John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven , etc.] Either of an angel, or rather of Christ, or God himself; since the Alexandrian copy and Vulgate Latin version read, out of the throne, saying, behold the tabernacle of God is with men ; in allusion to the tabernacle being with the Israelites, and the Shechinah, or divine Majesty, being in the midst of them, and as an accomplishment of the promise in ( Ezekiel 37:27) in the fullest sense of it; and designs something distinct from the spiritual presence of Christ in his church, as his tabernacle and temple, and in the hearts of his people; and from the heavenly glory, or ultimate state of happiness, in which they will be with him, and that not as in a tabernacle, but as in a city, which has foundations: the phrase seems to denote the personal presence of Christ with his saints in human nature, like, though different from, that in the time of his humiliation; then he dwelt or tabernacled with men on earth, but it was in the form of a servant; but now he will appear in a glorious body, and indeed in all his personal glory, and reign among them as their King: and he will dwell with them ; in person and not by his Spirit, or by faith, as before, nor as a wayfaring man only for a night; but he will dwell with them for the space of a thousand years, and after that for ever: Christ and his church will now be come together as husband and wife: and they shall be his people ; that is, they shall appear to be his covenant people, that will be out of all doubt; this is made manifest in some measure in the effectual calling; but it does not yet appear neither to the saints themselves, nor to others, what they are, and shall be, but now it will be evident and unquestionable. And God himself shall be with them ; the Immanuel, God with us; not by his Spirit, as he was after his ascension to heaven, and since is; but in person, he himself will descend from heaven, when his church, the new Jerusalem does; the Lord their God will come in person with all the saints, and will be King over all the earth. [And be] their God , as Thomas styles him, my Lord, and my God, ( John 20:28). The covenant of grace, with all its blessings and promises, are in him, and now will it have its full accomplishment, and the saints be in a state inexpressibly happy; (see <19E415> Psalm 144:15).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The new heaven and the new earth will not be separate from each other the earth of the saints, their glorified, bodies, will be heavenly. The old world, with all its troubles and tumults, will have passed away There will be no sea; this aptly represents freedom from conflictin passions, temptations, troubles, changes, and alarms; from whatever can divide or interrupt the communion of saints. This new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and perfect state, the church triumphant. It blessedness came wholly from God, and depends on him. The presence of God with his people in heaven, will not be interrupt as it is on earth he will dwell with them continually. All effects of former troubl shall be done away. They have often been in tears, by reason of sin, or affliction, of the calamities of the church; but no signs, n remembrance of former sorrows shall remain. Christ makes all thing new. If we are willing and desirous that the gracious Redeemer shoul make all things new in order hearts and nature, he will make all thing new in respect of our situation, till he has brought us to enjo complete happiness. See the certainty of the promise. God gives his titles, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, as a pledge for the full performance. Sensual and sinful pleasures are muddy and poisone waters; and the best earthly comforts are like the scanty supplies of cistern; when idolized, they become broken cisterns, and yield onl vexation. But the joys which Christ imparts are like waters springin from a fountain, pure, refreshing, abundant, and eternal. The sanctifying consolations of the Holy Spirit prepare for heavenl happiness; they are streams which flow for us in the wilderness. The fearful durst not meet the difficulties of religion, their slavish fea came from their unbelief; but those who were so dastardly as not to dare to take up the cross of Christ, were yet so desperate as to ru into abominable wickedness. The agonies and terrors of the first deat will lead to the far greater terrors and agonies of eternal death.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ηκουσα 191 5656 V-AAI-1S φωνης 5456 N-GSF μεγαλης 3173 A-GSF εκ 1537 PREP του 3588 T-GSM ουρανου 3772 N-GSM λεγουσης 3004 5723 V-PAP-GSF ιδου 2400 5628 V-2AAM-2S η 3588 T-NSF σκηνη 4633 N-NSF του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM μετα 3326 PREP των 3588 T-GPM ανθρωπων 444 N-GPM και 2532 CONJ σκηνωσει 4637 5692 V-FAI-3S μετ 3326 PREP αυτων 846 P-GPM και 2532 CONJ αυτοι 846 P-NPM λαοι 2992 N-NPM αυτου 846 P-GSM εσονται 2071 5704 V-FXI-3P και 2532 CONJ αυτος 846 P-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM εσται 2071 5704 V-FXI-3S μετ 3326 PREP αυτων 846 P-GPM θεος 2316 N-NSM αυτων 846 P-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. With men. Men at large. No longer with an isolated people like Israel. He shall dwell (skhnwsei). Lit., tabernacle. Only in Revelation and John i. 14. The word "denotes much more than the mere general notion of dwelling. There lies in it one of the particulars of that identification of Christ and His people which is fundamental to the seer." See on John i. 14. Compare Ezekiel. xxxvii. 27, 28.People (laoi). Notice the plural, peoples (so Rev.), because many nations shall partake of the fulfillment of the promise. Compare ver. 24. And God Himself shall be with them and be their God. And be is inserted. The Greek is shall be with them their God.
