of this creation “For Christ entered not the Holy place made with hands, but into heaven itself now” And as long as this place on earth to come into being exists in your mind you are closed off to the heavenly one (Hebrews 9.8) to a greater more perfect temple not made with hands, that is not of this creation (Hebrews 9.1+24) The one at hand.
This is why the final unveiling in the Book of the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” is “Heavenly Jerusalem come down from God”. Maybe the book should have been called “The Revelation of Heavenly Jerusalem”. But then you would not understand that she too is “In Christ”. She is spirit and truth and not of time and matter at all.
However amazing it is that she is listed as the last revelation may be, Paul the apostle knew Her, Heavenly Jerusalem as our origin saying; the Jerusalem above is the Mother of us all”. (Galatians 4.26)
So did John know her as the beginning or the end? Was his testimony of something yet future? Then why would he write this? 1st John 1.1 That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon which our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life” And 2.7 I write no new commandment but the old one from the beginning”. Not a new reality as though it is not. It is just new to you at the beginning, at your beginning. And 2.24 Let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father”.
So He doesn’t point to a future event for our focus but that which already is. This is our discovery.
First John goes on to say 2.26 these things I have written to you about those trying to deceive you”. Yes they teach of another Jesus. A future one, like a second coming one and a second coming city, not that which is from the beginning.Â
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2 Corinthians 5.17 If anyone is In Christ they are a new creation. Old things pass away all things become new. And all (New) things are of God”. Yes in spirit immovable unshakable pre-existent truth. Hebrews 12.27 “Yet once more” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken as the things that are made (time and matter) so that the things which cannot be shaken may remain”. (the eternal). And this too is not a singular event in time but a process that happens to each one of us.
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So each one of us in this journey for new discoveries should seek this city from God. (Colossians 3.1) Not as a construct of time and matter but “The Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25.34)
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The Kingdom of God is at hand.