The Bookends in Genesis and Revelation

 

The Bible has two bookends in Genesis and Revelation.  Have you ever heard that before?  And before I get into what they are, you need to keep in mind that Moses wrote the book of Genesis thousands of years before the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation.  Also, the order of the Bible wasn’t finalized until much later. 

  

 So, the first bookend is presented in chapter 2 of Genesis.  In this chapter the setting of the Garden of Eden is described along with Adam naming the animals, and God preparing a counterpart for Adam.  Embedded deeper in this chapter is the mention of some seemingly arbitrary items like the tree of life, a river, gold, bdellium, onyx stone, and a rib that God used to build into Eve.  Hmmm, what is God getting at here?

First, I want to make it clear that I never could have put all these items together in a way that makes sense even though I have been reading the Bible for over forty years.  That’s the main reason I enjoy reading the Life-Studies which are the printed form of the messages that Witness Lee gave from 1974-1995. Anyway, I read  Genesis Life-Study #12 on this chapter a few weeks ago, and Witness Lee said the contents of this chapter might seem simple, but actually they’re quite meaningful.

He said that all the items mentioned in Genesis chapter 2 are meaningful because they give us a picture of God’s eternal purpose. Early in this chapter we see God bringing Adam to the center of the garden and showing him two trees.  One tree God called the tree of life and the other the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Don’t you find it interesting that God doesn’t give Adam a long speech on how to live a proper human life that would please Him, but instead God just warns Adam that if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would die.

 Probably many people have gotten confused here because when Eve ate the fruit of this tree, she didn’t keel over and die. Instead she took that fruit to Adam, and he ate of it, too and there's no mention of their death.  So obviously what God is talking about here is spiritual death.   We can see that clearly in Ephesians 2:1 because Paul mentions there that before our salvation our spirits were dead in sins and trespasses. So figuratively eating that fruit deadened Adam and Eve’s spirit, which by the way was such a big deal that God had to send His Son to die for our sins.

In order to understand what these two trees represent, we need to backup and look at God's creation of Adam.  The Bible shows us in various places that when God created man, He made him with three parts, a physical body, a soul with a mind, emotion, and will, and finally with a spirit (Genesis 2:7, Job 32:8, and  1 Thessalonians 5:23).   Just like God made man to eat food to survive, so God made man with a spirit so he could receive God’s life as spiritual food.  So I was so amazed to learn years ago from this Life-Study of Genesis that those two trees were a picture of two sources for man to live by. 

 After describing these trees, Moses writes about the river flowing through the garden of Eden.  In that river Moses mentions three outstanding elements—gold, bdellium, and onyx stone. I would never have seen this but in this Life-Study, brother Lee says that each of these elements represent something about the Triune God! Because gold cannot burn or tarnish and is of great value, theologians say that gold represents the Father.  I never heard of bdellium before, but it’s a pearl-like resin from a plant that represents the Son. And onyx stone represents an element that has been transformed by heat and pressure  which shows the transforming work of the Spirit in our lives.  That is definitely worth a wow! 

 

At the end of Genesis chapter two we see Adam naming all the animals and  then God putting Adam to sleep so He could make a helpmeet for him.  It’s interesting that God doesn’t take clay like when He made Adam, but instead God opens up Adam’s stomach and takes out one of his ribs and from that the Bible uses an unusual expression, it says “God built a woman.” The Life-Study brings all this together when it sys if Genesis 2 is a picture of God’s purpose, then this woman built out of Adam’s rib represents the church built with Christ’s life to be His counterpart.  All of these items in chapter two wouldn’t make much sense alone. 

So now it’s time to look at the bookend in the book of Revelation.  Open up your Bible to Revelation 21 and read it again in light of all the symbolism from Genesis 2 that this Life-Study unfolds so beautifully.  In Revelation 21 you read about a river with the tree of life growing in it and also about a city called the New Jerusalem. And if you look carefully and get ready to go wow again--you will see that this city is built with none other than gold, pearls (like bdellium), and precious stones!  Revelation opens up by telling us that it is a book of signs.  The description of his city is not something physical but symbolic of God’s work in His redeemed people to transform them into --drum roll please and another wow-- the bride of the Lamb!

