Connecting the Pattern of Judgments to Modern Times and the Book of Revelation
Introduction
Hopefully you have read the previous articles in this series and have seen how the Pattern of Judgments repeats itself many times in the Bible. Essentially, Genesis 1-3 contains a group of sixteen themes[1] which combine to form a particular pattern that is repeated numerous times throughout the Bible. I call this the Pattern of Judgments. The Genesis 1-3 thematic pattern always starts with Adonai (the Lord) initiating some form of new creation, and ends with Him meting out judgment upon those who have transgressed His commandments in some egregious manner. A perfect example of this cycle can be seen in Genesis 1–7, where Adonai initiated the cycle with the creation of the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1-2), and then the cycle was brought to an end with the judgment of Noah’s flood (Genesis 7). Thus, Genesis 1–7 is what I term a major cycle of this pattern of judgments. Chapter 8 then starts a new major cycle with a “new creation” of the earth out of the chaotic waters of Noah’s flood.
As noted previously, the key to 1) understanding how the pattern repeats itself, and 2) how to perceive this pattern when/as it occurs, is to always thematically connect the events in the Biblical narratives back to the sixteen foundational themes established in Genesis 1–3. When you do that, you’ll see how the pattern repeats itself numerous times, weaving its way throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation! The purpose of this article is to show how the themes of New Creation and Judgment extend all the way to the book of Revelation. These two themes are the easiest to recognize because they represent the beginning and ending of the pattern of judgments.
Manifestations of the New Creation Theme
Genesis 1:1-25—New Creation as a literal creation of heavens and earth
The New Creation theme takes on four primary manifestations. Let’s look at them one by one. The first time we encounter the theme of New Creation is in Genesis 1:1-25 when Adonai created the heavens and earth out of nothing.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:1-2).
Adonai, wanting to provide a place suitable for His intended creatures, created a new heaven and earth for them to inhabit and demonstrate His authority. Adam was given authority over the physical creation and over all the plants and animals, and told to rule in Adonai’s authority over the entire creation. The creation of this heaven and earth was the original manifestation of the New Creation theme.
The idea of a new creation of the heavens and the earth will happen a second time after the millennium. We read about this is Revelation 21:1:
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Thus, twice the Scriptures shows us that the New Creation theme manifests itself as a new creation of the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1-25—New Creation as a re-creation of the earth
After Adonai’s original creation of the heavens and the earth, we saw the progression of themes that make up the Pattern of Judgments, and these themes culminated in the theme of Judgment, which was Adonai’s response to Adam and Eve’s sin. This original judgment is recorded for us in Genesis 3:22-24:
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
In previous articles, I discussed at length how this pattern was to be repeated, and we noted how Noah’s flood was another manifestation of the Judgment theme. After Noah’s flood I noted how the Bible described the earth. Its description was amazingly similar to the description of the earth before Adonai fashioned it into a habitable place for mankind. For instance, Genesis 1:1-2 describes the earth as a mass of water that engulfed the earth within it such that no land could be seen. Furthermore, it mentions how darkness was on the face of the deep and how the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. I also noted (along with a number of other similarities) how Adonai eventually gathered the waters together so that dry land could appear.
Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so (Genesis 1:9).
Then I made thematic connections to events that occurred after Noah’s flood. For instance, we should expect that darkness was over the face of the earth during and immediately after Noah’s flood. Furthermore, after the flood waters inundated the earth, the entire earth was covered with water to such an extent that even the mountaintops were covered, thus causing the earth to look shockingly similar to its description back in Genesis 1:2. We also noted how just as the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep, so, likewise, Adonai sent a wind[2] over the flood waters.
Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided (Genesis 8:1).
Finally, as the waters receded, the mountaintops could be seen, reminding us of the gathering of the waters which revealed the dry land in Genesis 1:9-10! Such a thematic parallel between these two Biblical accounts leads us to the inescapable conclusion that the events we read about in Genesis 8, which occurred subsequent to Noah’s flood, are to be seen as a re-creation of the earth! Similarly, Noah was commissioned to rule and reign in Adonai’s authority just as Adam was originally charged. These thematic connections between Genesis 8 and Genesis 1, the story of the original creation account, are meant to teach us that Adonai is starting over with a new Adam, as it were. Originally, we had a creation out of nothing, but after the flood we see a re-creation. Therefore, this re-creation is simply another manifestation of the original theme of New Creation.
