Introduction

Hello, everyone. We continue with Revelation chapter 21. The theme is: “God’s Tabernacle Is with Men.”

People have always carried a certain confusion. Man was created and brought into this world. Then God made the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He made this, made that, and even brought in a serpent to tempt Adam and Eve. So much was done, and man became what he is today.

To live like this is hard. Even if a man bears the fruit of the Spirit in this world, he still groans and labours. Yet people forget what God intends to do in the end. In the end, God will have His tabernacle among men. He will dwell with them. They will be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

We are often puzzled by this. We think, “God will be our God”—it sounds rather far-fetched. We do not know how profound these words are. Let me tell you: if He is our God, then He is our everything. Think carefully about this. That is why the theme of this chapter is, “God’s Tabernacle Is with Men.”

This Is a Love Story

This is a fitting story. It is also a love story between God and man. This chapter describes that love story between God and man.

Then 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. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (Revelation 21:1-2)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! God’s tabernacle is with men. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

This love story is not a tragedy. It is a comedy, and it has a most perfect ending. What is that ending? God has a people who overcome. They will be God’s people, and God will be their God. God Himself will dwell with them. God’s tabernacle will be among men. This is the story that runs from Genesis to the very end.

This story went through a difficult process. At times, it seemed precarious. It endured storms and hardship. But in the end, it came to pass: God’s tabernacle is with men. Do you know that we often have this confusion within us? We feel that God is far away. But let me tell you: God delights in being with us.

Sometimes, we imagine God as a harsh taskmaster. But God is love. If you read the Bible carefully, you will know that God is love. This is why, throughout the ages, stories of love have travelled far and endured long.

Once, Premier Zhou received foreign guests. A Chinese troupe was to perform The Butterfly Lovers, the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. But the foreign guests would not understand it. What should be done? Premier Zhou gave the Ministry of Foreign Affairs an idea. He said, “Tell them that this is China’s Romeo and Juliet.”

In fact, no matter how remote a tribe may be, every people has its own Romeo and Juliet, its own Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. Why? Because such stories tell of beautiful love.

God’s tabernacle among men is the Holy City, the new Jerusalem. The Holy City, the new Jerusalem, is like a bride prepared and waiting for her husband. It speaks of love. It is a church filled with the glory of God. This is the whole history of mankind. Revelation chapter 21 reveals to us the final ending of this love story.

In this world, even if you rack your brains trying to find the meaning of life, you will not find it. In the end, people live on and then die. That is what man experiences in this world. But we must know clearly that this ending is the courage for us to overcome. This ending is our hope. One day, God will be with us forever. God’s tabernacle will be among men. Man and God will be united in a most perfect way.

That is why love stories are so compelling. Man and God are in this relationship of love. If one were to describe it, God’s love is a love that never leaves and never abandons. No matter how rebellious we are, no matter how foolishly we behave, God still does not leave us or abandon us. His love for us is steadfast and unchanging.

God Will Wipe Away Their Tears

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

This love story passed through countless trials and broke through one obstacle after another. We can imagine that from the fall of Adam and Eve, God began to prepare a plan of salvation.

In fact, God had chosen a people before the creation of the world. He began choosing them in eternity. Starting with Adam and Eve, then came the flood, which swept away that generation, leaving only Noah’s family of eight. Noah’s family of eight began to descend into corruption again. Then God chose Abraham, followed by Isaac and Jacob, and then onward to Moses.

Read the whole Bible and you will discover that this love story is full of twists and turns. It describes how people have failed God. In our generation, it is the same. We crucified Jesus Christ, yet it also describes how God loves us and how He wants us to go through these things.

Let me tell you: no one can overcome without tears. But tears will not be shed in vain. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away. Think about it. Why do people weep? Of all that people experience in this world, God seeks one thing only: that man may overcome.

The process of overcoming is not easy. If someone falsely accuses you, will you feel wronged? Will you begin to discern good and evil? If a person lives a quiet and uneventful life, with nothing happening, what victory is there to speak of?

When a person passes through countless trials, sheds tears, cries earnestly, prays, and seeks God—is that not how he comes through? We all come before God with tears: with sickness, death, sorrow, crying, and pain. Why? Because in this world, man must go through a process of overcoming.

If a person does not overcome, how can he become one whom God has chosen? Is that not so? Let me tell you: when a person overcomes, there will certainly be struggle and pain within him. If there is no struggle and no pain, then there is no victory to speak of.

David was pursued for thirteen years. What did he say? His tears made his couch float and soaked his bed. Every day, he did not know how he would live the next. Every day, in helplessness, he looked to God because he was being hunted down. We may pass over it in a few sentences, but those words describe thirteen years of painful experience.

