Genesis to Revelation

a.  Good Beginnings and Great Fall

From the beginning of human creation, the living Sovereign LORD God – the King of the Universe – wanted to live in fellowship and harmony with His creation.[1] The Sovereign LORD God visited the earth He created and formed the world where we live with the heavens, seas, trees, and animals.[2] Then, the Sovereign LORD God created Adam and Eve in His likeness and image from the dust of the earth to rule His Kingdom on earth.[3] The Spirit of the living God breathes into human nostrils to give humans life.[4] Adam and Eve are historical humans who represented humanity as a whole.[5] All that the Sovereign LORD God had made was good, created by His wisdom.[6]

The Sovereign LORD God created humans to faithfully worship, serve, and obey Him for His glory and not worship any other gods or idols and pursue Satan’s selfish and evil works.[7] Even more, the Sovereign LORD God created Adam and Eve to live in harmony with His creation and care for the earth responsibly under His rule and sovereignty.[8]Significantly, the living Sovereign LORD God planted a garden in Eden, and in the middle of garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.[9] The wisdom and fruit of the righteous is the tree of life.[10]

Unfortunately, Adam and Eve rebelled and rejected the Sovereign LORD God’s fellowship and command by obeying Satan’s false and deceiving commands, which led to the Great Fall of all humankind and the breaking of communion with God in the Garden of Eden.[11] Adam and Eve tried to obtain their wisdom apart from the Sovereign LORD God and doubted God’s wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness.[12] The rebellion and disobedience against the Sovereign LORD God’s command by Adam and Eve affected the whole course of human history and the beginning of sinful humanity, the earth’s curse, and human death.[13] The world, once a place of joy, goodness, harmony, and fellowship with the Sovereign LORD God in paradise (Garden of Eden), became a place of fear, curses with thorns and thistles, and death.[14] Submitting to Satan’s temptation and rebellion against the Sovereign LORD God always results in death and cuts the sinner off from the Sovereign LORD God’s goodness and life.[15] However, the Sovereign LORD God gave Adam and Eve some Good News that His Son Christ Jesus – the Second Adam – would crush Satan’s head – a victory all believers in Jesus share.[16] Only through the Sovereign LORD God’s redemption in His Son Christ Jesus does everyone have access again to the tree of life and unity with Him.[17]

b.  Restoring the Garden of Eden 

The rest of the Holy Bible is the living Sovereign LORD God’s attempt to walk and dwell with His creation in fellowship and communion with this Holy Presence, like the Garden of Eden.[18] The Sovereign LORD God has been trying to have fellowship and communion among His people with His Holy Presence on earth, starting with Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and his sons Isaac and Jacob, and then Jacob’s twelve sons – Israel.[19] Thus, the Sovereign LORD God created Cain and Abel. However, Cain did evil and sinned against the Sovereign LORD God by failing to do goodness and murdered his brother Abel.[20] Then, the Sovereign LORD God created Seth, Enoch, and Noah to walk before Him in obedience and righteousness.[21] However, the earth became filled with evil and wickedness as the people lived in rebellion, corruption, and violence towards one another, which grieved the Sovereign LORD God’s heart.[22] Therefore, the Sovereign LORD God sent the Great Flood to cleanse His creation with renewal and restarted humanity with righteous Noah and his three sons – Shem, Ham, and Japheth.[23] All world nations proceed from Noah’s three sons – Shem, Ham, and Japhet.[24]

Then, the Sovereign LORD God called Abraham (Abram), a descendant of Shem, from the land of Ur so Abraham and Abraham’s family – Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and Jacob’s twelve sons – to proclaim His Kingdom message and His blessings to all the peoples on earth.[25] Abraham’s heart was found to be faithful towards the Sovereign LORD God, and He made an everlasting covenant with Abraham to give Abraham and his descendants the Promised Land (Israel-Palestine) to make the land like the original Garden of Eden.[26] The Sovereign LORD God commanded and chose Father Abraham to teach and command his children (descendants) after him to keep His ways by doing what is good and righteous and to walk before Him blamelessly.[27] Then, the Sovereign LORD God sent Jacob and his children into Egypt, and He used Jacob’s son, Joseph, as the savior of His people, Israel.[28] While in Egypt, Jacob’s children became enslaved at the hands of the Egyptians.[29] The Sovereign LORD God heard the cries of His people Israel, and He visited earth during the first Exodus.[30] By His grace, the Sovereign LORD God redeemed and delivered His people Israel from Egyptian slavery so they would be His kingdom of priests and a holy nation and proclaim His commands, decrees, and regulations to the world.[31]