We see a re-creation of the earth a second time in Scripture in Revelation 20, the inauguration of the millennial kingdom!
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-5).
I have also noted previously how the Pattern of Judgments cycles from New Creation to Judgment, back to New Creation and then to Judgment again, so on and so forth. Therefore, whenever we see the theme of Judgment, we should expect to see the theme of New Creation following it. Similarly, if we see the theme of New Creation, should we not expect to have seen the theme of Judgment preceding it? This is certainly the case at hand. We see the theme of New Creation when we read about the re-creation of the earth in preparation for the millennial kingdom. And what precedes the millennial kingdom? The devastating judgments upon the earth from the great tribulation. The entire planet will have been ravaged by the seal, trumpet and vial judgments before the millennial kingdom is ushered in! In other words, before the blessed re-creation of the earth in preparation for the millennial kingdom, the earth will have been devastated by the judgments of the apocalypse. As you can see, this fits the Pattern of Judgments we see in the original creation account in Genesis 1, as well as the re-creation account of Noah’s flood. Just as the original creation was preceded by the darkness of the waters of chaos, so likewise, the recreation of Genesis 8 was preceded by the darkness of waters of chaos and the devastations of the flood. In similar manner, before the re-creation of the earth in preparation for the millennial kingdom, the earth will have been devastated by the judgments of the apocalypse. As you can see, the Pattern of Judgments continues to function throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
Genesis 1:1-25—New Creation as in the acquisition of new land
The third manifestation of New Creation pertains to the acquisition of new land. You may wonder how this is so, since the idea of acquisition of new land seems remote from the idea of new creation and re-creation. In actuality, all three of these manifestations of New Creation are totally consistent. When we look at the original manifestation of New Creation, the creation of a new heavens and earth, we simply need to ask why? Why did Adonai create the heavens and the earth in the first place? The answer is simple. He created them to provide land or a place for His creation to dwell upon and fulfill His will. Adonai created the earth so that it could be inhabited by his subjects. This is how acquisition of new land, the creation of heaven and earth, and the re-creation of the earth are thematically connected and equivalent. You see, the essence or root concept associated with a New Creation is the acquisition/provision of land for those whom Adonai has commissioned to exercise authority and rulership on His behalf. Understanding this helps you to follow the New Creation theme as it develops. After Noah, the next mention of the New Creation theme occurs with Abram when he is promised the land of Canaan.
Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).
Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be” (Genesis 15:5).
And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Raphaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites” (Genesis 15:17-21).
Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies (Genesis 22:15-17).
As you can see, Abram is the new Adam, and/or the new Noah, someone Adonai has given authority to act on His behalf. Abram has been 1) given authority like Adam and Noah, 2) told he will be fruitful similar to the commandment given to Adam and Noah, 3) given land similar to the earth given to Adam at the original creation and the re-created earth given to Noah, and 4) promised victory over his enemies similar to how Adonai promised Adam a seed who would one day crush the serpent’s head.
This authority, land and blessing of fruitfulness was passed on to Isaac, Jacob and then to the twelve tribes. Therefore, what are we to make of Joshua’s actions when he led Israel to battle against the inhabitants of the land promised to Abraham? Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan and their settlement in it was a New Creation, as they inherited the land they needed to fulfill their God-ordained role as the nation Adonai imbued with authority to rule and reign on this earth in His name. Thus, the Pattern of Judgments continued.
Genesis 1:1-25—New Creation as in a spiritual new creation
Another type of New Creation is specifically mentioned in the Apostolic writings.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
Paul informs us that when we are regenerated, we become new creations! For every believer, it’s as if they are a newly-created land/place. How so, you may ask? Well, in keeping with the analogy the Scriptures have developed, a new creation is a piece of real estate where Adonai’s representative can exercise His authority. We can see this in each believer as their bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit, where He can reside and fulfill His plans through our lives. This form of New Creation was also manifested when Yeshua took on flesh.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:10-13).
In order to appreciate this form of New Creation, please note how John 1:1 starts off!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5).
John starts by writing about the first New Creation! Is it not obvious we are supposed to make a connection between the new creation in Genesis 1 and what follows in the remaining verses in John 1? Yes, it is. John is doing a midrash on the new creation of Genesis 1, using it to help us see that we are new creations (John 1:12-13), and that when Yeshua took on flesh, He too was a new creation.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Manifestations of the Judgment Theme
Genesis 3:22-24—Judgment as an exile/scattering of the sinners
The first time we encounter the theme of Judgment is in Genesis 3:22-24 when Adonai punishes Adam and Eve.
