History teaches about big empires of which the British Empire was the greatest. When it was at its peak, it controlled 23% of the world’s population. In 1920 it covered 13.71 million square miles, almost a quarter of the world’s land area. 1
However, there is an Empire that is invisible at this stage, but when it becomes visible it will dwarf the size of the biggest empires. The Bible describes it. It is the Kingdom or Empire of God. The whole earth will be its territory,
‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed…’ Revelation 21:1
It will have a capital city,
‘I saw the Holy City the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven…’ Revelation 21:2
It will have a King (or President),
“And I heard a loud voice saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them….’ Revelation 21:3
God, who dwells in heaven at present, will come down to live among His people.
Remember that we read about this in a Book that has been despised, rejected, banned and burned during much of its history (even up to our time).
How can a book that teaches this, be banned? It only happens because the ruler of the world, the devil, knows he will never be part of that coming Empire. So he fights against the truth and revelations of the Bible. That is why we can have confidence that God’s plan for the eternal City, the eternal nation under His eternal Lordship, will come to fruition.
References
- Niall McCarthy, Empires, Statista, May 25, 2020
6 days / 66 books / 6000 years 
A deeper narative is evolving in my Soul by the Spirit, as new understanding of Rev 21 comes forth, by the figurative symbolic language used in the Rev 21 text. This language, akin to the parabolic language used by Jesus when speaking through parables.
Those who were close to Jesus at the time of his ministry on earth, His disciples, were privy to the other side of the parabolic curve, the deeper truth of the parables he spoke then.
This same privilage that the disciples had then are available to those close to Him today, who have crucified their flesh, died to self, are being led by the seven fold Spirit, who are literally IN Him, and His words in them. Those who walk in the resurected life and power of Christ, who are seated in the heavenlies with Christ, now, are privy to the other side of the parabola, to the figurative symbolic narrative, hidden from sight and sense, embedded within the Word.
A dear teacher of mine, (Ron McGatlin) put it this way.
“God is speaking to us today, to leave our past life and follow Jesus into a much greater promised life, of which we have only dreamed in our past religious and secular lives of seeking the reality of God in life now.”
Paul put it this way to the Corinthians,
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man, The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
Another close friend and teacher (Irvine Drost) whom when I met for the first time in the 90’s, instantly fell into a trance like state and started prophesying over me, in those early days I scarcely understood a word he said, but always felt a deep affection towards him, he would often refer to “Hidden Manna” backed by scripture, revealed by the seven fold Holy Spirit, to the Soul. So awesome in power, so full of the righteousness and goodness and peace and joy of God the Father, who is Love, who reveals Himself, as true love, to us, through broken, but beautiful flesh.
Gerhard, Alida, the key and deeper revelation to the hidden mystery of Rev 21 is found in verse three. The first mention of this verse came to light in the discussion between God and the Prophet Samuel when the people of Israel sought a King. There are several other references in scripture to the New Jerusalem in this context. The Spirit will reveal the hidden manna.
Blessings
LikeLike
I cannot agree more with your writing. Thanks for attention to Revelation 21:3. Sure is true, as God already said in Exodus 25:8, ‘Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.’ Fantastic to think that God will accomplish that goal eventually, being in the midst of ‘His people.’ Thanks!
LikeLike