New Jerusalem is a Mutual Indwelling of God and His People
New Jerusalem is presented as the tabernacle in Revelation 21:3 and as the temple in 21:22
The New Jerusalem as the tabernacle to God and the temple to us indicates a marvelous mingling in that God’s dwelling is our dwelling, and our dwelling is God’s dwelling. We are here to be God’s dwelling, and God is here to be our dwelling. God dwells in us, and we dwell in Him—a mutual indwelling. This corresponds with John 15:4. In eternity future the New Jerusalem will be the tabernacle for God’s dwelling and the temple for our dwelling.*
In John 14 the Lord Jesus spoke about His leaving the disciples by His death and coming back to them in His resurrection. He said (v. 20) that in the day of His resurrection we will know “I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” This is the mutual indwelling which consummates in New Jerusalem.
In John 15:4 He continued with “Abide in Me and I in you.” In verse 7 He expressed the same in this way: “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you…” The key to Him abiding in us is His words. May we open ourselves freshly each day for His speaking through the Bible, so that we experience the mutual abiding of New Jerusalem now.
* From chapter 37, Witness Lee, God’s New Testament Economy, published by Living Stream Ministry, © Witness Lee, 1986.
Posted by Don on May 5, 2023
