Two Bookends: Gen 1:1 and Rev 21:1

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…

These two passages reveal the wholeness and completeness of the Bible.  The 66 books of the Bible as we know it today tell one complete story. While most of the Bible is focused on God redeeming the people of the world from evil, it is only one step in completing His original purpose- a perfect universe that brings glory and honor to Him. Seeing that Revelation finishes what Genesis began is the most compelling evidence that Scripture is complete. Here are just a few of the bookend events and descriptions:

In the early chapters of Genesis we read

1.Creation of the universe	Gen 1-2
2.Evil enters and tempts mankind	Gen 3
3.People follow the evil one	Gen 3

God addresses these issues in reverse order        

3. God redeems people	Gen 3 – Rev 19
2. God removes the evil one	Rev 20
1. God’s creation presented perfect and complete	Rev 21

The Lord God Almighty could have easily removed the evil one and been done a long time ago. But the story of the Bible is a testament to the greatness of God. People individually choose to follow Him in spite of all kinds of obstacles and hindrances. Challenged by Satan for the hearts of men, God succeeds. But there is more – God not only passes the challenge, He surpasses it, and He demonstrates to all of creation His supreme power, His divine justice, and His extreme love – and He does it without ever compromising His holiness.