The Bible speaks of a coming time when God will establish a new heaven and a new earth, centered around a new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2). This new Jerusalem will be a place of perfect peace, joy and healing, ruled by Jesus Christ. However, the question arises: if this new Jerusalem is perfect, why will the nations that dwell there still need healing?
There are a few key reasons the Bible indicates the nations will still need healing in the New Jerusalem:
1. To heal the scars of the old world
While the new Jerusalem will be free of sin, sickness, death and curses, many people entering it will carry scars from their life on the old, fallen earth. There will be emotional, mental and spiritual wounds that need healing even once in the new Jerusalem. Jesus’ sacrifice provides redemption for sin, but healing these deeper wounds can be an ongoing process.
Isaiah 65:17 says God will “create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Yet verse 20 goes on to say regarding the new Jerusalem, “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years.” This implies that the experience of living in a fallen world will not be instantly erased, but a process of healing will continue.
2. To adjust to living in God’s presence
The new Jerusalem will be characterized by the full presence of God dwelling with his people (Revelation 21:3). After living apart from God’s direct presence for so long due to sin, adjusting back to life with God will require healing and restoration for people.
Exodus 33:20 says “no one may see God and live,” yet in the new Jerusalem, “They will see his face” (Revelation 22:4). To go from being unable to withstand God’s presence to seeing him face to face will require healing and transformation in itself.
3. To heal divisions between nations
In the old earth, nations were often divided by ethnicity, culture, language, and socioeconomic status. But the new Jerusalem will include people from every tribe, tongue and nation united in worship of God (Revelation 5:9, 7:9).
To unite so many diverse peoples together will require healing of prejudices, judgments, hatreds, and misunderstandings between cultural groups and national identities. Though all will submit to Jesus, healing these human divisions will be an ongoing process.
4. To adjust to resurrected, glorified bodies
Believers in the new Jerusalem will receive incorruptible, immortal bodies to replace their perishable, fallen bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Having a resurrected, glorified body will enable them to fully partake of the new creation.
However, the adjustment process between a natural body and spiritual body will likely involve some kind of growth and healing. Just as a caterpillar must go through change to become a butterfly, God’s people will undergo healing transformation for their new bodies.
5. To expand capacity for holiness
In the new Jerusalem “nothing impure will ever enter it” (Revelation 21:27). The city must be filled with people made perfect in holiness to dwell in God’s unveiled presence.
Yet the sanctification process is gradual. So while residents of the new Jerusalem will have the seed of sin removed, they will likely continue to grow in greater Christlike holiness. Healing will equip them for deeper enjoyment of God.
6. To become unified as Christ’s bride
The new Jerusalem is depicted as the “bride” of Christ, prepared for her husband (Revelation 21:2). Like any marriage, unity between husband and wife grows over time through relationship.
So the healing process will unify the diverse residents of the new Jerusalem into one collective bride, the church. Unity with each other will flow out of restored unity with God.
7. To heal the nations near the new Jerusalem
The Bible indicates there will be some “nations of the earth” that exist outside the new Jerusalem during the millennium, who will “walk by its light” (Revelation 21:24). These nations were not part of the first resurrection, so they will need ongoing healing.
The leaves of the tree of life and river of life flowing from the new Jerusalem will be for “healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2). So healing will expand beyond just the city to nations on the new earth.
8. To progressively grow in God’s presence
While the new Jerusalem will far surpass anything on the old earth, life there will not be static. Just as Adam and Eve were to grow in fellowship with God in Eden, so too the new creation will involve progression into greater depths of relationship with God.
As eternity has no end, there will be no limit to experiencing more of God’s glory. The healing and restoration process will enable eternal growth in the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14).
9. To heal the sorrows of old earth
While sin will be no more, the memories of living in a fallen, painful world will not instantly vanish. At the onset of new Jerusalem, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). This implies a healing process of releasing sorrow from the old world.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). This comfort and healing will continue as believers are integrated into new Jerusalem.
10. To develop Christlike love
1 Corinthians 13 says love is the greatest gift and will last forever. Learning to walk in Christ’s sacrificial love takes time and maturation. The healing process in new Jerusalem will involve learning to love one another as Jesus loves.
By healing wounds and offenses, and being reconciled in Christ, the residents of the new Jerusalem will be made perfect in love for God and one another.
In summary, the new Jerusalem will be a place of wondrous joy and perfection. Yet the Bible indicates there will still be an ongoing healing process for nations and individuals as they adjust to resurrected bodies, living in God’s presence, releasing past sorrows, and learning greater love. The leaves of the Tree of Life and the River of Life will bring continual healing and restoration to all peoples (Revelation 22:2).
Though the former world will pass away, the merciful redemption of Christ provides eternal healing. By his wounds, people from every nation will be made whole. The new Jerusalem will fulfil God’s purpose to make all things new (Revelation 21:5), culminating in perfect restoration through the healing redemption of Jesus.
