Revelation 21:1-22:5

Greek Key Terms:

• καινὸν (kainon) - "new" - qualitatively new, not merely recent
• σκηνὴ τοῦ θεοῦ (skēnē tou theou) - "tabernacle/dwelling of God"
• ναὸν οὐκ εἶδον (naon ouk eidon) - "I saw no temple" - temple and city merged

Context: Climax of Revelation (AD 90s); follows final judgment (20:11-15); presents consummated new creation as eternal state.

Connections:

• TO:
• Genesis 2:8-17 - Eden
• Genesis 3:22-24 - tree of life guarded
• Exodus 40:34 - glory filled tabernacle
• 1 Kings 8:10-11 - glory filled temple
• FROM OT:
• Isaiah 65:17 - "I create new heavens and new earth"
• Ezekiel 47:1-12 - river from temple, trees for healing
• Zechariah 14:8 - living waters from Jerusalem
• FROM NT:
• John 1:14 - Word tabernacled among us
• 1 Corinthians 3:16 - church as temple
• Ephesians 2:21-22 - dwelling place for God

Connection Method(s): Redemptive-Historical Progression, Longitudinal Theme — The New Jerusalem consummates the entire temple trajectory from Eden to eschaton, with the tree of life restored, the river flowing from the throne, and God dwelling permanently with humanity in a cosmic sanctuary where temple and city merge.

Christological Connection: Christ is "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" (21:6) - creation and new creation bookends. Ultimate escalation of temple trajectory: From localized garden → portable tabernacle → fixed temple → incarnate Christ → indwelling Spirit in believers → cosmic sanctuary where throne of God and Lamb is at center (22:3), river flows from throne (22:1), servants see His face (22:4), reign forever (22:5). Adamic commission consummated: earth filled not just with humans but with glorified humanity dwelling in unbroken fellowship with triune God. Eden's purpose - God with man - achieved eternally. "The dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God" (21:3) - climax of all Scripture.

Trajectory Table: 048 - Eden as Temple (Original Sanctuary)