Deeper Christian

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Grow Spiritually

In episode 68, I gave a snapshot of the mysterious bride in Scripture, known as the Church.

In today’s episode, I share a recent sermon where I dive into the topic in depth and examine what it means to be the Bride of Christ, not merely from the New Testament, but all throughout Scripture, starting in Genesis.

The profound depth of this topic is itself a deep well of richness, which this sermon only scratches the surface—yet will captivate and capture our hearts to continue to pursue our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

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Show Notes / Additional Resources

Bible Study Challenge

Study Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22. What themes begin in Genesis and find their fulfillment in Revelation?

  • Genesis: God in the beginning (Gen 1:1)
    • Revelation: Jesus’ name is The Beginning and The First (Rev 21:6, 22: 13)
  • Genesis: Alef Tav (Alpha Omega) shows up after God’s Name Elohim (Gen 1:1)
    • Revelation: Jesus is the Alpha Omega (Rev 21:6, 22: 13)
  • Genesis: the creation of heaven and earth (Gen 1:1-2:4)
    • Revelation: the creation of the new heaven and earth for the first has passed away (Rev 21:1-5)
  • The language of Genesis 1:1 and 21:1 is nearly the same:
    • Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
    • Revelation 21:1 – Then I saw a “new heavens and a new earth.” [a quotation from Isaiah 65:17]
  • Genesis: Spirit was hovering / moving over the face of the deep (Gen 1:2)
    • Revelation: Spirit is in the midst of the city crying out with the bride “come” (Rev 22:17)
  • Genesis: division of light and darkness (Gen 1:4)
    • Revelation: No night there (Rev 21:25)
  • Genesis: division of land and sea (Gen 1:10)
    • Revelation: there is no more sea (Rev 21:1)
  • Genesis: sun, moon, and stars created to rule (Gen 1:16)
    • Revelation: there is no need for the sun or moon for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb … He is the Bright and Morning Star (Rev 21:23, 22:16)
  • Genesis: man is made to rule over the animals and to tend and keep the garden (Gen 1:28, 2:15)
    • Revelation: man gets to serve and rule (Rev 22:3-5)
  • Genesis: God creates man and places him in a prepared garden (Gen 2:8-9)
    • Revelation: you find man in a prepared city (which is the Bride, the Church) (Rev 21:2)
  • Genesis: Man is made in God’s image (Gen 1:27)
    • Revelation: Man is in the midst of God’s presence (Rev 21:3)
  • Genesis: Bridegroom (Adam) and his bride (Eve) (Gen 2:18-25)
    • Revelation: Bridegroom (Jesus) and His bride (the Church) (Rev 21:1-9, also see 19:5-9)
  • Genesis: bride formed out of and for her husband (Gen 2:21-23)
    • Revelation: bride prepared and adorned for her husband (Rev 21:2)
  • Genesis: the marriage of the 1st Adam (Gen 2:18-23)
    • Revelation: marriage of the 2nd Adam (Jesus) (Rev 19:5-10, 21:2, 9)
  • Genesis: God gives a command to multiply (Gen 1:28)
    • Revelation: we find that multiplication has happened to the point where there are now nations (Rev 21:24)
  • Genesis: river flowing out of Eden (Gen 2:10)
    • Revelation: river flowing from God’s throne (Rev 22:1)
  • Genesis: gold, bdellium, and the onyx stone – some say it is gold, pearl, and precious stone (Gen 2:12)
    • Revelation: gold, pearl, a variety of precious stones were used to create the streets, gates, foundations, and everything in the city (Rev 21:18-21)
  • Genesis: tree of life in the midst of the garden (Gen 2:9)
    • Revelation: tree of life on both sides of the river (Rev 22:2)
  • Genesis: in 3:8 you find God walking in the garden with man (Gen 3:8)
    • Revelation: God dwells with His people (Rev 21:3)
  • Genesis: the garden was accessible to the Liar (Gen 3:1-5)
    • Revelation: the city is closed off to all liars (Rev 21:8, 27)
  • Genesis: man is given a command not to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:17)
    • Revelation: man is called an overcomer and a son (an heir) (Rev 21:7)