The Sovereign LORD God called His son Israel to obey Him and proclaim His covenant message to the world as His Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.[32] The Sovereign LORD God instructed Israel through His servant Moses at Mount Sinai (Horeb) His commands, decrees, and regulations.[33] The heart of God’s commands, decrees, and regulations are His Ten Commandments – the Covenant.[34] Unfortunately, Israel and her sister Judah (southeastern Israel) could never fully obey the Sovereign LORD God and His covenant message, and they were eventually exiled from His Promised Land (Israel-Palestine) as foretold by the prophet Moses.[35] The Sovereign LORD God loved Israel and Judah, and repeatedly raised up His holy prophets to encourage and warn His people to wholeheartedly repent and return to Him, flee idolatry (the worship of other gods), and obey His covenant commands.[36] The holy prophets of God instructed Israel and Judah to have wholehearted faithfulness and love for the Sovereign LORD God and have faith in His holy prophets to find life and success.[37] However, Israel and her sister Judah angered the Sovereign LORD God and turned to idolatry (worship of other gods) and rebellion against His commandments.[38] Because of Israel and Judah’s repeated evil and disobedience, Israel and Judah experienced the Sovereign LORD God’s wrath with the Great Exile and destruction of Israel by the Assyrian army in 722 BC and the destruction of Judah along with the Jerusalem Temple built by King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army in 586 BC.[39] Israel and Judah spent seventy (70) years in captivity, and they were exiled from the Promised Land (Israel-Palestine) as predicted by the Law of God and the prophet Jeremiah, and the land enjoyed a Sabbath rest.[40]

In the Holy Bible, the Sovereign LORD God Almighty blessed Israel, and no one could curse nor condemn His blessed servant, Israel.[41] Israel is called the firstborn son of God.[42] Jerusalem is the apple of the Sovereign LORD God’s eye, and He loves Jerusalem with a jealous and affectionate love more than any other city in all the world.[43] Abraham and his descendants Isaac and Jacob (Israel) are blessed and favored by the LORD God Almighty.[44] Everyone who blesses Israel is blessed, and everyone who curses Israel is cursed.[45] The Sovereign LORD God loved His chosen people and was jealous of their affection and wholehearted devotion to Him.[46] The Israelites were chosen by the living LORD God for adoption as His firstborn children.[47] Moreover, the people of Israel received the LORD God’s covenant – the Ten Commandments, His glory, and His eternal promises.[48] From the Israelites came Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.[49]

In 539 BC, the Sovereign LORD God allowed Cyrus, the king of the Persians, to capture and defeat the Babylonians.[50]Israel and Judah were saved and returned from Babylonian exile into the covenant Promised Land (Israel-Palestine), and they rebuilt the Sovereign LORD God’s Temple and the Jerusalem wall by the Holy Spirit’s power under the leadership of such great men and women as Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Zerubbabel, and Joshua.[51] The restoration prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, through the Holy Spirit of God, were central in helping the returned exiles to rebuild the Temple of God and restore their allegiance and devotion to the Sovereign LORD God and His covenant message because the Messiah (Christ) was coming.[52] The Second Temple was rebuilt and completed in 516 BC and the Jerusalem wall was finalized by Nehemiah in 445 BC.[53] The restored Israel and Judah still awaited the “new covenant,” predicted by the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Joel with the arrival of His Holy Spirit that would write the Sovereign LORD God’s covenant on their inner hearts and not stone tablets.[54] For four centuries, Israel awaited the Messiah (Christ) as they suffered under foreign rule by the Persians, Greeks, and Roman governments. 

c.  Covenants of Hope

In the Old Testament, the Sovereign LORD God announced several covenants to restore the original relationship in the Garden of Eden.[55] The word covenant means the same as testament: an agreement between God and humanity.[56] The Sovereign LORD God’s plan to redeem and restore His people is progressively revealed through His covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and His holy prophets. The covenant promises to Noah, Abraham, David, and the holy prophets pointed forward to Jesus the Messiah-King.[57] The Holy Scriptures declare that the Sovereign LORD God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the holy prophets are eternal and not obsolete even with the coming of Jesus and His sacrificial death for the sins of the world.

The first recorded covenant was the Noahic covenant found in Genesis 9:8-17. The Sovereign LORD God’s covenant with righteous Noah and his descendants extended to all humankind and the Sovereign LORD God’s unconditional promise never to destroy all earthly life through a flood.[58] The heavenly rainbow in the storm cloud is the Sovereign LORD God’s everlasting covenant sign not to destroy the earth through another flood.[59]

