The Curse and the Kingdom-From sin’s grip to divine grace.

Correlations Between Genesis and Revelation Series

From the brokenness of creation to the perfect harmony of God’s kingdom—salvation is completed.

The connection between Genesis and Revelation is profound, illustrating a perfect symmetry in God's redemptive plan. Genesis begins with creation, a paradise where humanity lives in unbroken fellowship with God. However, sin quickly enters, bringing death and decay into the world. Revelation closes with a new creation, a new heaven and new earth, where the effects of sin are completely undone, and God once again dwells among His people without hindrance.

In Genesis, the curse affects every aspect of life—man’s work becomes toil, childbirth brings pain, relationships are strained, and creation itself is subjected to frustration (Romans 8:20-22). In Revelation, we see the consummation of God’s plan to redeem not just individuals but all of creation. The removal of the curse signifies that suffering, pain, and death are forever defeated. The Tree of Life, which was lost in the Garden of Eden, reappears in Revelation, symbolizing eternal life and the restoration of humanity's relationship with God (Revelation 22:2). You can read more about the Tree of Life in my article: The Tree of Life: From Eden’s Fall to Revelation’s Restoration: https://www.kingdomrevelations.com/post/the-tree-of-life-from-eden-s-fall-to-revelation-s-restoration-correlations-between-genesis-and-rev

In Genesis 3:17, after Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, God pronounces judgment on them, and part of that judgment includes a curse upon the ground: "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life." This curse signifies not only the fall of humanity but the impact of sin on all of creation. The once perfect and abundant earth now becomes a place of struggle, labor, and frustration. Humanity, designed to live in harmony with creation, is now forced to toil and endure hardship. This curse manifests in physical toil, sickness, natural disasters, and even death, as sin brings brokenness not just to human hearts but to the very world around them.

Revelation 22:3, on the other hand, brings forth the glorious hope of restoration: "No longer will there be any curse." In this final chapter of the Bible, we see the complete reversal of the curse pronounced in Genesis. The curse of sin, which resulted in death, pain, and the corruption of creation, is entirely lifted. In the new heaven and new earth, humanity is restored to the state of peace and harmony that existed before the fall. The world is no longer marred by sin and its devastating consequences. The relationship between God, humanity, and creation is fully restored, and the earth flourishes once again in its original beauty and perfection.

What Happens in Between: The Story of Redemption

What makes the connection between Genesis 3 and Revelation 22 so astounding is everything that happens in between these two bookends of Scripture. The journey from the curse of Genesis to the restoration of Revelation spans the entire biblical narrative—a story of God’s relentless pursuit of His creation and His plan to undo the effects of sin.

• The Promise of Redemption: In the midst of the curse, God gives the first promise of redemption. In Genesis 3:15, God foretells the coming of a Savior who will crush the serpent's head, even though the serpent will strike His heel. This points to Christ, who will ultimately defeat Satan and sin through His death and resurrection. The rest of the Bible unfolds the story of this promise.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22: "For since death came through a man, the resurrection from the dead has also come through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

• The Covenant with Abraham: God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising that through his descendants, all nations of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12:3). This covenant lays the foundation for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who will be the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to redeem humanity and reverse the curse.

• The Law and the Prophets: Throughout the Old Testament, God gives the Law to show humanity its sinfulness and its need for a Savior. The sacrificial system, the prophets, and the kings all point to the need for a greater redemption—a deliverance from the curse of sin that goes beyond human effort or law-keeping.

• The Coming of Christ: In the New Testament, the fulfillment of God's promise arrives in the person of Jesus Christ. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ takes upon Himself the full weight of the curse. On the cross, He bears the penalty of sin, suffering the ultimate curse—death—on behalf of humanity. Galatians 3:13 tells us, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” His resurrection from the dead marks the beginning of the undoing of the curse, as He conquers death and restores life.

• The In-Between Time: After Christ’s ascension, believers live in the “already but not yet” of God’s kingdom. The curse is partially lifted for those who are in Christ—spiritually, they are made new, but physically, the world still groans under the effects of sin. Paul describes creation as “waiting with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God” because it will be set free from its bondage to corruption (Romans 8:19-21). This period between Christ’s first and second coming is marked by the ongoing work of redemption, where the gospel spreads, and people are saved, but the full restoration has not yet come.

• The Final Restoration: In Revelation 22, the full and final restoration arrives. There is no more curse, no more death, no more suffering. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and God dwells with His people forever (Revelation 21:3-4). What began in Genesis as a garden now culminates in a city—a perfect, eternal dwelling place where humanity lives in perfect harmony with God and each other. Creation is healed, and the curse that began with sin in Eden is forever lifted.

The Significance of This Connection

What makes this connection so amazing is the completeness of God's redemptive work. The Bible is not just a series of random stories but a cohesive narrative where every piece fits together, revealing God’s plan to restore what was lost in Eden. The curse in Genesis is not the end of the story. Instead, it is the beginning of a long journey of redemption that leads to a glorious ending in Revelation.

The removal of the curse is significant because it signifies the end of sin's power, the defeat of Satan, and the full reconciliation of humanity with God. It also means the restoration of creation itself—no more thorns, no more decay, and no more death. The ground that was cursed in Genesis is now part of the new creation, where life flourishes once again.

The connection between these two events—the fall in Genesis and the restoration in Revelation—demonstrates God’s incredible love and faithfulness.

Despite humanity's rebellion, God did not abandon His creation. Instead, He worked through history, through covenants, through prophets, and ultimately through Christ, to bring about the complete restoration of all things. 💗

From the curse of Genesis, where sin introduced chaos and separation, to the eternal blessing of Revelation, where the curse is finally lifted, God’s unwavering love and purpose shines through. The fallen world, once marred by decay and alienation, is now made whole, as God’s original design is fully realized. The curse is forever undone, and the promise of eternal life in God’s presence is fulfilled. The story begins and ends with God, the author and finisher of our faith, who, with infinite compassion, has brought His creation back into harmony and blessed it with everlasting joy.

 This marks the end of time as we know it, and the beginning of an eternal state of peace, joy, and communion with God.