Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

What have we just been told in this, the first verse of the Word Of God? We are later told that “Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool” (Isa 66:1). Did God not have a dwelling place before he created the heavens and the earth? Why would God need a throne in heaven or the earth for a footstool? Is God trying to distance Himself from mankind? No, of course not! Rather He wants us to see how close He is to us.

Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

He is intent on impressing upon us the extent of his sovereignty over His entire creation.

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

The natural man cannot see the point that God is making. Why would that be?

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

To the natural man, heaven is a geographical location. It is simply in a different geographical location in the universe from us. Rest assured, to the natural man, heaven is a tangible, physical planet. It is “out there” in space. It is always just beyond the scope of the cameras of the Hubble telescope. Just like the ‘new body’ promised to the overcomer, heaven is proclaimed to be both spiritual and physical. Or as many put it, both spiritual and real. To the natural man, a mere spiritual body is not a ‘real body’.

I once asked a highly respected Concordant minister, “Are you telling me that you believe that heaven is a physical planet?” “Yes”, he retorted, “I believe that heaven is a real physical planet!” Spiritual things, you must understand, are not quite ‘real’ to the natural man. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So the mind of the natural man cannot receive the concept of an invisible, “as the wind”, spiritual heaven. He cannot receive the concept of an invisible, “as the wind”, spiritual body. The natural mind shudders at such an unappealing disgusting thought. It is absolute foolishness to the mind of the natural man. Nevertheless, what saith the scripture?

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him [Nicodemus], Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [unstable flesh “marred in the hand of the Potter” (Jer 18:4)] and of the Spirit [“made again another vessel, as seemed good to the Potter to make it”], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? [The natural reaction of the mind of the ‘natural man.’]
Joh 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Joh 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another [entirely different] vessel [a new man, born of the spirit], as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Not one word of these verses of scripture, straight from the mouth of our Savior, can possibly be “received by the natural man” who rules in the pulpits of the churches of orthodox Christianity.

“No man hath ascended to heaven?” Why Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David and all the prophets were all, at the very moment Christ made this statement, sitting securely in the heavens with God the Father, according to most Christian ministers. Some may be aware of the words ‘Abraham’s bosom’ and the word ‘Paradise’, and they may make some slight distinction between these words and the word ‘heaven’. However, not one of the ministers of the orthodox Christian community believes that “flesh is [exclusively] flesh,” and “spirit is [exclusively] spirit.” They certainly do not believe that “No man hath ascended to heaven…” After all,” they ask me all the time, “what about Enoch and Elijah?” Be sure to read our letter on this subject at the link provided.

By now it should be clear that the words of Genesis mean more to the “mind of the spirit” (1Co 2:14) than they do the the mind of “the natural man”. It is not because the natural man cannot read. He can read the words. What he cannot do is receive the things of the spirit. Why can’t he receive the things of the spirit? Is it because he doesn’t keep everything in its proper context? No, that is not the reason that the natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit. He can and does ‘keep things in context’. (Be sure to read Rightly Dividing the Word Using a Principle That Only the Apostles Understood.

The reason that the natural man “cannot receive the things of the spirit” is because “they are foolishness unto him.”

So it is with this word ‘heaven’. According to the Word of God, ‘heaven’, in the scriptural sense of this word, is not a geographical location or a planet with a physical city called ‘New Jerusalem’ as its capital. Rather heaven, as revealed in scripture, is in the hearts and minds of God’s elect saints. What reveals to us this Truth are the statements of scripture concerning God’s elect, whom He also refers to as the “overcomers” and the “manchild who is to rule all nations”, the “kings and priests who will reign on earth” and “the four beasts and the four and twenty elders before the throne of God.” What is said of this last group shows us exactly, in scriptural terms, where God tells us He “dwells”. What is said of this group shows us where God “rests”, where His “throne” is, where His “temple” is and where His “habitation” and His “tabernacle” are. We will cover all of the scriptures that substantiate these assertions, including the scriptures relating to the “four beasts and the four and twenty elders” later in this study. But for the sake of emphasis, let me repeat: ‘Heaven’ was created by God “in the beginning”. God has no beginning, so ‘heaven’ has not always existed. God is not contained by the heavens. Nevertheless, He tells us for our benefit that…

… The LORD he is God in heaven above…(Deu 4:39), and Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne… (Isa 66:1).

So while it is true that God is “IN US”, and this is certainly scriptural, it is likewise scripturally true that we are “IN HIM”, and not a few places mention that God is “WITH us” even though He is simultaneously “IN us”. Again, this only proves that “the heavens, even the heavens of the heavens, CANNOT CONTAIN HIM.” There is MORE to God than can be “contained” in the “heavens” of MEN! God is IN US, we are IN GOD, we are with WITH GOD, and God is WITH US. These statements are ALL Scripturally true.

Act 17:28 For in him we [including these pagan Athenians] live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

An Analogy of “Being Born of Water”

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [later] of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

While it is not possible to describe accurately the vastness of God’s presence, an analogy might be helpful at this point. Let us say, for the sake of this analogy, that “God” is the living waters of the great ocean. Mankind are the fish. Fish, like humans, are mostly water. God, the GREAT “LIVING WATERS”, is IN US (in His fish), and we are IN THE WATER [surrounded and totally engulfed in God], yet God is also WITH US, but… BUT, even all the fish of the ocean cannot “contain” God.

So.. as the Great God of the OCEAN does indeed dwell in His fish, and His fish dwell in Him, and He dwells with all His fish, nevertheless, the OCEAN is TRILLIONS of times larger and grander and mightier than the fish in which He ALSO DWELLS.

1Ki 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I [King Solomon] have builded?

With this understanding of the truth of the vastness of the omnipresence of God, let us return to our study of how scriptures view the use of the word ‘heaven’.

