The New Jerusalem is first seen descending toward the earth, but during the millennium it will not descend into the earth, but rather appear over it, the abode of Christ and His heavenly people, the seat of His government and glory. As one has said, "the Adamic earth is not adapted to its glory. It remains therefore throughout the millennium connected with the earth, but not in the earth, and it is not until the first heaven and earth have passed away, and new heavens and a new earth created, that it descends again, and finds a home suited to its glory." During the thousand years of Christ's reign it would appear as if it occupied a place between the heaven above—the dwelling place of God—and the earthly Jerusalem, the metropolis of the world of that time. It will be filled with the glory of God, and hung as a lamp to lighten the earth below with its holy light. "The nations shall walk amidst the light thereof" (Rev. 21:2424And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. (Revelation 21:24), R. V.).
The earthly Jerusalem, "the City of the Great King," will be lit up by the beams of glory from the heavenly city, as it is written: "Arise; shine! for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee." Isa. 60:11Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1). That glory will fill the temple (Ezek. 43:55So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house. (Ezekiel 43:5).) and be a defense and a shadow to Jehovah's earthy people (Isa. 4:55And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. (Isaiah 4:5)). "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it" (Isa. 40:55And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5)).
The transfiguration scene on the mount was a foreshadowing of this blessed time. In the heaven of heavens, high above all, God the Father is heard speaking. Lower down, and within the vision of those who stood upon the earthly mount, Christ is seen transfigured, shining in heavenly glory, in company with Moses and Elias, fit types of the sleeping saints who have been raised and of the living changed without tasting death, while the earthly people, like Peter, James and John, basking in the light of that face which did "shine as the sun" are well able to see and hear the converse of the heavenly company. So shall it be when the glory of God—now shining in the face of Jesus Christ, but hidden to the world—shall beam forth in all its brightness in the Heavenly City, and radiate through its crystal walls to the earth beneath.