Then, the Sovereign LORD God made covenants to Father Abraham. With the Abrahamic covenant, the Sovereign LORD God promised Abraham and his descendants a land (Canaan – Palestine), a nation (Israel), and that Abraham would be a blessing to ALL PEOPLE so the descendants of Abraham would wholeheartedly do righteousness and justice.[60] The Sovereign LORD God instructed Abraham to leave His country to go to His Promised Land (Israel-Palestine).[61] The Sovereign LORD God gave Abraham an unconditional promise to bless Abraham and his descendants, and in Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed.[62] Then, the Sovereign LORD God promised to give the land of Canaan – the Promised Land – to Abraham and his descendants.[63] Afterward, the Sovereign LORD God gave Abraham a conditional divine pledge to be His God and the God of Abraham’s descendants if Abraham and his descendants would be wholeheartedly devoted to Him and walk blamelessly before Him.[64] The Sovereign LORD God symbolized His promise by circumcision – an act that symbolized separation from sin and holiness to God.[65] Abraham believed in the Sovereign LORD God’s covenant promises and faithfully obeyed His promises by submitting to the covenant sign of circumcision.[66]

Later, the Sovereign LORD God made a conditional divine promise to Israel at Mount Sinai to be Israel’s God and Protector and bless Israel if Israel wholeheartedly obeyed Him and His Kingdom Law.[67] Under the terms of Moses’ covenant, the living Sovereign LORD God promised to be Israel’s God – Protector and Defender – and Israel promised to be wholeheartedly faithful and obedient.[68] Israel’s obedience and faithfulness to the Sovereign LORD God and His covenant meant blessings and life, while disobedience resulted in God’s wrath and curses.[69]

The goal of God’s Old Testament Mount Sinai covenant, the Tabernacle, then the Temple, and His Son Jesus was the living Sovereign LORD God’s attempt to dwell in fellowship and communion with His creation.[70] Even after sin entered the world because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion, the Sovereign LORD God pursued a relationship with His creation by sending His holy prophets, priests, kings, and finally His Son Jesus.[71] Now, through faith and obedience to His Son Jesus, we can be united with the Sovereign LORD God and come boldly into His Presence to find His grace and mercy because Jesus is God with us - Emmanual.[72]

Then, the Sovereign LORD God’s covenant promise to David and his family was an eternal throne and kingdom to rule Israel forever.[73] The Sovereign LORD God made an unconditional divine promise to David to establish and maintain the Davidic dynasty on the throne of Israel.[74] The New Testament sees the Sovereign LORD God’s promise to King David fulfilled in His Son, Jesus the Messiah (Christ) – the son of David and King of kings forever.[75]

Finally, the covenant Sovereign LORD God made an unconditional divine promise to Israel in the Old Testament to forgive her sins and establish His relationship with Israel through repentance with a new covenant by writing His Law on their inner hearts and giving them a new heart and spirit—a covenant of pure grace—through the Holy Spirit.[76] The Sovereign LORD God has always wanted obedience from His people and have His Law within their hearts.[77]

d.  Jesus the New Adam  

The Sovereign LORD God placed Adam and Eve and then Israel in His sanctuary—the Garden of Eden and the Promised Land. However, both Adam and Eve and Israel failed to be faithful and obedient to God, and God expelled Adam and Eve and later Israel from His sanctuary.[78] Here is the Good News! Jesus is the Second Adam and New Israel from heaven, bringing our new spiritual life, holiness, and salvation from heaven.[79] Jesus restores what Adam and Eve lost! 

Unlike Adam, Eve, and Israel, who rebelled and disobeyed God, Jesus was faithful and obedient to His Holy Father—the Sovereign LORD God.[80] Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant—the true Offspring of Abraham, who brings the Sovereign LORD God’s blessings to all the world.[81]  Everyone who trusts and obeys Christ Jesus is one with God and is considered Abraham’s seed (offspring) and heir to the covenant promises through the new covenant.[82]

Jesus is the perfect Son of Abraham and David who never rebelled and disobeyed His Father – the Sovereign LORD God, and He fully obeyed His Father even in hunger, weakness, and suffering.[83] The Sovereign LORD God announced from heaven that Jesus was His Son, and everyone must listen to Jesus because He gave Jesus all authority and power on heaven and earth.[84] During His public ministry on earth, Jesus taught and depended upon but, even more importantly, obeyed His Holy Father, the Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth, and not His power and will for His provision and needs to complete the work His Holy Father had given Him to do while on earth.[85] In addition, Jesus relied upon the Law of His Holy Father to sustain Himself during Satan’s testing and temptation allowed by His Holy Father while in the wilderness.[86] Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover and other festivals found in the Law of His Holy Father, including the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah created by Maccabees during the intertestamental period between the Old and New Testaments.[87] Because of Jesus’s faithfulness and obedience, the Sovereign LORD God has placed His seal of approval – the Holy Spirit of God – upon His Son, Jesus.[88] Christ Jesus is the Redeemer from God and the Second Adam promised to Adam and Eve, and He has defeated Satan and saved God’s people.[89] The Sovereign LORD God continued love and mercy for His people – Israel and her sister Judah, and He saved a descendant of David to remain King of Israel.[90] From Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s son – Judah, the Sovereign LORD God produced kings, including King David and Jesus the Messiah – the eternal King and Savior of the World.[91]

e.  Hope of Eden Restored

One day, the living Sovereign LORD God will create a new heaven and new earth, and earth will be restored to the days of Eden before the Fall of humankind.[92] The Sovereign LORD God will make all things new.[93] Believers of Jesus’s newness that began with their confession of trust and faith in Christ Jesus is finally realized in the new heaven and earth.[94] Furthermore, the new heaven and new earth represent the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that the Sovereign LORD God will create new heavens and new earth.[95]

