The new creation

points forward to · the garden returns

Revelation closes with the tree of life, a river, and the curse undone — Genesis 2 restored on the scale of a city.

grows out of · firstfruits

Paul calls the resurrection the firstfruits: the first piece of the new creation showing up inside the old one.

points forward to · the dwelling of God

'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.' The whole tabernacle project ends with no temple in the city, because God and the Lamb are its temple.

grows out of · the Lamb is its lamp

In the city there is no temple and no sun, because God and the Lamb are its temple and its light.