Against Heresies: Book V

IF ANYONE TRIES TO ALLEGORIZE THESE PROPHECIES: they won't be consistent in all aspects and will be contradicted by the teachings of the very expressions in question. For example: “When the cities of the Gentiles are desolate, so they aren't inhabited, and the houses are without people, and the land is left desolate.” “For, behold,” says Isaiah, “the day comes past remedy, full of fury and wrath, to lay waste the city of the earth, and to root sinners out of it.” And he also says, “Let him be taken away so he doesn't see the glory of God.” When these things happen, he says, “God will remove men far away, and those that remain will multiply on the earth.” “And they will build houses and live in them: and plant vineyards and eat from them.” These and other words were clearly spoken about the resurrection of the just, which occurs after the coming of Antichrist and the destruction of all nations under his rule.

In this time of resurrection, the righteous will reign on earth, growing stronger by witnessing the Lord: and through Him, they will become accustomed to sharing in the glory of God the Father, and will enjoy in the kingdom interaction and communion with the holy angels, and union with spiritual beings. This includes those whom the Lord finds in the flesh, waiting for Him from heaven, and who have suffered tribulation, as well as those who escaped the power of the Wicked one.

It's about them that the prophet says: “And those who are left will multiply on the earth.” Jeremiah the prophet pointed out that as many believers as God has prepared for this purpose, to multiply those left on earth, will be under the rule of the saints to serve this Jerusalem, and that His kingdom will be in it, saying, “Look around Jerusalem towards the east, and see the joy which comes to you from God Himself. Behold, your sons will come whom you have sent forth: they will come in a band from the east even to the west, by the word of that Holy One, rejoicing in the splendor that is from your God.

O Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and affliction, and put on the beauty of eternal splendor from your God. Gird yourself with the double garment of that righteousness from your God; place the mitre of eternal glory on your head. For God will show your glory to the whole earth under heaven. For your name will forever be called by God Himself, the peace of righteousness and glory to him who worships God. Arise, Jerusalem, stand on high, and look towards the east, and see your sons from the rising of the sun, even to the west, by the Word of that Holy One, rejoicing in the very remembrance of God.

For the footmen have left you while they were taken by the enemy. God will bring them back to you, carried with glory as the throne of a kingdom. For God has decreed that every high mountain will be brought low, and the eternal hills, and that the valleys be filled, so that the surface of the earth is smooth, so that Israel, the glory of God, may walk safely. The woods will also make shady places, and every sweet-smelling tree will be for Israel itself by the command of God.

For God will go before with joy in the light of His splendor, with the mercy and righteousness that come from Him.”

2. Now since these things are as they are, they cannot be understood in reference to super-celestial matters; "for God," it is said, "will show to the whole earth under heaven your glory." But in the times of the kingdom, the earth has been restored by Christ to its original state, and Jerusalem rebuilt after the pattern of the heavenly Jerusalem, of which the prophet Isaiah says, "Behold, I have etched your walls upon my hands, and you are always in my sight." Similarly, the apostle, writing to the Galatians, says, "But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother." He does not refer to an erratic Æon, or any power that left the Pleroma, or to Prunicus, but to the Jerusalem that has been depicted on God's hands.

IN REVELATION: John saw this new Jerusalem coming down upon the new earth. After the times of the kingdom, he says, "I saw a great white throne, and the One sitting on it, from whose presence the earth and heaven fled, and there was found no place for them." He also describes the events of the general resurrection and the judgment, mentioning "the dead, great and small." "The sea," he says, "gave up the dead it held, and death and hell delivered up the dead they contained; and the books were opened.

Moreover," he says, "the book of life was opened, and the dead were judged based on what was written in the books, according to their deeds; and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, the second death." This is what is called Gehenna, which the Lord referred to as eternal fire. "And if anyone," it is said, "was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." After this, he says, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away; there was also no more sea.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, like a bride adorned for her husband." "And I heard," it is said, "a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men, and He will live with them; they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death will be no more, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain, because the former things have passed away." Isaiah also declares the same: "For there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and there shall be no remembrance of the former, nor shall the heart consider them, but they shall find joy and exultation in it." This is what the apostle mentioned: "For the form of this world is passing away." Similarly, the Lord declared, "Heaven and earth will pass away." When these things pass away, John, the Lord’s disciple, says that the new Jerusalem above will then descend, as a bride adorned for her husband; this is the dwelling place of God, in which God will live with men.

The former Jerusalem is an image of this—that Jerusalem on the former earth where the righteous are prepared for incorruption and trained for salvation. Moses received the pattern of this dwelling on the mountain; everything is steadfast, true, and substantial, having been made by God for the righteous to enjoy. Just as God truly raises up man, so man truly rises from the dead, not allegorically, as I have repeatedly shown. As he rises truly, he shall also truly be prepared for incorruption and progress in the times of the kingdom, to receive the glory of the Father.

Then, when all things are made new, he shall truly dwell in the city of God. For it is said, “He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And the Lord says, Write this, for these words are faithful and true. And He said to me, They are done.” And this is the truth of the matter.