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In this chapter we will consider the first two chapters of Genesis and the last two chapters of Revelation. These four chapters present an important vision. Regrettably, most people do not see the vision contained in these chapters. Many books that expound the Bible have been written, but it is difficult to find a book concerning the vision in these four chapters of the Bible. In other words, the vision in these four chapters has been hidden and closed to man for almost two thousand years.
Once, in a meeting we said that the tree of life signifies God coming to be man’s life. A Western missionary who had labored in China for many years was present in that meeting. She told me that she had never heard anyone say this and that she had never read this in a book. For two thousand years chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis and chapters 21 and 22 of Revelation have been closed to man.
What is presented at the beginning and the end of the Bible? If we have received revelation from the Lord, we will know that the first two chapters of Genesis are consistent with the last two chapters of Revelation. We can also know that from Genesis 3 through Revelation 20 there is a big “detour.” We can illustrate this with a line. The first segment of the line represents the first two chapters of Genesis, and the following segment represents the last two chapters of Revelation. These two segments should form one straight line. However, beginning from Genesis 3 the line veers off and does not become straight again until after Revelation 20. Genesis 3 through Revelation 20 is a detour. The first two chapters of Genesis should have been connected directly to the last two chapters of Revelation.
An example of a big detour is the journey of the children of Israel from Egypt into Canaan. The children of Israel could have entered Canaan shortly after they left Egypt. However, because of their evil heart of unbelief at Kadesh-barnea, they made a detour that lasted for almost forty years (Deut. 1:19-40; Num. 14:1-3, 26-34). The extra time that they spent in the wilderness was a detour. Similarly, there is a detour in the Bible, beginning in Genesis 3 and continuing to Revelation 20. It is difficult to find a spiritual book concerning the beginning and ending chapters of the Bible. Most books cover the content of Genesis 3 through Revelation 20 and hence concern only the detour. Many believers are at a loss concerning the first two chapters of the Bible, and they are not clear concerning the last two chapters. It is hard to find a book in Christianity concerning these four chapters of the Bible. Hence, here we will consider the revelation contained in these four chapters of the Bible.
The revelation in the beginning two chapters and the ending two chapters of the Bible is extremely important. The vision of God’s plan and the accomplishment of His plan in the universe are contained in these four chapters. We may have read the first two chapters of Genesis, but we may not be clear concerning the focus of these two chapters. Most theologians and Bible scholars say that these two chapters concern creation. If God opens our eyes, we will see that these two chapters do not emphasize creation. The first two chapters of Genesis are concerning four things: life, image, dominion, and a bride. Among these four items life is the unique cause; the remaining three items are the issue of life. God’s entering into man to be life brings in three issues. First, life causes man to have God’s image in order to be like God; second, life subjects man to God’s authority so that man can have dominion for God; third, life makes man God’s counterpart, God’s bride, to be joined to God (1:26-28; 2:18, 21-24). This is the revelation contained in the first two chapters of Genesis.
The first two chapters of Genesis are a picture that portrays God’s intention. If we would receive light and look at this picture with a sober mind, we will understand that God’s intention is to be man’s food in order to enter into man and be man’s life. This is indicated by God’s putting Adam in front of the tree of life (2:8-9). Man will experience three issues when he is mingled with God. Man will have God’s image to be God’s expression. Man will be the means by which God has dominion on the earth; he will be subject to God’s dominion and will be able to represent God’s dominion. Man will also become God’s bride in order to be out of God, unto God, and joined to God. This is the revelation presented in the first two chapters of Genesis. If a person sees only God’s creation of the heavens, the earth, all things, and man in these two chapters, he sees only the background, not the main object. A painting has both a main object and a background. The purpose of the background is to bring out the main object. However, people often pay attention to the background while neglecting the main object.
The first two chapters of Genesis contain many details concerning creation. These details are a background for the main object, which is the divine life. God created all things in order to gain a realm, and He created man in order to gain a corporate vessel. God wants to enter into man as food in order to be man’s life and constituent so that man may be transformed in nature. This is indicated by the precious materials in the river that went forth from Eden (2:10-12). Thus, man will possess God’s image to express God, and man will be subject to God’s authority to be a means for God to have dominion. Furthermore, man will be God’s counterpart to be joined to God. This is indicated by Eve being Adam’s counterpart (vv. 22-23). This vision concerning God’s eternal intention is revealed in the first two chapters of Genesis. The picture portrayed in these two chapters shows what God wants to accomplish in the universe. Hence, these two chapters can be considered as a blueprint, or plan, that God will fulfill.