In the new heaven and earth, the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus the Lamb will live among His people face to face, and He will be with them forever in paradise – Eden Restored.[96] The book of Revelation gives the most intimate picture of Emmanuel – God with us and God’s faithful and holy people in continual fellowship and communion as initially intended in the Garden of Eden.[97] The world’s kingdoms will become the Kingdom of God and His Son, Christ Jesus the Lamb.[98] In paradise, the Sovereign LORD God will eliminate the curse and the fatal infections of evil that began with the Great Fall of Adam and Eve’s rebellion and sin against the Sovereign LORD God in Genesis.[99] The living Sovereign LORD God promises no more pain, hunger, brokenness, tears, death, or mourning because He will eliminate all death and the curse on humanity and the earth that started with Adam and Eve’s rebellion and sin against Him and His command.[100]

In paradise, the Sovereign LORD God and His Son the Lamb will give everyone thirsty and hungry an outpouring of divine food and the Holy Spirit – the spring of living water.[101] The spring of living water will flow freely from the throne of the living Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus the Lamb.[102] This spring of living water was the same water that brought new life to creation in the Garden of Eden.[103] Significantly, the New Jerusalem contains the tree of life seen initially in the Garden of Eden.[104] The tree of life will bring forth continual fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree will heal the nations.[105] Everyone who walks in holiness and faithfulness to the Sovereign LORD God and Jesus the Lamb has access to the tree of life and the New Jerusalem in the Paradise of God.[106]

In the new heaven and new earth, there is a New Jerusalem – Eden Restored. The New Jerusalem is a glorious Holy City and the Bride of the Lamb (Christ).[107] The Holy City of the New Jerusalem will shine with the glory of God and brilliance like precious jewels, and there will be no more nights.[108] The New Jerusalem does not need a sun or moon to shine because the glory of God gives the Holy City light, and this everlasting light is the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Jesus the Lamb – the Light of the world.[109] The gates surrounding the New Jerusalem have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the city wall has twelve foundations written with the names of the twelve apostles of Jesus the Lamb.[110] The Holy City was made of pure gold with precious metals and a perfect cube (square) like the Most Holy Place of the original Tabernacle and the Temple.[111] In the New Jerusalem, there is no Temple because the living Sovereign LORD God Almighty and His Son Jesus the Lamb are the Temple.[112] The Sovereign LORD God’s promise to Abraham is fulfilled as the nations will walk in God’s light and blessings.[113] God’s holy people of every tribe, nation, and tongue will continually serve and worship the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus the Lamb.[114] Everyone who remains wholeheartedly faithful to the Sovereign LORD God and Jesus the Lamb with a pure heart cleansed by Jesus’s blood will be called His children, and they will shine with God’s glory and holiness, reigning with Him forever and forever.[115] Blessed are those who have been washed clean and made holy through our repentance with confession in Jesus’s sacrificial death and blood for their sins.[116]

At the end of the book of Revelation, the original Sinai covenant given to Moses is fulfilled. In the Holy City, the people will be righteous and holy, and there is no unrepentant cowards, rebellion against parents, murder, lies, stealing, envy, coveting, sorcery, and witchcraft, and importantly everyone exclusively worships the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Jesus the Lamb.[117] Nothing impure, unholy, nor Satan’s evildoers live inside the Holy City, but only those who remained wholeheartedly faithful and true to Jesus the Lamb and are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.[118] Chief features of the Holy City are truth, justice, and goodness as the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Christ Jesus is truth, justice, and goodness.[119] Everyone who has rejected Christ Jesus’s love and forgiveness and followed Satan’s darkness and evildoing will experience the final death, condemnation, and God’s curse.[120] Notably, the book of Revelation viewed all unrepentant liars and deceivers as the root of sin because Satan is a deceiver and father of lies who deceives and tricks the nations.[121] However, everyone that has repented of their sins and walked faithfully to the Sovereign LORD God and His Son Jesus the Lamb in word and deed will receive everlasting blessings and reward.[122] God’s grace saves us through faith in Christ Jesus, but our good works and loving deeds reveal our faithfulness and obedience to the Sovereign LORD God and His Son, Christ Jesus.[123] Jesus has called EVERYONE to repent, turn from Satan’s evildoing and dark deeds, and sin no more, and instead walk in God’s salvation, goodness, and light.[124] Significantly, Jesus does not want anyone to stay in slavery and bondage to Satan’s darkness, lies, and sins that lead to destruction and eternal death.[125] Everyone who loves and obeys Christ Jesus and His teaching will NEVER see eternal death and separation from Him.[126]

