Revelation 21 – 13 Petals

Preface

Chapters 21 and 22 are unique in Torah literature as their focus is on elements related to the Olam Haba, “New Jerusalem,” etc., beyond the 7,000 years of history since Gan Edan. This level of existence is equivalent to the time of the fullness of the “New Covenant,” where evil, free will, sin, and its consequence, are no more – as Torah will be, “written on the heart.” This is also known as the “fifth world” of “Adam Kadmon.”

There is little written on this subject. As the Talmud tells us:

All the prophets prophesied only for the days of the Messiah, but as for the world to come, ‘Eye hath not seen, oh G-d, beside Thee’
Talmud, Berachoth 34b

This “transition” from the primary physical existence, since Adam’s banishment, to an even greater “return” has implications regarding our “relationship” with G-d, and the commands of the Torah, which will no longer serve in the same capacity of ‘connecting’ us to G-d:

“A solitary entity may indeed possess a will, but this cannot be expressed as a commandment. A commandment can exist only when there are two entities, the Commander and the commanded, and the commandment connects the two. Before the Resurrection, therefore, when man and G‑d are two separate entities, the notion of a commandment is conceivable. (Indeed, it is in the Messianic era, before the Resurrection, that the commandments will be observed to the ultimate degree.) After the Resurrection, when the entire world will be permeated with the knowledge of G‑d, man and G‑d will (so to speak) dissolve into one entity. At that time a mitzvah will not connect two separate entities; rather, it will express G‑d’s unique Unity. … In light of the above explanation, we can now understand that after the Resurrection the mitzvos will be observed not because they are commandments that connect two separate entities, the Commander and the commanded; rather, the entire creation will perform the will of G‑d as a matter of course. … After the Resurrection, the relationship of Commander and commanded will make way for a world which is sensitive to the will of its Creator and responds to it spontaneously. In the same way, the link between mitzvah observance and reward and punishment will be severed. Instead, all of finite humanity will desire nothing more than to join hands in an ongoing quest for proximity with the Infinite Creator.”
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2312400/jewish/Chapter-11-Mitzvos-After-the-Resurrection.htm

That which was “in place” during the 7,000 years of history since Gan Edan, will no longer be “necessary” (functioning in the same manner) to help us ‘connect’ to G-d, as we will be in a new, unified state. This has great implications, not only with the commands of Torah, but the entire system of Sefirot and “worlds of existence” as we connect to the “highest soul level” of Yechidah, and enter into the “world of Adam Kadmon.” (More on this in chapter 22.)

The concept of the ‘8th millennium,’ relates to ‘Binah,’ the ‘mother’ sefirah to the seven below (i.e., Proverbs 9:1) which are those that function within our world of time and space. We seek to experience this with observing the 7 days of Sukkot and 7 weeks of the Omer Count, both taking us to a mystical ‘8th’ beyond. (Respectively, Shemini Atzeret and Shavuot.)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. and there was no longer any sea.

If we understand the elements of this verse within Jewish Torah spirituality, we know that “heaven” (the heavens) is equivalent to the world of Beriah and “earth” relates to the world of Asiyah. These are “re-created” (along with our souls – see Chabad citation below) but there is no mention of the “middle world” of Yetzirah. The absence of the “sea” in this verse would reflect the “disappearance” of this “mixed realm.” The world of angels that served to “connect” the upper spiritual world of Beriah with our physical world in Asiyah, is no longer necessary, due to the state of unity we will be in with G-d.

The term “sea” has multiple meanings in Torah literature, including esoteric sources. It can relate to the world of spiritual entities – Yetzirah:

Observe that ever so many streams and rivers rise out of the Supernal Sea, which in their courses divide and subdivide again into many other rivers and streams: and the portion that fell to the side of Egypt were waters swarming with such creatures. For all waters issuing from that sea breed various kinds of fishes, to wit, messengers sent into the world to carry out the will of their Master through the spirit of Wisdom.
Zohar 2:30b

Mark also this! All the supernal hosts with their cohorts and lightful chariots of celestial speed are joined one to another, grade to grade, the lower to the higher, each to its counterpart; and above them all a holy Living being (Hayah, cf. Ezekiel 1) is set, and all those myriads of armies move and rest according to its will and direction. This is that Living Creature to which all Hayoth are linked, as each is also to each, all moving and swimming in the sea, concerning which it is written: This is the great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts (Psalm 104:25).
Zohar 2:48b

Behold, Pharaoh imbibed from that source, so that he and his whole people perished. As soon as this judgment was awakened against him his celestial guardian was removed from his dominion, shaken in his power, and all whom he represented on earth fell with him. This is the significance of the words, “and he took off their chariots wheel,” to wit, He annulled the power of their supernal guardian, and the result was that all the Egyptians died in the sea. Why in the sea? Because the supernal “sea” was roused against them and they were delivered into its hands. And therefore it says: His chosen captains also were drowned in the sea of Suph (the Red Sea), for Suph suggests soph, an end, namely the end of the grades of the supernal powers.
Zohar 2:50a

With regard to the unification of the Name of G-d (yud-hey-vav-hey), the world of Yetzirah is represented by the letter vav, in between the first hey (Beriah) and the second hey (Asiyah).

The letters of the Name and worlds of existence correspond as follows:

– Yud — Hey — Vav —- Hey
Atzilut-Beriah-Yetzirah-Asiyah

We find in the following text (based on the teachings of the Ari) the idea of the lack of necessity of this intermediate realm, along with a new direct connection between G-d and man. This is spoken of in terms of the function of the letter vav (Yetzirah) no longer being necessary:

In the Ultimate Future, after the soul returns from its temporary abode in the afterlife and is resurrected in the rectified physical world, there will be no need for the soul to experience such “processed” divine consciousness, i.e. there will be no need for the name Havayah to be spelled out. The hei’s of the name will be able to experience the yud and vav directly, and in fact the vav will not be necessary. In the Future, the name Havayah will be spelled yud-hei-yud-hei, indicating that both thought and speech will be able to express divine consciousness in its fullest form. This is alluded to in the verse, “On that day, G-d [yud-hei-vav-hei] will be [spelled yud-hei-yud-hei] one, and His Name will be one.” (Zechariah 14:9)
https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/572251/jewish/Caves-and-Kingship.htm

The following text eloquently speaks of the dramatic change from our current existence to that of the Olam Haba:

For that grade that intones the chant, for on that grade He supports Himself, as it were, by His right hand and by His left hand. When will that Psalm (98:1) be chanted? When the dead will come to life and rise from the dust; then there will be something new that had never yet been in the world.’ Said R. Jose: ‘When the Holy One will avenge Israel on the nations, then will this Psalm be chanted. For after the resurrection of the dead the world will be perfectly renewed, and will not be as before, when death prevailed in the world through the influence of the serpent, through whom the world was defiled and disgraced. Observe this. It is written, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman” (Genesis 3:15). The term ebah (enmity) is akin to a similar word in the verse, “they are passed away as the ships of ebeh” (Job 9:26), for on the great ocean there float numerous ships and boats of many kinds, and those in which the serpent sails are called “ships of ebeh” (enmity). The “woman” referred to here is the G-d-fearing woman; “thy seed” refers to the idolatrous nations; “her seed” to Israel; “he shall bruise thy head”, to wit, the Holy One, who will one day destroy him, as it is written: “He will swallow up death for ever” (Isaiah 25:8), and also, “and I will cause the unclean spirit to pass out of the land” (Zechariah 13:2). “In the head” means in the time to come when the dead will come to life; for then the world will be the “head”, since it will be established by the “head”, that is, the supernal world. “In the heel” means now in this world, which is merely “heel” and not endowed with permanence, and so the serpent bites and mankind is in disgrace. See, now, a man’s days were created and are located in the supernal grades, but when they draw to the end of their term, when they reach the Scriptural limit of threescore and ten (Psalm 90:10), there remains then no grade any more for them to abide in, and so “their pride is but travail and vanity” (Ibid.), and they are as nought. Not so the days of the righteous.
Zohar, Bereshith, 124a

This idea of the upper world of Beriah and lower world of Asiya, ‘coming together’ began to take form in the prior Millennial Kingdom with regard to the Temple. We know that the earthly temple mirrors that in the spiritual world (i.e., the “heavenly Beit Hamikdash”). However, there are questions posed regarding the coming Temple such as,

Is it created by man, by Mashiach or by Hashem?
“What is its relationship with the Temple above?”

A book citing the Ramchal’s text on the future Temple, offers this explanation:

“Does the Third Temple come down ready-made and complete from Heaven, or do actual people have to build it? According to Rashi, “The future Temple for which we are waiting will be revealed and come down from heaven fully built and complete, as it is written (Exodus 15:17): ‘The Sanctuary, G-d, that Your hands established'” (Rashi on Succah 41a and see Tosafot there; see also Rashi on Rosh Hashanah 30a and Tosafot on Shavuot 15b). On the other hand, Rambam states that the main identifying sign of the Mashiach will be that he will physically build the Third Temple in its proper place (Hilchot Melachim 11:4). Ramchal helps us understand how both opinions express different aspects of the process by which the Third Temple will come into this world. He writes:

“In time to come, not only will the Heavenly and earthly Temples be similar. The Upper House will extend until it reaches the lower world. This is the meaning of the saying of our Rabbis that the Third Temple will be the work of the hands of G-d. For the Heavenly Temple will not be uprooted from its place. Rather it will extend until it reaches the lower world. Around it a physical structure will then be built as befits this material world, and the two structures will be joined and become one and will never again separate. G-d’s glory will be fully revealed there, as it is said: ‘And the glory of G-d will be revealed, and all flesh will see’ (Isaiah 40:5). Then there will be complete peace and happiness forever.”

In other words, a spiritual emanation of the Temple will come down into this world from the Upper World, and around it the physical reality of the Third Temple will be built. In explaining Ezekiel’s vision of the Third Temple, Ramchal has indeed brought the idea of the Third Temple down from Heaven into this world. The more that people study and grasp the Temple idea, the nearer will they bring the day when humanity will come to its senses, cease its futile cycles of war and destruction, and join together with one accord to worship the One G-d in the Third Temple.”
https://www.azamra.org/TempleSecrets/MishkeneyElyon.htm

Another aspect to consider with this “disappearance” of the vav, Yetzirah, etc., is anything in the “functional capacity of uniting above and below.” This includes concepts such as; the tzaddik; the angel Metatron, the sefirot of Ze’ir Anpin, Jacob’s ladder, the Temple and the partzuf (spiritual persona) of “Son.”

An interesting verse related to this idea is this, where the “Son,” having accomplished his task of “connecting things” at the end of the age, submits to ‘bittul’ (self-nullification) where we come to the time of “G-d in all.”

When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that G-d may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:28

This state of “G-d in all,” emanates from the “5th world” of “Adam Kadmon”:

The concept of “… that G-d may be in all,” in this unified state, reflects the essence of Chassidus, which is an “extension of Ein Sof,” emanating from the world above Atzilut, “permeating all four worlds of existence” below it and “transforming the very nature” of things into G-dliness. Chassidus is the “new life force,” the “essential energy,” of the state of Yechidah.
(As explained in, “On the Essence of Chassidus. A Chassidic DIscourse by The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson,” Kehot Publication Society, pp. 22-44)

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from G-d, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

The descent of “Jerusalem above,” is a well-established concept in Torah literature:

”How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings (Isaiah 52:7) – This teaches you that in the future the Holy One, blessed be He, will cause built-up Jerusalem to descend from heaven, and will set her upon the tops of four mountains.”
Pesikta deRav Kahana, ed. Mandelbaum, pg. 466, The Messiah Texts, Raphael Patai, pgs. 224-225

”Elijah said: I see a beautiful and great city descend from heaven, built up, as it is written, “Jerusalem that art builded as a city that is compact together” Psalm 122:3) Built up and embellished, and her people dwell in her midst, and she rests on three thousand towers and between each [there are] twenty-five thousand cubits of smaragds and precious stones and pearls…”
Sefer Eliyahu, BhM, The Messiah Texts, Raphael Patai, pgs. 224-22

One may ask, If the “bride” is typically associated with the Sefirah of Malkut and the “New Jerusalem in Heaven” is associated with the Sefirah of Binah, then why is Binah also called the bride? The answer is that the Shekinah, the Divine Presence, has both an “earthly” and “heavenly” aspect to it, referred to as “the lower and upper mother.”