In the first verse of chapter 3 God’s adversary, Satan, came in to frustrate God’s plan by bringing sin into man, the vessel that God intended to use. Thus, beginning from chapter 3 there is a detour in which Satan, sin, the world, the lust of the flesh, and negative things come in. Genesis 3 through Revelation 20 is a detour that includes Satan, sin, the world, and the flesh. At the end of Revelation God comes in to judge Satan, sin, the world, and the flesh; He also judges the issue of these four items—death (20:14). When these problems are solved, the whole universe is restored. Ultimately, in the last two chapters of Revelation there is a holy city, New Jerusalem, the wife of the Lamb (21:2, 9). This city is joined to God as one in Christ and is full of God’s image, shining forth God’s glory and light (vv. 10-11, 23).
In the city is the throne of God and of the Lamb. The city is under God’s dominion and thus is the means by which God exercises His dominion. The river of water of life proceeds out of the throne, and on both sides of the river grows the tree of life (22:1-2). In the New Jerusalem God has accomplished the plan that is revealed in the first two chapters of Genesis. His original plan will be worked out. The life of God is the intrinsic factor of the New Jerusalem. This life is always flowing, and it issues in a group of people who are full of God’s image to be His corporate expression and who are under His throne to be the means by which He exercises dominion. These people are also God’s counterpart; they are out of God, unto God, and joined to God.
We must see that the first two chapters and the last two chapters of the Bible are the main line of the Bible; the rest of the chapters are the secondary line. Satan initiated the secondary line and brought in sin, which produced the flesh and the world. The final result of Satan, sin, the flesh, and the world is death. Genesis 3 through Revelation 20 is mainly concerning these five matters. Satan, sin, the flesh, the world, and death are frustrations to the Lord’s work in the universe that He created, and God is using various means to deal with them. The lengthy portion from Genesis 3 to Revelation 20 concerns the history of God’s fight with Satan, sin, the flesh, the world, and death. These five matters have been causing trouble in God’s universe and frustrating God’s plan, but God has not given up. At the end of the Bible God deals with these five things: He judges the world, the flesh, sin, and Satan and destroys death. Then the detour ends, and God’s plan is accomplished.
For two thousand years few in Christianity have remained on the main line. Most Christians have focused on the things in the detour. Few have touched the main items of God’s plan. Most people gloss over the items in the first two chapters of Genesis but talk at length concerning the items in chapter 3, such as how Satan came in, how man sinned and fell, how man became flesh, and how God accomplished redemption. Concerning the book of Revelation, most Christians pay attention to the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the seven bowls, the great tribulation, and the second coming of the Lord Jesus, but they do not touch the last two chapters in depth. Christians have a clear view of the things in the detour and talk much about them, because the stories in the detour correspond to their human concepts. However, they do not have a clear view of the revelation in the beginning and the ending chapters of the Bible, because these four chapters are concerning God’s eternal intention, which is not according to human concepts.
Over the past few years the Lord has gradually been revealing to His church the vision in the first and last chapters of the Bible. We have been “imprisoned” by this vision; God wants to show us only this matter. When I muse upon God’s Word, I always come to the first two chapters of Genesis and the last two chapters of Revelation. We are not proud, but God has indeed opened these four chapters to us. We cannot say that we have not seen this vision. These four chapters of the Bible are shining brightly. Hence, we have no need to remain on the detour. For two thousand years the church has been on the detour and has wasted much time. In this last age God is bringing us back to the main line. We need to lead people according to God’s plan so that they may contact and enjoy God as life and also build up the church. As long as God’s life is operating in people, it will produce glorious results.
If we see the vision of the tree of life and are governed by this vision when we read the Bible, the Bible will become a new book to us. We will see the central line of the Bible and will discover that the Bible is concerning God being life. Even in the Old Testament there are many portions concerning God being life. For example, Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that Jehovah is good,” and Psalm 36:8 says, “They are saturated with the fatness of Your house, / And You cause them to drink of the river of Your pleasures.”
