“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’ ” Revelation 21:3 NKJV
God’s covenant with man begins in seed form immediately after the fall of Adam. It is very sketchy in its detail.
As it unfolds in more detail with Abraham, it is given more flesh and bone of information.
“I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1 NKJV
“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7 NKJV
God gave His covenant to Israel as a nation through Moses, the mediator of the Old covenant. He promised to be their dwelling place hinting forward toward Immanuel to come, God dwelling with us.
“I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” Exodus 29:45 NKJV
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.’ ” Leviticus 19:2 NKJV
God can only dwell with a holy people, for He is holy in His being. He cannot abide with sinners without first making them holy in His Son.
Christ was dwelling with His people as they came out of Egypt and as they went through the wilderness. He dwelled with man in the Shekinah cloud by day and in the fire by night. Indeed, He has dwelt with man and met with man in the tent of meeting and in the tabernacle. Later, He met with man in worship in the temple and His glory filled the temple.
Now He dwells in man’s heart through His Spirit. God no longer dwells with us externally, but He dwells in us.
He is not worshipped in a particular place, but man meets with His God in heaven when he enters into worship of the triune God. Jesus Christ, the mediator of the covenant leads us into the very throne room of God, the holy of holies, the Most holy place.
In the consummation of all things, all of creation will pass away and be remade in perfection. Man and creation will be perfected to the order Christ has redeemed them to be.
John relates this:
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” Revelation 21:1 NKJV
Men will receive glorified bodies, even as their elder brother, Jesus, has.
The covenant purpose of God has not changed since the beginning. His desire to redeem man and be his dwelling place is finally accomplished.
“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’ ” Revelation 21:3 NKJV
This is the same covenant promise given to Moses in Exodus 29.
Throughout all generations thou has been our dwelling place. This is the singular purpose of God with man.
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Psalm 90:1-2 NKJV
The tabernacle of God is with men. He will dwell among them and they shall be His people. They dwell with God because He dwells with them.
The Lord of Glory has accomplished this.
And who would have it any other way, even if they could?
Psalm 90:1-2