David had opportunities to kill Saul, but he could not do it. He could not avenge himself. Even if he had killed King Saul and become king himself, he would have sinned against God. That would not be victory. Do you understand? What is victory? Victory is doing according to the word of God.

Who would not feel pain? If a person has never gone through hardship and has always been comfortable, what victory can he possibly win? Is that not so? If one grows up plump and well-fed, stretching out one’s hand whenever food arrives, how can one overcome? What victory is there to win?

I believe God will wipe away our tears. These tears will not be shed in vain. Let me tell you: in the process of building the church, my tears could fill bottles of mineral water. Why? There were so many times of helplessness, so many times of utter frustration. Apart from looking to God and trusting Him, there was no other road.

I also thank God for arranging this “programme” for me, allowing me to walk a road of tears—the road of building the church. Looking around, there was nothing except reliance on God. There was sorrow and crying. Even now, I remember clearly kneeling there in tears, helpless and alone.

When I was in deep pain and did not know where the road was, the Spirit of God revealed to me, saying, “Go and watch The Final Battle.” Why? Because I was fighting the devil on the plain, and I was losing battle after battle. It was too hard. The pain in my heart was, in fact, a programme God had arranged for my victory. From that time on, I began to climb spiritual heights, and I have continued until today. Thank God. It turned out that God had ordained me to overcome.

Once, when I was singing an interlude from Journey to the West, I felt: why are there so many demons and evil spirits? You subdue one monster, and another demon appears. Recently, many brothers and sisters have also been in spiritual warfare, their hearts full of emotion. Later, we came to know that God intends to raise up a people who overcome. If you rely on God, you will surely overcome. The road we have travelled proves one thing: the word we testify to carries great power.

What I look forward to is what Revelation chapter 21 describes: one day, God’s tabernacle will be among men, and God will be with us forever and ever. He will be our God, and we will be His people. The glorious church will be like a bride waiting for her husband. That is our God. How wonderful it is.

Brothers and sisters, if you rely on this or rely on that, it will be difficult for you to overcome. Instead, concentrate on relying on God. If a person has never gone through hardship, has never shed tears, and has never felt such pain within, I wonder whether that is right.

If there is no struggle or pain in a person’s heart, then the discernment of good and evil increases day by day. As one grows older, nothing else grows; only the strength of discerning good and evil grows. How then can one continue on this road? Our God is preparing His people who overcome. Should we not, in every area of daily life, overcome overwhelmingly through the God who loves us?

I dare say that so long as the struggle and pain in your heart are not numbness, God will surely wipe away all your tears. I know our tears will not be shed in vain. My tears are shed for the building of God’s glorious church. My tears are shed for the hope that lies in eternity. Thank God. That day is coming soon: God’s tabernacle will be among men.

All Things Have Been Made New

He who was seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making all things new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:5)

All things have been made new. What wonderful words. The old, corrupt things will be removed, and all things will be made new: a new Jerusalem, a new Holy City, a new temple. Indeed, there will be no temple in the city, because God Himself will be our temple. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. Why? Because victory has been won. He will wipe away our tears, and He will make all things new.

Do you know why John wrote these words? It was to give the Christians of that generation, and the Christians of our generation, a glorious hope in eternity. All things have been made new. The logical system of this world has been thoroughly destroyed. The corruption of this world has also been thoroughly destroyed. The beast, the false prophet, and Satan have all been thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone.

God’s tabernacle will be among men. How wonderful. When I think of that time, I do not know exactly what we will be doing, but I believe the feeling there will be one of immense happiness. That sense of happiness will be beyond words. Do you understand?

One day, I was driving with a friend and we passed a place where there stood a very large, snow-white mansion. My friend saw it and exclaimed, “Wow!” Next to it was another large mansion. At its entrance stood sculptures of Egyptian warriors. One could tell at once that it was the home of a Middle Eastern prince. Again, he said, “Wow!” I asked him, “What are you ‘wowing’ about?” He said, “Look at this house. This is my dream.”

I thought: my dream is far greater than his. My dream is not that snow-white mansion. At most, that mansion is only a few thousand square metres. What is my hope? My hope is God’s new heaven and new earth. My hope is God’s tabernacle among men. My hope, while I am still on this earth, is to overcome together with a group of brothers and sisters who are building God’s glorious church, looking forward to that crown of glory.

Do you know that the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, which God has prepared for us, is far better than the snow-white mansion of a Middle Eastern prince? Its wall is jasper, its city is pure gold, and its foundations are adorned with every kind of precious stone. These are not aluminium wall panels. They are golden wall panels and jewel-encrusted wall panels. On earth, you will never see a house as magnificent as this.