So, with the help of these two bookends God is showing us a picture of His heart’s desire. I was so touched to learn through my reading of the Life-Studies that throughout all the centuries God has been working to transform His redeemed people into the New Jerusalem, His bride.  Below you can see a link to listen to the Life-Study of the Bible and also some posts I did several years ago when I was reading through this particular Life-Study.  You can read any of these Life-Studies for free. 

 

You can  also listen to live excerpts from these messages on  Genesis on Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.  

Other Posts on the Life-Study of Genesis:

From the Life-Study of Genesis - What is the Focus of the Bible?
What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?
Why Did God Create Man in Genesis 1:26?
Why Did God Create Man With 3 Parts in Genesis 2:7?
Why Did God Put Man in Front of the Two Trees in Genesis 2?
Seeing God's Purpose of Life & Building in the Book of Genesis
What is the Story Behind the Story of Cain & Abel?
What Did Enosh Learn to Do in Genesis 4:26?
How Did Enoch Escape Death in Genesis 5:24?
Why Did Noah Need to Find Grace in Genesis 6:8?
What Does the Rainbow Symbolize in Genesis 9:13?
How Did God Call Abraham in Genesis 12:1?
How Did God Fulfill the Birth of Isaac in Genesis 12:7?
What Does the Marriage of Isaac & Rebekah Show in Genesis 24?
How Does the Story of Jacob Show God's Selection in Genesis 25?
Why Did Jacob Dream About a Ladder in Genesis 28:12?
Seeing Our Spiritual Journey in the Lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph
Why Did Jacob Call the Two Altars in Genesis 33 & 35 By Different Names?
How Do the Stories of Jacob & Joseph Mirror God's Purpose in Genesis 1:26?
How Did Joseph's Dreams Really Get Fulfilled in Genesis 41?
How Did the Lord Shepherd Jacob in Genesis 45:18?

Why I Like to Give Out Bibles - My Experience This Year

    Last week I enjoyed volunteering for two days at our university's Bibles for America table.  Each year we pay for a spot in a fair that takes place before classes start that showcases clubs and community services. For over 20 years I've had a rewarding experience volunteering at this fair.  It's definitely always been one of my year's highlights.  This year we gave out Gospels of John with a Free NT card tucked inside.

     My favorite part is talking with the students.  I usually start out by asking them how long they've been reading the Bible.  One girl I talked to this year said since she was four years when her mother started reading it to her.  I could tell she loved the Bible.  Whenever students tell me that they already have a Bible, I like to tell them, of all the Bibles I own this is my favorite because of the footnotes. Then I open it up and let them see some of the lengthy notes.  That's usually enough, and they take a Gospel of John with a smile. 

    Some of them want to know what version it is, and I show them on the cover that it's the Recovery Version.  Most of the time this will cause them to give me a blank look which is my invitation to tell them that after a thousand years of the Dark Ages and beginning with Martin Luther, many lost truths of the Bible started to get recovered. These footnotes reveal these lost truths; plus they also give Greek meanings and historical and Biblical backgrounds that help you better
understand the meaning of the verses.  That's probably why the BFA T-Shirts that many volunteers wear say--"A Bible You Can Understand." 

    I also like to tell students that when this version was being worked on, the translators laid out all the best Greek translations and then chose the best rendering for each passage.  That's a real labor of love if you ask me.  

   This year a student asked me a thoughtful question that I don't think anyone has ever asked me while volunteering.  He asked me what our big vision was in being at the university's info fair. I thought for a second and then this answer welled up in my heart, The Bible helps build up the Body of Christ.  

    Today as I was writing the draft for this post, I was thinking about that answer and how it connects to 1 Corinthians 14:26 which really gives a window on how the New Testament believers used to meet.  "What then brothers?  Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."  And without the footnotes on this verse, I wouldn't have seen the whole picture:  

 "...This is like the Feast of Tabernacles in ancient times. The children of Israel brought the produce of the good land, which they had reaped from their labor on the land, to the feast and offered it to the Lord for His enjoyment and for their mutual participation in fellowship with the Lord and with one another.... " (Holy Bible, Recovery Version, Living Stream Ministry: Anaheim, California 2003). 

