Spectacular prophecies about the cities of the future—cities that offer all
the benefits people seek with none of the problems—abound in Scripture.
-cities overflow with prosperity
Imagine quality city life being affordable. Imagine a city providing enough stable,
decent jobs that unemployment is next to nil, and everyone enjoys affluence.
Imagine a city devoid of run-down, impoverished slums and ghettos.(Zechariah 1:17)
“… Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity …”
-cities being crime-free and Violence no more
Imagine being able to walk the streets, even back alleys, at any time of day or night with
-out fear. “[T]hey shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid” (Ezekiel 34:28)
Imagine thievery, muggings, assaults and gang warfare no longer being a concern.
“Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders;
but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” (Isaiah 60:18).
-fresh produce grows on site, no hunger.
Imagine lovely, productive gardens right in the midst of the city. “[T]hey shall build the
waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof;
they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them” (Amos 9:14).
-local animal husbandry
Imagine land allocated efficiently that areas exist for local animal husbandry. (Jer. 33:12
In all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down
Widespread prosperity, secure streets, nutritious food, outdoor activity in clean air—
these benefits will dramatically increase the health of the residents of tomorrow’s cities!
the pastoral serenity enjoyed only by country folk today being common in the city as well.
Biblical prophecy is clear that our present civilization is about to be replaced by a far
better world. Though today’s cities will be destroyed (e.g. Ezekiel 6:6; 12:20),
6In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be
desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be
broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
20And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate;
and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
-rebuild and repair the waste cities
“For thou shalt … make the desolate cities to be inhabited. … And they shall build the old
wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities,
the desolations of many generations“ (Isaiah 54:3; 61:4).
After human misrule causes great tribulation that almost wipes out civilization, Jesus Christ
will return to Earth to establish His rule. Before any rebuilding occurs, Christ will first resolve
the problem of unconquered human nature sabotaging creative efforts mans rebellious nature.
“A new heart also will I give you …. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk
in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. … In the day that I shall have
cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes
shall be builded” (Ezekiel 36:26-27, 33).
God will change the hard hearts of men and women, eliminating hostility, competitiveness,
aggression and selfishness, and replacing it with His own nature—a basic desire to follow
His laws of love, and beieng widely observed, wiping out violence, burglary, vandalism,
immorality, drug use, broken families, and a long host of other social ills.
Tomorrow’s cities will be ruled by spirit beings—the glorified saints of God made perfect!
Read in Luke 19:12-19 and Revelation 2:26-27 Christ’s promise to appoint individuals
Massive skyscrapers will be unnecessary because property will be plentiful. Scripture describes
a vigorous land-renewal program: mountains being lowered, deserts being reclaimed, underwater
land being raised. Leviticus 25 details a homesteading system whereby every family will own land.
-Equitable property distribution
Micah 4:4 “They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make
them afraid ..” Equitable property distribution will create widespread security for all families.
The Bible describes tomorrow’s cities as being very social—“filled with flocks of men” (Ezekiel 36
:34-38). Today, cities are packed with anonymous strangers who rub shoulders but don’t interact,
-Desolate land shall be tilled (Ezekiel 36:34-35) Like the garden of Eden
34And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that
passed by. 35And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden
of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
-social and Filled with flocks of men (Ezekiel 36:37-38)
36Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined
places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.37Thus saith
the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will
increase them with men like a flock. 38As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn
feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
-the streets of Jerusalem,
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets
of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the
city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof” (Zechariah 8:4-5).
All cities will likely pattern certain elements after Jerusalem
Today, cities are packed with anonymous strangers who rub shoulders but don’t interact, who then commute home to their private suburban bunkers where they remain isolated from neighbors. Tomorrow, cities will be designed to nurture a sense of community and belonging.
-superhighways between major cities
The existence of superhighways in this world, as depicted in Isaiah 19:23 implies there
being cars or something like them; they just won’t be allowed in certain urban areas.
maybe efficient public transportation that people of all ages can easily use to get to the city.
In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come
into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
The Prophet Isaiah described this social atmosphere perfectly when he wrote, “joy and
gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody” (Isaiah 51:3).
Jeremiah got even more eloquent: “Thus saith the Lord; Again there shall be heard in
this place … even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem … The voice of
joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride,
the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his
mercy endureth for ever …” (Jeremiah 33:10-11).
A world where transportation doesn’t pollute; where families can easily access the city
and yet live in their own homes on their own land; where industry operates smartly and
cleanly without dominating or besmirching the landscape; where urban life is just as
healthy and safe as country life.
God who richly designed and created this exquisite planet and universe.
God has spoken it, and He is not one to go back on His word (Isaiah 55:11).
Hope I see you all there