Psalm 23 is a description of God being man’s life. Many people have expounded on this psalm, but few have pointed out that there is a blessing in this psalm and that this blessing is God Himself. However, we know that the green pastures and the waters are God Himself (v. 2) and that both righteousness and the paths are God (v. 3). We also know that we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but God Himself is with us (v. 4). The table that we enjoy is God, the oil is God, and God is the blessing in the overflowing cup (v. 5). He is our goodness and lovingkindness, and He is also the house in which we dwell (v. 6). All the items in this psalm are God.
We can say this because of what the Lord Jesus said in John 10. In verse 11 the Lord said, “I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” In verse 10 He said, “I have come that they [men] may have life and may have it abundantly.” Thus, all the blessings that the Lord as the Shepherd gives to man depend on His becoming man’s life. Hence, the edible pastures, the drinkable waters, the paths of righteousness, the table spread before us in the presence of our adversaries, the oil on our head, the cup that runs over, goodness and lovingkindness, and the house of Jehovah are all God Himself. This exposition of the Bible is under the governing vision of the first two chapters of Genesis. Some may think that this is a different kind of exposition, but such an exposition is the only correct exposition of the Bible. Psalm 27 is also concerning God being our life. Here David says, “Jehovah is my light and my salvation” (v. 1). David does not say, “Jehovah gave me light and gave me salvation”; he says, “Jehovah is my light and my salvation.” These psalms indicate that the psalmists enjoyed God in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the psalmists spoke according to the vision in the first two chapters of Genesis and knew that God is food to be man’s life.
The New Testament also speaks concerning God becoming man’s enjoyment. In 1 Peter 2:2-3 Peter charges the believers, “As newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you may grow unto salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is good.” In 1 Corinthians 1:9 Paul says that the saints are called through God “into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” In verse 2 Paul says that Christ “is theirs and ours,” indicating that Christ is for us to enjoy.
In the four Gospels the Lord said numerous times that He is our enjoyment. In John 6:57 the Lord Jesus said, “He who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.” A person lives because of what he eats. The Lord is our food; hence, when we eat Him, we will live because of Him. When the Lord established His supper, He took bread and blessed it, and He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took a cup and gave thanks, and He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:26-28). These verses show that true remembrance of the Lord is to eat and drink Him.
Most saints think that to remember the Lord is to consider the Lord with the mind; they do not know how to eat and drink the Lord. In the bread-breaking meeting the saints often consider the Lord’s life and pray, “Lord, You were on the throne, but one day You became flesh and were born in a manger. Your path was from Bethlehem to Galilee, to Jerusalem, and finally to Golgotha, where You were crucified. On the third day You rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples for forty days to speak to them concerning the kingdom of God. Then You were lifted up into heaven from the Mount of Olives. You are now at the right hand of God interceding for us, and in the future You will bring us into glory.” Such prayers are no different in nature from the way most people remember the deeds of their ancestors. In Luke 22, however, the Lord took a loaf and gave thanks, and He broke it and gave it to the disciples and charged them, saying, “This is My body which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (v. 19). Hence, only eating and drinking the Lord are the proper way to remember Him.
If we truly see this vision, our understanding of the Bible will change, and our condition before the Lord will also change. We will set aside many items associated with the detour, which we have paid attention to in the past, and we will come to the tree of life to enjoy God. However, some may say that we need to deal with Satan, sin, the flesh, and the world because they entered into man and have become problems in man. It is true that man fell and has many problems, but God has already dealt with these problems. God entered into man through incarnation, and He dealt with Satan, sin, the flesh, and the world through crucifixion. The Lord then rose from the dead and was transfigured to become the life-giving Spirit. As a result, when a person obtains the Spirit, he immediately obtains everything that the Lord has passed through; such a person does not need to deal with Satan, sin, the flesh, or the world. As long as we enjoy the Lord and absorb Him, we will be in an organic union with Him. In this union the flesh is crucified, and sin and the world are dealt with. In this union we experience the glorious facts of death, resurrection, man entering into God, and man being joined to God. We do not need to deal with anything, because God has passed through the detour for us. Thus, we do not need to pass through the detour for ourselves; we simply accept everything that God has accomplished.
