“CREATION DELIVERS GOD’S MESSAGE”
Bringing all the covenant imagery to life in Jesus Christ.

Revelation 21:9
“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.”

In order to understand all the imagery John brings to life in the “Revelation of Jesus Christ”, one must first have an intimate knowledge of the other 65 books contained in the Bible. We have been privileged to write for Historic Union County for well over a year and I have only scratched the surface of what the Bible has to say regarding our Lord. The Apostle John in his namesake Gospel says:

John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Paul the Apostle explains in Romans 8:22 that the “whole creation groans and travails in pain” to deliver God’s message of life in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah tells us: “the whole earth is full of his glory.” With everything testifying of God’s glory how could a simple man make heads or tails out of it all?

Salvation is simple. It had to be or none of us would be able to obtain salvation. Our God on the other hand is not simple! After obtaining salvation, if we want to understand the deep mysteries of the Bible, then we have to study! 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The Bible is its own interpreter and Jesus Himself gave us the keys to rightly dividing the word in Luke 24 on the “road to Emmaus” when He began at Moses and all the prophets to expound all the things in the scriptures concerning Himself.

Just as many of us miss the main point of the Genesis account in Genesis 1:1, which is that “God created the heaven and earth”, PERIOD. (See “In The Beginning God” article @ historicunioncounty.com/article/beginning-god) We also miss the main point of the book known as Revelation. In brutal honesty we miss the point, because we don’t even know the name of the book. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard it called “The book of Revelations” as in plural or more than one revelation. It is a singular revelation as in ONE REVELATION. Just like with Genesis we are clearly told that in verse 1:

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, …

Again, one Revelation! This one revelation is rooted and grounded in the events chronicled by the rest of the Bible. First, in the true stories of the Old Testament, then next in the light shed upon those Old Testament events, by the New Testament authors. The story of Moses is a linchpin stone for interpreting everything else, because it is Moses who first receives God's covenant conditions in writing known as the Ten Commandments. You can find specific details of God’s written covenant conditions in Exodus 24, Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 11 among many other places. In short, God is saying if you do what I say, I will bless you! If you don't do what I say, I will curse you! We find this covenant relationship repeated by God from Genesis to Revelation.

Deuteronomy 11:26 gives a very concise summary of the terms & conditions associated with God’s covenant with mankind: 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;

In Revelation 5, as part of John’s vision he sees a book sealed with seven seals and a strong angel asking “Who is worthy to open the book, and loose the seals thereof?” This book sealed with seven seals represents God’s covenant with mankind, the 10 commandments being the basis of the covenant. Let me point out again that from the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation we see God extending His covenant to mankind. Remember in the previous article we pointed out that the 7-day creation account is the first representation of God’s covenant. Adam and Eve failed and were found unworthy. As punishment, God cast them out of the Garden, and they were cursed to labor under the sun with their own hands and die because they chose to be their own God. For all of history until Christ came, no one was able to meet God’s covenant conditions, so the curse was and is poured out on all mankind. EXCEPT hope springs forth in a river, which went out of the Garden! A river which began at the Tree of Life, located in the midst of the Garden.

We are out of our allotted space for this week’s article, so let me close for now by pointing out that Jesus is represented in the Tree of Life, in the river flowing out of the Garden and by the Garden itself. It was that way in the beginning, it is that way at the end. How do I know all this? Well, the same way I know Jesus Loves Me. The Bible tells me so! (see Revelation 22:13)

Next time we will explore more of the covenant imagery brought to life in Jesus Christ.