Revelation 21-22 show the fullness of God’s original blueprint for the earth (See Genesis 1-2). God intended for earth to become a holy garden-city in which He’d dwell with humanity. Sin ruined that. Jesus will fix it. But in the process of God reinstituted this plan for earth and humanity, He established the tabernacle, then the Jerusalem temple and then the church. Each of these are stages in the process of God bringing to fruition His agenda to dwell with us on earth.
THE THRONE OF GODRead Revelation 22:1-3 & 4:1-4. That God is on a throne means He’s a king. The New Creation and New Jerusalem brings into view that God has absolute authority over everything! Even though history ends this way, the Biblical meta-story shows that this authority is constantly challenged.
ADAM AND EVE AS GOD’S VICEROYSIn Genesis 1-2 Adam and Eve and actings in priestly status that allows them to have direct face-to face access with God in His temple-garden. They are commissioned to be God’s viceroys; His governing rulers over earth but under His ultimate sovereignty. They rule as His representatives (See Genesis 1:26-28). This means that Adam and Eve had a royal or kingly status. Royalty and image of God are interrelated. In the ancient Near East, Kings were thought to be living images of God and would often have their own images spread across their kingdom to show their sovereignty and authority. In Scripture, humanity is created as the image of God, showing God’s rule across the world as more image bearers would populate the earth. So, as images of God we are endowed with royal or regal status. By listening to and submitting to the serpent, Adam and Eve failed to exercise their God-given dominion over this crafty animal. In doing so, they submitted to the authority of the serpent and gave their allegiance to him. God was “dethroned” and they forfeited their priestly status and were exiled from God’s presence. In submitting to the serpent, they gave him control over the earth (Ephesians 2:2) and themselves became subject to him (2 Timothy 2:26). Although they sinned, Adam and Eve still retain some capacity to exercise dominion over the earth, but harmony gives way to chaos. The dominion that is exercised in this world is shown in the cruelest of ways and the earth is filled with violence. So, as we read the beginning of Scripture we should be asking, “How will God’s kingdom be established throughout the world? How will His throne be set up in the holy garden-city that is to fill the earth?” This is where the theocracy of Israel and the church as the kingdom of God enter the storyline.
THE THEOCRACY OF ISRAELGod establishes a theocracy when He makes a covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai. This covenant bestows on Israel a royal and priestly status. This is forward progress in the storyline of Scripture. God is slowly reestablishing priest-kings like He did in the temple-garden. These priest kings will have a temple-city that is meant to be worldwide. This covenant with Israel can be traced back to God’s covenant with Abraham. In Genesis 14 Abraham defeats four wicked kings in order to rescue his nephew Lot. After this battle Abraham meets with two kings; the king of Sodom and the priest-king Melchizedek. These two kings reveal two ways of ruling in this earth (Genesis 14:17-24). As a King, Melchizedek acknowledges God’s right to exercise authority over this earth while the King of Sodom typifies earthly and godless kingship that places sovereignty in the power of the induvial (get wealth at all costs regardless of the consequences to others). Abraham shows his commitment to be a righteous priest-king and looks to God, not aggressive military power, to provide for this future and well-being. While Scripture never calls Abraham a priest or a king, he is both in all but name. Abraham had a treaty with the King of Gerar (Genesis 21:22-34) which shows that king saw Abraham as an equal. In Genesis 23:6 Abraham is called a prince of God. And the Lord covenants with Abraham that kings will come from him (Genesis 17:6 and 17:16). Abraham also does things associated with priesthood like building altars and offering sacrifices.
As the initial priest-kings, Adam and Eve were to have dominion and be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. This is repeated with Noah. And this plays a crucial role in the upcoming temple-city of Jerusalem since we know that Abraham’s descendants will be fruitful and multiply (Exodus 1:7). Implicit in this “fruitful and multiply” language is the notion that a worldwide temple-city is in view. But the Pharaoh feels threatened by their expansive growth and uses slavery to set them to building cities for his own benefit. In this scene we see the opposite of how God intends for people to rule in this world. It’s important that we see this unity in the literary context of the Pentateuch. Although Exodus begins with the enslavement of the Israelites to Pharaoh, it ends with their becoming priest-kings of the Lord (Exodus 19:3-6). They are a kingdom of priests which in Hebrew likely denotes “a body of priests rules as kings” or a “royal priesthood. Israel is required to do what Adam and Eve were required to do but this cannot be one apart from obedience. And so, Exodus is the telling of how God rescues people from the consequences of human sin and evil kingship so that He can establish both His loving sovereignty as king and a dwelling place with humanity on earth (Exodus 15:11-3 & 17-18). Exodus is about escaping the corruption of this world so that humanity may become priest-kings and enter in God’s sanctuary where He reigns forever.
Later generations of Israelites would be treated as participants of the Exodus. It was not simply a past event but an ongoing activity. As priest-kings God came to live amongst Israel in His special home—the tabernacle (Exodus 25-31, 35-40). The layout of Israel’s camp resembled the military campaigns of ancient Near Eastern Kings. God’s tent was located at the center with His army around Him. The lavish furnishings of the tabernacle indicated royalty. The gold-plated ark of the covenant indicates the same. The ark was the footstool for God and contained God’s treaty with Israel. Thus, the OT describes God’s ongoing tension regarding His reign over both Israel and the surrounding nations.
Isaiah 6 is a rebuke to the royal house of David. Isaiah even acknowledges his own wickedness before the true king of Judah. The temple, which Jerusalem surrounded, was seen as the divine palace. This was the place of Israel’s final political authority. And the recurring theme of the prophets of the OT is Israel’s failure to be faithful to their king. Nevertheless, the hope existed that God’s kingship would become universally acknowledged. The book of Daniel anticipates this in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:1-49). Zechariah 14:9 looks forward to a day when “the Lord will be king over all the earth.”
In keeping with the unity of Scripture and forward progress of what God is doing globally, the church is called a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). This is not figurative language or spiritualized language but God’s blueprint being realized for humanity.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER(1). Recap how the beginning of Genesis and the end of Revelation detail God’s blueprint.(2). Why is it crucial to see God’s throne in Revelation in relation to the New Creation and New Jerusalem?(3). What does it mean that Adam and Eve were God’s viceroys?(4). In regard to God’s sovereignty, what is the significance of Adam and Eve listening to the serpent?(5). Why is Israel significant in the theme of God establishing His sovereignty and rule over the earth?(6). For Christians what does it mean that we are priest-kings?
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