heavenly kingdom to reign on earth with us forever. Notice also the marriage imagery. The holy city is “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Weddings celebrate union, and this wedding celebrates the union of God and humanity, of heaven and earth. And the result of this reconciling union, this marriage of heaven and earth, is that it can be said again, as it was in the garden of Eden so long ago, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his