Many years ago, Rick Joyner helped me understand what the Bible is really all about. He said, and it is true, that in order to really understand the Holy Scriptures, a person needs to read the first and last three chapters of the Bible.
In Genesis chapters 1 – 2, we see God coming up with a perfect and sinless creation, and then entrusting its management to a perfect and sinless Man. God and Man then enjoyed each other’s fellowship on earth.
However, things went bad as we see recorded in Genesis chapter 3. The Devil tempted Man and Man fell for the deception. That sin resulted in three sorrows: a rift between God and Man, the fall of the creation, and all the suffering in this world. However, God being a good God had in mind a restoration plan. He revealed it when He said to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).
In the last three chapters of the Bible (Revelation 20-22), we see the completion of God’s restoration which He revealed in Genesis 3 immediately after the fall of Man and creation. The serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, who deceived Man is cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Revelation 20:2-3). And later he is “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone . . . to be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). Then we see a new (renewed) heaven and a new earth, “for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Revelation 21:1). And as it was in the beginning, so shall it be again – God will once again dwell on earth and fellowship with Man for whose sin Jesus died: “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them” (Revelation 21:2-3). As for the suffering that came into the world by reason of the sin of Man, it too shall be no more: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
The time of the completion of God’s restoration plan is nearer than many of us realize. Jesus is returning to right what Adam messed up, and to dwell with us forever if we play our part of loving Him – for having died for our sins – by obeying His commandments: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. . . . Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” (Revelation 22:12-15)
Please take some time this week to read Genesis chapters 1-3 and Revelation chapters 20-22. You will see many similarities between the ‘pre-Fall’ Genesis and the last three chapters of Revelation. Most importantly, you will understand better what the Bible is all about.
God bless you.