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Let’s take a moment to closely examine the circumstances leading up to this judgment. Adonai told Adam and Eve that on the day they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil they would die. So what happened on the day they ate from the tree? Instead of reading about their death, we see that they were exiled from their ancestral plot of land! So what’s going on here? Should we not have expected them to die physically? Now, I know some of you are thinking, “Silly Tony, they did die. They died spiritually and/or the process of death began in them.” Well, that line of reasoning may satisfy western readers who’ve been taught such things from the pulpit or who are used to spiritualizing Scriptures, but there’s more here we need to unpack. You see, if you just accept the spiritualization of Scripture, then undoubtedly you will be missing important lessons. Adonai said they would die on the day they ate from that particular tree. So, what type of punishment do we see on the day they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? They were scattered/exiled from their ancestral plot of land. Therefore, I want to suggest to you that Adonai intends for us to make a connection between death and exile! Is it not obvious, now that it’s pointed out? So, here’s my take on how Adam and Eve died. I can see that they died in two ways.
They died in the sense that they were separated from the Tree of Life. After all, it was a tree of life. Therefore, separation from it is like a death, in that they were separated from a source of life.
Their exile from the Garden of Eden is to be seen as a death. This is fairly obvious. Adonai said on the day they ate the forbidden fruit they would die. On the day they ate from the fruit, the only visible punishment we see is that they were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Therefore, Adonai has taught us thematically, that in His eyes, according to His reckoning, DEATH = EXILE.
Now some of you might say, “Come on Tony, you just did what you accused everyone else of doing. You spiritualized the Scriptures!” To that I say, “Yes, I did.” But there’s a huge difference in how I approached this conundrum compared to the typical spiritualization of Scripture that occurs just because we may not understand what’s going on. To say that they began to die spiritually is to just make an excuse for the fact that we did not see an actual death. It’s like saying, “I didn’t see a physical death so I’ll come up with something that is as close to it as possible.” My technique was wholly different. I remained within the constraints of the text, following it to its natural conclusions. Separation from the Tree of Life can and should be seen as a type of death. Seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it? However, in another sense, Adonai is inviting us to make a thematic connection between DEATH and EXILE, since the only punishment meted out against our protagonists on the day they sinned was exile. Having made this connection, can we confirm this with another witness? Yes, we can! The very next story teaches the exact same lesson. It’s as if Adonai thought, “Hmmm . . . they may not get this after the first example, so I’ll follow up with a second example immediately afterward.” Notice Adonai’s punishment of Cain and how he interpreted it.
And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” 13 And Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me” (Genesis 4:10-14).
Let me ask you a question. What do you think Cain’s punishment should have been for killing his brother Abel? Don’t you think death would have been appropriate? Yet,
Cain’s punishment was that the earth would not yield a crop to him no matter how much seed he planted within its furrows. But what’s amazing is how Cain interprets his punishment! He said, “You have driven me out this day from the face of the
ground.” In other words, he is suffering the same punishment as Adam and Eve—being banished/exiled from the land! In fact, the same Hebrew word (garash) is used in both passages to describe how Adam and Eve and Cain were forcefully expelled from the land.
So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24a).
Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground (Genesis 4:14a).
This is the second example we’ve seen of how someone suffered DEATH by EXILE. Adam and Eve’s death by exile was actually a prophecy of how Israel would suffer death by exile. Adam and Eve’s punishment for breaking their Torah (not eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil) was exile, with a flaming sword preventing their return to the Tree of Life. Israel’s ultimate punishment for breaking the Torah was also exile from the land of Israel, with the sword of persecution preventing their return for almost 2,000 years!
I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you (Leviticus 26:33).
Lastly, Simeon and Levi’s descendants suffered death by exile for the sins of their fathers. Simeon and Levi were the two brothers who killed all the men of Shechem for the sin of one man, Shechem, who raped Dinah their sister. In case you think Adonai approved of their actions, notice how exile was the judgment imposed as a result of their sin. This is captured for us in Jacob’s prophecy as he lay on his deathbed.
“Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. 6 Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel (Genesis 49:5-7).
Simeon and Levi were the two tribes who did not have their own ancestral plots of land in the Promised Land. Instead, they inhabited lands belonging to other tribes! I provided these examples to demonstrate that exile is one of the major forms of punishment Adonai will sometimes impose. It’s important to know this so that when exile occurs, you know it’s a form of Judgment, first displayed in Genesis 3:22-24.
