The City of Man vs. the City of God — What’s the Difference?

August 25, 2025/Le Ann Trees/
Photo Credits: (L) The Tower of Babel by Alexander Mikhalchyk; image from Wikimedia Commons; (R) Image by joshimerbin / Shutterstock.com.

Photo Credits: (L) The Tower of Babel by Alexander Mikhalchyk; image from Wikimedia Commons; (R) Image by joshimerbin / Shutterstock.com.

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In his classic work, The City of God, early church theologian and philosopher Augustine of Hippo contrasts two mystical cities (peoples) that appear in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation: the city of God (“the heavenly city”) and the city of man (“the earthly city”):

Accordingly, two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a word, glories in itself, the latter in the Lord. For the one seeks glory from men; but the greatest glory of the other is God, the witness of conscience. The one lifts up its head in its own glory; the other says to its God, “Thou art my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” (Augustine, The City of God, 14.28)

The city of man first appears in the book of Genesis.

We see the beginnings of the two cities in the book of Genesis with the lineage of Seth (the city of God) and the lineage of Cain (the city of man). According to pastor and theologian Zach Keele in his book The Unfolding Word: The Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation,

Indeed, the promise of Genesis 3:15 points to the warring of two houses: the woman versus the serpent. It does not take long to see how some of Adam and Eve’s offspring swear allegiance to the adversary of God’s people. Therefore, within each generational frame, a fissure forms that cracks apart the faithful line of those who call upon the name of the Lord from the wicked, unbelieving heirs. This separation unfolds the twofold theme of the promise: animosity between the two lineages, and God’s faithfulness to preserve Eve’s promised progeny. Enmity and fidelity wrestle throughout the halls of history. (p. 25)

For example, it is through Isaac that the nations will be blessed, not Ishmael. Jacob belongs to the faithful line; Esau does not.

Citizens of the city of man are those who trust in themselves, in human reasoning and accomplishment, in the rulers of this world. Citizens of the city of God are those who trust in Christ alone through faith alone by God’s grace alone. While the Old Testament saints did not see as clearly as we see today on this side of the cross, they too were members of the city of God through faith in God, believing that he would fulfill his promises to send a Savior (Gen. 3:15) and bless the nations (Gen. 12:3; 15:5-6).

Citizens of the city of man are “children of Hagar,” condemned under the law.

These two cities are connected to different covenants: the city of man is under the covenant of works, being in slavery to the demands of God’s law, and the city of God is under the covenant of grace, being freed by the promised redemptive work of Christ on behalf of all its citizens. The apostle Paul writes in Galatians 4:

Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children….Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. (Gal. 4:24-25; 28-29)

Every human being who has ever lived or ever will live is either a free person through faith in Christ, “born according to the Spirit,” or a person under slavery to sin, “born according to the flesh.” As descendants of Abraham, the Pharisees placed their hopes in their earthly lineage; yet, this was a misplaced hope according to Jesus:

But when [Jesus] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” (Matt. 3:7-9)

Just as God’s righteousness was counted to Abraham through faith in God’s promise to him, so also people are true children of Abraham by having Christ’s perfect righteousness and perfect sacrifice counted to them by faith in Christ alone.

Everyone in the city of man bears the mark of the beast.

While many Christians have been taught that the “mark of the beast” in Revelation 13:16-18 is a physical, visible marking of some kind, possibly a tattoo, imbedded chip, etc., this is not the meaning of the mark. According to theologian Dennis E. Johnson,

The beast’s mark, like the seal of God applied to the church (Rev. 7:1-3), is no outward tattoo or insignia on the body but rather a symbol of the beast’s ownership and control of his followers’ thoughts (forehead) and deeds (right hands).”  (Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation, Kindle Loc. 2159-2160)

Everyone who places their faith not in Christ but instead in humanity, what has been created instead of the Creator, has this mark. These people are still dead in their sins, citizens of the city of man, under the dominion of Satan and without hope.

Believers are sealed by God for the day of redemption and have the Holy Spirit as their guarantee.

Citizens of the city of God, however, have the seal of the Holy Spirit:

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:13-14)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph. 4:30)

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Cor. 1:21-22)

May we always be filled with praise and thanksgiving for all God has done for us in Christ, making us citizens of the city of God with all rights and privileges thereof, sealing us by the Holy Spirit as his own, and saving us from the wrath that is coming for all who remain in the city of man. And may we share our faith as God gives us opportunity, knowing that Christ will return one day to judge the nations and consummate his kingdom.

This article is adapted from “Two Mystical Cities: The City of Man vs. the City of God” in Beautiful Christian Life’s October 2024 monthly newsletter, “The City of Man.”

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Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation by Dennis E. Johnson