f.  Conclusion

Genesis began with the Sovereign LORD God in paradise with His creation without sin and evil, and Revelation ends with Him once again in paradise with His creation without sin and evil.[127] The Sovereign LORD God will remove His enemies – Satan, night, death, and evil – that entered the storyline in Genesis 3 so that the new heaven and new earth will return to paradise – Eden Restored.[128] One day, the new heavens and a new earth will be created and filled with Jesus’s light and righteousness and none of Satan’s evil and darkness.[129] All of creation and the seas, rivers, and mountains will praise the Sovereign LORD God when His Son Jesus the Lamb returns in the Glory Cloud with His holy angels with great power and His reward to bring the earth’s restoration – Eden Restored.[130] Come Lord Jesus come! 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN. Revelation 22:21

 

[1] Genesis 3:8-10.

[2] Genesis 1:1-2:25; see also 1 John 1:1-3.

[3] See e.g., Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-25; Genesis 3:19; Genesis 5:1-2; Genesis 9:6; see also 1 Chronicles 1:1; Psalm 146:4; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6; 1 Corinthians 11:8-12; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.

[4] See e.g., Genesis 2:7; Genesis 7:22; Job 33:4.

[5] See e.g., Genesis 3:20; Genesis 4:25; Genesis 5:1-5; 1 Chronicles 1:1; Hosea 6:7; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:15; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; Jude 1:14. 

[6] Genesis 1:31; see also Psalm 24:1-2; Psalm 65:9; Psalm 104:24; Psalm 136:5-9; Proverbs 3:19; Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 51:15; 1 Corinthians 10:26, 28; 1 Timothy 4:4.

[7] Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:5; Genesis 11:4, 6; see also Exodus 20:3-5; Leviticus 26:1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 43:7; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37; Luke 12:31; 1 John 5:21; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9.

[8] Genesis 1:26, 28; Genesis 2:8, 15; see also Psalm 8:6-8; Hebrews 2:5-9.

[9] See Genesis 2:9

[10] See Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30.

[11] Genesis 3:1-24; see also John 8:44; Romans 5:12-15, 19; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 1 John 3:8-10; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:7-10.

[12] See Genesis 3:1-5.

[13] Genesis 3:8-11, 16-19, 23-24; Genesis 5:29; see also Romans 5:12-21; Romans 8:20-22.

[14] See Genesis 1:31; Genesis 2:15; Genesis 3:17-19, 23; Genesis 5:29; Romans 8:20-22.

[15] See e.g., Psalm 1:4-6; Psalm 37:1-2; Proverbs 11:19; Ezekiel 18:4; Ezekiel 33:8-9; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:16, 23; James 1:14-15.

[16] Genesis 3:15; see also Romans 8:1; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; 1 John 5:4; Revelation 12:1-9, 17; Revelation 20:1-10. 

[17] Genesis 3:24; see also John 14:15-17, 21, 23; John 17:11, 21-23; Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2, 14, 19. 

[18] See e.g., Leviticus 26:3, 11-12; John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24.

[19] See Genesis 4:4-7, 25-26; Genesis 5:1-3, 23-24, 29-32; Genesis 6:8-9; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:1-7; Genesis 46:8-27.

[20] Genesis 4:1-8; see also 1 John 3:12-15. 

[21] See Genesis 5:1-4, 22-23, 29-32; Genesis 6:9; see also 1 Chronicles 1:1-4; Luke 3:36-38. 

[22] See Genesis 6:5-6, 11-13.

[23] See Genesis 6:6-9, 17; Genesis 8:15-17; Genesis 9:1; see also Hebrews 11:6. 

[24] Genesis 9:1, 18-19; Genesis 10:1, 32; see also 1 Chronicles 1:4-23.

[25] See e.g., Genesis 11:10, 26-27, 31; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:5, 21; Genesis 18:10. 14; Genesis 21:1-3; Genesis 25:9, 20-27; Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:23-26; see also Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Chronicles 1:24-28, 34; 1 Chronicles 2:1-2; Luke 3:34; Acts 7:1-8; Galatians 3:6-8; Hebrews 11:11-12. 

[26] See e.g., Genesis 15:6, 18-21; Genesis 22:1-3; Nehemiah 9:8; Romans 4:3, 9, 22.

[27] See e.g., Genesis 17:1-5; Genesis 18:19. 

