Inspiring overview

Alexander’s book uses Revelation 20-22 as a window on the Bible’s ‘meta-story’, particularly drawing connections with Genesis 1-3. This proves to be a most effective ‘way in’ to unpack the overall message of the Bible, since the Revelation chapters bring to resolution many of the great themes which dominate Scripture. Thus: (1) the garden city of Revelation 21 is compared with Eden, and resolves the theme of God’s presence with his people; (2) God’s throne points to God’s rule, delegated to Adam and Eve, rebelled against, and gradually re-established in OT Israel and the NT church; (3) the demise of Satan is predicted in God’s curse of the serpent; (4) Christ, the Slain Lamb, points back to the Passover, and the concepts of atonement, purification and sanctification; (5) Jerusalem, the holy city, leads into an extended discussion of holiness; also the prospect of social and ecological transformation; (6) the gates and foundations, corresponding to Israel’s 12 tribes and the 12 apostles, point to the unity of Old and New Testaments; finally the tale of two cities (New Jerusalem and Babylon) is traced back into Isaiah.

Phil Heaps