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The Big Story | The End - Back to the Garden
Back to the Garden: How the Story Ends Where It Began
Scripture: Revelation 22:1–5
Show Notes:
If you've been with the Big Story since the beginning, today's passage is going to feel like coming home.
In Revelation 22, John's vision takes us deeper into the new Jerusalem — and what he sees there is unmistakable. A river. A tree. The presence of God. No curse.
We've been here before. This is the garden.
In Genesis 2, God planted a garden with a river running through it and placed the tree of life at its center. He walked with Adam and Eve there — present, known, loving. Then it was lost. The curse fell. Cherubim with a flaming sword were stationed to guard the way to the tree of life.
That was Week 1 of the Big Story.
We have traveled the entire Bible since then. And now, at the end of all things, here is the river again. Here is the tree again — bearing twelve crops of fruit, its leaves for the healing of the nations. The cherubim are gone. The flaming sword is gone. The curse has been lifted forever.
And they will see his face.
No veil. No barrier. No mediator needed. Face to face with God — not the way Moses had to be hidden in the cleft of the rock, but directly, truly, without anything in the way.
Lisa closes this episode with one of the most beautiful observations of the entire series: the Big Story begins with rivers and ends with a river. It begins with a tree of life and ends with a tree of life. It begins with God walking among his people and ends with God dwelling among his people forever. This is not a coincidence. This is what God has been doing all along.
In this episode:
- How Revelation 22 mirrors Genesis 2 — and why that's intentional
- What it means that the tree of life is no longer guarded
- Why "they will see his face" is one of the most staggering promises in all of scripture
- How God's original design for humanity — to reign over creation — is fully restored in the new creation
Reflection prompt: Think back to where you were when this series began. What has changed in how you see God — his character, his faithfulness, his love — after walking the whole Big Story?
Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney
Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD
If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.
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By Christ Fellowship ChurchBack to the Garden: How the Story Ends Where It Began
Scripture: Revelation 22:1–5
Show Notes:
If you've been with the Big Story since the beginning, today's passage is going to feel like coming home.
In Revelation 22, John's vision takes us deeper into the new Jerusalem — and what he sees there is unmistakable. A river. A tree. The presence of God. No curse.
We've been here before. This is the garden.
In Genesis 2, God planted a garden with a river running through it and placed the tree of life at its center. He walked with Adam and Eve there — present, known, loving. Then it was lost. The curse fell. Cherubim with a flaming sword were stationed to guard the way to the tree of life.
That was Week 1 of the Big Story.
We have traveled the entire Bible since then. And now, at the end of all things, here is the river again. Here is the tree again — bearing twelve crops of fruit, its leaves for the healing of the nations. The cherubim are gone. The flaming sword is gone. The curse has been lifted forever.
And they will see his face.
No veil. No barrier. No mediator needed. Face to face with God — not the way Moses had to be hidden in the cleft of the rock, but directly, truly, without anything in the way.
Lisa closes this episode with one of the most beautiful observations of the entire series: the Big Story begins with rivers and ends with a river. It begins with a tree of life and ends with a tree of life. It begins with God walking among his people and ends with God dwelling among his people forever. This is not a coincidence. This is what God has been doing all along.
In this episode:
- How Revelation 22 mirrors Genesis 2 — and why that's intentional
- What it means that the tree of life is no longer guarded
- Why "they will see his face" is one of the most staggering promises in all of scripture
- How God's original design for humanity — to reign over creation — is fully restored in the new creation
Reflection prompt: Think back to where you were when this series began. What has changed in how you see God — his character, his faithfulness, his love — after walking the whole Big Story?
Hear the message for this week's devotional on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristFellowshipMcKinney
Get the written devotional at: https://cfhome.org/EGD
If you are in the North Dallas area and would like to join us for services each week, you can find all the information at https://cfhome.org.