OT. Saints....In Heaven or in Limbo?

[Iconoclast]

I did not say prior to Pentecost did I?read my actual response which clearly said....at Pentecost.in post13
you exalt a few verses above all others and force them to walk on their own. You and others once doing this....go down a path that others are not following you down that path
.I offer answers that speak of another way to
Go which does not fit into your scheme.
FRANKLY ....your theology suffers for it as you divorce the root from the fruit.
There are some New things in the New Covenant....that is why it is New..
.There is a continuity to God's redemptive design that you neglect.You once again ....is this 8 times now...accuse me of UIC,view...which I do not hold.There are local churches only here on earth....
You find that position easier to attack so you try and stuff me in there....but it is plain to see you cannot.
God does dwell in the Heavenly Zion and Jerusalem now, and so do All His elect that have departed this earthly life
I believe they have a temporary spiritual body in the intermediate state, but that is a side issue although your view would find that troubling.

 

[The Biblicist]

I did not say prior to Pentecost did I?read my actual response which clearly said....at Pentecost.in post13

It is hard to tell what you are asking here as you do not cite my post. However, my previous post did not say you denied it occurred on Pentecost, but quite the reverse, I was making my point because you did admit it occurred on Pentecost as a completed action. I think you need to reread my post.

.I offer answers that speak of another way to
Go which does not fit into your scheme.

Of course you do and that is why I point to specific texts that refute your "answers."

"FRANKLY ....your theology suffers for it as you divorce the root from the fruit.

Actually, that is what you are guilty of. Your theology repudiates the biblical essentials of salvation. I can summarize your problem as follows: (1) There is no salvation OUTSIDE of Christ for anyone at anytime, therefore to be "saved" in any sense of the word one must be "IN Christ". (2) Your view of the baptism in the Spirit is necessary for you view of being "in Christ." However, the ACTION of baptizng is restricted IN TIME to a COMPLETE ACTION at that point of time that is not repeatable before or after that time. Hence, if scripture is view consistently, your view is repudiated and you are forced deny any concept of "saved" prior to Pentecost. (3) The GIFTED MEN called apostles and prophets were "set in" the church in a precise order that denies the church existed previous to the first advent of Christ, thereby repudiating your doctrine of a church body inclusive of all saints from Genesis to Revelation during that time. (4) If you assert such a church existed during that period of time on earth or in heaven that by definition is the UNIVERSAL (heaven, and earth) and INVISIBLE body of Christ (in heaven and on earth) that you are defending. If you admit it does not exist until after the resurrection then you have nothing for anyone during that period of time to be baptized into! (5) Future position in the new heaven and earth, inheritance rights, rewards are all post-judgement determinations and so members of the glorified bride versus those existing as "saved" outside the city is a non-existent factor at present until after the judgement.

"There are some New things in the New Covenant....that is why it is New..
.There is a continuity to God's redemptive design that you neglect.

That is the very issue and what you pervert and neglect as there is no baptism in the Spirit at all in any form fashion or manner prior to Pentecost, never has and never will be as we are "created in Christ Jesus" by birth/quickening. All "in Adam" were BORN in Adam and that is why the exist "in the flesh" because they were BORN of the flesh. All "in Christ" are BORN in Christ and that is why the exist "in the Spirit" because they were BORN of the Spirit. No kind of baptism plays any part. No church plays any part. This is about FAMILY spiritual union by BIRTH. You ignore and pervert the redemptive designs.

"You once again ....is this 8 times now...accuse me of UIC,view...which I do not hold.There are local churches only here on earth....
You find that position easier to attack so you try and stuff me in there....

