Word Study
Jerusalem This may seem a strange choice for a study of the church, but after all the church is associated with the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven. The word is translated from the Greek, Hierousalem (Hebrew Yeruwshalaim meaning teaching of peace or double peace). There apparantly will be both a heavenly Jerusalem and an earthly one.
"For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace."(Heb. 7:1-2) The New Jerusalem is the place where God dwells and there is no night but God is the light of the universe. No liars, murderers, can enter this city. Thus, righteousness precedes peace but peace flows from it as living water flows from the throne of God. Man and the the rest of the created universe are in harmony and fellowship with God as the last vestiges of sin and its affects are removed completely from the universe when God creates a new heaven and a new earth. Man is finally secure and in a right relationship with God. God is pleased and is in full, intimate interaction with His creatures.
This is worth repeating. There can be no peace apart from God, there can be no peace for the wicked, and there can be no peace apart from the forgiveness of sin. Peace can be secured only through the blood of the Lamb, the Son of God.
There is a close relationship between peace and rest. Again, righteousness precedes rest. The rest of God is realized in the New Jerusalem and in the new heaven and earth because the works are complete and perfect. Note that time ceases in this creation. The scripture speaks of the events that lead up to all of this as "The Day of the Lord" or "That Day". The Day of the Lord begins in darkness and judgment (Joel 2:1) but eventuates in light so this day never ends and the eternal state ensues.
Verse Study