Adam and Eve’s Story
The Chiasm of World History shows that Adam and Eve’s story mirrors the final generation
Adam was made in the image of God, as “a pattern of the one to come.” — Rom 5v14. Therefore Adam foreshadowed Jesus.
Adam, like Jesus is called, “the son of God.” — Luke 3v37.
Jesus is called, “the last Adam” (1 Cor 15v45-49).
Adam reveals Jesus, and “The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” — Rev 19v10b. So Adam’s life is also prophetic, and has special relevance to the final generation, as will be discussed.
Adam differs from Jesus in that Adam brought sin and death into the world while Jesus brings righteousness and eternal life (Rom 5v12-19).
The final generation will be like Adam with regards to sin, the fall and the curse, but those who are in Christ overcome.
Prophecy is revealed in the pattern of life itself: Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection. This will be important to keep in mind as we consider Adam, Jesus, the spiritual journey, and ultimately the apocalyptic journey of the final generation.
BIRTH
Prophecy reveals a journey that begins with and escape from calamity at birth. We will consider this birth in the following four examples:
Adam, Jesus, the spiritual, and the apocalyptic births:
The creation of Adam and Eve took place with the birth of creation, but original sin was a great calamity. It could have been the end, but God’s grace was revealed.
God announced good news about the coming victory over Satan (Gen 3v15), and he clothed their nakedness (Gen 3v21).
By God’s grace Adam and Eve were allowed to live, and to be fruitful for a time. However as a consequence of sin God put them outside of the garden of Eden in a world damaged by sin, and under a curse. We all face death and judgement.
Jesus was sinless and perfect. He did not fall, but he symbolised the fall, and repentance when he escaped King Herod going down to Egypt, and “Out of Egypt I called my son.” - Mat 2v15.
Spiritually, we are ‘born again’ when we come to Jesus in faith, and with repentance, escaping the power of sin and death.
We can expect the apocalyptic birth of the last days to mirror the fall of mankind, like original sin with it’s curse on creation. Wars and rumours of war will be the beginning of birth pains (Mat 24v6-8).
Nuclear war will be a curse that affects all flesh, putting a curse in the dust of the ground, much like original sin.
A Pentecost moment involving blood, fire and billows of smoke will awaken and empower God’s people as we escape the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (Acts 2 and Rev 3v10).
LIFE
Having sinned, our life is completely by God’s grace. His common grace is extends to all people for a time, but to those who hear God’s voice and obey Him, He calls us to be His prophets, priests and kings.
Adam and Eve were blessed to live, to be fruitful, to multiply, to fill, to subdue and rule over the earth (Gen 1v28).
They were put in the garden of Eden “to work and to keep it.” (Gen 2v15), much like priests in a temple. But after the fall they suffered the effects of the curse.Jesus lived a righteous and perfect life. He was blessed to fulfil a powerful ministry. But he lived in a fallen world during the time of the Roman Empire - world government.
Spiritually, all who are in Christ are priests of God. We are called to work and be fruitful, to store up good things in the heavenly realms for the kingdom to come. We are strangers and aliens in this fallen world, and the things of this world are passing away.
Apocalyptically, the end times generation will be blessed to live good lives and minister to each other, even while dealing with the radioactive pollution and destruction caused by sin and war, an additional curse in the world. A beast will also rule, a world government.
“I tell you the truth, this generation shall certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” — Mat 24v34.
Death and Resurrection
We cannot escape death and judgement (Hebrews 9v27).
Adam and Eve lived long, but because of sin they died.
God said, “you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” — Gen 2v17
“Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.” — Gen 5v5.
“With the Lord a day like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day.” 2 Peter 3v8Adam died 70 years short of a thousand year - day. It would be fitting if the final generation mirror Adam’s life during an approximate 40 or 70 year period at the end of the age.
Jesus died as a perfect sacrifice for us, to take away the sin of the world. Those who accept his gift of righteousness are promised everlasting life in the new creation to come.
Spiritually we take up our cross daily as we put to death the misdeeds of the body. We put to death the sinful nature so that we may life holy and obedient lives in Christ.
Apocalyptically we all face physical death and resurrection prior to the day of judgement (Hebrews 9v27).
The final generation will not all die a physical death (1 Cor 15v51), but will still experience the tribulation associated with death and resurrection.
There will be a persecution when the final antichrist appears, the man doomed to destruction who will set himself up in God’s temple. But he be destroyed on the day Jesus returns — 2 Thess 2v1-8.
The cross of Christ is to be revealed in that final suffering as Jesus taught when he spoke about the abomination that causes desolation. Study it while meditating on what it means for us to be part of God’s temple.
In this way we all have the opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ on both the spiritual and apocalyptic levels.
“… we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” — Rom 8v17b
Jesus will return to save all who are waiting for Him. The earth will give birth to her dead Jesus will give His people clean linen to wear, white and pure (Rev 19v8).
Those who’s righteousness is in Christ will be judged worthy to enter into the new creation. “No longer will there be any curse.” (Rev 22v3).
— Prophecy was first lived out in the example of Adam.
— Prophecy is revealed perfectly in Jesus.
“The testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of prophecy” (Rev 19v10b).
— We fulfil prophecy as we follow Jesus on the spiritual journey.
Signs now indicate that the apocalyptic journey of the final generation is about to begin for all who dwell on the face of the earth. World war three will bring the curse of nuclear radiation.
The journey of the final generation will mirror that of the first generation, and we may be encouraged to see how God promises his people a good escape from the calamity at birth.
Study the birth! Revelation 12 is one example in which the ancient serpent, the dragon wants to devour the child the moment he is born. It means war, but there is a good escape.
If you see the apocalyptic birth coming (world war three) please be ready to do all you can to care for God’s children.