If you did not believe in it you would deny there is any present tense immersion of any believer into it. If you did not believe it you would deny any present tense church/body of Christ in heaven that is invisible to us,or had any counterpart presently on earth. If you did not, then your only church consisting of all the elect has no present existence ANYWHERE and never will until AFTER the resurrection. Can you agree to all these qualifications? If not then you are an advocate of it. and your next line is proof that you do believe in some other kind of church than local visible assemblies of properly water immersed believers but another kind of body of Christ that includes "all His elect" baptized or not and I quote:

"God does dwell in the Heavenly Zion and Jerusalem now, and so do All His elect that have departed this earthly life" Does the church on earth include "all His elect"? Yes or no? Hence, it cannot be the same church or same members of your one in heaven can it?? Yes or no? Is the church on earth visible to the naked eye? yes or no? Is your church in heaven visible to the naked eye? yes or no? Are all the elect on earth in the local kind of church on earth? yes or no? Are all the elect members of your church in heaven? yes or no?

"I believe they have a temporary spiritual body in the intermediate state, but that is a side issue although your view would find that troubling.

But nowhere does it say it is a PHYSICAL body does it?

 

[kyredneck]

the intermediate state

In the type of Joseph, both he and Antitype were falsely accused by The Harlot and cast into the prison, which evidently is allegorical of an 'intermediate state':

18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
19 in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, 1 Peter 3

Joseph as type interpreted dreams while in this intermediate state, Antitype preached.

13 within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head, and restore thee.... Gen 40

Both type and Antitype were elevated from this prison and set at the right hand of The Ruler and the nations came to them for their food. Antitype is now:

29 .....the firstborn among many brethren: Ro 8

I don't think this 'intermediate state' exists now, for the saints that is.

 

[kyredneck]

...I probably didn't articulate that so well, other things pressing for my time right now...

 

[Iconoclast]

The Biblicist,

Yes, I have! I said they went directly to heaven and I gave David with David's own words to prove that.

yes....they went to Heaven...every believers agrees...

Are they silent, or Isolated from all others?
Are they....on hold?
Do they gather with departed Nt. saints?

The only value I see with the Landmark view is...it speaks of the NT. Church on earth as God's Institution for now, until the last day......

But then it seems as if once departed from this earthly realm.....any church disappears, only "family members"...exist. Some of" the Family" is the bride...the other are like the proverbial red headed stepchild who can only be a guest.
Is this what you are offering?

So the Olive tree of Romans 11.....goes to the wood chipper....and this "family" is what remains?

They are non-physical invisible spirits. Can spirits be assembled or do they simply exist in a spiritual state, who knows?

The departed spirits of God's family are in heaven.

So you offer this in respect to all the OT. prophecies of Zion and Jerusalem which includes Gentiles?

First, there is no "if" about it as Ephesians 2:1-10 explicitly teaches we are "created" in Christ by the act of quickening

.

I meant it in the sense of...SINCE....RE -READ IT.

You have never dealt with this text in any exegetical fashion to prove I am wrong and until you do it repudiates your whole position.

It repudiates nothing. Ot.saints were saved by God.
There is only one way of salvation.

Second, they are not different - they are all equally REGENERATED spirits and all are equally waiting for the day of judgement to be rewarded according to their works. Eternal positions, rank of inheritance, eternal home (on redeemed earth or in city) are determined at judgment not presently.

Yes.....but are you saying the Church Jesus is building will cease?
Only Family is left?
I will build my Family? In two different sections?

 

[Iconoclast]

kyredneck,

I don't think this 'intermediate state' exists now, for the saints that is.

When you can....how do you see all who have departed, both Ot.and nt.?

 

[Iconoclast]

How do these verses figure in?
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Here we have some sort of body parts described.....fingers, tongue, memory, feeling pain , and torment.....while other brothers were still alive on earth?

 

[Iconoclast]

rev6;
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

How do you see a soul if it is invisible?
Where they whole persons/souls,there corrupted bodies awaiting resurrection...did they have a temporal spiritual body,or are they just disembodied Spirits?
How do they speak? Telepathy?

 

[Iconoclast]

Rev19;
19 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

 

[Yeshua1]

Rev19;
19 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

rev6;
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

How do you see a soul if it is invisible?
Where they whole persons/souls,there corrupted bodies awaiting resurrection...did they have a temporal spiritual body,or are they just disembodied Spirits?
How do they speak? Telepathy?

rev6;
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

How do you see a soul if it is invisible?
Where they whole persons/souls,there corrupted bodies awaiting resurrection...did they have a temporal spiritual body,or are they just disembodied Spirits?
How do they speak? Telepathy?

