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Thursday, October 10th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Bible Dictionaries
Heavenly City, the
Holman Bible Dictionary
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The fulfillment of the hopes of God's people for final salvation. To the ancient world cities represented ordered life, security from enemies, and material prosperity. See
Hebrews 11:10 NAS); God has prepared it (
Hebrews 11:16 ); and it is “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (
Hebrews 12:22 ). This city is the home to “an innumerable company of angels” (
Hebrews 12:22 ), to the assembly of the firstborn (
Hebrews 12:23; an image of believers redeemed by the death of Christ; compare
Exodus 13:13-15 ), and to the righteous made perfect by God (
Hebrews 12:23; perhaps the Old Testament saints). Some interpreters take these descriptions literally. The Christian goal is, however, not something that can be touched and sensed like Israel's Sinai experience (
Hebrews 12:18 ). Indeed, believers have already come (
Hebrews 12:22 ) to the heavenly Jerusalem, at least in part. Some interpreters thus take the Heavenly City as an image of the redeemed people of God whose “foundation” is the apostles and prophets (
Ephesians 2:20 ). The experience of the patriarchs whose hope lay beyond their earthly lives (
Hebrews 11:13-16 ) points to a final fulfillment of salvation in heaven.
The Heavenly City of Revelation 21:9-22:7 has also been interpreted both literally and figuratively. One interpretation sees the Heavenly City suspended above the earth like a space platform. Others see an earthly city. Still others a city suspended in the air that later descends to earth. Others, pointing to the equation of the city as the bride of Christ ( Revelation 21:2 ,Revelation 21:2,21:9 ), take the city as a symbol of the church. Whether understood as a literal city or as representing God's redeemed people experiencing their final salvation, the city is a place of fellowship with God (Revelation 21:3 ,Revelation 21:3,21:22 ), of God-ensured safety (Revelation 21:4 ,Revelation 21:4,21:25 ), and of God-given provision (Revelation 22:1-2 ,Revelation 22:1-2,22:5 ).
Chris Church
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Heavenly City, the'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hbd/​h/heavenly-city-the.html. 1991.