The Old and New Jerusalem¶
by Brad Porter, Aug. 23, 2020
| Jacob 5 | 3 Nephi 20 | 3 Nephi 21,22;Isa 54 | Ether 13 | D&C 45 | Moses 7 | Moses 7 | Revelations | |||||||
| Gathering compared to grafting branches from scattered olive trees. | Notes | Descendants of Central America will remain established in the Americas | Notes | Descendants of Central America will build the New Jerusalem, assisted by the Gentiles | Notes | New Jerusalem to be built upon this land (Americas) before Millenium. A city Descends after Millenium. | Notes | New Jerusalem before and after Millenium | Notes | Old City of Enoch, Similarities to New Jerusalem, and taken up into heaven. | New Jerusalem and City of Enoch Joining them | |||
| Gathering | 62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard. 63 Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time. |
1Ne 13:42: and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. | 21 And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house of Israel. | 22 But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, | “they” - Gentiles | |||||||||
| 70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few. 71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come. |
22 And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you. | “this people” - Exact location unknown, approximately southern Mexico/Guatemala, but inclusive of all their descendants. “this land” - All of Americas, where their descendants lived. Joseph Smith stated that "the whole of America is Zion itself from north to south". |
22 … this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance; 23 And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem. |
Gentiles will assist descendants of ancient Central Americans in building the New Jerusalem. | 2 For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof; 3 And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord. |
after Millenium: See v10 | 65 And with one heart and with one mind, gather up your riches that ye may purchase an inheritance which shall hereafter be appointed unto you. | <-New Jerusalem Compared with old City of Enoch → |
18 And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them. | 62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; | ||||
| 52 Wherefore, let us take of the branches of these which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft them into the tree from whence they came; and let us pluck from the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and graft in the natural branches of the tree in the stead thereof. | 24 And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem. | Gentiles will assist in the gathering. | 4 Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land. | 66 And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God; | <-New Jerusalem Compared with old City of Enoch → |
19 And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion. | and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. | |||||||
| 73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof. | 25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst. | 5 And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come—after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old; but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord; and it should be built unto the house of Israel— | before/during Millenium | 67 And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion. | ||||||||||
| 26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. | what is the work of the Father if not preaching the gospel? | 6 And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type. | ||||||||||||
| 74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto one body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning. | 27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name. 28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. |
7 For as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there; wherefore, the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he should perish not. 8 Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away. |
68 And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety. 69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; … |
<-New Jerusalem Compared with old City of Enoch → |
16 And from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness. | |||||||||
| 69 … and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another. | <-New Jerusalem Compared with old City of Enoch → |
13 And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him. 15 … and there went forth a curse upon all people that fought against God; |
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| 29 And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward. | 71 And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy. | |||||||||||||
| 7 For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world—a light that shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not. | ||||||||||||||
| 8 I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God; and even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life. | ||||||||||||||
| 9 And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. | ||||||||||||||
| 10 Wherefore, come ye unto it, and with him that cometh I will reason as with men in days of old, and I will show unto you my strong reasoning. | ||||||||||||||
| 11 Wherefore, hearken ye together and let me show unto you even my wisdom—the wisdom of him whom ye say is the God of Enoch, and his brethren, | ||||||||||||||
| 12 Who were separated from the earth, and were received unto myself—a city reserved until a day of righteousness shall come—a day which was sought for by all holy men, and they found it not because of wickedness and abominations; | 21 And it came to pass that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth; and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever. | |||||||||||||
| 3 Ne 22:13, Isaiah 54:13 | ||||||||||||||
| Millenium | 76 For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time, according to that which I have spoken. | And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. | 58 And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation. | 63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; 64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest. |
20:6 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, | |||||||||
| Millenium | 59 For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver. | 21 And it came to pass that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth; and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever. | 65 And it came to pass that Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, in the last days, to dwell on the earth in righteousness for the space of a thousand years; | 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. | ||||||||||
| Celestial Earth | 9 And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old save the old have passed away, and all things have become new. | 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. | ||||||||||||
| Celestial Earth | 10 And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel. | After Millenium, a city descends, also called the New Jerusalem. | 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. | first of two cities to descend after millenium. | ||||||||||
| 11 And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father, Abraham. | (seems to follow final judgment, and in chapter following v2 which appears to be after millenium. The only clue this could possibly be before the millenium is the reference to the seventh angle. But the reference in Ether encourages an interpretation this could be the old Jerusalem, not the new, after the millenium.) 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, |
Second city to descend. Footnote in v10 refering to Moses 7:63 confuses this, if it true. This is a hypothesis based on perceived evidence. Not an assertion. | ||||||||||||
| 12 And when these things come, bringeth to pass the scripture which saith, there are they who were first, who shall be last; and there are they who were last, who shall be first. | occurs after millenium also. DC29:30 – true in “all things” | |||||||||||||
| General Observations: There is evidence that the only time a city descends is after the millenium, though the inhabitants of the old City of Enoch will be present in the New Jerusalem, at least for a time, in the beginning of the Millenium. There is evidence based on two passages, Ether and Revelations, that there are two cities descending after the Millenium, both Old and New Jerusalem. Why did I write this? The possibility (not probability) that I have followed the clues to a correct conclusion is rather trivial and of zero immediate consequence, so why bother studying it? Answer: For years I have read the passage in Ether 13 “And then cometh also the Jerusalem of old” after the new heaven and the new earth and puzzled over it. There just came a point shortly after teaching the Revelation of John in Sunday School, that I decided to chase it down. While there is no certain conclusion, I don’t buy the common narrative that the elaborate city described in the last half of Revelations 21 is certainly the city descending as the New Jerusalem. Far more importantly, chasing a question which in itself is unimportant, most often will lead to passages which are of immediate importance. For example, the first few rows are regarding the spiritual gathering, an event we are participating in now. While writing this, I awoke one morning thinking of an olive tree. It occurred to me that I had not included Jacob 5, which now occupies the first column. Further work: There is clearly room for a little more rearrangement of rows. Another clue to follow is where the Lord intends to make his home. I think we could find passages which imply both the old and the New Jerusalem. Why not both? I’m a moving on to studying other things for the time being. Disclaimer: The observations have been written intentionally as “evidence” so as not to imply any certain conclusion. |
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