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4. God in the Midst of Men (Revelation 21:3-4)
REVELATION 21:3-4
3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”
Behold! The angel of the Lord asked John, the patriarch, again at the beginning of this new couple of visions to open the eyes of his heart and to know what sensational news he would receive. This commandment does not only apply to the apostle, but to all those who are homesick for God.
The Tabernacle of God is With Men: The messenger of heaven showed the seer a “Tabernacle” as the dwelling place of God. Looking from a human point of view is this tabernacle more than a palace, more than a castle, more than a cluster of all skyscrapers of the earth. From God's point of view this monumental centre of heaven on earth is only a “Tabernacle", a tent or a modest room barely sufficient to house his glory.
During the Old Covenant the Lord tented in the midst of his people in a tent house, in the “Tabernacle”, in the cubic room of the Holy of Holies. There he sat enthroned above the two tablets of the Torah, the book of the covenant endowed by Him, and accepted the numerous daily bloody sacrifices of the people of His covenant offered for the reconciliation with Him, the threefold holy God. Any violation of the law constituted a rebellion against the God of the Covenant and called for the immediate death of the sinner. Only due to the offered sacrifice could the covenant continue to be into effect. Only Moses and Aaron were entitled to enter into the Holy of Holies once a year. The people, however, were separated from their God of the Covenant by the tarpaulin.
In Jesus the “Word of God” tented in a new manner among men. His body was the “Tabernacle", where the fullness of the Godhead dwelled bodily (Colossians 2:9). In Jesus the living God draw near to His people and became visible to every believer, but remained unknown and hidden to all unbelievers. This incarnate God performed innumerable wonders which opened the eyes of the searchers. Nevertheless, only a few recognized the Savior of the world, as he appeared lowly as a normal man without a halo. Only few people worshipped him and delivered themselves to him for ever and ever.
When the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father (Acts 1:4), was poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28-30), only a few percent of the inhabitants of Israel and only minorities of the nations opened their hearts for him. However, the Holy Spirit made his home with those who loved Jesus and his Father and who had waited praying for the power of the Comforting Spirit.
In the present time the church of Jesus Christ is the “Tabernacle of God with men”. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). The living Lord is dwelling without splendor in those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; 1 John 1:8-10). Whoever opens himself to the Savior of the world will become a living “stone” for extending the Tabernacle of God (1 Peter 2:5). In order that we do not become proud we have this treasure in “earthen vessels” which are very fragile (2 Corinthians 4:7-11).
When the angel said to John, “Behold, the Tabernacle of God with men”, he revealed him a new stage of salvation and its completion! Those men, with whom God will dwell in eternity, are not sinners any longer. The blood of Jesus Christ, his righteousness, his spirit, and his love had transformed them into the image of God and so he attained the goal of his creation and salvation history with them (Genesis 1:27).
In addition, the angel made clear with his testimony that not only 144.000 cleansed saints of the people of the Old Covenant have the privilege to live with the holy God in his family, as also the called Chosen from all nations have become “men” through Christ. Previously they lived like cunning beasts of prey on earth, but now and for ever the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit has made them godly men and made them participate in the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-21; Colossians 2:9; and other verses).
The angel of the Lord bore witness of this victorious message without any restrictions. He revealed no special commandments and did not threaten to punish in the case of disobedience. All this was over! The renewed men from all tribes and peoples who had been admitted to the throne of God had become like their Savior of whom the Roman governor Pilate had to say, “Behold the man!” (John 19:5) God's grace transforms by the unique atoning sacrifice of Christ created men into reborn saints. Only those who are written in the book of live of the Lamb participate in this new personhood. Only because of Christ have we become worthy to live with God in his glory. Here are the mystery and the goal of the revelation of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Glorious Father in heaven, we worship You and love You because You intended to dwell among Your spiritual children as Your woman. You became a man in the Son of Mary, and You dwelt through Your Holy Spirit in the hearts of many who had accepted their purification by the blood of Your beloved Son. We magnify You because You did not despise us, but You always love us. Amen.
QUESTION:
- What are the stages in the development of God's dwelling among men, such that He redeemed us, we who are unclean, and took up his abode in some of us?