The following excerpts from the Zohar discuss this idea in various contexts:

The glory of the Lord is the lower Shekinah; “his place” is the upper Shekinah. (See verse 3 below regarding “his place/dwelling.”)
Zohar 1:25a

WHICH SHALL GO UP AND COME INTO THINE HOUSE. R. Simeon quoted here the verse: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, because they were not” (Jeremiah 31:15). ‘The Community of Israel is called “Rachel”, as it says, “As a sheep (rahel) before her shearers is dumb” (Isaiah 8:7). Why dumb? Because when other nations rule over her the voice departs from her and she becomes dumb. “Ramah” (lit. high) refers to the Jerusalem which is above. “Rachel weeping for her children”: as long as Israel is in exile, Rachel weeps, for she is their Mother. “She refuseth to be comforted over her children for he (singular) is not”: it ought to be “they are not” (enam); why is the singular used? Because it refers to Israel’s Spouse (G-d), who is her “Voice”, and has departed from her and they live in separation. It was not once only that Rachel wept over Israel, but whenever they are in exile she weeps over them so.
Zohar 2:29b

This next citation expresses the union of the upper and lower Shekinah in terms of the union of the bride and groom coming at the time of the seventh millennium:

R. Simeon further gave an exposition of the verse: The Lord said unto my lord, Sit at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool (Psalm 110:1). “The Lord saith unto my lord”: ‘to wit, the upper grade said to the lower, “sit at my right hand”, in order that the West should be linked with the South and the Left with the Right so as to break the power of the Gentiles. Or again, “The Lord” is (the celestial) Jacob, and “to my lord” is “the ark of the covenant, the lord of all the earth” (Joshua 3:11). According to another explanation, “the Lord” refers to the Jubilee and “my lord” to the Sabbatical Year (cf.Exodus 21:5, “I love my lord”). The words “sit at my right hand” are appropriate, because the Right is located in the Jubilee, and the Sabbatical Year craves to be linked with the Right. When it first came into being, the Sabbatical Year was not linked securely (to the supreme power) through either the Right or the Left. So when it sought to secure itself, the supreme power stretched forth its right arm to meet it and created this world. It is because it is from the side of the Left that it has no sure basis till the time of the seventh millennium when at length it will be linked through the Right. Then the Sabbatical Year, between the Right and the Left, will be securely based, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and it will not depart from there forever. According to this explanation, we must take the words “sit at my right hand” to refer only to a specified period, viz. “till I make thine enemies thy footstool”, but not in perpetuity; for when that event has come to pass, it will not depart from there forever, as it is written, “for thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left” (Isaiah 54:3), all being united. Similarly, we can interpret the text “the heavens and the earth” to mean that the higher Shekinah and the lower Shekinah will be joined in the union of male and female; this has already been explained, as the colleagues have noted.’
Zohar 1:50b

The following text discusses the variations of partzufim associated with the Shekinah. Shir Hashirim (Song of Songs) is a key text showing examples of this.

It is written: Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon in the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart (Song of Songs 3:11). This verse has already been properly interpreted, and yet we may still ask, How is one to understand the words, go forth and behold King Solomon? This title, we know, refers.to the King of Peace, [Tr. Note: v. Zohar, Genesis, 29a.] and who can behold Him who is high above the heavenly hosts in a region which no eye hath seen apart from thee, O God (Isaiah 64:3)? Him of whose glory the angels above ask: Where is the place of His glory? Observe, however, that the text does not say and the crown, but in the crown, from which we learn that he who sees the Crown beholds also the loveliness of the King of Peace. Then again, wherewith his mother crowned him: She (the Shekinah) is sometimes called Daughter, and sometimes Sister, and here She is called Mother. And She is indeed all these. He who penetrates into this mystery has imbibed precious wisdom.
Zohar 2:100b

The connection between “Jerusalem above,” and the Mother concept of the Shekinah, is found in this New Testament verse, which also includes the idea of ‘freedom’ which is the Yovel, the fiftieth year of the Shemittah cycle, with 50 being the number associated with Binah, the Mother. (i.e., the 49 days of the Omer count evolve around the 7 lower Sefirot, bringing us to Binah on the 50th day.)

But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
Galatians 4:26

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of G-d is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and G-d himself will be with them and be their G-d.

The connection between the union of spiritual Bride and Groom and the union between G-d and His people is described in this section of the Zohar:

R. Simeon opened his discourse thus: The heavens declare the glory of G-d, etc. (Psalm 19:2). He said: ‘The inner meaning of this verse is as follows. When the bride awakes on the morn of her wedding day, she begins to prepare her ornaments and decorations with the aid of the companions who have rejoiced with her all that night, as she with them. On that day there assemble in her honour hosts upon hosts, awaiting each one of those who have helped in her adornment on the previous night. As soon as the bride beholds her spouse, “the heavens declare the glory of G-d”. “The heavens” are the bridegroom, who enters under the bridal canopy. “Declare” (meSaPeRim) signifies that they radiate a brilliance like that of a sapphire, sparkling and scintillating from one end of the world to the other. “The glory of El” (G-d) signifies the glory of the bride which is called El (G-d), as it is written “and El (G-d) hath indignation every day” (Psalm 7:12); all the days of the year it is called El (G-d), but now when she enters under the bridal canopy it is called Glory. It is also at the same time still called El (G-d), signifying glory on glory, splendour on splendour, and dominion on dominion. Thus, at that time when heaven enters into the canopy and irradiates her, all those companions who joined in her adornment have their names recorded there above, as it is written, “and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Ibid. 19:2), the words “his handiwork” being an allusion to those who have entered into a covenant with the bride. The confederates of the covenant are called “ the works of his hands”, as we read “the work of our hands establish thou it” (Psalm 90:17) This is an allusion to the covenant that is engraven on man’s body.’
Zohar 1:8a

The concept of “dwelling” is of course not limiting G-d to any one place. It does reflect the idea of “G-d within creation” which we can relate to in our limited capacity. This “dwelling” is considered to be “in heaven,” (Beriah, the highest world within Creation), which is the basis of the prayer beginning, “Our Father, which art in heaven…”

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

This alludes to the changes that come with the “New Covenant,” as mentioned in the preface to this chapter. The Midrash Rabbah interprets this idea as a Messianic Prophecy:

“When G-d created His world, there was no Angel of Death in the world. … Messiah would arise, and in his days G-d would cause death to be swallowed up, as it says, He will swallow up death forever.”
Exodus Rabbah 30:3

The Zohar focuses on ‘the Mother,’ being happy at this time.” The sefirah of Binah, the “mother,” is at the head of the column of judgment, above Gevurah. The idea of ‘judgment,’ does not have to have a negative connotation – it is neutral. When we sin it acts in a manner to correct us. When we turn from sin. judgment and the mother are satisfied.