OT believrs will be physically resurrected at Second Coming, andwill be in the Earthly Kingdom with Jesus then. NT Saints in Heavens during that time.

 

[Iconoclast]

OT believrs will be physically resurrected at Second Coming, andwill be in the Earthly Kingdom with Jesus then. NT Saints in Heavens during that time.

Do you have any scripture that shows this?
Where are Nt. saints in heaven? When OT saints are on the earth?
How is there a resurrection here, when Jesus said it would be the last day?
jn5;


24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

jn6;
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

[Yeshua1]

Do you have any scripture that shows this?
Where are Nt. saints in heaven? When OT saints are on the earth?
How is there a resurrection here, when Jesus said it would be the last day?
jn5;


24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

jn6;
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The OT saved are not in His Church, but will be in te New Jersulam with them!

 

[Iconoclast]

The OT saved are not in His Church, but will be in te New Jersulam with them!

SCRIPTURE ? ???

 

[Yeshua1]

SCRIPTURE ? ???

All those in His Body were those saved under the New Covenant, from time of Jesu forward!

 

[Iconoclast]

All those in His Body were those saved under the New Covenant, from time of Jesu forward!

That does not look like a scripture verse . you did not answer jn 5. jn6.

 

[The Biblicist]

The only value I see with the Landmark view is...it speaks of the NT. Church on earth as God's Institution for now, until the last day......

But then it seems as if once departed from this earthly realm.....any church disappears, only "family members"...exist. Some of" the Family" is the bride...the other are like the proverbial red headed stepchild who can only be a guest.

You completely ignored the rest of the post that dealt directly with your view of the church. Here it is again:

Does the church on earth include "all His elect"? Yes or no? Hence, it cannot be the same church or same members of your one in heaven can it?? Yes or no?

Is the church on earth visible to the naked eye? yes or no? Is your church in heaven visible to the naked eye? yes or no?

Are all the elect on earth in the local kind of church on earth? yes or no?

Are all the elect members of your church in heaven? yes or no?

There is no bride in heaven until AFTER the judgement, as all presently in heaven are THE FAMILY of God. There is no church in heaven presently, the only church is on earth UNLESS you believe in a universal invisible church split between heaven and earth? do you?

 

[JonC]

Where are OT.Saints?
Are they in Heaven? Or are they on hold? Did they get lost along the way?
What are your views of the intermediate state?
In another thread a poster confused and did not correctly state my view,here;


Then there was this strange posting;


No where have I ever suggested any such thing. I do believe God saved them on earth before they left their body. I believe they are in heaven now. What do you believe?
Will all the OT saints be with us and equal? Or do you think there are divisions in heaven?

I believe the Old Testament saints are with Christ (in the exact same place and way that we will be with Christ when we die). Paul tells us that to be absent in body is to be with Christ. I understand that this is not “Heaven” in terms of the new heaven and new earth, when God “dwells” with men and “wipes away every tear”. But this is heaven in terms of existing in the presence of Christ beyond the Christian experience here on earth.

Were the OT saints saved? Yes, they were. Scripture speaks of these men as being considered righteous by their faith. Righteous indicates a state of standing before God whereby one is “right” or justified. I believe that righteousness has God’s covenantal promise of deliverance (salvation) in mind. So they were saved. But I do believe that they were saved while looking forward to the salvation that we now have in Christ. They were saved by faith in Christ (just as we are) but their faith in God’s provision remained unfulfilled during their lifetime.

 

[Iconoclast]

The Biblicist,

You completely ignored the rest of the post that dealt directly with your view of the church. Here it is again:

I ignored it for good reasons

Does the church on earth include "all His elect"? Yes or no?

no.....but now it is you who speak in universal terms,lol...the church???is there only one local church now?

Hence, it cannot be the same church or same members of your one in heaven can it?? Yes or no?

There are thousands of local churches on earth. In heaven there are redeemed persons, and angelic beings.........they are assembled in ONE PLACE.
They are constantly being harvested from earth into heaven until the last day.

