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Title: The Seven Dwelling Places of God in the Bible
Author: James Stevens
Publisher: Tate Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 1-5988600-5-4
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 90
Reviewer: L.C. Germain
Available From:
Tate Publishing
Amazon.com
On Sunday night, January 5, 2003, the author had just returned home from preaching a sermon on Revelation. He could not stop thinking about it. As the Lord spoke to his heart, his life was changed forever.
"Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the Throne will dwell among them." (Revelation 7:15 KJV).
The words that seemed to be staring him in the face were "dwell among them." So he began in Genesis and read through Revelation, searching for more confirmation of this concept that the only thing God has ever wanted to do wasdwell among us.
Stevens found seven distinct places where he says, "…God has, is, and will dwell with His People." (P.8)
1. The Garden of Eden
God walked and talked with Adam and Eve. His interest laid a foundation for communication. The author reminds us that God wants to be with us and that we need to ask His forgiveness and not hide from his presence as the first two humans did.
2. The Tabernacle of Meeting
"As a result of Adam and Eve's fall, God was no longer able to dwell with man as He had done before." (P.19)
Mankind was separated from a holy and righteous God as a result of the sin of disobedience that happened in the Garden of Eden. This brought a curse upon all of mankind. In God's mercy and desire to fellowship with us, there had to be a method to remove the sin. The shedding of blood was the way to make atonement. An animal would have to be sacrificed for humans to enjoy God's presence again.
"God had chosen the nation of Israel to be his people (Deuteronomy 7:6) and He wanted them to build Him a sanctuary, which would be called the Tabernacle of Meeting (Exodus 27:21). The word 'tabernacle' in Hebrew means dwelling place. Wow! Once again, God was going to be able to dwell with his children." (P.21)
3. The Word became Flesh
As a result of Israel's ultimate disobedience and pulling away from God, He made a new covenant by sending Jesus Christ to earth to dwell with His people and eventually to be a living sacrifice for mankind's continuing sins.
4. The Spirit of Truth
After Jesus completed his earthly task and then was crucified, as promised, he sent the comforter--the Holy Spirit.
"Sometimes life is going to get dark and cloudy and we are going to have to go through some storms. But always remember, just because we can't see Him doesn't mean that HE isn't with us. And may we remember what Jesus told His disciples, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (P.53)
5. The One Who Sits on the Throne
After Jesus comes back to take His church home, there will be a seven year period called the Great Tribulation when God will pour out his judgment on the earth. Those who have repented and accepted Him as Lord and Savior will dwell with Him in heaven.
"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44).
6. The Millennium Reign
"His first coming was as a babe in Bethlehem and led to Him giving His life on the cross to set up His spiritual kingdom. But His second coming will not be the same. This time it will not be as a babe, but as conquering 'King of Kings and Lord of Lords' to set up His earthly kingdom." (P.65)
We will reign with Him here on earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).
"Until Jesus sets up His kingdom on the earth, the world is only going to get worse and worse, but the good news is we win in the end because of what Jesus did at Calvary and one day we will be royalty and the earth will be ours forever." (P.75)
7. The Tabernacle of God
John's vision showed him the old heaven and earth will pass away.
"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.'" (Revelation 21:3).
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Mr. Stevens has done a fine job in reminding us how God yearns to dwell with His people, and how He always has made a way for that to happen, and continues to do so.
"What's really important for us to know is God wants to be with us. And we must be careful and not hide from His presence as Adam and Eve did." (P. 88)
This reviewer says, " Well done, and Amen!"
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