Genesis 3:22-24—Judgment as in the execution of the sinners
This form of punishment is probably most familiar to you. Sometimes, Adonai inflicts the death penalty instead of punishing by exile. This was the situation with Judah’s first two sons, Er and Onan. They were both destroyed because of their evil ways.
Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him. 8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also (Genesis 38:6-10).
This type of punishment can also be seen in the destruction of the firstborns of Egypt. Adonai’s divine retribution was very specific as He punished those who hardened their hearts against His will concerning Israel. Furthermore, His punishment was aimed at a particular subgroup of an entire nation, the firstborn.
And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. 30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead (Exodus 12:29-30).
Again, we see the imposition of the death penalty upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, showing that sometimes Adonai will destroy an entire city, not just a subgroup within a locale.
The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained
brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.
25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and
what grew on the ground (Genesis 19:23-25).
The cities of Jericho and the seven nations of Canaan also fit the previous description where Adonai may inflict judgment upon entire cities or nations. Lastly, we have the example of the destruction of Noah’s flood. In this example, Adonai demonstrated that sometimes the destruction of the entire world, save a few, may be necessary.
The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.
21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who
were with him in the ark remained alive. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days (Genesis 7:20-24).
Having discussed the two primary ways Adonai metes out judgment, let’s focus our attention on connecting the Pattern of Judgments to events that have occurred in modern times.
The Pattern of Judgments in Our Times
The Destruction of the Land of Israel
Now that we have seen how the Pattern of Judgments repeats itself and how the New Creation and Judgment themes manifest themselves, we’re in a position to apply them to events that have occurred within the past 2,000 years and within our near future. Yeshua prophesied that Jerusalem would be destroyed, completely decimated.
Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:1-2).
His prophecy was partially fulfilled in 70 CE when Rome destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. Then, in 135 CE the Jewish nation was completely overthrown and carried away into the nations as slaves. In order to connect this event to the Pattern of Judgments, we must see it in its proper context. This context is provided for us by Leviticus 26:31-35:
I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell
the fragrance of your sweet aromas. 32 I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. 34 Then the land shall enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land; then the land shall rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall rest—for the time it did not rest on your sabbaths when you dwelt in it.
The destruction of Jerusalem in the first century is not only a fulfillment of Yeshua’s words, it’s an obvious fulfillment of Leviticus 26:31-35. Once Jerusalem was destroyed and its inhabitants scattered into the four winds and taken captive in foreign lands, the land was able to enjoy its sabbaths. The land rested for almost 2,000 years after its destruction. True to the words in Leviticus 26:31-33, the land lay in utter ruins and desolation. The Ramban (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, also known as Nachmanides [1194-1270]), had to flee persecution in Spain in 1267, so he decided to relocate to the Land of Israel. When he eventually made his way to Jerusalem, he was so disheartened due to the poor condition of the buildings and by the fact that he was unable to assemble a minyan (a group of ten Jewish men necessary for prayer), that he said this to his son:
“Many are Israel’s forsaken places, and great is the desecration. The more sacred the place, the greater the devastation it has suffered. Jerusalem is the most desolate place of all.” [3]
More importantly though, the complete ruination of the land of Israel is a fulfillment of the prophetic lives of Adam and Eve! As mentioned before, Adam and Eve presented us with the first manifestation of Adonai’s judgment—exile from one’s ancestral plot of land. And this was the judgment upon Israel in the first century. Israel’s exile into the nations is to be seen as the end of a cycle of the Pattern of Judgments where Adonai executed judgment upon the sinners.
Please read Jeremiah 4:23 and ask yourself—what event is Jeremiah speaking of?
I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; and the heavens, they had no light (Jeremiah 4:23).
Some of you may have noticed how similar this verse is to Genesis 1:1-2! Especially noting the Hebrew phrase, tohu v bohu, mentioned in both passages and translated as without form and void.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:1-2).
In fact, you may have thought Jeremiah was referencing the newly-created earth in Genesis 1, before Adonai began His creative work making it habitable for humans. If you did, then you succumbed to a trick question by the author. Jeremiah 4:23 is NOT describing the situation in Genesis 1:1-2! In context, he is describing the devastation, destruction, darkness, chaos, desolation, lifelessness and barrenness of the land of Israel after Adonai’s judgment upon them!
