The purpose of this blog is to comment on Zion in the last days, also called the New Jerusalem. In doing this I do not ignore the Holy Jerusalem currently existing in Israel and the important role that it plays in the last days. The “old” Jerusalem serves as one of two great capitals on earth throughout the 1000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Every scriptural prophecy regarding Jerusalem is to be fulfilled. The Jewish people will build a great temple there, become very prosperous, “begin” to believe in Jesus, and will continue to defeat their enemies. The essential difference is that Jews gather to Jerusalem in the Middle East and the rest of the House of Israel gathers initially to the New Jerusalem in America. The two Jerusalem’s become united, politically, after Armageddon. The New Jerusalem is explicitly mentioned1 by John the Revelator as coming down from God out of heaven2. Many assume that the “new” Jerusalem is just the old Jerusalem with a make-over. However, Ether, as quoted by Moroni in the Book of Mormon, explains it clearly3 – they are two separate places.
Temple attending Latter-day Saints recognize the significance of the “new name” that John4 (and Isaiah5) mention. It is connected with entering6 into the New Jerusalem and the presence of the LORD.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
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.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
2 … the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, … and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, …
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.
4 Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land.
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.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
1 FOR Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.