[28] See Genesis 46:1-47:12; Genesis 50:19-20.

[29] See Exodus 1:1-2:25.

[30] See e.g., Exodus 2:23-25; Exodus 3:7-8.

[31] See Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 4:5-8.

[32] Exodus 4:22; Exodus 19:5-6; Exodus 20:1-18; Deuteronomy 4:5-9; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Nehemiah 9:9, 13; Hosea 11:1; Romans 7:12; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10.

[33] See Exodus 19:1 through Numbers 10:12.

[34] See Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21. 

[35] See e.g., Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Judges 2:11-14; 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Kings 25:1-21; 2 Chronicles 36:17-21; Nehemiah 9:16-38; Psalm 106:6-7; Jeremiah 44:1-30; Daniel 9:4-19; Acts 7:51-53; Acts 15:10. 

[36] See e.g., 2 Chronicles 24:19; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Jeremiah 3:6-19; Jeremiah 4:4, 14; Jeremiah 7:13, 25-26; Jeremiah 18:11; Jeremiah 25:3-7; Jeremiah 35:14-15; Jeremiah 44:4-6; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Ezekiel 33:10-11; Zechariah 1:4-6; Zechariah 7:7, 12.

[37] 1 Chronicles 28:9, 20; 2 Chronicles 7:13-15; 2 Chronicles 15:2; 2 Chronicles 20:20; see also Psalm 1:1-6; Isaiah 55:6-7; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Hosea 6:6; Joel 2:12-15; Amos 5:4, 6, 14-15; Micah 6:6-8. 

[38] See e.g., 2 Chronicles 24:18, 20, 24.

[39] 2 Kings 17:23; 2 Kings 25:1-26; see also 2 Chronicles 36:17-21; Jeremiah 25:8-11; Jeremiah 39:1-2, 8-10; Jeremiah 44:1-6, 9-14, 20-23; Jeremiah 52:3-30; Ezekiel 36:16-21. The Sovereign LORD God warned His people in His covenant – the Law – that their disobedience, idolatry, and rebellion against Him and His covenant would cause them to be exiled, scattered, and deported from His land (see Leviticus 26:27-39; Deuteronomy 28:64-68).

[40] Jeremiah 25:11-12; Jeremiah 29:10; see also Leviticus 26:14-43; 1 Chronicles 9:1; 2 Chronicles 36:21; Ezra 1:1; Daniel 9:2; Zechariah 1:12. 

[41] See e.g., Leviticus 25:55; Numbers 22:11-12; Numbers 23:7-8. 

[42] See e.g., Exodus 4:22-23; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1. 

[43] See e.g., Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 87:1-2; Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 2:8; Zechariah 8:3.

[44] See e.g., Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 10:15; Isaiah 51:1-2; Romans 9:6-13; Hebrews 11:8-12.

[45] See e.g., Genesis 12:3; Numbers 24:9.

[46] See e.g., Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24; Deuteronomy 5:9; Deuteronomy 6:15. In the New Testament, Jesus declared that everyone who accepts, loves, and obeys Him become part of His family and grafted into God’s people – Israel and Abraham’s seed (see e.g., Matthew 12:50; John 1:12-13; Luke 8:21; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:19-22). 

[47] See e.g., Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 7:6; Hosea 11:1; Jeremiah 31:9; Romans 9:4.

[48] See e.g., Exodus 40:34; Deuteronomy 4:13; 1 Kings 8:11; Romans 9:4.

[49] See e.g., Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Acts 13:23; Romans 9:5.

[50] See e.g., 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; Isaiah 44:28; Daniel 5:30.

[51] See e.g., Ezra 3:1-6:22; Nehemiah 1:1-6:19; Esther 4:14.

[52] See e.g., Haggai 1:1, 12; Haggai 2:4, 7; Zechariah 4:6; Zechariah 9:9-10; cf. Jeremiah 23:5-6. 

[53] See Ezra 6:13-15; Nehemiah 6:15-19.

[54] Jeremiah 31:31-34; Jeremiah 32:39-40; Ezekiel 11:18-21; Ezekiel 36:16-37:14; Joel 2:28-32; see also Exodus 19:16-18; Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 24:3-4, 12; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16, 19; Exodus 34:1-5, 27-29; Deuteronomy 4:11-13; Deuteronomy 5:22-24; Deuteronomy 10:1-5; Psalm 99:7; Acts 2:1-4, 17-21, 33, 38-40; Hebrews 8:8-13. Moses fasted forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai when he received the Law of God (Ten Commandments) from the Sovereign LORD God on the stone tablets written by God’s finger (see Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:9-10, 18).

[55] See Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008), p. 19.

[56] New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), p. 1324.

[57] See e.g., Matthew 1:1. 

