THE BEGINNING AND THE END
INTRODUCTION:
1. Genesis and Revelation might seem to be very different from each other.
2. One of these books is in the Old Testament; the other is in the New Testament.
3. One starts the Bible; the other concludes the Bible.
4. Genesis describes the beginning of time; Revelation describes the end of time.
I. ALTHOUGH THESE TWO BOOKS MAY NOT SEEM TO HAVE VERY MUCH IN COMMON,
THEY DO. THIS MORNING I WANT TO SHOW YOU 3 CHARTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE A COPY OF THIS MATERIAL, COPIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER THIS
MORNING’S SERVICE.
A. PROJECTOR ON.
B. The book of Genesis tells us about the “probationary world”.
C. By “probationary” I mean the world as it was first created – without sin.
D. I will be reading each reference on our chart.
E. Gen 1:4 – READ. In the beginning there was light and darkness.
F. Gen 1:10 – READ. The land and the sea were divided from each other.
G. Gen 1:16 – READ. The sun and the moon started to rule.
H. Gen 2:8-9 – READ. Man was put into a garden.
I. Gen 2:10 – READ. A river flowed out of this garden.
J. Gen 2:12 – READ. Gold was in the land.
K. Gen 2:9 – READ. A tree of life was in the garden.
L. Gen 2:12 – READ. Bdellium and onyx stones existed in the land.
M. Gen 3:8 – READ. God “walked” in the garden with His voice.
N. This is what the world was like before sin occurred.
II. AFTER MANKIND SINNED, GOD PRONOUNCED A CURSE UPON THINGS. BECAUSE
OF THIS CURSE MAN INHERITED A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY
UNKNOWN.
A. Gen 3:17 – READ. God “cursed” the ground of the earth.
B. (Next point) – Because of this curse there was daily sorrow.
C. Because of the curse man started to “toil all the days of his life”.
D. Gen 3:18 – READ. The land produces thistles and thorns because of sin.
E. Gen 3:19 – READ. Because of sin, man sweats.
F. Man also eats a different kind of food – herbs. Gen 3:18 – READ.
G. Because of sin, man ages and dies. Gen 3:19 – READ.
H. In the cursed world, evil is always present. Gen 6:5 – READ.
I. God gave early man animal skin for clothing. Gen 3:21 – READ.
J. In the cursed world, Satan opposes man. Gen 3:15 – READ.
K. After sin man lost access to the tree of life. Gen 3:24 – READ.
L. Man was banished from the garden of Eden. Gen 3:23 – READ.
M. A redeemer was promised but Adam didn’t get to see Him. Gen 3:15 – READ.
III. THE BOOK OF GENESIS TELLS US WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE BEFORE AND AFTER SIN WAS
INTRODUCED INTO THE WORLD.
A. With this information on our minds, we are now ready to turn to the book of Revelation.
B. I will be starting with Revelation 21.
C. CHANGE CHARTS.
D. Revelation 21:25 is the first reference. READ.
E. There is “no night” in heaven. The significance of this will be noted later.
F. Going back to the very beginning of Revelation 21 – READ Verse 1 – “no sea”.
G. In this same chapter another interesting statement is made. Verse 23 – READ.
H. The sun and the moon will no longer be necessary and will not exist.
I. Though there will be no sun, man will be okay.
J. Verse 2 – same chapter – READ.
K. This “new city” has been “made ready” for man. It has what man needs.
L. This new city is described as having a “river” – 22:1 – READ.
M. A further description of this city is found in 21:21 – READ.
N. Gold will be in this city.
O. Something more interesting than gold will be there – 22:2 – READ.
P. The “tree of life” will be in this city.
Q. Also in this city will be precious stones – 21:19a – READ.
R. In this place God will dwell with His people – 21:3 – READ.
S. In this place there will not be a curse – 22:3 – READ.
T. Revelation 21:4 makes the place sound even better – READ.
1. There will be no more sorrow (move chart);
2. There will be no more pain (move chart);
3. And there will not be any tears in heaven.
U. Heaven will be a joyous place – 22:2 – READ.
V. “Twelve manner of fruits” will be there.
W. The people present in this place will not die. 21:4 – READ.
X. Nothing there can defile; nothing will be impure. 21:27 – READ.
Y. The splendor of heaven is pictured in 19:14. READ.
Z. Because of the purity, the devil will not be there. 20:10 – READ.
A. With the devil gone, humans will enjoy the tree of life. 22:14 – READ.
CONCLUSION:
1. You have been patient with me through all this reading. I appreciate that.
2. Now it’s time for the final chart. CHANGE CHARTS.
3. READ.
4. Why should we want to go to heaven?
5. This place is better than the earth has ever been.
6. Even if we could have lived in the paradise garden with Adam and Eve, heaven is better.
7. Are you headed there?
IN THE BEGINNING
THE
PROBATIONARY WORLD AS DESCRIBED IN GENESIS REFERENCE
There was light and darkness 1:4
The land and the sea were divided 1:10
The sun and moon started to rule 1:16
Man was put in a prepared garden 2:8-9
A river flowed out of Eden 2:10
Gold was in the land 2:12
A tree of life was in the garden 2:9
Bdellium and onyx stone were present 2:12
God “walked” in the garden 3:8
AFTER
THE WORLD WAS CURSED REFERENCE
The ground was cursed 3:17
There was daily sorrow 3:17
Thorns and thistles came into existence 3:18
Sweat was introduced 3:19
The herbs of the field were man’s food 3:18
Man now had to return to dust 3:19
Evil continually existed 6:5
Coats of skin for clothing 3:21
Satan opposes man 3:15
Man is cut off from the tree of life 3:24
Man is banished from the garden 3:23
A redeemer is promised 3:15
THE CONTRAST
EARTH HEAVEN
Light and darkness No night
Land and sea No more sea
A sun and moon No sun and moon
Man in a garden (in the past) Man in a city
River flowing from Eden (not now) River coming from God’s throne
Gold in the land Gold in the city
Tree of life (now gone) Tree of life available
Bdellium and the onyx stone All kinds of precious stones
God walked among people (not now) God will dwell with His people
A cursed earth The curse removed
Daily grief and sorrow No more sorrow
Thorns and thistles No more pain
Sweat Tears wiped away
Eating herbs of the field Twelve manner of fruits
Returning to the dust (death) No more death
Continual evil Nothing that defiles
Coats of skin Fine linen, white and clean
Satan opposes man Satan is gone
Redeemer promised Redemption accomplished
BACK TO PERFECTION
IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION WE READ … REFERENCE
Night will not exist in heaven 21:25
There will be no sin 21:1
The sun and moon are not necessary 21:23
Man will be in a prepared city 21:2
A river will flow from God’s throne 22:1
Gold will be in the city 21:21
The tree of life will be throughout the city 22:2
All manner of precious stones will be in heaven 21:19
God will dwell with His people 21:3
The curse will be gone 22:3
There will be no more sorrow 21:4
Pain will not exist 21:4
Tears will be gone 21:4
Twelve manner of fruits will be available 22:2
Death will not exist 21:4
Defilement will not exist 21:27
Fine linen … things that are white and clean 19:14
The devil will be banished from heaven 20:10
Humans will have access to the tree of life 22:14