Many believers, including Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis, were not clear concerning what God has accomplished; therefore, they encouraged others to take a difficult detour of dying with the Lord. This is truly difficult because no matter how much man tries, he cannot die. In fact, the more he tries to die, the more alive and miserable he is (Rom. 7:19-20, 24). There is no need to endeavor or to struggle to experience our co-crucifixion with the Lord. For example, in demolishing a house, it would be laborious and exhausting to tear it down one brick at a time, but if we could drop a bomb on the house, it would be reduced to ashes. Similarly, in dealing with negative things, such as Satan, sin, the flesh, and the world, a clear vision of what the Lord has passed through is like a bomb. It solves all our problems, requiring nothing further from us.
We have experienced failure when we endeavor and struggle to live the Christian life. However, when we fellowship with the Lord, enjoy Him, and let Him fill us instead of making determinations to endeavor and struggle, there is a spontaneous outcome. For example, a sister who hears a message on humility realizes that humility is a Christian virtue and then desires to be humble. She, therefore, prays to the Lord for humility, determines to be humble, and pursues humility. Nevertheless, no matter how much effort she exerts, she cannot be humble. However, there may be another sister who has not heard a message on humility, has made no determination to be humble, and is not struggling to be humble. Rather, she lives in the Lord daily by eating, drinking, and enjoying Him. As a result, she is a very humble sister. She does not feel that she is humble, but all who contact her sense that she is very humble. She does not have a desire to be humble, but she has the reality of being humble, for her humility is God Himself who has filled her. This is also true concerning the experience of our co-crucifixion with the Lord. We must see that in the Spirit of resurrection there is the element of death, because the Lord has passed through death. As long as we enjoy the Lord, we will experience our co-crucifixion with Him. The Lord did not only become flesh; He died, resurrected, and was transfigured to become the life-giving Spirit. Hence, the elements of incarnation, death, and resurrection are in the Spirit. We need only to enjoy Him, and we will have all these elements.
We have repeatedly emphasized that the fact of our co-crucifixion in Romans 6 can be gained only in the Spirit of life in chapter 8. Reckoning ourselves as dead is ineffective, for such reckoning is but outward behavior that lacks the inward reality of life. However, if we live in the Spirit of life, eat, drink, and enjoy the Lord, and give the Spirit of life absolute freedom in us, the fact of our co-crucifixion with the Lord will be manifested spontaneously in us.
We need to see this revelation so that we no longer deal with sin and the flesh in ourselves. Such dealings are a part of the detour from Genesis 3 to Revelation 20. There is a shortcut in front of us, and this shortcut is the Lord Jesus. In John 14:6 the Lord said, “I am the way.” Through incarnation the Lord entered into man and was joined to man, and through death the Lord dealt with everything that opposes Him. Then He resurrected from the dead, became the life-giving Spirit, and entered into glory in order to enter into man. Hence, we need only to absorb Him and enjoy Him in order to experience our co-crucifixion with the Lord and our living together with the Lord. This is a shortcut.
The problem lies in our not seeing that the Triune God has come to be everything to us. We see doing and working. We see dealing with the flesh and reckoning ourselves as having been crucified with the Lord, but we do not see that God wants to be our life, nor do we see that we need only to enjoy Him. We lack such a vision. Ever since man ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the concept of doing and working has been deeply rooted in man. Those without a vision cannot rid themselves of this concept. Even “enjoying” God is hard work to them: they study how to enjoy God and how to eat and drink God. If we see that God wants to be our life, we will not ask how to eat, drink, or enjoy the Lord; rather, we will eat, drink, and enjoy Him.
The tree of life is sufficient for all our needs. It is the unique base. When this base gains ground in us, we will be God’s expression with His image, we will be the means for God to exercise dominion, and we will be joined to God as His counterpart. These are spontaneous issues. The brothers who minister the word in the different localities must avoid the atmosphere of merely teaching and expounding doctrine and of interpreting the Scriptures. Instead, we must learn to bring people to enjoy God, who was incarnated, died, resurrected, became the life-giving Spirit, and entered into us to be our life. If we will enjoy the Lord in such a way, the churches will have a solid and full expression.
