Revelation 21:1-6: Immanuel’s Dwelling Place

The name Immanuel (literally with us [is] God) occurs 3 times in the Bible (Isaiah 7:14, 8:8, and Matthew 1:23). The imagery of God with us is described by the Apostle John while exiled on the Isle of Patmos. With an eye to the future, John writes…

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.
Revelation 21:3

Beginning with Genesis 17:7-8, and then running through Exodus 6:7 and 29:42-49, the classic 3-fold Scriptural creed regarding Immanuel (I will be your God, you shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of you) finds its ultimate fulfillment in the passage we are exploring this morning. As we ponder the now/not yet aspects of Immanuel, let’s reflect upon the way these verses shape our lives.