Is the church on earth visible to the naked eye? yes or no?

yes

Is your church in heaven visible to the naked eye? yes or no?
yes

Are all the elect on earth in the local kind of church on earth? yes or no?

Those already saved yes, some are not saved yet, some are not born yet.

Are all the elect members of your church in heaven? yes or no?

During prayer and worship they enter into the Holy place....their physical body does not go there. If you travel to Europe but phone your wife...do you commune with her even though there is some distance in between?
If you are in the same room with your wife, and lose your eyesight....are you still with her...?
What if both of you lose eyesight? does that change that you are with her?
Physical sight is not the only measure.
Angels are present with us and we do not see them...does that mean they are not present with us?

There is no bride in heaven until AFTER the judgement, as all presently in heaven are THE FAMILY of God.

okay...does this family consist of every departed saint?

There is no church in heaven presently

,
okay....so...family is everyone.....

this assembled family....as it assembles[ecclesia]....does NOT constitute an eternal Church, but rather...it is something else now???
I did not say...NT. Church.....but I did say...Eternal Church.....the True Zion and Jerusalem?

You speak of Zion and Jerusalem as only a place.....it is more than that;
mt henry;

The gospel church is called Mount Zion; there believers have clearer views of heaven, and more heavenly tempers of soul. All the children of God are heirs, and every one has the privileges of the first-born. Let a soul be supposed to join that glorious assembly and church above, that is yet unacquainted with God, still carnally-minded, loving this present world and state of things, looking back to it with a lingering eye, full of pride and guile, filled with lusts; such a soul would seem to have mistaken its way, place, state, and company. It would be uneasy to itself and all about it. Christ is the Mediator of this new covenant, between God and man, to bring them together in this covenant; to keep them together; to plead with God for us, and to plead with us for God; and at length to bring God and his people together in heaven. This covenant is made firm by the blood of Christ sprinkled upon our consciences, as the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled upon the altar and the victim. This blood of Christ speaks in behalf of sinners; it pleads not for vengeance, but for mercy. See then that you refuse not his gracious call and offered salvation. See that you do not refuse Him who speaketh from heaven, with infinite tenderness and love; for how can those escape, who turn from God in unbelief or apostacy, while he so graciously beseeches them to be reconciled, and to receive his everlasting favour! God's dealing with men under the gospel, in a way of grace, assures us, that he will deal with the despisers of the gospel, in a way of judgment. We cannot worship God acceptably, unless we worship him with reverence and godly fear. Only the grace of God enables us to worship God aright. God is the same just and righteous God under the gospel as under the law. The inheritance of believers is secured to them; and all things pertaining to salvation are freely given in answer to prayer. Let us seek for grace, that we may serve God with reverence and godly fear.

JFB;

The gospel church is called Mount Zion; there believers have clearer views of heaven, and more heavenly tempers of soul. All the children of God are heirs, and every one has the privileges of the first-born. Let a soul be supposed to join that glorious assembly and church above, that is yet unacquainted with God, still carnally-minded, loving this present world and state of things, looking back to it with a lingering eye, full of pride and guile, filled with lusts; such a soul would seem to have mistaken its way, place, state, and company. It would be uneasy to itself and all about it. Christ is the Mediator of this new covenant, between God and man, to bring them together in this covenant; to keep them together; to plead with God for us, and to plead with us for God; and at length to bring God and his people together in heaven. This covenant is made firm by the blood of Christ sprinkled upon our consciences, as the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled upon the altar and the victim. This blood of Christ speaks in behalf of sinners; it pleads not for vengeance, but for mercy. See then that you refuse not his gracious call and offered salvation. See that you do not refuse Him who speaketh from heaven, with infinite tenderness and love; for how can those escape, who turn from God in unbelief or apostacy, while he so graciously beseeches them to be reconciled, and to receive his everlasting favour! God's dealing with men under the gospel, in a way of grace, assures us, that he will deal with the despisers of the gospel, in a way of judgment. We cannot worship God acceptably, unless we worship him with reverence and godly fear. Only the grace of God enables us to worship God aright. God is the same just and righteous God under the gospel as under the law. The inheritance of believers is secured to them; and all things pertaining to salvation are freely given in answer to prayer. Let us seek for grace, that we may serve God with reverence and godly fear.

the only church is on earth UNLESS you believe in a universal invisible church split between heaven and earth? do you?

