New Jerusalem

[mellontes]

I was going to do a scientific examination of the new Jerusalem as believed by the dispensationalists. To them, it is a square-shaped future dwelling place for the saints. I want to calculate the total square footage and see how many people can be squished inside of it. Does anyone have some 21st century dimensions for this "Borg" cube which is able to assimilate people? "Resistance is futile" must have been coined by Calvin...oh, oh having too much fun again at other people's expense...

[Allyn]

I remember somebody doing just that a few years ago and it was quite revealing. I'll bet a google search would produce some results.

So here are the results of my search:

rom Willmington's Guide to the Bible:

The size of this city. “… and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs” (Rev. 21:16).

According to our present-day measurements this city would be roughly 1400 miles long, high, and wide. If placed in America, it would reach from New York City to Denver, Colorado, and from Canada to Florida!

How big is a city this size? Our earth has approximately 120 million square miles of water surface and 60 million square miles of land surface. If one multiplies 1400 by 1400 by 1400 (the dimensions of the New Jerusalem), he arrives at the total cubic miles of the city, a staggering figure of 2 billion, 700 million. This is some fifteen times the combined surface of the entire earth, including both land and water area! It has been estimated that approximately 40 billion people have lived on our planet since the creation of Adam. Of this number, over 4 billion [actually we are closer to 6 billion now] are living today. Density studies of city populations assure us that every single one of these 40 billion could easily be accommodated upon just the first “foundational floor” of this marvelous 1400-layered metropolis.

[stephenpatrick]

Think I could ask for an ocean view, 4th floor?

[Michael J Loomis]

Why stop at the 4th floor?

[Allyn]

Dec 11, 2009 20:02:02 GMT -5 Michael J Loomis said:

Why stop at the 4th floor?

I think the fourth floor would be the good position to be in because all other floors above it would start to show the curvature of the earth and I tend to get sick to my stomach when that happens.

[mellontes]

Dec 11, 2009 18:51:01 GMT -5 Allyn said:

I remember somebody doing just that a few years ago and it was quite revealing. I'll bet a google search would produce some results.

So here are the results of my search:

rom Willmington's Guide to the Bible:

The size of this city. “… and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs” (Rev. 21:16).

According to our present-day measurements this city would be roughly 1400 miles long, high, and wide. If placed in America, it would reach from New York City to Denver, Colorado, and from Canada to Florida!

How big is a city this size? Our earth has approximately 120 million square miles of water surface and 60 million square miles of land surface. If one multiplies 1400 by 1400 by 1400 (the dimensions of the New Jerusalem), he arrives at the total cubic miles of the city, a staggering figure of 2 billion, 700 million. This is some fifteen times the combined surface of the entire earth, including both land and water area! It has been estimated that approximately 40 billion people have lived on our planet since the creation of Adam. Of this number, over 4 billion [actually we are closer to 6 billion now] are living today. Density studies of city populations assure us that every single one of these 40 billion could easily be accommodated upon just the first “foundational floor” of this marvelous 1400-layered metropolis.

Thanks Allyn!

My, that's a lot bigger than I first thought! Are the mansions from John 14 to be included in this? Surely, nothing less than 4,000 SF (and that is just the living space) would be suitable for these earthly minded dispies...I wonder how that would play into it?

[Allyn]

Dec 11, 2009 20:09:51 GMT -5 @mellontes said:

Dec 11, 2009 18:51:01 GMT -5 Allyn said:

I remember somebody doing just that a few years ago and it was quite revealing. I'll bet a google search would produce some results.

So here are the results of my search:

Thanks Allyn!

My, that's a lot bigger than I first thought! Are the mansions from John 14 to be included in this? Surely, nothing less than 4,000 SF (and that is just the living space) would be suitable for these earthly minded dispies...I wonder how that would play into it?

One mans mansion is another mans shack. I personally would require at least 5000 sq ft of living space including a tennis court and an indoor heated pool with a view. Generally speaking a service set for 150 people would be needed for entertaining but since the first will be last and the last first I am sure some of those place-settings could be in paper plates and cups with plastic utensils. Also it is a must that I not be hit with carbon point requirements since I do intend on flying in only occasionally after visiting one or more of my other mansions in the higher altitudes of the New Jerusalem.

[stephenpatrick]

Dec 11, 2009 20:02:02 GMT -5 Michael J Loomis said:

Why stop at the 4th floor?

I hate heights.