‘We have learned as follows. From the side of the Mother issue emissaries of punishment who are armed with the clubs of Geburah (Severity), and prevail over Mercy, and then the worlds are defective and there is conflict between them. But when men amend their ways below, punishment is mitigated and removed, and mercy is awakened and prevails over the evil which arose from stern judgment, and then there is joy and consolation, as it is written, “And the Lord was comforted of the evil” (Exodus 32:14). When judgment is mitigated, all the Crowns return to their places and the keys are restored to the Mother, and this is called repentance (teshuvah, lit. returning), and the world is forgiven, since the Mother is in perfect joy.
Zohar 3:15b

With the flow of blessing (from Binah, the Mother) unhindered by the mixed realm, all is restored. This is associated with the idea of the Aleph and Tav (Tau) coming together. (See verse 5 below.)

Thus we read, “In the beginning, God created the (eth) heaven and the (eth) earth” (Genesis 1:1) where the particle eth (consisting of Aleph and Tau) is a summary of the twenty-two letters by which the earth is nourished.
Zohar 2:235a

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

This spring is directly related to the “return” of the “River of Eden” which is discussed in chapter 22.

The Greek needs to be put aside here as the Torah concept evolves around the letters Aleph and Tav of the Hebrew (i.e., verse 4 above). The Unity that was at the beginning (“Alpha” – Hebrew: Aleph) and the Unity found at the end (“Omega” – Hebrew: Tav) come “full circle.” This concept of completion is similar to the soul’s journey from its spiritual root, into this world, then back:

R. Eleazar put the following question to R. Simeon. ‘Since it is known to G-d that men will die, why does He send souls down into the world?’ He answered: ‘This question has been discussed many times by the teachers, and they have answered it thus. G-d sends souls down to this world to declare His glory and takes them back afterward. This mystery can be explained from the verse: “Drink water from thy cistern and flowing streams from the midst of thy well” (Proverbs 5:15). As we have laid down, the term “cistern” designates the place from which the waters do not naturally flow. But they do flow when the soul is perfected in this world and ascends to the place to which it is attached, for then it is complete on all sides, above and below. When the soul ascends, the desire of the female is stirred towards the male, and then water flows from below upwards, and the cistern becomes a well of flowing waters, and then there is union-and foundation and desire and friendship and harmony, since through the soul of the righteous that place has been completed, and the supernal love and affection has been stirred to form a union.’
Zohar 1:236a

In chapter 22, we will explore deeper concepts associated with the idea of the “beginning and end.”

7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his G-d and he will be my son.

The Zohar, commenting on Exodus 15 (the “Song by the Sea”), discusses the “double meaning” of that section of Torah and its future application to those who overcome at the end of days inheriting all with G-d:

THY RIGHT HAND, O LORD, GLORIFIED IN POWER, THY RIGHT HAND DASHES IN PIECES THE ENEMY. The form “ne’ddari” (glorified) instead of “ne’ddar” suggests a plural, referring as it does to the joining of the Left Hand with the Right. Said R. Simeon: ‘It is as we have explained. Just as man was divided physically, in order that he should receive a wife and both together form one body, so the Right Hand was divided, as it were, in order that it might take unto itself the Left and both become one, and therefore it is that G-d smites and heals with one and the same Hand. Note that this whole song has a reference both to the time of its composition and to the future; hence it does not say “hath dashed”, but “dashes” (tirtaz, lit. will dash), i.e. when the Messiah shall arise. The same applies to the following verse: “In the fullness of thy majesty thou wilt overthrow (taharos) thine opponents; thou wilt send forth (teshalah) thy wrath; it will devour them like stubble.” Thus the words, “Thy right hand, O Lord, glorified in power”, refers to this time, to this world; the words “Thy right hand will dash the enemy” to the time of the Messiah; “ln the fulness of thy majesty thou wilt overthrow thine opponents” to the time of Gog and Magog; “Thou wilt send forth thy wrath, it will devour them like stubble” to the time of the resurrection, of which it says, “and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). Blessed are those who will be left in the world at that time. And who will they be? None will remain, except the circumcised who have accepted upon themselves the sign of the holy covenant and have entered into this holy covenant in its two parts, [Tr. note: i.e. the actual circumcision and the peri’ah, or folding back of the flesh.] as we have pointed out, and have guarded the covenant against contact with an alien sphere. These will remain and their names will be written “to life eternal”, as it says: “And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called ‘holy’, even everyone that is written to life in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 4:3). “Zion” and “Jerusalem” symbolize the two grades (Foundation and Kingdom) into which he who will be circumcised shall enter. Such shall remain at that time, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will renew the world with them and rejoice together with them. Concerning that time it is written: “May the glory of the Lord remain forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works” (Psalm 104:31).’
Zohar 2:57b

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

The idea of “categories” of sinners within Gehenna is illustrated in this text:

Gehenna has seven doors which open into seven habitations; and there are also seven types of sinners: evildoers, worthless ones, sinners, the wicked, corrupters, mockers, and arrogant ones; and corresponding with them are the habitations in Gehenna, for each kind a particular place, all according to grade. And over each habitation a special angel is appointed, all being under the direction of Duma, who has thousands and myriads of angels under him, to punish sinners according to their deserts.
Zohar 2:150b,51a

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from G-d.

The concept of “as above so below” (i.e., Jerusalem) is expounded in this text which discusses the hidden meaning of the cave of “Machpelah,” as a connection between worlds.

R. Eleazar asked his father, R. Simeon, for an explanation of the term Machpelah (lit. “twofold”, or “folded”). ‘How is it,’ he said, ‘that first it is written “the cave of Machpelah”, and subsequently “the cave of the field of Machpelah”, implying that the field and not the cave was “Machpelah” (doubled)?’ R. Simeon replied: ‘The term Machpelah belongs properly neither to the cave nor to the field, but to something else with which both were connected. The cave belongs to the field, and the field to something else. For the whole of the Land of Israel and of Jerusalem is folded up beneath it, since it exists both above and below, in the same way as there is a Jerusalem both above and below, both of the same pattern. The Jerusalem above has a twofold attachment, above and below; similarly the Jerusalem below is linked to two sides, higher and lower. Hence it is folded in two; and that field partakes of the same character, seeing that it is therein situated. The same reference is contained in the passage, “as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed” (Genesis 27:27), to wit, both above and below. Hence its name, “field of folding”, but not “folded field”. Further, the esoteric implication of the term Machpelah relates it to the Divine Name, in which the letter Hei is doubled, though both are as one. It is, indeed, true that the cave was a twofold one, a cave within a cave, yet the name “cave of the field of Machpelah” has a different connotation, as already explained. Abraham, on his part, who knew its true character, in speaking to the children of Heth called it simply “cave of Machpelah”, as if to imply merely “double cave”, which it also was in fact. Scripture, however, describes it as “the cave of the field of Machpelah”, this being its true description. For the Holy One has disposed all things in such a way that everything in this world should be a replica of something in the world above, and that the two should be united so that His glory should be spread above and below. Happy the portion of the righteous in whom the Holy One finds pleasure both in this world and in the world to come!’
Zohar 1:128b

