Chapter 4 · Encounter 12 of 12
God With Us Forever
Prepare
We began this Journey listening to Jesus describe himself as the Good Shepherd whose sheep know his voice. Along the way, we’ve met the God who knows us, pursues us, calls us to holiness, and makes his home in us.
Now Revelation shows where it all leads. As you read, notice where God’s dwelling is, who is there, and what has changed. Listen for echoes of Genesis 3:8 8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 6Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Gen. 3:8
Psalm 23:6
John 10:27
Read Scripture
Open each passage here without leaving this Encounter.
Revelation 21:1-5
A New Heaven and a New Earth
1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 22:3-5
3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Ponder
- In Revelation 21:3, a voice declares that God’s dwelling place is now with humanity and that he will dwell with them. How does this fulfill the story you’ve traced from the garden through the tabernacle, the temple, Christ, and the Spirit? What does it suggest about what God has wanted all along?
Revelation 21:3
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
- Think back over the Shepherd you’ve come to know in this Journey. Which part of his character, or which encounter, has most changed how you recognize his voice, trust his heart, or follow his ways? What do you want to carry forward?
Look Again
Notice a few details in Revelation 22:3–5 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.Revelation 22:3-5
Compare this with Exodus 40:35 35Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Exodus 40:35
Gen. 3:8
Then recall Revelation 21:4 4‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”Revelation 21:4
Revelation 7:17
The distance is gone. What hiding and hesitation could never reach, God’s presence finally does.
Practice
Take some unhurried time today to look back over your Journey. Page through the passages you’ve marked, the thoughts you’ve written, and the practices that mattered.
Choose one image of the Shepherd, one promise, and one next step. Write them down in a place you’ll see them. Then take that step.
Prayer
Thank God for the Shepherd who sought you, called you, and made his home in you. Tell him what you’ve discovered and where you’ve been changed. Ask him to keep forming you into someone who recognizes his voice, trusts his heart, and follows his ways until the day he dwells with his people forever.