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With the coming of this city to the earth, Paradise will be restored, the tree of life
made accessible, the healing of the nations provided for, and the curse removed! This
city is the answer to the cry of the nations; here is the perfect administration; here is
God's seat of government, "The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it" and two
great facts are recorded of His servants; "The shall serve Him", "They shall reign for
ever and ever".
The physical description of the city can but be read and pondered. Whether the words,
"The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal" (Rev. 21: 16) indicate a cube,
or whether the great pyramidical towers of Babylon are to be taken as blasphemous
anticipations, cannot be dogmatically asserted. We can however give the reasons we
have culled from the Scripture which lead us to think that, not a cube, but a great
pyramid, with terrace rising above terrace is, possibly, the plan of this city.
First, the New Jerusalem is most definitely placed in opposition to Babylon.
BABYLON.--"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and
talk with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment
of the great whore, that sitteth upon many waters" (Rev. 17: 1).
NEW JERUSALEM.--"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the
seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come
hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Rev. 21: 9).
That a parallel is intended is obvious, and therefore needs no proof.
Further
examination confirms this and strengthens the conviction.
Babylon.
New Jerusalem
Carried away in spirit into the wilderness.
Carried away in spirit to a great and high
mountain.
Seated upon a scarlet coloured beast.
Descending out of heaven from God.
Blasphemy.
Glory. Light. Most precious.
Precious stones, pearls and gold.
Precious stones, pearls and gold.
No more harper, candle or rejoicing.
No more death, sorrow or curse.
The habitation of demons.
Nothing that defileth.
Kings of the earth corrupted.
Kings of the earth bring glory.
Nations made drunk.
Nations walk in light.
So the list might be extended. The New Jerusalem is most evidently God's answer to
Babylon's usurpation.
Near to the ruins of Babylon is a huge mound which is called Birs-Nimrod, or the
tower of Nimrod: it covers a square surface of 49,000 feet, and is nearly 300 feet high.
Herodotus saw it while it retained something of its ancient glories. He describes it as
being constructed of a series of eight towers, with a way running spirally around them.
Nebuchadnezzar restored this tower, using different coloured tiles for each stage of the
building, some of which can be seen in the British Museum.