Does any one else out there struggle with constantly being bombarded with America being the New Jerusalem?
I remember the first time I got this impression - I was reading Revelation Revealed by Tim LaHaye, et al, and the dimensions were given as being from Boston to St. Louis, New York to Miami. For me, this put New Jerusalem on the East Coast!!
There have been other less vivid examples, but the ones relating to 9/11 are frequent.
Just last week at the District Bible study, we looked at Psalm 79. I realized I was reading verses 9-10 with the wrong eyes: Help us (America), O God our Savior, for the glory of your name: deliver us and forgive our sins (many, many sins) for your name's sake.
Why should the nations say "Where is their God?" (After all aren't we fighting Allah?) Before our eyes, (Americanized/Westernized eyes) make knwon among the nations that your avenge the outpoured blood of your servants (Where's Randy and his just war?)
Maybe I call myself an Old Testament Christian because I see America and us as the chosen ones?!!?
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That's an interesting view. I have never thought of the New Jerusalem as being America. In keeping with John's use of contrast in the Book of Revelation, I have always viewed it as the replacement for it's counterpoint, the Old Jerusalem, the city where God dwells and where sacrifices were offered.
My reading of Rev 3:12 and Rev 21:2 leads me to believe the New Jerusalem is the church. It is specifcally referred to as adorned as a Bride, Rev 21:9-10 and since God's kindom is no longer tied to a specific location (a temple building in Jerusalem), His dwelling place is among His people Rev 21:3 which is by definition, the church.
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