Revelation 21:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The voice from heaven teaches the saint that this is the true tabernacle. Its image, or rather the prefiguration of its image, was shown to Moses. Now its image is the Church.

The Lord testifies of Himself that the multitude of the saints will become His tabernacle, so that He may dwell with them in eternity and be their Lord, and they may be His people. For He will remove every lamentation and wipe away every tear from their eyes. He will reward them with eternal joy and make them radiant in eternal blessedness.

God Himself will become the reward of eternal blessedness for the elect, who, having given themselves over to Him, will possess Him forever.

The heavenly voice explains the meaning of the New Jerusalem: it is the true tabernacle, the true Church of Christ, whose image was shown to Moses. Here God Himself will dwell with those who have pleased Him, as He once dwelt with the ancient Israelites in the tabernacle of witness.

But this present dwelling of God with men will not be like His former communion with them. Previously, worthy and holy men conversed with God under various forms, or else sensed His nearness to them by faith and in the heart.