Eternity in the Heart

Isaiah declared, "Behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing." And John writes, "I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. --Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife... shewed --me that great city, the holy Jerusalem." (Revelation 21:2, 9-10).
Jerusalem is not a literal city in another world somewhere, it symbolizes a PEOPLE who are prepared to be joined unto their Lord in a holy union of oneness which shall bring joy both to their Lord, and to them-- a relationship that brings REJOICING. She has "the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious... and had a wall great and high..." Again we note that Isaiah prophesied of all this, and of the day when "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise." (Isaiah 60:18).
The description is beautiful, the gates, the foundations, the precious stones-- all of which, without doubt, hold special meaning, were the Lord to quicken the understanding accordingly. But there is one phrase that stands out for me-- Revelation 21:16, "The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal." There is COMPLETENESS IN EVERY PART. Quality is not sacrificed for quantity. There are no highs and lows. Equality is revealed in every dimension and inworking. When every one is brought "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," all will be equal-- God all in all. When He is THE ALL in you, and He is THE ALL in your brother-- that's true equality.
"For God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposes in His sovereign will that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him." (Ephesians 1:9-10, Phillips). When He is the PERFECTION and the FULFILLMENT for every creature, His redemptive work will have wrought what no man has ever been able to accomplish-- divine equality! Total satisfaction! And perfect peace and rest!
"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." (Revelation 22:3). Here is the ultimate goal of God's purpose being wrought out through the ages. Here is the victory of the Redeemer! A people, in whom, and with whom He can dwell. And yes, a God in whom the people can dwell. We are to ABIDE IN HIM, even as He abides in us! All of the processings which we have noted through the book are to this end, that God might tabernacle with men. God speaks very loudly in His action, in His works. What He does is a revelation of His inner thought, will, and purpose. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." (Genesis 1:26). WHY? The ultimate answer, TO DWELL IN! It begins with an outworking of His purpose in the natural, earthy, but it will not end until He has raised the whole up to the spiritual. "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:49).
"My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Ezekiel 37:27). These are not idle promises! These are not lofty dreams that will fade away into nothingness. This is the Word of the Lord giving hope to all His creation. When our Redeemer came into this world to give His life for us, even then the angels announced it, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14). He promises peace because the Prince of Peace came to initiate that redemptive process whereby it could be realized. "The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. " (Isaiah 32: 17). "GOOD WILL" shall come to men, because He will thoroughly cleanse the earth, and then make His tabernacle with us.
Where there is peace there is no inner controversy. However deep the inner purgings may go, however extensive His dealings may be, there is but one glorious goal in view, "That you may be filled through all your being unto all the fulness of God-- that is, may have the richest measure of the DIVINE PRESENCE, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself." (Ephesians 3:19, Amplified).
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men," for men become the "habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:22). It is significant that the Greek word here for "habitation" is "katoiketerion" and is made up from two parts, literally being: DOWN-HOUSE. He will house Himself down into "men, to dwell in men as His fixed abode. And then "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... Behold, I make all things new!"

I know that Heaven is where God's reign is...