We regret if anyone got the impression that the New Jerusalem will be set up by man. The New Jerusalem itself is not mentioned in the editorial, which confines itself to conditions today in this current age of man plus those of Christ's 1,000-year reign. The New Jerusalem, however, is described in the same issue at the conclusion of the lead article titled "Jerusalem: Center of Conflict, Center of Peace."

The last major event mentioned in the Bible is the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. But more than a thousand years before this indescribable event, Christ will have returned to earth and begun His majestic, millennial reign in His capital city of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:1-9; Isaiah 2:1-5; 11:1-9).

This is not the same as the New Jerusalem, which doesn't descend from heaven until God's plan for physical human beings is complete (see Revelation 21-22).

It might be helpful in understanding the chronology of Jerusalem to consider this city in three distinct stages in time order:

1. The Jerusalem of today during this present age.

2. The world capital Jerusalem during the coming millennial reign of Jesus Christ, following His return to earth.

3. Finally, the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven where the Father and Christ reign with the saints forever.

To better understand the chronology of these prophetic events, please request or download the free booklets God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind, The Gospel of the Kingdom and What Happens After Death?