Our Lord Jesus said that He would return to heaven to prepare a place for us. God is preparing for us a dwelling adorned with precious stones, pure gold, jasper, and agate. It is magnificent. It is lavish beyond measure. This is not some understated luxury. This is God’s tabernacle. To dwell in God’s tabernacle, to dwell in God’s presence—how wonderful. All things have been made new: brand new, newly created. There we will be with God for ever and ever.

It Is Done

He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6)

The history of mankind is under God’s direction, and our lives are also under God’s direction. What is God directing? He is carrying out a great plan: to sift out His people who overcome through this corrupt world. That is why the presence of demons is useful. Those who overcome and those who do not, those who discern good and evil and those who do not, are all separated.

By Revelation chapter 21, every one of God’s plans has been accomplished.

Human history runs from “Alpha to Omega,” from beginning to end. Beyond “Omega” lies the new heaven and the new earth, where God’s dwelling is with mankind. Human history, from “Alpha” to “Omega,” is confined within a finite span of time. But after “Omega” comes eternity. God is directing it all, and His plan will be fulfilled.

Brothers and sisters, understand this: if you do not know God’s plan and have only your own plan, your plan will end in the grave. But God’s plan will enter into God’s dwelling, and God’s dwelling will be with mankind. If your plan is not aligned with God’s plan, then your plan will certainly be buried in the grave.

If your plan sees the new heaven and new earth recorded in Revelation chapter 21, where God’s dwelling is with mankind, I tell you: all these things will come to pass. God’s plan will surely be fulfilled. Not one word of God’s plan or God’s word will fail. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will endure forever.

So how far does your vision extend? Brothers and sisters, never place your hope in this world. This world will be done away with, and the new will be established. God’s plan will surely be fulfilled. If someone asks, “How do you know?” I simply believe. You may ask, “What is this belief based on?” It is not based on theological deduction. This faith is based on the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, which is at work among us.

Recently, many brothers and sisters among us have been set free, one after another. Many have struggled and overcome, one after another. How good that is! God’s word will surely come to pass. We do not rely on wise and persuasive words, but on the demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power. This proves that the gospel of Jesus Christ remains effective, the precious blood of Jesus Christ remains effective, and the plan accomplished by Jesus Christ will surely be fulfilled in us.

The One Who Overcomes Will Inherit These Things

The one who overcomes will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be My son. (Revelation 21:7)

We may become confused. At one point, we speak of the bride waiting for her husband; at another, we become sons. Let me make it clear. From the standpoint of inheritance, we are sons. From the standpoint of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we are the bride. We are united with Jesus Christ. We are the temple. We are the new holy city. We are God’s sons. What do we inherit? We inherit God Himself.

He will be our God, and we will be His sons. All that belongs to God will be ours. We hope for God’s dwelling to be with mankind, and we become the place where God dwells. When Isaiah wrote Isaiah chapter 66, he wrote with deep feeling. What was he moved by? Let me read it to you:

Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Where will My resting place be?” (Isaiah 66:1)

Why does God have no rest? Because God loves us. When He sees us walking down the path of corruption, God cannot rest.

The LORD says: “My hand has made all these things, and so they came into being. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

To overcome is to be humble and contrite, and to tremble at God’s word. Where does overcoming begin? It begins now, brothers and sisters. Whatever God’s word says, that is what we believe. Whatever God’s word says will also come to pass. This is who we are. We must not be hypocrites.

He who sacrifices an ox is like one who kills a man; he who offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; he who burns incense is like one who blesses an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations. (Isaiah 66:3)

Do you see it? To overcome means overcoming the unbelief within us, overcoming the hypocrisy within us, and overcoming the heart that offers sacrifices yet does not please God. Believe God. His words will all be fulfilled. If you believe, God will also bring His victory to pass in you.

Brothers and sisters, begin to overcome. Overcoming is the key. Many theological concepts speak of salvation, but I tell you: to be saved is to overcome, and to overcome is to be saved. I have not found an answer in the Bible for a person who is saved but does not overcome. But the Bible states very clearly what will happen to those who are saved and overcome. What about those who do not overcome? Those who do not overcome are in serious trouble.

Even if you have ten million reasons, if you do not overcome, it will end badly. The one who overcomes will inherit God as his possession and inherit all that God has prepared. God will be our God, and we will be His people and His children. How good that is! Therefore, do not love anything else. Love God.

Those Who Do Not Overcome: Their Portion Is the Second Death

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the detestable, murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

Read this carefully. One thing mentioned here is “the cowardly.” You may say, “Pastor, I am simply timid.” No, this is not timidity. It is unbelief. If a person believes God, cowardice is easily healed. There was a sister among us whose husband died. For the past six months, she had been afraid to stay at home. Yesterday, when I led prayer, I asked her how she was doing. She said she was much better.

