In Revelation 21:1-5 the Apostle John is given the future of every believer. We are given the most important part of this new city, “He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.” The word “tabernacle” is a word that carries the idea of fellowship and blessing and is the same word that John uses in his gospel saying in 1:14 that Jesus “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. The origin of the word goes back to the time prior to the temple when Moses was instructed by God to build a sanctuary in order that He may reveal Himself to His people. In the 40th chapter of Exodus that which God spoke about building the tabernacle in the 25th chapter was filled with His glory. The problem with this was that His presence among them was interrupted constantly by their sin so that only on the day of atonement would He fill the tent with His glory.
Ah but in John’s declaration in the words of His gospel God’s glory was again visible in His only Son who pitched himself next to us that we might see His glory. Yet still based upon Philips words in John 14:8-9 asking Jesus to show them the Father Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father”. Jesus had already declared to them in Ch. 10:30 that He and the Father were one. Paul wrote in Col. 1:15-19 concerning Jesus that He is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” So here He will take up His permanent residence forever dwelling with us so that all of His character will be known by us.