I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; and the heavens, they had no light. 24 I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth. 25 I beheld, and indeed there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. 26 I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a
wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of the LORD, by His fierce anger (Jeremiah 4:23-26).
The connection is sure and its intended purpose is clear. Jeremiah is making a thematic connection between the newly-created earth in its state of chaos and desolation and the land of Israel and its state of devastation, darkness, chaos, desolation, lifelessness and barrenness after its destruction. In other words, the land of Israel is just like the mass of earth surrounded by the waters of chaos in Genesis 1, which was totally unsuitable for life. In order for the heavens and earth to be a suitable environment for His soon to be inhabitants, who would be imbued with His authority and power to rule over His creation, Adonai had to continue to fashion His new creation! This situation is a prophetic circumstance. Every New Creation is preceded by a state of devastation, destruction, darkness, chaos, desolation, lifelessness and barrenness. It’s almost as if it is a prerequisite!
The Miracle of 1948
The land of Israel lay in a state of devastation, destruction, darkness, chaos, desolation, lifelessness and barrenness for almost 2,000 years. In other words, this state of desolation, which is a prophetic fulfillment of the waters of chaos of Genesis 1, was soon to give way to a New Creation. On November 2, 1917, the Balfour Declaration was signed, a document that outlined the vision for a new homeland for the Jewish nation. A mere thirty years later, on May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel was born. Hopefully you remember what we learned earlier about the essence of a New Creation—the provision of land for Adonai’s special people who have been commissioned to exercise His authority in the earth. This is the prophetic significance of the birth of the nation of Israel in 1948. Therefore, in 1948, we can clearly see the beginning of a fresh new cycle of the Pattern of Judgments, New Creation! But it does not stop there. Exactly fifty years after 1917, in the six-day war of 1967, the Jewish nation regained control and sovereignty over the city of Jerusalem! This is a second confirmation of the New Creation theme manifested in the birth of the nation of Israel. And this fifty-year period should not go unnoticed. For it is in the Torah that we learn about the Jubilee, a special time in Israel which occurred every fifty years, where people who had lost their ancestral plot of land due to debt were allowed to return to their land and reclaim it as their heritage. What a beautiful prophetic picture of what actually happened in the twentieth century when Israel regained the city of Jerusalem fifty years after the signing of the prophetic document called the Balfour Declaration!
As you can see, the Torah, and specifically, the prophetic Pattern of Judgments that we learn from the Torah, has been fulfilled within the past one hundred years. The period of desolation which marked a period of Judgement, gave way to a New Creation. Thus, the cycle continues.
The Judgments of the Book of Revelation
We obviously witnessed a New Creation, having noticed the New Creation of the nation of Israel and the recapture of their beloved capital. So what should we suspect after some period of time has passed after a New Creation? We should expect a time of Judgment as the Pattern of Judgments continues its cyclic pattern. And that is exactly what we are awaiting on the prophetic horizon. The book of Revelation is a prophecy of divine judgment upon the inhabitants of the earth. Soon, a time will befall this planet reminiscent of the days of Noah and the days of Lot, where Adonai meted out divine punishment, not by scattering, but by utter destruction. This is the message of the Apostolic writings. Whenever Yeshua, Peter or Jude talk about the judgments that will soon befall our planet, they always make mention of Noah’s flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. Why? Because those two events of the past are prophetic pictures of the end-times destruction that will be visited upon the ungodly who, like Pharaoh, refuse to repent and give Adonai the glory He deserves. And what will be the end result of the judgments of the book of Revelation? Once again, just as He did with the nation of Israel, Adonai will unleash His judgments upon the earth. But this time, the entire earth will be caught in the upheaval. The seal, trumpet and vial judgments of the book of Revelation will once again return the earth to a state of tohu v bohu, as prophetically outlined in Genesis 1:1-2, and the entire earth will be relegated to a state of devastation, destruction, darkness, chaos, desolation, lifelessness and barrenness.
The Millennial Kingdom
The judgments of the book of Revelation mark another Judgment theme in the Pattern of Judgments. By now, we should know what will happen after Adonai has poured out a series of judgments. It’s time for another New Creation! This will occur at the inauguration of Yeshua’s millennial kingdom! The earth will be re-created just as it had after Noah’s flood. The devastated earth will be regenerated to conditions similar to those in the Garden of Eden. This will occur to make the earth habitable for Adonai’s king, Yeshua, and His chosen people, who will be given authority to rule and reign on the earth, exercising Adonai’s authority for His purposes. There are many prophecies about this one thousand-year period of time. Isaiah prophesied about it in Isaiah 65:
“No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, but the sinner being
one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit
them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their
hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them”
(Isaiah 65:20-23)[4].
