Revelation in Relation to Genesis
The book of Revelation is essentially a sequel to the book of Genesis. They are the two bookends of the Bible. Genesis means beginnings and Revelation is from the Greek word apokalupsis and literally means an unveiling of something previously hidden. Thus, Genesis is the book of the world’s beginnings, while Revelation is the book of the unveiling of the world’s future. The great themes of the Bible start in Genesis and are progressively revealed throughout the Bible and culminate in Revelation.
Genesis describes a sinless world in the garden of Eden, made for man and placed under his care. Even though sin and the curse have interrupted for a time, God’s ultimate purpose cannot be defeated. All that He intended from the beginning will come to pass. The earth will be restored to its original perfection and then continue forever. Sin and the curse will be removed and death will be no more. The first three chapters of Genesis outline the introduction of sin into ADONAI’s perfect creation, and the last three chapters of Revelation outline the cleansing of sin from the LORD’s redeemed creation.
Temporary World (Genesis) Eternal World (Revelation)
Division of light and darkness (1:4) will become: No night there (21:25)
Division of land and sea (1:10) will become: No more sea (21:1)
Creation of the sun and the moon (1:16) will become: No need for the sun and the moon (21:23)
First heavens and earth finished (2:1-3) will become: A new heaven and earth forever (21:1)
Mankind in a prepared garden (2:8-9) will become: Mankind in a prepared city (21:2)
River flowing out of the garden (2:10) will become: River flowing from God’s throne (22:1)
Tree of life in the midst of the garden (2:9) will become:The Tree of Life throughout the city (22:2)
Gold in the land (2:12) will become: Gold in the city (21:21)
Aromatic resin and onyx stone (2:12) will become: Every kind of precious stone (21:19)
God walking in the Garden (3:8) will become: God dwelling with His people (21:3)
The Spirit energizing (1:2) will become: The Spirit inviting (22:17)
Bride formed from her husband (2:21-23) will become: The Bride dressed for her husband (21:2)
Command to multiply (1:28) will become: Nations of the saved (21:24)
Garden accessible to the Deceitful one (3:1-5) will become: City is closed to the deceitful (21:27)
Mankind in God’s image (1:27) will become: Mankind in God’s presence (21:3)
Mankind works in the Garden (2:15) will become: Mankind inherits the world (21:7)
Cursed World (Genesis) Redeemed World (Revelation)
Cursed ground (3:17) will become: No more curse (22:3)
Daily sorrow (3:17) will become: No more sorrow (21:4)
Sweat of the brow (3:19) will become: No more tears (21:4)
Thorns and thistles (3:18) will become: No more pain (21:4)
Eating the plants of the field (3:18) will become: Twelve crops of fruit (22:2)
Returning to the dust (3:19) will become: No more death (21:4)
Garments of skin (3:21) will become: Fine linen, white and clean (19:14)
Satan opposing (3:15) will become: Satan banished (20:10)
Kept from the tree of life (3:24) will become: Access to the tree of life (22:14)
Banished from the Garden (3:23) will become:Free to enter the city (22:14)
Redeemer promised (3:15) will become: Redemption accomplished (5:9-10)
Only evil all the time (6:5) will become: Nothing impure, shameful or deceitful (21:27)
Seed of the woman (3:15) will become: Root of the Offspring of David (22:16)
Cherubim guarding (3:24) will become: Angels inviting (21:9)
There are other comparisons that could be made between the two worlds revealed in Genesis and Revelation. There are a number of specific themes that began in Genesis that are either elaborated on, or referenced in Revelation. For example, the original creation of the world is specifically mentioned in Revelation four times (4:11; 10:6; 13:8; 14:7). There is an implicit reference to Noah’s Flood in Revelation 14:7, and the rainbow covenant with Noah in Revelation 10:1.
The age-long conflict between the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman, first introduced in Genesis 3:15, is discussed at length in Revelation 12:1-17. The old serpent of the Garden of Eden is clearly identified there as Satan (Revelation 12:9), the deceiver of the whole world.
The post-Flood rebellion that began at Babel under Nimrod is developed and analyzed throughout history until its climax under the coming antichrist at Babylon the Great in Revelation 17 and 18. There is a reference to the wickedness of Sodom in Revelation 11:8 and to burning sulfur in Revelation 14:10.
In the letters to the seven churches, the tree of life and paradise are mentioned in Revelation 2:7. The cherubim of Genesis 3:24 are probably the living creatures mentioned in Rev 4:6-8 and throughout the book.
In Revelation 5:5, Christ is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, which is a reference to Jacob’s prophecy in Genesis 49:9. All Jacob’s children are named in his prophecy with the exception of Dan because that tribe fell into spiritual adultery (see my commentary on Genesis, to see link click Lj – Dan Will be a Serpent by the Roadside, A Viper Along the Path), and they are all named again, with the exception of Dan, in Rev 7:4-8.
The book of Revelation contains concepts, not only from Genesis, but also from the entire Bible. Some writers have estimated that more than two-thirds of the verses in Revelation contain quotations or allusions from the TaNaKh. The apostle John clearly took for granted that his readers would already be familiar with the rest of the Bible and thus prepared to accept and understand ADONAI’s last climatic written revelation as His completed Word.
The Word of the LORD is eternal and it stands firm in the heavens (Psalm 119:89). Gradually, however, God fulfilled what He had foretold through the prophets (Acts 3:18). YHVH had been revealing His Word from His heart, through His prophets, from heaven to mankind on earth. When Messiah came, His Word became flesh and was transmitted into writing through Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and others. Finally, almost a hundred years after Christ was born, Yochanan, the last surviving apostle, was chosen to finish the Bible. Then God’s Word was complete.6
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