I have been working through some dispensational commentaries on the book of Revelation, especially in chapters 20-22, to see how the distinction between Israel and the Church plays out in the minds of various dispensationalists. I am looking at both recent writers as well as older ones going back to John Nelson Darby. I need to review this issue for the sake of my paper for the upcoming Council on Dispensational Hermeneutics and for my commentary for the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary.
One issue that intrigues me is the interpretation that the New Jerusalem, the holy city, of Revelation 21:2 is part of the millennium and not the eternal state beginning at the end of the millennium. This is not my view, but I have heard it and read it in the literature. Many prominent men have held to it. Darby seems to be one of them. In his Synopsis of the Books of the Bible 5:560, when he gets to that point in the book of Revelation, he comments, “What follows is the description of the heavenly city, as before we had that of Babylon. Its heavenly character and millennial connection with the earth is revealed” (emphasis mine). I hope to eventually write an article on this topic showing the history of interpretation of this passage within modern dispensationalism. I think it is something that is needed.
#1 by Edson [Ted] Lawrence on September 23, 2015 - 4:34 PM
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Is the millennial connection a reference to church saints and other resurrected believers living in this satellite city that hovers over the millennial earth?
#2 by Mike Stallard on September 28, 2015 - 9:35 AM
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Yes, I believe that is what Darby is talking about. You see the same thing in J. Dwight Pentecost more fully expressed.
#3 by Edson [Ted] Lawrence on October 3, 2015 - 10:53 AM
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I agree with the satellite city view. I believe this will be our future home – the place Jesus is now preparing for us. John 14:2. It will be a perfect place. The Apostle John sees this city descend to the new earth. Rev.21:2.
#4 by Mike Stallard on October 8, 2015 - 10:15 AM
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I do not hold the satellite city view. I see Revelation 21:2 referring to the New Jerusalem coming down all the way to the earth at the end of the millennium. I do not see the satellite city hovering over the earth during the millennium. I see church saints ruling on the earth with Christ (although not in Palestine) based upon passages like Luke 19:11ff (parable of minas), etc.
#5 by Edson [Ted] Lawrence on October 10, 2015 - 12:21 PM
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I do not think our views are that different. I too see the New Jerusalem coming down all the way to earth during the millennium. I also believe that church saints rule on the earth with Christ during the millennium. I do not see why our heavenly abode needs to change. Christ takes us to heaven at the rapture of the church. I believe that this is the New Jerusalem. It is our eternal home. Is it not possible for church saints and other resurrected believers to have access to earth during the millennium and still live in this satellite city?
#6 by Edson [Ted] Lawrence on March 19, 2016 - 6:09 PM
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Have you written your article on Revelation 21:2?