11 It shone with the glory of G-d, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

This connection between ‘Heavenly Jerusalem” and “glory,” is discussed in this Zohar commentary:

“When the Bride is destined the next day to be under the canopy with Her Husband – to be with her all night, delighting with Her in Her adornments in which she is arrayed, engaging in Torah, from Torah to Prophets, from Prophets to Writings, midrashic renderings of verses and mysteries of wisdom: these are her adornments and finery.” Rabbi Shim’on opened, saying, “Heaven declares the glory of G-d (Psalms 19:2). … When the Bride is aroused to enter the canopy the next day, She is arrayed and illumined with Her adornments … as soon as they join together, and She sees Her Husband, what is written? Heaven declares the glory of G-d. Heaven – the Groom entering the canopy … The glory of G-d – glory of the Bride, who is called G-d, but now that She has entered the canopy, She is called Glory as well as G-d, glory upon glory, radiance upon radiance, dominion upon dominion.”
Zohar 1:8a, Pritzker Edition, translated by Daniel C. Matt, pg. 52-53

12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

All in fulfillment of the prophet Ezekiel:

And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel; three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. And at the east side there is a measure of four thousand and five hundred; and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. And at the south side there is a measure of four thousand and five hundred; and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. At the west side there is a measure of four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. It shall be eighteen thousand measures around; and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.
Ezekiel 48:32-35

The twelve tribes, the “gates/foundations,” are found expressed as an ‘adornment’of the Matron (Shekinah) in this passage:

Observe this. The twelve tribes are the adornment of the Matron. When Jacob was about to depart from the world, and saw that he was perfected on every side, with Abraham at his right, Isaac at his left, himself in the centre, and the Shekinah in front of him, he called his sons round him in order that both the lower and the upper might be fitly adorned.
Zohar 1:240b

The Zohar also says the following:

But as soon as Israel shall go forth from captivity, that is, the holy people alone, then that river which was dried up shall become “the river that goes forth from Eden to water the garden”. This river is the Central Column; “goes forth from Eden” is the supernal Mother; “to water the garden” is the Shekinah on earth. In reference to that time it is said of Moses and Israel, “Then thou shalt delight in the Lord”, and the words shall be fulfilled, “then Moses shall sing” (Exodus 15:1) … … Further, the river “shall part from thence and become four heads” (Gen. II, 10). The first of these is Hesed (Kindness), which is the right arm. From this shall drink the camp of Michael, and with it the tribe of Judah and his two accompanying tribes. The second is Geburah (Force), and from it shall drink the camp of Gabriel, and with it the tribe of Dan and his two accompanying tribes. The third is Nezah (Victory), the right leg, and from it shall drink the camp of Nuriel, and with it the tribe of Reuben and his two accompanying tribes. The fourth is Hod (Majesty), the left leg (referred to in what was said of Jacob, that he halted on his left thigh), and from it shall drink the camp of Raphael, whose mission is to heal the ills of the captivity, and with it the tribe of Ephraim and his two accompanying tribes.
Zohar 1:26b

The number twelve is well associated with Israel and the ideas of “stones,” “foundations” and fourfold division (according to the cardinal points). This is seen in the following texts, relating to a number of varied concepts:

Creation:

‘Fire, air, water, and earth are originally all united one with the other, and there is no separation between them. But when the earth-dust began to generate its products were no longer united like the supernal elements, as it says: “From thence it was parted and became into four heads” (Genesis 2:10). In this was separation; for the earthy, when it generated in the power of the three upper elements, brought forth four streams, where precious stones are found. These precious stones are twelve in number, distributed in all the four cardinal directions, and corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel: “And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names” (Exodus 28:2I). Observe that though all these supernal sides of which we spoke are united and bound up one with another, and form the foundation of things above and things below, yet is air (spirit) superior to them all, as it is the substance of all, without which nothing would live, and the soul exists only through the spirit, for if the air were to fail, even for a moment, the soul would not be. This is hinted in the words: “Also when the soul is without knowledge it is not good” (Proverbs 19:2): soul without spirit “is not good”, and cannot exist. Note, further, that those twelve stones correspond to the twelve oxen under the sea of brass which was in the Temple (I Kings 7:25). Therefore the princes, the heads of the tribes, sacrificed twelve oxen (Numbers 7:3). All this is a deep mystery, and he who comprehends these words comprehends a mystery of the supernal wisdom, in which is the root of all things.’
Zohar 2:24b

The Community of Israel:

According to another explanation, the “daughters of Jerusalem” are the twelve tribes, as we have learnt that Jerusalem is established on twelve rocks, three on each side (wherefore it is called Hayah (living one), and these are called “the daughters of Jerusalem”, and they testify to the King concerning the Community of Israel, as it is written: “The tribes of the Lord are a testimony unto Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord” (Psalm 122:4).
Zohar 1:242a

The High Priest:

Now, these supernal twelve holy tribes were symbolized by the twelve sacred stones. For the twelve tribes below were the counterpart of those on high, and their names were all engraven on those stones, so that they were carried by the High Priest. When Jacob was on his way to Haran, Scripture says of him, “and he took some of the stones of the place, and put them under his head” (Genesis 28:11). These were the twelve sacred stones, which were made into one, as we read later, “and this stone” (Ibid. 22). All the twelve stones were absorbed in the one supreme sacred stone that is over them all, of which it is thus written, “and this stone which I have set up for a pillar, shall be G-d’s house” (Ibid). Hence the High Priest had to put them on his heart as a perpetual reminder of them, as Scripture says: “And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel… upon his heart… for a memorial before the Lord continually” (Exodus 28:29). In all this the number twelve is of recondite significance: there are twelve stones of a supernal order in the upper world, concealed in a profound and holy mystery. These form the essence of the Torah; proceeding from a small, still voice, [Tr. note: Binah.] as said elsewhere. There is an order of another twelve hidden in a lower world, [Tr. note: The world of Creation.] after the pattern of the former, but which proceed from a different voice, designated Stone, as hinted in the words “from thence, from the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel” (Ibid. 49:24). This is also the inner significance of the verse: “And thither were all the flocks gathered, and they rolled the stone… and put the stone again… in its place” (Ibid. 19:3). By the “stone” here is meant the Shekinah, called “tried stone”, “the stone of Israel”, which Israel roll along and take with them into exile, “and then put the stone again in its place”. And so, after the name of the Shekinah all Israel are termed “stones”. There are, moreover, stones and stones. There are stones which form the foundation of a house, of which Scripture says, “And the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with hewn stone” (I Kings 5:31); and there are precious supernal stones, to wit, those twelve stones. These are ranged in four orders, of three each, toward the four directions of the world. After the same pattern was the arrangement of the standards in the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness, where the twelve tribes were formed into groups of three each on each of the four cardinal points. Observe that when the High Priest was wearing the twelve stones fixed on the breastplate and the ephod, the Shekinah hovered over him. These twelve stones had engraved on them the names of the twelve tribes, each stone bearing the name of one of them. The letters were sunk, but when the stones shone they stood out and became luminous, spelling out what was required. Now, in all the names of the tribes the letters heth and teth were not to be found, for the reason that the tribes were without sin (H e T).’ Said R. Hezekiah: ‘This is reasonable as regards the heth, but not so in regard to the teth, since it is the initial of tob (good); and, further, we have learned that the letter teth seen in a dream is a good omen, since at the beginning of the Torah it is written, “And the Lord saw the light that it was good” (Genesis 1:4). Why, then, is that letter absent from the names of the tribes?’ R. Hiya said in reply: ‘It is because these two letters adjoin each other (in the alphabet), and, further, the teth is a letter hidden and withdrawn, as it is symbolic of the light that is above other lights, of the light of which it is written, “And the Lord saw the light that it was good”. Hence it is the light of all the tribes together, and it could not be engraven on any of them. And, in addition, all the twelve tribes sprang from a certain undisclosed Apartment which is symbolized by the letter teth, and so, symbolizing as it does the undisclosed, this letter could not be made to be seen among them. Observe that all those stones possessed miraculous powers. Thus, when they became luminous, the face of the High Priest was likewise illumined, and at the same time the luminous letters stood out. The shining of the High Priest’s face was a sign for all that the luminous letters were of a favourable significance; thereby it was known whether the High Priest was righteous or not.’
Zohar 2:229b,230a

The altar:

In the days of Elijah, all Israel forsook the Holy One, blessed be He, and neglected the holy covenant. When Elijah became aware that the children of Israel had entirely neglected the covenant, he set himself to rectify the evil and to restore the covenant to its former vogue. Hence the expression, And he healed the altar of the Lord that was thrown down, to wit, the established covenant that was utterly neglected. It is further written: And Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob (this being the appropriate means of repairing the altar of the Lord), unto whom the word of the Lord came saying, Israel shall be thy name (Ibid. 31), implying that Israel was to be the name by which he could ascend on high and restore the covenant in its place.
Zohar 1:66b

The stones Jacob placed under his head:

HE TOOK OF THE STONES OF THE PLACE . This is an allusion to the twelve precious and wondrous stones of the upper layer, of which it is written, Take you… twelve stones (Josh. IV, 3), and underneath which there are thousands and myriads of hewn stones. Hence it says of the stones, and not simply the stones. AND PUT THEM UNDER HIS HEAD (lit. heads). The plural form shows that we should refer the his not to Jacob but to the place, and understand the heads to be the four cardinal points of the world: he arranged the stones three to the North, three to the West, three to the South, and three to the East, and that place or spot was above them so that it should be established on them. Thereafter he LAY DOWN IN THAT PLACE TO SLEEP , for now that the couch was properly arranged, he, namely the sun, lay down on it. Thus the words and he lay down in that place to sleep are parallel to the text: the sun ariseth and the sun comes in.
Zohar 1:147b,148a

Jacob and the order in which he placed his sons:

Observe that Reuben and all the rest of the twelve tribes were linked with the Shekinah, and when Jacob saw the Shekinah by him, he called to his twelve sons to join it. From the beginning of the world there was never so perfect a couch as that of Jacob when he was about to depart from the world. Abraham was on his right, Isaac on his left, and he was Iying between them with the Shekinah in front of him. When Jacob saw this, he called his sons and placed them round the Shekinah and arranged them in perfect order, so that the gathering was complete and many supernal chariots encompassed them. They then exclaimed: “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory, etc.” (I Chronicles 29:11), whereupon the sun joined the moon and the east drew near to the west, and the moon was illumined and attained fullness, and so, as tradition tells us, “Jacob our father did not die.” When Jacob saw such perfection as had never been vouchsafed to any other man, he rejoiced and praised G-d and blessed each of his sons with the appropriate blessing.
Zohar 1:235a,b

The lower world being patterned on the upper:

Observe further that all the twelve tribes are the integral parts of the Community of Israel in this world, to give full strength to the supernal light, enveloped in blackness, and restore the root principle of the Whole to its place. All the worlds are built on the same pattern; and through this relation the lower world was completed on the pattern of the upper world.
Zohar 1:155a

The upper and lower Shekinah:

For the Shekinah is both here below and on high. The Shekinah on high abides in the twelve holy chariots and the twelve supernal Hayyoth; the lower Shekinah is among the twelve holy tribes, and thus the upper Shekinah and the lower Shekinah are intertwined, and both operate together and simultaneously. Now, when Israel is in exile, the upper Shekinah is not complete because the lower Shekinah is not complete, and that is what is meant by the Shekinah being in exile when Israel is in exile. It is like a king who has lost a son, and who as a sign of his mourning turns over his couch and spreads thistles and thorns on its underside and then lays himself down on it. Similarly when Israel went into exile and the Temple was destroyed, G-d took thorns and thistles and put them underneath Him, as it were, as it is written: “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a thorn-bush” (Exodus 3:2), the reason being that Israel was in exile.
Zohar 1:159b

Spiritual connections between various stones:

