In Broad Outline the Book of Genesis Asks and Answers the Question, How Did It All Begin

Genesis and Revelation: The Complete “Story”

In broad outline the Book of Genesis asks and answers the question, “How did it all begin?” The Book of Revelation asks and answers the question, “How will it all end?” In Genesis 1:1 we read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In Revelation 21:1 we read, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”

The first command in the Bible is, “Let there be light.” We are told that God appointed two great lights in relation to the earth, the sun and the moon to shine by day and by night. In Revelation we read, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine upon it for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb.”

In Genesis we see a garden into which sin entered. In Revelation we see a city, at the centre of which there is a garden, into which no sin can ever enter.

In the third chapter of Genesis we encounter the Serpent as he deceives mankind. In the third last chapter of Revelation we are told that an angel seized the Dragon, that ancient Serpent who is the Devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years before casting him into the lake of burning sulphur. Some time ago I was amused at a “tongue-in-cheek”comment made by Rick Godwin. He mentioned that the Devil had grown from a snake in Genesis to a dragon in Revelation, and added, “I don’t know what happened to him; somebody must have fed him!”

In Genesis man’s fellowship with God is broken and he slinks off into the bush and hides. In Revelation we read, “Now the dwelling of God is with man and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

In Genesis we see the entrance of death and sorrow and suffering and tears. In Revelation God says, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.”

And then, most significantly, in Genesis the path to the tree of life is barred as cherubim with flaming swords guard the way to it. In Revelation we again see the tree of life. This time it is depicted as a grove on each side of the river which flows through the centre of the city. It constantly bears fruit and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. Most importantly, we read that all who have washed their robes may enter freely through the gates of the city and have free access to the tree of life.