In recent emails we have stressed that God did not create us to rule over us; rather, from the beginning His desire has been to have fellowship with us. But, we are now fallen beings, and our sin separates us from a holy God, so it is difficult for us to really grasp this concept. (See “The Sound of God Walking.”)

So, we can look at this matter in still another way, by asking the question, what does the Bible show us about God’s intention for mankind before the curse came in, at the time of the fall, and after the curse is finally dealt with, at the end of the Bible?

The chapters we need to look at in this regard are Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22; that is, the portion of the Bible before God told Adam, who had just eaten the forbidden fruit,

“Cursed is the ground for your sake.”
— Genesis 3:17

And then, after the final judgment at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15), when God says:

“There shall be no more curse.”
— Revelation 22:3

And when we are also told:

“And 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

By focusing on these chapters and comparing them, we can see what God has always desired for man. In brief, what Genesis shows us are the seeds of God’s purpose; what Revelation shows us is the full harvest.

Genesis shows us man created in God’s image and likeness; Revelation shows us a city “having the glory of God,” that is, expressing who God is (Gen. 1:26; Rev. 21:10-11; cf. Rev. 4:3, 21:11).

Genesis shows us a garden, where God put the man He had made; Revelation shows us a built-up city which is constituted with all of God’s redeemed people throughout all the ages
(Gen. 2:8; Rev. 21:2).

Genesis shows us a flowing river; Revelation shows us the river of water of life, of which any who are thirsty may freely drink (Gen. 2:10; Rev. 22:1, 17).

Genesis shows us the tree of life in the midst of the garden; Revelation shows us the tree of life “in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river,” and bearing “twelve fruits…yielding its fruit every month” (Gen. 2:9; Rev. 22:2).

Genesis shows us that, before the fall, God came to Adam and Eve as another man; Revelation shows us that the redeemed believers have been constituted and uplifted with the divine nature so that they may dwell with God in His divinity (Gen. 3:8; in Revelation, man having the divine nature is signified by the gold, pearls, and precious stones of the New Jerusalem; cf. 2 Pet. 1:4).

Genesis shows us a wedding; Revelation shows us “the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”; this is “the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (Gen. 2:23; Rev. 21:2, 22:9).

From all of this we see that, in the beginning, God created us in very special way so that we could receive Him as the tree of life and the river of life and thus be brought into relationship with Himself as those who share His divine life and nature.

And thus, at the end, when all of God’s work is complete, we will dwell together with Him as both our Father and our God (cf. John 20:17); this will be fulfillment of God’s wonderful purpose for mankind:

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
— Revelation 21:3

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— 1 June 2022 —