That stone we have mentioned is a goodly stone, and it is hinted at in the verse “And thou shalt set in it a setting of stone, four rows of stone” (Exodus 28:17), because there is another stone of which it is written “And I shall remove the heart of stone, etc.” (Ezekiel 36:26). The two tablets of stone were also hewn from this stone; and this was also called “the stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:24), as has been explained. R. Hizkiah quoted the verse: “And the stone shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve” (Exodus 28:21). He said: ‘These are the precious supernal stones which are called “the stones of the place” (Genesis 28:11). They were “according to the names of the children of Israel” because just as there are twelve tribes below, so there are twelve tribes above, which are twelve precious stones; and therefore it is written: “Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, for a testimony unto Israel” (Psalm 112:4), the reference being to the supernal Israel. Further, just as there are twelve hours in the day, so there are twelve hours in the night, in the day above and in the night below, each corresponding to each. These twelve hours of the night are divided into three sets, to each of which belong hierarchies of angels, which take their portion first. Hence, at midnight two ranks stand on one side and two on the other, and a celestial spirit goes forth between them and then all the trees in the garden break forth into song and G-d enters the garden, as it says: “Then do all the trees of the wood sing for joy before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the earth” (I Chronicles 16:33), because judgement enters among them and the Garden of Eden is filled therewith. Then the north wind springs up, bringing joy in its train, and it blows through the spice trees and wafts their perfume, and the righteous put on their crowns and feast themselves on the brightness of the “pellucid mirror”-happy are they to be vouchsafed that celestial light! The light of this mirror shines on all sides, and each one of the righteous takes his appropriate portion, each according to his works in this world; and some of them are abashed because of the superior light obtained by their neighbours.
Zohar 1:231b

AND HE TOOK OF THE STONES OF THE PLACE . This is an allusion to the twelve precious and wondrous stones of the upper layer, of which it is written, “Take you… twelve stones” (Joshua 4:3), and underneath which there are thousands and myriads of hewn stones. Hence it says “of the stones”, and not simply “the stones. AND PUT THEM UNDER HIS HEAD (lit. heads). The plural form shows that we should refer the “his” not to Jacob but to the place, and understand the “heads” to be the four cardinal points of the world: he arranged the stones three to the North, three to the West, three to the South, and three to the East, and that place or spot was above them so that it should be established on them. Thereafter he LAY DOWN IN THAT PLACE TO SLEEP , for now that the couch was properly arranged, he, namely the sun, lay down on it.
Zohar 1:147b,148a

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls.
16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.

The dimensions given are significant with regard to them representing a cube. The Holy of Holies was also a perfect cube of 20x20x20 cubits. This concept will be expounded further in chapter 22.

17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using.

The expansion of Jerusalem in the World to Come is found in these texts:

They shall recognize each other, and G-d will clothe every one in embroidered garments; and they will all come and offer up thanksgiving to their Master in Jerusalem, where there will assemble multitudes upon multitudes. Jerusalem itself will spread out in all directions, to a further extent even than when the exiles returned there. When they assemble and offer up praises to their Master the Holy One, blessed be He, will rejoice in them. So Scripture says: “And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow unto the goodness of the Lord”, etc. (Jeremiah 31:12), namely, every one to his portion and the portion of his ancestors. And the possession of Israel will extend till it will reach Damietta of the Romans, and even there they will study the Torah. All this has already been stated, and it is in harmony with the Scriptural passage, saying: “Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust”, etc. (Isaiah 16:19). Blessed be the Lord for evermore! Amen and Amen!’
Zohar 2:220a

Jerusalem will one day expand on all sides until it reaches the gates of Damascus, and the exiles will come and rest under it, to fulfil what is written, ‘And Damascus shall be His resting-place’; as if to say, As far as Damascus is His resting-place. What does R. Johanan make of the verse, And the city shall be builded upon her own mound (Jeremiah 30:18)? [He replies]: It will be like a fig-tree which is narrow below and broad above.1 So Jerusalem will expand on all sides and the exiles will come and rest beneath it, to fulfil what is said, For thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left (Isaiah 54:3). This proves expansion in length. What is the proof for breadth? Because it says, From the tower of Hananel unto the king’s winepresses (Zechariah 14:10). R. Zakkai Rabbah said: Up to the pits of Ripa; up to the winepresses which the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, pressed. So much for the length and breadth of it. What about the height? Because it says, And the side-chambers were broader as they wound about higher and higher (Ezekiel 41:7). It was taught: Jerusalem is destined to expand and ascend until it reaches the Throne of Glory, until it will say, ‘ The place is too strait for me; [give place to me that I may dwell]’ (Isaiah 49:20).1 R. Jose b. R. Jeremiah said: We have still not learnt the whole of the glory of Jerusalem. Whence do you learn its full glory? From [what is said of] its walls, as it says, For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about (Zechariah 2:9).
Midrash Rabbah – The Song of Songs 7:11

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.

”Resh Lakish said: The Holy One, blessed be He, will in time to come add to Jerusalem a thousand gardens, a thousand towers, a thousand palaces and a thousand mansions”
Talmud, Baba Batra 75b

The idea of a city of gold associated with ‘crowns’ is reflected in some of the words of the most popular song in Israeli culture:

But as I come to sing to you today
And to adorn crowns to you (i.e. to tell your praise)
I am the smallest of the youngest of your children (i.e. the least worthy of doing so)
And of the last poet (i.e. of all the poets born)
“Jerusalem of Gold”

19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

From a previous citation – we see the connection between the Shekinah/Jerusalem and the twelve tribes:

22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord G-d Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

The purpose of the Temple was to make the connection between the physical world and the spiritual worlds. As this division no longer exists, there is no longer the same need for this function.

23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of G-d gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

This “light of the Bride” (the moon) comes with the arrival of Mashiach (lamb), the resurrection of the dead and return of the River of Eden:

THEN SANG MOSES AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THIS SONG UNTO THE LORD. Said R. Abba: I have examined all the songs which Israel sang unto the Holy One, and I find that all of them began with “then” (az) (Cf Joshua 10:12; I Kings 8:12; Numbers 21:17.) The reason for this is that all the wonders, and all the mighty deeds which were done to Israel when the light of the Holy Ancient One shone in His crowns, are engraved in the letters Aleph and Zain[Tr. note: Aleph symbolizes the first Sephirah, and Zain the seventh (after the first three), and when the light of the Crown-the first Sephirah-illumines the seventh, namely Malkuth-Kingdom, the power of G-d is manifested.]. Then there is song, the song of all sides. “Yashir” (lit. will sing): the tense suggests that this song fitted that occasion and will also fit the future Redemption, when it will again be sung by Israel. The expression “Moses and Israel” proves that the righteous of the past ages, although they have entered into the highest regions and are united with the “Bundle of life”, will all rise again in bodily form and behold the signs and mighty works which the Holy One shall show to Israel, and sing this hymn.’ R. Simeon established this fact by the following verse: “And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the rest of his people” (Isaiah 11:11). ‘ “The rest” ‘, he said, ‘are “the remnant”, the righteous, like Eldad and Medad, who “remained” in the camp (Numbers 11:26), the righteous of whom it has been said that the world is sustained by them, who make themselves mere “remainders”, as it were. It is they who will be brought to life again at the future Redemption. And why? Are they not already bound up with the “Bundle of life”? Why bring them down to earth again? Let the experience of the past give the answer. It has pleased the Holy One, in former time, to send down to earth those spirits and souls who belonged to the highest supernal grade. Should He not, then, let the spirits of the righteous men come down again in the future when He will make the crooked straight (i.e. redeem the world)? For, indeed, “there is not a righteous man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). And even the sinless ones who only died because of the “counsel of the Serpent” [Tr..note: T. B., Sabb. 55b, Benjamin, Amram, Jishai, and Kaleb, David’s son, were sinless and died not for their own sins, but because of the “serpent’s counsel”, i.e. of “original sin”] will arise and be counselors to the Messiah. “Moses and the children of Israel will sing this song.” The same is implied in the words: “As in the days of thy going out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him marvelous things” (Micah 7:15), where the “him” refers to Moses. Also: “I will show him the salvation of G-d” (Psalm 50:24); “I will show him my salvation” (Ibid. 91:16). Moses and the children of Israel will then sing “this song unto the Lord”: the song of the Matrona to the Holy One, blessed be He. We have been taught that everyone who sings this hymn daily with true devotion will be worthy to sing it at the Redemption that is to be, for it refers both to the past world and to the future world; it contains confirmations of faith and mysteries relating to the days of the Messiah. The Shekinah will sing this song to the Lord, because the King will receive Her with a radiant countenance. R. Jose said that the Shekinah will praise the Lord for all the concentration of light and holiness which the Holy King shall direct towards her. Said R. Judah: ‘If this is the song of the Shekinah, why does it say that Moses and the children of Israel sang it? Blessed were they that they knew how to praise Him for all the power and might which the Shekinah receives and shall receive from Him, the Holy King!’ According to R. Abba, the singing is to be directed, not to any of the emanations of the Deity, but to the Holy King in His very essence, as it says, concerning the song of Moses and the children of Israel, that they sang “to the Lord”.R. Jose said that the words “this song to the Lord” refer to the “river that issues forth from Eden” (Genesis 2:10), from which all the abundance of oil issues to kindle the lights; whereas the words “I will sing unto the Lord” (Ibid.) refer to the Supernal Holy King. AND SPAKE, SAYING.: this repetition denotes that it is to be sung in all generations, in order that it should never be forgotten, for he who is worthy to sing this song in this world shall be worthy to sing it in the world to come, and to declare praises with it in the days of the Messiah, when the Community of Israel will rejoice in the Holy One. “Saying” means saying at the time of the Exodus, saying when Israel was in the Holy Land, saying in exile, saying when Israel will be redeemed, saying in the world to come. I WILL SING UNTO THE LORD. As stated above, they spoke in the name of the Shekinah, hence the singular. “To the Lord”-to the Holy King. For highly exalted is He (gaoh gaah): He ascends to be crowned with His crowns in order to dispense blessings, and perform wonderful works, and to be exalted in and through all; exalted in this world, exalted likewise in the world to come; exalted in order that He may crown Himself with His crowns and be glorified in perfect joy.
Zohar 2:54a,b

The light of G-d illuminates existence as it was from the time of Creation:

“To give light on earth. (Genesis 1:17) Rabbi Yitzchak said: It is written, “The light of the moon will be like the light of the sun; the light of the sun shall be sevenfold the light of seven days.” (Isaiah 30:26) Which “seven days” are these? The seven days of Creation. According to this view, the verse from Isaiah explains that the light of the moon which will be revealed in the future (see Zohar I, p. 45b; III, p. 93a) will equal the light of the sun now, whereas the light of the sun will be seven times greater than the light which was revealed during the seven days of Creation. Accordingly, the moon will still be subservient to the sun. Rabbi Yehuda said: This refers to the seven days of inauguration [miluim, of the First Temple]. Accordingly, in the future, the light of the moon will equal the light of the sun, and both will be sevenfold the light that was revealed during the inauguration of the First Temple. Accordingly, the moon will not need to receive its light from the sun, for it too will be a luminary. Certainly [the verse refers to] the seven days of inauguration, for then the world will be completely rectified and the moon will return to its fullness without blemish [just as it was in the days of the First Temple] Note that the word miluim literally mans “fulfillment”. And when will this be? At the time of which it is written, “He will destroy death forever” (Isaiah 25:8) [and life will be eternal]. “On that day G-d will be One and His Name One.” (Zachariah 14:9) ”
https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/566173/jewish/Shining-Like-the-Sun.htm

24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.

There is a direct correlation to the nations walking in the light of G-d, and the function of the messiah. This was previously alluded to in Revelation verses, 5:9-10; 7:9 and 14:6.

“The Messiah is such a prophet, as it is stated in the Midrash on the verse, “Behold my servant shall prosper,” (Isaiah 52:13) etc., that he will be “greater than Moses,” which is explained to mean that his miracles will be more wonderful than those of Moses; Moses, by the miracles which he wrought, drew but a single nation to the worship of G-d, but the Messiah will draw all the nations to the worship of G-d, as it is written (Zephaniah 3:9), “Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may call upon the name of the Lord,” etc. And this will be effected by means of a marvelous sign, to be seen by all nations even to the ends of the earth, viz. the resurrection of the dead.”
Commentary on the Pentateuch, Perushei ha Torah Psalm 34:10, Levi ben Gershom, p. 402

“In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the peoples; unto him shall the nations seek (Isaiah 11:10) that is, seek the king Messiah, David’s son, who will remain hidden until the time of the redemption.”
The Midrash on the Psalms, Vol. 13, Book 1, Psalm 21,1,3, Rabbi William G Braude

This is the fulfillment of this concept of final unification, coming by the work of Mashiach, is also brought up in this New Testament text:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in messiah Yeshua. And if you belong to messiah, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”
Galatians 3:28,29

27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Anything not found in the “Book of Life” has been done away with – the energy from its nefesh being redistributed in some fashion – as mentioned in the previous chapter notes.

The Holy One, blessed be He, built Jerusalem below as a counterpart of the Jerusalem above. He made the walls of the city and the gates thereof holy. None may enter the city unless the gates be opened for him, nor ascend unless the steps of the walls are firm.
Zohar 2:38a