Acts 15:16 (NKJV)
‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
Bible Commentary
Acts 15:16 is a Bible verse from the New Testament where God is promising His return of His Kingdom through the rebuilding of the tabernacle of David. To give this verse some context, Paul and Barnabas had just finished declaring to a multitude of people how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
Then James addressed the crowd and said in Acts 15:13-17,
“Men and brethren, listen to me:14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’
The phrase “after this” refers to the time God visits the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. The phrase “take out of them” causes me to picture the hand of God swooping down to rescue those of us who fear His name (Malachi 4:2).
Then He speaks of rebuilding the tabernacle of David. It’s almost as if He is scooping up those who fear His name to assign them the great work of rebuilding the tabernacle. If you look at the Greek meanings of “tabernacle,” you’ll see: tent or cloth hut, habitation, a vessel, [specifically a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband].
Preparation of the Bride
Jesus Christ is coming back for His wife and we, the bride, have been preparing ourselves for His return.
We see this preparation in Ephesians 5:26-27, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
As we walk with Jesus Christ, seeking Him and abiding in His Word, He sanctifies us. That’s what the Word of God does—it washes us so we can be ready for our Groom when He comes.
You see, we are the tabernacle and we participate with Him in the restoration process. The Bible again speaks of this preparation in Revelation 19:7, which says “…the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;”
Just like someone remodeling and repairing a house to make it ready for a new tenant, Christ has been preparing His wife to receive Him. In Acts 15:16 He speaks of “the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down.” When He says, “I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;” this is what He is referring to.
Just like an old house that is in need of repair and restoration, so Christ is repairing and restoring His bride who “fell” back in the Garden of Eden.
Unlocking the Truth – I Will Return
Ever since the curse back in the Garden of Eden, the earth has been under the dominion of the devil. It stayed that way until Christ arrived and defeated him by sacrificing His life for us, conquering death and rising again.
When Christ is revealed, He will be known as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
If you look at the Greek meaning of “return” in Acts 15:16, you’ll see: overturn, overthrow, to turn quite around, reverse, convert. These words speak to a new Ruler, a new King and a new dominion. Christ conquered the devil and is returning to overthrow and reverse the devil’s authority and dominion upon the earth. Hallelujah!
Do you feel Christ doing a restoration work in you? Think back to your journey of faith.
It has been exhilarating, rough and bumpy, sometimes painful, but we are always “abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). He does amazing work—then, now and forever. Study the Bible verse of Acts 15:16 to know the time of the Lord is at hand.