[58] See e.g., Genesis 6:9; Genesis 8:21; Genesis 9:11; Isaiah 54:9.

[59] See e.g., Genesis 9:12-17.

[60] See e.g., Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 13:15-17; Genesis 15:5-6, 9-21; Genesis 17:1, 5-8; Genesis 18:17-19; Genesis 26:2-6, 12-16, 23-25; Genesis 28:13-14; Deuteronomy 4:9-10; Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:3-5; Psalm 106:3; Isaiah 51:1-2; Acts 3:25-26; Acts 7:3-5; Romans 4:11-12, 16; Galatians 3:26-29; Hebrews 11:8-12; James 2:17-20; James 4:7-8.

[61] See e.g., Genesis 12:1; Genesis 13:12; Acts 7:2-3; Hebrews 11:8-9.

[62] See e.g., Genesis 12:2-3; Deuteronomy 1:10; Deuteronomy 26:5; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8, 16.

[63] See e.g., Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:7-21, Genesis 17:7-8; Genesis 24:7; Genesis 26:3-4; Numbers 34:2; Deuteronomy 34:1-4; Joshua 1:1-4; Acts 7:5.

[64] See e.g., Genesis 17:1-14, 19, 21, 23-27; Genesis 18:19.

[65] See e.g., Genesis 17:9-14; Leviticus 12:3; Acts 7:8.

[66] See e.g., Genesis 17:1; Exodus 4:25-26; Exodus 12:44, 48. 

[67] See e.g., Exodus 19:1-24:7.

[68] See Exodus 19:1-23:33. 

[69] See e.g., Leviticus 26:1-46; Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Deuteronomy 30:19-20. 

[70] See e.g., Exodus 29:45-46; Leviticus 26:11-12; 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 7:14; Ezekiel 37:26-27; Matthew 1:23.

[71] See e.g., Hebrews 1:1-3.

[72] See e.g., Matthew 1:21, 23; Ephesians 2:8-10, 18-22; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 10:19; cf. Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:8, 10.

[73] 2 Samuel 7:5-16.; 1 Kings 8:16; see also Psalm 2:6-7; Psalm 89:25-27; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-35.

[74] See e.g., 2 Samuel 7:5-16.

[75] See e.g., Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:31-33, 69; Romans 1:3; Revelation 22:16.

[76] See e.g., Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:19-20; Ezekiel 18:31; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Ezekiel 37:24-26; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49; John 14:15-17, 26; John 15:26; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-4, 16-21, 33, 38-40; Romans 8:2-4; Hebrews 8:8-13; Romans 10:16-18.

[77] See e.g., 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 37:30-31; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 119:16, 24, 35, 92. 

[78] See Genesis 3:23-24; 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Kings 25:1-21; 2 Chronicles 36:17-21. 

[79] See e.g., John 3:3-8, 15-17; Romans 5:1-2, 12-21; Romans 1:7, 16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 1 Corinthians 15:45-50; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:3-8. 

[80] See e.g., Matthew 6:10; Matthew 26:39, 42; John 5:30; John 6:38; John 14:31; Romans 5:15; Philippians 2:8.

[81] Matthew 1:1; see also Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 22:17-18; Galatians 3:16.

[82] See e.g., John 14:15-17, 21, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:26-29. 

[83] Matthew 1:1; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; Romans 1:3-4; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16; cf. 1 Kings 2:1-4; 1 Kings 8:25; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:10; Ezekiel 37:23-24.

[84] See e.g., Matthew 3:17; Matthew 7:29; Matthew 10:1; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 17:5; Matthew 28:18; Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22; Luke 9:35; John 1:34; John 5:22, 27; John 17:2; Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 1:17.

[85] see e.g., John 3:34; John 4:34; John 5:19, 30; John 6:38; John 8:26-30; John 9:4; John 10:37-38; John 12:49-50; John 14:10, 24, 31; John 15:10-12; John 17:4; cf. Deuteronomy 18:18; Philippians 2:6-8.

[86] See e.g., Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; John 7:19; John 15:10.

[87] See e.g., John 2:13; John 5:1; John 6:4; John 7:2; John 10:22; John 13:1-2.

[88] John 6:27; see also Genesis 15:6; John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24, 31; Romans 4:9-11; Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Revelation 7:2-3.

[89] See e.g., Genesis 3:15; Luke 1:31-35; Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 1 John 5:5.

[90] 2 Kings 25:27-30; see also 2 Samuel 7:12-16.

[91] Genesis 49:8-10; see also Numbers 24:17; Ruth 4:18-22; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; 1 Chronicles 17:12-14; Psalm 2:7; Psalm 89:26-27, 30; Psalm 132:11; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 1:1-6, 16-17, 21, 23; Matthew 2:2; Luke 1:31-35; Luke 3:23, 31, 34; John 4:42; 1 John 4:14; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16.