To the natural man, the creation story in Genesis is simply an historical account of the creation of the “physical” universe as we know and “see” it. If our definition of “heaven” is the “realm of Spirit”, then this Genesis account of creation is only a type and shadow of the creation of the “heavens and earth” within us. God does NOT dwell in “the firmament above the earth which contain the clouds, sun, moon, and stars.” So Christ informs us:

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Christ claims that HE was simultaneously “in heaven” and “came down from heaven”. Does that sound like foolishness to you? That is almost as confusing as:

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

“Is not, and yet is?” Just how contradictory can you get? Such is the confusion of the mind of the natural man. These words are all “foolishness unto him.” Be sure to read the letter on Understanding the book of Revelation.

All Things Are In Christ

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Moses informs us that ‘heaven’ was created at the exact same time as the earth. We need to know that in the Hebrew this word is always in the plural:

Exo 20:11 For in six days Yahweh dealt with the heavens and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He stopped on the seventh day. Therefore, Yahweh blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it. [CLV]

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is… [KJV]

But the “One God, the Father” (1Co 8:6) of course existed quite well before there ever was a heaven, and He will do very well when “the heavens shall pass away.” If indeed heaven is God’s elect, how then can it be said that heaven was created at the same time as the earth? Here is “the Way” God did that:

Gen 1:1 In the beginning [Hebrew 7225: reshiyth – firstfruit – see Lev 23:10 – in Christ] God created the heaven and the earth.

What a revealing statement! God created all things, including His elect, “In the firstfruits”. He created everything “in Christ”. Here are the scriptures:

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Col 1:13 Who [the Father] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us [God’s elect] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him [the firstborn – the reshiyth] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. [Be sure to read Is God a Trinity]

Lev 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits [same word as ‘beginning’ in Gen 1:1] of your harvest unto the priest:

So Where is God?

The scriptures tell us that God is in the heavens.

Deu 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

Again:

Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Psa 139:11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

If these verses do not teach us the omnipresence of God, then we surely have been “given eyes that we cannot see and ears that we cannot hear.”

Mat 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Look at what Paul tells us of God’s omnipresence. Speaking to the pagan Athenians, Paul makes this assertion:

Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

So according to Paul, under the inspiration of God’s spirit, even the pagan Athenians “live and move and have their being” in God. It should be painfully obvious by now that God is far too great to be held by any material bonds. No matter how vast the physical universe is, it is but a mere shadow of the vastness of God our Father. Yet we are told:

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Even though God is omnipresent, He proclaims “heaven is My throne.” How can a God, who is omnipresent in heaven and earth, tell us that heaven is HIS throne! Can this ‘heaven’ contain God? Can He ‘go to heaven’ and leave His troubles behind? No, God has no ‘troubles’, and heaven is nowhere near large enough to contain Him:

Psa 113:5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
Psa 113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

So where and what is this heaven? Do the scriptures tell us exactly where and what heaven is? Let us consider what scripture reveals about the heavens.

Earth is Always the Opposite of Heaven

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Seven times, we are told where God dwells:

God dwells on high

Psa 113:5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high.

God Dwells In Heaven

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? [The scriptures answer this question.]

Psa 113:5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
Psa 113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

God Dwells In Mount Zion

Isa 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Psa 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
Psa 132:14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
Psa 132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Psa 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

God Dwells Between the Cherubim

2Sa 6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

2Sa 7:2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

1Ch 13:6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, [that is], to Kirjathjearim, which [belonged] to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.

God’s throne is “in the midst of the Four Beasts and the Twenty-Four Elders”

Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Rev 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Who are those “kings and priests” who will “reign on earth?”

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

So the four beasts and the four and twenty elders are simply symbolic of the “overcomers”, the “manchild”, “kings and priests” who will reign with Christ on earth.

This is all by their own admission. All we need do is believe God’s Word!:

Rev 5:9 And they [The four beasts and the four and twenty elders] sung a new song, saying, Thou [the slain lamb] art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Where God Rests

Isa 18:4 For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.

Psa 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
Psa 132:14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

God Dwells In His People

Deu 32:9 For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and be their God.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

‘Heaven’ is not a geographical location but the realm of the spirit of life. Heaven is in the hearts and minds of the people of God. Heaven is being in Jesus Christ, because being in Christ is to be in the Father. That is what and where heaven is!

Christ Is ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ and the ‘Door to Heaven’

Gen 28:10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
Gen 28:11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Who does Christ tell us this ladder with angels represents?

Joh 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Gen 28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
Gen 28:17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Indeed Christ is the only way to the Father.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also [and “be seated with Him in heaven” (Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him).
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father [and is ‘seated in heaven’]; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me [in heaven]? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father [in heaven], and the Father in me [in heaven]: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

This information is a terrible disappointment to “the natural man”. “The natural man” is expecting a physical heaven with all of its physical amenities, which “the natural man” maintains are both physical and yet spiritual. The “natural man” will retort, “Everything is just spiritual to you.” Thus, he demonstrates his disdain for “the things of the spirit” and his preference for the physical world.

However, for all who have been granted the privilege to see and understand “the things of the spirit” this is the most exciting revelation in God’s Word – that He will take up permanent residence in the hearts and minds of His saints!

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

God is now dwelling in His elect. It will yet require a millennium and a lake of fire.

Isa 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the fig tree.

In the end this glorious Truth will be realized by all men of all time:

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

So… as the Great God of the OCEAN does indeed dwell in His fish, and His fish dwell in Him, and He dwells with all His fish, nonetheless, the OCEAN [God’s dwelling place– the heavens] is TRILLIONS of times larger and grander and mightier than the fish in which He ALSO DWELLS.