Eternity: God's Restores Relationship with Israel. Christ is the central focus of eternity.

A New Jerusalem comes from God.

Revelation 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

John tells us about the next thing that he saw. He saw a new Jerusalem coming down and he makes it clear that it was a city from God. John describes the holy city appearing like a bride prepared for her husband. 

It is fascinating to see that the new Jerusalem will be a holy city because the old Jerusalem spiritually was compared to the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (See for examples Deuteronomy 29:22-24; Isaiah 1:9-10; 3:8-9; Jeremiah 23:14; Revelation 11:8).  

Jeremiah 31:31-34  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33)  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34) And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 

Many prophets spoke of the future time when Jehovah will restore His relationship with Israel. This text from Jeremiah seems to be closely connected with the new Jerusalem John saw that will be prepared like a bride made ready for her husband. 

Jehovah will restore His relationship with Israel and make it better than it ever was before. Although Jehovah kept His side of the covenant agreement and was a "husband" to the nation Israel, His people even thought they repeatedly strayed into unfaithful idolatry. 

The new covenant whereby Jehovah will fully restore the believing Jews is when God will write His law in their hearts and souls. The Jewish  people will be God's people and He has pledged to be their God. They will all know Him, which means they will have a living, dynamic relationship with Jehovah. He will graciously forgive their sins and cast them away. 

God will set up His tabernacle with us. 

Revelation 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

John heard a great voice from heaven declare that the tabernacle of God is with men. This is the last of twenty times where John says that he heard a loud voice in the book of Revelation. 

The word "tabernacle" would take the Jewish mind back to the formative years of Israel's history when Moses, Joshua, the Judges and Samuel led the nation and the Tabernacle was God's designated place where He would meet with His people. 

(The tabernacle is mentioned 91 times in Exodus;  47 times in Leviticus; 107 times in Numbers; 4 times in Deuteronomy; 4 times in Joshua; 3 times in 1 & 2 Samuel; 6 times in 1 Kings and 17 times in 1&2 Chronicles.) 

Exodus 29:43  And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.

This text is the key verse for understanding God's intention with His tabernacle in the Old Testament. God's heart is to commune with His people, to have a true, living relationship with each believer. This holy meeting place will be sanctified by His glory. 

God will be with us.

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

Matthew's gospel tells us that the son born to the virgin Mary would be called "Emmanuel" and this name means "God with us." The tabernacle of eternity will be the full and final fulfillment of "God with us." 

I am sure you have noticed with me that throughout the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ is the focal point. This is intentional.

Christ is the fullest expression of the Godhead.

Colossians 1:12-20  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

Jesus Christ is the author and anchor of salvation. He paid for the redemption of all sinners who believe by shedding His precious blood.  The Father will freely forgive all who come to Him through Christ. Believers are made participants in the heavenly kingdom. We are delivered from the grasp of darkness and transported into the kingdom of God because of the work of the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is the visible expression of the invisible Father (John 14:8-9). Jesus told Phillip that when he saw Jesus Christ he saw the Father. Because Jesus was the Lamb of God who laid down His life for us, the Father will always highly exalt Him. For the Son's saving work on the cross, the Father is pleased to have the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in Christ (Colossians 2:9). 

Although not the focus of this study, the tabernacle of the Old Testament is widely viewed as the most detailed and complete picture of the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ. So when John tells us that the tabernacle of God is with men and that He will dwell with them in eternity, all believers who trust Christ for salvation should find this text encouraging, reassuring and comforting. 

The sufferings from sin will be gone.

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

All saints from the Old Testament and the New Testament will be together in eternity. Each of us will have endured hardship, trials, tribulation and heartaches as a result of living in a sin cursed world. God will wipe away our tears from our eyes. This is the most tender gesture of a loving Father compassionately caring for each of of His children.

John tells us more joyful news. Death, sorrow, crying, and pain will never make an appearance in the eternal kingdom of God. 

The secure promise of God.

Revelation 21:5-8  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

The Father declares that He will make all things new and John is told that the words he heard are true and faithful. This means that the words John heard is certain, sure and will come to pass exactly as the unchangeable Jehovah promised.

Notice who will not be included in eternity. The unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, liars and idolaters will be cast into the lake of fire. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

A new Jerusalem means that God will perfectly restore His relationship with the Jewish nation.

God plans to set up His tabernacle with men. God is going to dwell with us and this has wonderful, worshipful implications for all believers. 

Jesus Christ will be the centerpiece of eternity and He is the fullest expression of the Godhead. 

The insidious sufferings of sin will be done away with in eternity and we will never again experience any more pain, heartache, sorrow, death or suffering. 

Bob