Rev.21:2,3 – And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
This scripture describes God’s ultimate plan in the new heavens and the new earth, He wants to live among His people. That was His original intention in the garden, He walked with Adam and Eve in fellowship until the day that they fell. Since that time the Lord has pointed to the day when He would live among us again. It was first in the tabernacle of Moses, then Solomon’s temple, the Jesus became a man and tabernacles among us, and in the present age He lives in the gathering of His people, the church. All of these things point to the glorious day when the Lord will live among us. Here is how Edwards describes this.
“The holy of holies, the seat of God’s presence in the temple, had no other light than that of the Shekinah, or the glory, that shone over the mercy seat between the cherubim. How strong is this figurative representation, to show that this happy state of the church shall be without comparison, more glorious than any former state of the church had been? The Shekinah, or glory of God’s presence, shall not be shut up or concealed in one part of the temple, but shall be spread through the whole extent of this spacious city, and every inhabitant shall enjoy the full felicity represented by it.” Whereas, it is here said, “The nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it.”
From the moment of the fall of our first parents in the garden until the present day the Lord has pointed to the time when He would live among His people. This passage of Revelation announces that day. The bride of Christ will be on display in all her redemptive glory, there will be a whole new heaven and earth, the New Jerusalem will be here, and the best of all – the glory of God will be with us. He will be the light of the city and the very life that we enjoy. He is making all things new, I can’t wait for the adventure to begin.
