the New Jerusalem is the Reflection and Consummation of the type in the Garden of Eden

The consummation of God’s salvation and the conclusion of the entire revelation in the Scriptures is the New Jerusalem! This week we are enjoying two particular aspects of the New Jerusalem – the Reflection & Fulfillment of the Divine Revelation concerning the Garden of Eden AND the Unique Goal of the Christian Work. The New Jerusalem is the fulfillment of the entire divine revelation, and in particular it is the reflection and fulfillment of the type we see in the garden of Eden. When reading a good book, it is very good to consider the beginning and the end – and they will reflect each other, one being the initiation / beginning, while the other is the consummation / the end. In the first picture in the Bible we see the garden of Eden – with four particular elements/elements(Gen. 2:8-14, 18-24); at the end of the Bible we see another picture, the New Jerusalem, with four particular elements(Rev. 21:1-22:2) – which are the reflection and the consummation of the first four elements. Here are the four elements / matters we see both in Genesis and in Revelation:

1. In Genesis we see the tree of life as the center of God’s eternal economy(Gen. 2:9). This is the tree that God recommended Adam to eat of and he will have life – God desires to fulfill His purpose of having a corporate expression in man through man’s eating and enjoying God as life! At the end of the Bible we also see the tree of life(Rev. 22:2) as the center of God’s eternal economy. The tree of life in the New Jerusalem grows along the river of life and spreads to reach out to everyone – everyone can eat of the tree of life!
2. In Genesis we see a river flowing into four heads to reach the four directions of the earth(Gen. 2:14). God as the flowing river wants to flow out and reach out to all humanity! The Triune God wants to be the river of life to us – to come into us, flow into our being, and the spring up as rivers of living waters! At the end of the Bible we see the river of water of life flowing out to reach the four directions of the earth(Rev. 22:1 cf. Rev. 21:13). The river flows from the throne of God and of the Lamp and spirals down in the city in the middle of the street – then flows out to everyone through the gates on the four sides of the city!
3. In Genesis we see three kinds of precious materials – gold, pearls, and onyx(Gen. 2:11-12). God desires to have a building, but in Genesis as the initial stage the precious stones as the building materials are scattered and not built up. In the New Jerusalem, at the end of the Bible, we see again three kinds of precious stones: gold, pearls, and precious stones(Rev. 21:18-21) – but this time they are built together into a city! The New Jerusalem is a built up city composed of the processed and consummated Triune God and His people which have been transformed by the continual work of the Triune God in them!
4. In Genesis we see a couple – Adam and Eve, signifying Christ and the church(Gen. 2:18-24, Eph. 5:22-29). It is not good for man(or God) to be alone – man needs a counterpart and God needs a counterpart also. Throughout the Bible we see that God desires to gain His Bride. The New Jerusalem – the entire city – is a couple: the processed and consummated redeeming Triune God in Christ is the Husband, and the chosen and redeemed people are the wife. God has been processed and consummated to become the universal Bridegroom, and man has been produced by the processed and consumated Triune God through Christ’s death and resurrection with the divine life of the redeeming God as the element to be His counterpart as His enlargement and expression in eternity(Rev. 21:2, 9).

When we have this panoramic view, this bird’s eye view of the entire Bible by considering the way it begins and it ends, we will see that what is revealed in these two parts of the divine revelation is the central line of the entire divine revelation throughout the entire Holy Scriptures. This central line should be a controlling principle to our interpreting and understanding the Holy Scriptures. The garden of Eden is reflected and consummated in the New Jerusalem, and God’s purpose is fulfilled in the way of life – by seeing the four main matters. May we have a clear view and a clear vision of the central line of the divine revelation in the Scriptures! [sharing inspired from, The God-Men(by brother Witness Lee)]

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see a bird’s eye view of the entire Bible! Grant us to see the central line of the divine revelation! Remove any veils, Lord, that we may clearly see the central line of the Bible! Just like the Apostle John, we want to see the city of God! We want to continually enjoy You as the tree of life and the river of water of life! Transform us more to be the precious stones for Your building! Gain Your Bride, Lord! Produce us as Your Bride!