Paul also mentions this period of time:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:18-23).
So, as you can see, the Pattern of Judgments continues. And what should be expected after a period of New Creation?
The Destruction of Gog and Magog
The beginning of the millennial kingdom is a cycle of New Creation, but after one thousand years it will give way to Judgment. In Revelation 20 we read about the release of the serpent after one thousand years of peace on earth. Within some manner of time, the devil will gather the seed of the serpent for one last battle, as they will come up against the camp of the righteous dwelling in the Holy City. Once again, Adonai will inflict judgment upon the sinners. And, again, this will be a judgment of complete annihilation, not death through exile, as fire and brimstone from heaven will fall upon those who would rebel against Adonai and His anointed ones. Although this judgment is not worldwide in scope, since it is limited to the environs around the Holy City, the judgment of fire and brimstone will create devastation, destruction, darkness, chaos, desolation, lifelessness and barrenness in the areas where it falls. This is always the situation before a New Creation. Judgment has fallen and the earth is in a state of devastation, destruction, darkness, chaos, desolation, lifelessness and barrenness.
This was the state before Adonai made it suitable for habitation by Adam, Eve and the other living things upon the earth.
This was the state before Adonai recreated the earth after Noah’s flood.
This was the state before Adonai provided the land of Israel to the Jewish people in 1948. For it had been relegated to ruins as a result of the judgments upon His people Israel.
This was the state before Adonai recreated the earth after the seal, trumpet and vial judgments of the apocalypse.
On and on, goes the Pattern of Judgments until at long last . . .
The Eternal State of the New Heavens and the New Earth
After the destruction of Gog and Magog in Revelation 20, Adonai will create a new heavens and a new earth! This will be the second time He will have done this, to create a completely new heavens and new earth out of nothing. This is spoken of by Peter in 2 Peter 3:10-13:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
At this point, I hope you have seen how important the concept of the Pattern of Judgments has been. It has explained many events. As we continue to lay a Biblical foundation for the study of the book of Revelation, the coming articles will specifically focus on determining which stories in the Tanakh are actually prophetic pictures of events in the book of Revelation. By understanding these stories, we will provide ourselves with the proper Biblical worldview for understanding the events in the book of Revelation.
Shalom,
TnT Robinson!
[1] Here is a list of the 16 themes:
1. Genesis 1:1-25 – New Creation of the Universe
2. Genesis 1:26-28 – Man, God’s Image-Bearer, Commissioned to Exercise Dominion Over Creation
3. Genesis 1:29-31 – Man’s Diet
4. Genesis 2:1-3 – The Sign of the Sabbath
5. Genesis 2:4-9 – Man’s Work in His Ancestral Plot of Land
6. Genesis 2:10-14 – Natural Riches of the Creation
7. Genesis 2:15-17 – The Choice Between Life and Death
8. Genesis 2:18-25 – A Virginal Bride for the Man
9. Genesis 3:1-7 – Fall into Sin
10. Genesis 3:8-13 – Adonai Investigating Sin
11. Genesis 3:14 – The Curse on the Serpent
12. Genesis 3:15 – Enmity of the Seed
13. Genesis 3:16 – Pain in Childbirth
14. Genesis 3:17-19 – Curse on the Land
15. Genesis 3:20-21 – Acts of Redemption
16. Genesis 3:22-24 – Judgment
[2] The Hebrew word for wind, ruach, is the same word translated as spirit and breath. Context determines the translation.
[3] Domnitch, Larry. “How Nachmanides Rebuilt Jerusalem.” Aish.com. https://aish.com/48956656/.
[4] This portion of this prophecy is about the millennial kingdom. Although the prophecy starts in Isaiah 65:17 where it states, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind,” you must remember the nature of Biblical prophecy in the Tanakh. Sometimes (as in this instance) prophecy from the eternal state (Revelation 21-22) is mixed with prophecy from the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20). The fact that Isaiah 65:20-23 pertains to the millennial kingdom is clear because these verses record how there will still be death occurring during the millennium. Death will not occur during the eternal state because death, as the last enemy, will have been destroyed.