1. Revelation 21:3 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Where has “the dwelling place of God” always been?

Revelation 21:3 (ESV)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

God’s dwelling has always been in heaven (Revelation 4:1–2; Genesis 11:5; Psalm 115:16). Even when he dwelt with Israel in the tabernacle or temple, the Most Holy Place was considered a little piece of heaven, and a foreshadowing of God’s dwelling with man in Jesus Christ (John 1:14; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:8, Isaiah 8:10; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 28:20). The present text alludes to the ultimate fulfillment of his dwelling with Israel in the temple. As heaven and earth are united, God himself comes to man’s home to dwell with us.