[92] Revelation 21:1-22:5; see also 2 Peter 3:13.

[93] Revelation 21:5; see also Genesis 1:1.

[94] See e.g., 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15-16.

[95] See Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22.

[96] Revelation 21:3; Revelation 22:3-4; see also Leviticus 26:11-12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27; Zechariah 2:10; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 John 3:2-3.

[97] Revelation 22:3; see also Matthew 1:23; John 1:14. 

[98] See Revelation 11:15.

[99] Revelation 22:3; see also Genesis 3:14-19; Zechariah 14:11.

[100] Revelation 7:16-17; Revelation 20:14-15; Revelation 21:4; Revelation 22:3-5; see also Genesis 3:17; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 60:20; Isaiah 65:19-20; Zechariah 14:11; Romans 8:19-22; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54-55.

[101] Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:1, 17; see also Psalm 36:9; Isaiah 55:1-2; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Zechariah 14:8; John 4:10, 14; John 6:32-35; John 7:37-39. 

[102] See Revelation 22:1.

[103] See Genesis 2:8-14.

[104] Revelation 22:2, 14; see also Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22, 24.

[105] Revelation 22:2; see also Ezekiel 47:12.

[106] See Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2, 14.

[107] See Revelation 19:7-9; Revelation 21:2, 9-11, 27.

[108] Revelation 21:10-11, 23, 25; Revelation 22:5; see also Isaiah 60:1-2.

[109] Revelation 21:23-24, 27; Revelation 22:5; see also Exodus 40:34; Psalm 36:9; Isaiah 24:23; Isaiah 60:19-20; Zechariah 2:5; John 1:4-5; John 3:19; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:35-36; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 1:5.

[110] Revelation 21:12-14; see also Ezekiel 48:30-35; Ephesians 2:20. 

[111] See Revelation 21:16-21.

[112] Revelation 21:22; see also John 4:21, 23.

[113] Revelation 21:24-25; see also Genesis 12:3.

[114] See Revelation 4:1-5:14; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 22:3.

[115] Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4, 6; Revelation 21:7, 9-11; Revelation 22:5; see also Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 60:12-14; Daniel 7:13-14, 18, 27; Matthew 5:8; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10.

[116] Revelation 3:4-5; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:9-10, 14; Revelation 19:13; Revelation 22:14; see also Acts 4:10-12; Acts 13:38-39; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 1:7; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22.

[117] Revelation 21:7-8, 27; Revelation 22:14-15; see also Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Isaiah 60:21; Matthew 5:21, 27; Matthew 19:17-19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 1:29-31; Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 6:2-3; James 2:10-11. 

[118] Revelation 14:4-5; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 21:7, 27; Revelation 22:3, 14-15; see also Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:3-5; Isaiah 60:21; Joel 3:17; Zechariah 8:8; Matthew 5:1-12; Mark 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5; Philippians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Hebrews 3:6, 14; Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 12:14.

[119] John 1:14, 16-17; John 4:24; John 14:6, 15-17; see also Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 1:15-17; Isaiah 60:1-22; Isaiah 65:16; Jeremiah 9:23-24.

[120] Revelation 20:7-15; see also John 3:16-18, 35-36; Romans 1:29-32; 1 Corinthians 16:22; 2 Timothy 3:2-5; Jude 1:14-15.

[121] Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2-3, 7-8; Revelation 21:8; see also Genesis 3:1-7; John 8:44; 1 John 2:4.

[122] Revelation 2:21-23; Revelation 11:18; Revelation 20:12-13; Revelation 22:12; see also Proverbs 24:12; Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 62:11; Matthew 16:27; John 2:23-25; 2 Corinthians 5:10.

[123] See e.g., Matthew 5:1-16; Matthew 7:14-27; Luke 6:47-49; John 8:39-41; John 13:34-35; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26.

[124] See e.g., Matthew 4:17; Matthew 5:13-16; Mark 1:14-15; John 1:4-5; John 3:16-21, 35-36; John 5:14; John 8:11-12; 2 Corinthians 7:1, 9-11; Philippians 2:12-15; 1 John 3:3.

[125] See e.g., John 8:21, 23, 31-32, 34, 44; Romans 6:16, 19, 23; cf. Ezekiel 18:4.

[126] See e.g., John 5:24; John 8:51; John 11:25-26.

[127] See Genesis 1:1-2:25; Revelation 21:1-22:5.

[128] Revelation 20:7-10, 14; Revelation 21:8, 25, 27; Revelation 22:5, 15; see also 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5.

[129] See e.g., Isaiah 60:19-21; Isaiah 65:17-18; Isaiah 66:22-23; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1, 7-8, 23, 27; Revelation 22:5. 

[130] Revelation 22:12; see also Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30-31; Mark 8:38; Mark 14:61-62; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

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