阅读经文 

《圣经》开头曾经出现的一些画面，在神伟大的救赎叙事的最后几章中也进行了对比或扩展。例如，《创世记》第一章中未成形的深渊与《启示录》第二十一章中令人惊叹的天上的城形成鲜明对比。伊甸园中的生命树（参创 2:9， 3:22-24）在《启示录》第二十二章中被描述为不断结出果实，并且树叶为列国提供医治的树。圣灵运行在水面上的画面，与当下坐在宝座上的那一位形成对比。

创造将会变得完整，完全和成熟，我们终将享受与我们慈爱的创造主那荣耀、喜悦的关系，祂邀请我们在完美合一的爱中与祂同住，爱一直是圣父，圣子和圣灵的属性。我们今天生活在其中的令人敬畏的受造世界将成为新创造的天与地的基础，我们可以期待在新天新地与鸟类和所有其他生物一起欢乐。

不但基督坐在天上，就是我们这些爱祂、信祂的人，也与基督一同复活，并且如今与祂同坐。（参弗 2:6）这意味着我们的生命在基督里有稳固的根基，并日臻成熟，因为我们每天都享受与神亲密相交的生活，并殷切盼望等候祂的再来。

Some imagery that appears in the beginning of the Bible is contrasted or expanded upon in the final chapters of God's grand story of salvation. The unformed abyss in Genesis 1, for example, is contrasted with the stunning architecture of the heavenly city in Revelation 21. The tree of life in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9, 3:22-24) is multiplied in Revelation 22 and described as constantly bearing fruit and providing healing for the nations. And the image of the Spirit hovering and brooding over the waters is contrasted with the One who is now seated on the throne.

Creation will be complete, fully formed and mature, and we will enjoy glorious, delightful friendship with our loving Creator, who invites us to live with him in the perfect unity of love that has always characterized God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The awe-inspiring creation that we live in today will be the foundation for the new creation, and we can look forward to rejoicing along with birds and all other creatures in the new heaven and earth.

Not only is Christ seated in the heavenly realms, but we who love and trust him are also raised up with Christ and are seated with him even now (Ephesians 2:6). This means our lives are firmly grounded and maturing in Christ as we enjoy the intimacy of living in communion with God each day while awaiting his coming again.