Kingdom of Heaven expands as more join with God
Within Heaven’s confines, are “many nations,” the angel informed Zechariah. The open country reference, meaning unwalled, includes animals by the way. The description changes the way townships and city life fix our neighborhoods and governments. Jerusalem with be encircled and thus protected with a “wall of fire.” That describes a barrier at its outskirts but one that will readily expand as more join with God.
Image by Andreas Schneemayer
Heaven's Jerusalem will be unwalled
By John Pearring
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/093023.cfm
Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15
Luke 9:43-45
Zechariah’s story of the man attempting to measure Jerusalem tells us an important cartography detail about Heaven. Basically, we can’t put limits upon the width and breath, the scope, of Heaven’s map. It’s huge, beyond measuring. Heaven’s Jerusalem goes beyond any place the Jews or us can imagine, and the security of its boundaries are protected by God.
Our earthen cities are places of safety, rules, and organized life. County areas between cities are more wild and unmanaged. The wilds of the mountains and plains have almost unfettered existences. Heaven will not be like that.
When an angel told Zechariah to inform the fellow with the measuring line to not waste his time, he contrasted earth’s Jerusalem the Jerusalem of Heaven.
"Run, tell this to that young man:
People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country,
because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.
But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst." (Zechariah 2:5-9)
Within Heaven’s confines, are “many nations,” the angel informed Zechariah. The open country reference, meaning unwalled, includes animals by the way. Everything from forests to wild beasts will live in its boundaries. The description changes the way townships and city life fix our neighborhoods and governments in this life. The holy land of Jerusalem in Heaven be encircled and thus protected with a “wall of fire.” That describes a barrier at its outskirts but one that will readily expand as more join with God. No-one within its vast regions has anything to fear.
“See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.” (Zechariah 2:14-15)
We already have this advantage of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us since Jesus sent the Comforter after his ascension. We are his temples, the residence of his Holy Spirit. Living tabernacles, if you will. Heaven needs no tabernacles.
I like to think of creation, the complete cosmos of planets and galaxies, as a mirror of Heaven. We’ve been detached from the security and divine indwelling since the fall. Upon creation’s restoration, I imagine a rejoining to Heaven, however that will exist.We already have this advantage of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us since Jesus sent the Comforter upon his resurrection. We are his temples of residence, though. Tabernacles, if you will. Heaven needs no tabernacles.
Zechariah speaks of the Lord projecting how we now understand him—Jesus, the Christ. Born, died, resurrection, ascended, and coming back (not yet) in glory. Zechariah is a premonition, a prophecy of Jesus’ restoration of creation with him back and ruling.
Scripture scholars, of course, refer Zechariah’s references to the rebuilt Jerusalem upon the Jews return to their land. We know, though, that the multiple layers of Jewish scripture can be read also as the coming holy land and the next age of the Messiah’s domination of all creation. When evil no longer runs roughshod.
As Jeremiah wrote in 31:10, “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles, and say: He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, he guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.”