You are saying....there is no assembly in heaven? Does it have to be the NT>assembly that we find on earth? There can never be a future assembly?

 

[Iconoclast]

What is this?


Joel 2:32 It will happen that whoever will call on the name of Yahweh shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls.

Obadiah 1:17 But in Mount Zion, there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. The house of Jacob will possess their possessions.

Obadiah 1:21 Saviors will go up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be Yahweh's.

Micah 4:7 and I will make that which was lame a remnant, and that which was cast far off a strong nation: and Yahweh will reign over them on Mount Zion from then on, even forever."

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,

Revelation 14:1 I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.

The word Zion is also used in a theological or spiritual sense in Scripture. In the Old Testament Zion refers figuratively to Israel as the people of God (Isaiah 60:14). In the New Testament, Zion refers to God’s spiritual kingdom. We have not come to Mount Sinai, says the apostle, but “to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22). Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16, refers to Christ as the Cornerstone of Zion: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6).

 

[Iconoclast]

Gill;

Hebrews 12:22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
But ye are come unto Mount Sion,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, as in Hebrews 12:18 "for ye are not come"; which may seem to favour that interpretation of this passage, which refers it to the heavenly state; to which saints, in this present life, are not, as yet, come: but, by "Mount Sion", and the other names here given, is meant the church of God, under the Gospel dispensation, to which the believing Hebrews were come; in distinction from the legal dispensation, signified by Mount Sinai, from which they were delivered: and this is called Mount Sion, because, like that, it is beloved of God; chosen by him; and is the place of his habitation; here his worship is, and his word and ordinances are administered; here he communes with his people, and distributes his blessings and this, as Mount Sion, is a perfection of beauty the joy of the whole earth; is strongly fortified by divine power, and is immovable; and is comparable to that mountain, for its height and holiness: and to come to Sion is to become a member of a Gospel church, and partake of the ordinances, enjoy the privileges, and perform the duties belonging to it:
and unto the city of the living God; the Gospel church is a city, built on Christ, the foundation; and is full of habitants, true believers, at least it will be, in the latter day; it is pleasantly situated by the river of God's love, and by the still waters of Gospel ordinances; it is governed by wholesome laws, of Christ's enacting, and is under proper officers, of his appointing; and is well guarded by watchmen, which he has set upon the walls of it; and it is endowed with many privileges, as access to God, freedom from the arrests of justice, and from condemnation, adoption, and a right to the heavenly inheritance: and this may be called "the city of God", because it is of his building, and here he dwells, and protects, and defends it; and who is styled "the living God", to distinguish him from the idols of the Gentiles, which are lifeless and inanimate, no other than sticks and stones.

The heavenly Jerusalem: the church of God goes by the name of Jerusalem often, both in the Old and in the New Testament; with which it agrees in its name, which signifies the vision of peace, or they shall see peace: Christ, the King of it, is the Prince of peace; the members of it are sons of peace, who enjoy a spiritual peace now, and an everlasting one hereafter: like that, it is compact together, consisting of saints, cemented together in love, in the order and fellowship of the Gospel; and is well fortified, God himself, and his power, being all around it, and having salvation, for walls and bulwarks, and being encamped about by angels; and it is a free city, being made so by Christ, and, through him, enjoying the liberty of grace now, and having a title to the liberty of glory in the world to come; as Jerusalem was, it is the object of God's choice, the palace of the great King, and the place of divine worship: it is called "heavenly", to distinguish it from the earthly Jerusalem; and to express the excellency of it, as well as to point out its original: the members of it are from heaven, being born from above; their conversation is now in heaven; and they are designed for that place; and its doctrines and ordinances are all from thence.