IF YOU EXTEND THE PARALLEL INTO CHAPTER 3 WHERE SIN ENTERS IN – You see in Revelation 21-22 the reverse of the curse found in chapter 3

  • Genesis: sin enters the world (Gen 3:6)
    • Revelation: end of sin (Rev 21:27)
  • Genesis: world is cursed (Gen 3:17)
    • Revelation: no more curse (Rev 22:3)
  • Genesis: man was going to experience death (Gen 2:17, 3:19)
    • Revelation: no more death (Rev 21:4)
  • Genesis: daily sorrow (Gen 3:17)
    • Revelation: no more sorrow (Rev 3:17)
  • Genesis: thorns and thistles (Gen 3:18)
    • Revelation: no more pain (Rev 21:4)
  • Genesis: sweat on the face (Gen 3:19)
    • Revelation: no more tears (Rev 21:4)
  • Genesis: eat the plants of the field (Gen 3:18)
    • Revelation: twelve kinds of fruits (Rev 22:2)
  • Genesis: God covered Adam and Eve with a garment of skin (Gen 3:21)
    • Revelation: clothing of fine linen, white, and pure (Rev 19:14)
  • Genesis: satan tempting and then opposing (Gen 3:1, 15)
    • Revelation: satan is banished (Rev 20:10)
  • Genesis: the way to the tree of life is blocked (Gen 3:24)
    • Revelation: continual access to the tree of life (Rev 22:1-2, 14)
  • Genesis: man is removed from Eden (Gen 3:24)
    • Revelation: man is restored and invited to dwell with God (Rev 21:3, 7, 9)
  • Genesis: banished from the garden (Gen 3:23)
    • Revelation: the gates of the city never shut – free entry and access (Rev 21:25, 22:14)
  • Genesis: redemption is promised (Gen 3:15)
    • Revelation: redemption is accomplished (Rev 21:7-11, also see 5:9-10)
    • Revelation: the Redeemer (Jesus) is victorious and reigns (Rev 21:22-27, 22:3-5, also see 19:11-20:6)
  • Genesis: result of the Fall is that there is evil continually (Gen 6:5)
    • Revelation: nothing that defiles (is evil) remains (Rev 21:27)
  • Genesis: prophesy of the “seed of the woman” (Gen 3:15)
    • Revelation: the seed of the woman has become the Root and the Offspring of David (Rev 3:16)
  • Genesis: cherubim guard the way to the tree of life (Gen 3:24)
    • Revelation: angels inviting to see the Bride who was made alive (Rev 21:9)
  • As you continue through the book of Genesis you find even more parallels to Revelation – for example you see the enemies of God (a picture of the flesh) in both:
    • Babylon founded (Gen 10:8-9) and Babylon destroyed (Revelation 13-18)
    • Sodom (Gen 13 and Rev 11:8)
    • Egypt (Gen 19 and Rev 11:8
  • And obviously many of these themes continue throughout all of Scripture:
    • Bride
    • Building
    • Life
    • Living Water

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Question: What parallels did you discover that I missed?

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About NRJohnson & the Deeper Christian Podcast

NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) is a Christian who has an overwhelming passion for Jesus, the Gospel, and Studying God’s Word. He is a writer, teacher, and communicator who helps other believers understand and apply the Bible as they grow and mature in their faith—desiring that they gain greater intimacy with Christ, experience the victorious Christian life, and transform the world through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Read more about him here.

The Deeper Christian Podcast is the podcast to help you study God’s Word, know Jesus intimately, and discover how you can build your life around Jesus Christ. This weekly audio program, hosted by NRJohnson, dives into Scripture and encourages Christians to keep their focus upon Jesus Christ—equipping believers in how to study the Bible and know God’s Word, grow in their spiritual lives, and change the world. Main discussion topics center around practical advice on Christian living, Bible study, prayer, the Gospel, freedom from sin, evangelism and how to share your faith, the Christian disciplines, and the lives and messages from the Christian heroes from yesteryear such as A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, Major Ian Thomas, Oswald Chambers, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Corrie Ten Boom, C.T. Studd, George Müller, Andrew Murray, Leonard Ravenhill, E.M. Bounds, and others. Learn more about the deeper Christian life.

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