I never realize this about how Gen. and Rev. related so well, surely this is not a corinky dink, but proof of the Holy Spirits inspiration of the Bible. I found the article below to be very inspiring and informative.
blessings in Christ
Endura/Patc
Sep 15
The Bible’s Bookends
Posted by Dean Ohlman
September 15th, 2010
IIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (Revelation 21:1)
Several years ago when I began my study of the theology of nature, I soon noticed how beautifully the early chapters of the first book of the Bible (Genesis) paralleled the latter chapters of the last book of the Bible (Revelation). Many of the beginnings in Genesis had new beginnings in the Revelation. Many of the conditions of sin and human failure that began in the first eleven chapters of Genesis were remedied in the Revelation. And I saw that many of the statements related to the physical heavens and the earth. Much of the Christian worldview about the creation (God’s general revelation) is directly related to the words of the first eleven chapters of Genesis and the book of Revelation—to the Bible’s bookends (these beginnings and endings being the subject of Milton’s Paradise Lost). These books were written some 1500 years apart, but they “appear” to have been orchestrated by One knowledgeable of the alpha and omega of time and eternity!
Examine the list of “bookend” references below that I have compiled and maybe do a little digging in your Bible to see if you can find where these are referenced. You might also find more to add to the list. If so, please be sure to comment.
Plain type relates to the first eleven chapters of Genesis. Italic type relates to Revelation. [Bible image source]
-beginning of heaven and earth
-new beginning of heaven and earth
-earth uncivilized, unpopulated, chaotic
-earth civilized, populated, orderly
-moon marks the months
-produce from the Tree of Life marks the months
-light from God before the sun
-light from God after the sun
-darkness marks the night
-no darkness, no night
-water of life flowing from Eden
-water of life flowing from God’s throne
-man as a friend of God
-man as a child of God
-man lives in Paradise of Eden
-man lives in Paradise of God
-human bodies bound to earthly physics
-human bodies transcend earthly physics
-people stop serving the Creator
-people start serving the Creator again
-Satan loose and active
-Satan bound and banished
-Truth defiled by lies
-lying ends and Truth reigns again
-knowledge of evil desired
-knowledge of evil repented
-beginning of sin
-judgment of and the end of sin
-human death begins
-human death ends
-people rebel against and oppose God
-human rebellion against God ends
-human destruction of earth begins
-human destroyers of the earth are destroyed
-First Adam loses Paradise (shalom)
-Second Adam restores Paradise (shalom)
-man hiding from the face of God
-man looking for the face of God
-curse placed on the earth to discipline sinful man
-curse on the earth lifted to bless the children of God
-our Redeemer promised
-our Redeemer reigns
-nature’s suffering (groaning) begins
-nature’s suffering (groaning) ends
-pain, suffering, and tears begin
-pain, suffering, and tears end
-access to the Tree of Life denied
-access to the Tree of Life regained
-innocent lambs slain to atone for sin
-“Lamb who was slain” is celebrated and praised by all creatures
-evil man gains ascendancy
-evil man banished forever
-Babel erected to challenge God
-Babylon razed and destroyed
-evil spirits loose on the earth
-evil spirits banished forever
-awe and proper regard for God abandoned
-awe and proper regard for God regained
-water of life flowing from Eden
-water of life flowing from God’s throne
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