When you believe, you need not be afraid. When you believe, you can overcome. So what is the key? The key is whether you believe or do not believe. Those who do not overcome will have their portion in the lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, not overcoming is a terrible thing. I have seen many Christians who fear death. Is there anyone among us who fears death? If you carry this fear of death, you should change it. I tell you, why should a person who trusts in God fear death? Why do people fear death? Some brothers and sisters say, “Pastor, I am not afraid of death. I am afraid of pain.” And what happens? The very thing they fear comes upon them. Those who do not overcome will have their portion in the second death. They will enter the lake of fire and sulfur.

You may understand the unbelieving, the detestable, murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, and idolaters. But the cowardly may seem harder to understand. Brothers and sisters, if you truly believe, would you cross the boundaries set by the Ten Commandments? You would not. If you truly believe that walking down that path brings a curse, would you still walk down it? No.

So let me tell you: the Bible reveals something remarkable. It is this—unbelief in man. Human unbelief is truly tragic. The Israelites who died in the wilderness died because of their unbelief. Do you understand? Is not man’s unbelief a tragedy? God has ordained that you overcome, yet you do not overcome? God has ordained that you overcome; can you overcome? The moment demons come, people are deceived. It is nothing else but unbelief.

The Glorious Appearance of the Bride

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It had the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. (Revelation 21:9–11)

It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The one who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. (Revelation 21:12–15)

The city was laid out as a square, its length as great as its width. He measured the city with the rod: twelve thousand stadia. Its length, width, and height were equal. He also measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald. (Revelation 21:16–19)

The fifth was onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. (Revelation 21:20–21)

This is the appearance of the glorious bride. Brothers and sisters, you must know this clearly: every part of this is us. You may say this is difficult to understand. We are the people in the city, and at the same time, we are each precious stone. This is beyond our understanding. But that is all right. If it is beyond us, then it is beyond us. If we understand, we understand; if we do not, it does not matter. But I tell you: in God’s eyes, those who overcome are all precious treasures.

The holy city of God, the New Jerusalem, is built entirely out of people like us. We are joined together, yet each remains an individual. At the same time, the city is built from every precious stone among us. This is the appearance of the bride. Therefore, I tell you, what do we pursue when we pursue holiness? We pursue overcoming. If you do not overcome, how can you become a treasure? A person who does not overcome can hardly become a treasure, and can hardly become pure gold.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. (Proverbs 17:3)

Do you understand? If you are to become pure gold, you must go through repeated refinement. We thank God that the circumstances we encounter are training us in every way. This is the appearance of the bride. If you ask me to explain this precious stone and that precious stone, let us leave it aside. When we get there together in the future, we will understand everything.

God Is the Temple of the City

I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day, for there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and honor of the nations. (Revelation 21:22–26)

God’s holy city is wholly glorious. Why is there no temple in the city? Because God Himself is the temple. God’s dwelling is with mankind. God fills the whole holy city, the New Jerusalem, and the entire city is filled with God’s glory.

Have you seen photographs of the aurora in the Arctic? Many people travel all the way to Greenland to see it, thinking it is beautiful. But compared with God’s holy city, the New Jerusalem, it is far behind. God’s glorious light covers the whole New Jerusalem.

Then the nations will walk by the light of the city. The city shines and illuminates everything on earth. The nations walk in God’s light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory into the city. What exactly does this mean? It is difficult for us to understand. But that is all right. We need only know that God is the temple in the city, and that we are joined to God without separation. This is the holy city. How wonderful it is.

Only Those Whose Names Are Written in the Book of Life May Enter

How can there still be nations in the future? Is it not the new heaven and the new earth? Apart from those who are to be cast into the lake of fire and sulfur, how can there still be nations on earth? This too is beyond our understanding. But only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life may enter. No one else can enter.

In other words, only those who overcome can enter fully into God’s presence. This is what God’s plan has always been. God’s plan is to be with us. He wants to find rest among us. We find rest in Him, and He finds rest in us. This is a relationship of love.

“God’s dwelling is with mankind.” May these words continually stir us, brothers and sisters, to look forward to the coming of that day. Do not wait until you see that day and then gnash your teeth. You must overcome. I know overcoming may appear difficult, but it is actually simple: believe.

Have you not already believed? The moment you believe, do you not experience God’s great power? When a person believes, he experiences God’s great power. Is that not good? Thank God. Let us begin to walk the path of faith and press forward with the glorious hope of eternity.

Do not go to work, do business, and gradually lose sight of everything. Do not let your project and your business become the only things you see, until in the end you forget everything and forget to overcome. Only those who overcome can enter God’s holy city. May God bless you all!

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