As we each read the Bible every day certain verses will jump out at us and give us hope or strength. Then when we gather with our fellow believers, we have something just like this verse says from the Bible to feed and build up the Lord's Body.  

    If you would like to receive this study Bible, you can click on this link, Bibles for America will send you a free New Testament study Bible.  If you have some questions about God, you can also listen to some of their gospel videos like one which says, Why Do We Exist? 

 List of Posts on Handing out Bibles & Gospel Tracts

Why Do I Volunteer For Bibles for America?
The Best Things in Life are Free! - Bible for America Distribution at WWU
Adventures in Handing out Gospel Tracts - Part 1 of 1
Adventures in Handing out Gospel Tracts - Part 2 of 2
Volunteering for Bibles for America - Part 1 of 2      Volunteering for Bibles for America - Part 2 of 2

Something Else You Can Do With All Those Herbs! Why Not Try Making Your Own Rose Moisturizing Balm & Sore Muscle Balm

 For years I've been making cold infused oils from my organic herbal garden.  The lavender oil is great for  sore muscles and bronchitis, and rose oil is a wonderful facial moisturizer that also gives UV protection.  A few years ago I experimented with my teenage granddaughter and added some beeswax to the oil after it's six-to-eight-week infusion.  So fun to do together.   In taking this next step I checked a few of my favorite go-to sites for herbs the first one is Wellness Mama and the other is the Nerdy Farm Wife to see if they had a recipe I could use.  

The first balm I made was one with my beautiful magenta roses that smell like heaven itself.  I have a few posts on making infused oils and you can  read them to find out more about it.  I learned the beeswax to oil ratio from the Nerdy Farm Wife.  

                                                    ROSE FACIAL MOISTURIZING BALM

1.  Fill a Mason jar half to three-fourths of rose petals that have dried for at least two days. 

2.  Top with extra-virgin olive oil, almond oil, or grapeseed oil so it's 1/2" from the top of the jar.

3.  Let the rose petals infuse for six to eight weeks in a dark place.   Shake every few days or so.

4.  Strain the petals into a new mason jar.

5.  Put a mason jar lid on the bottom of a small saucepan filled with enough water for the rose oil to warm up.  

6.  When the oil is warm, add 1 tablespoon of beeswax pellets for every three ounces of oil. 

7.  Watch and stir occasionally as the beeswax melts. When they're completely melted, take the pan off the stove and let sit for 2 minutes.  

8.  Add 10 drops of geranium essential oil or rose absolute. 

9.  Pour in 2 or 4 oz jars and let cool.  

10.  Label.  This balm has a shelf life of one year.  

                                                 SORE MUSCLE & ARTHRITIS BALM

 A few years ago I made this balm with just a few herbs from my garden, but when one of my grandsons got diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, I read all my labels, and put everything that worked into a jar to soak in the sun during the day. 

 I got the horsetail from a neighbor's yard, and the red clover I pick wild, but everything else grows in my garden pots.  Whenever I make this balm, I always use equal proportions.  This summer I made 2 quarts and let it steep in a big pickle jar.  I am happy to hear that it has helped a few of my friends who have trouble with arthritis. 

1.  Fill a quart Mason jar half to three-fourths full of the following herbs that you have dried for 10-12 days and let steep in extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil for 6 to 8 weeks:

              1 T calendula - for sore muscles                      1 T lemon balm - muscle spasms

              1 T comfrey - wound healer                             1 T peppermint  - pain

               1 T daisy - relieve pain in aching joints          1  T  plantain - anti-inflammatory

              1 T dandelion - arthritis                                    1 T  red clover - joint pain

              1 T feverfew - joint health                                1 T rosemary - arthritis

               1 T horsetail -   sprains                                     1 T strawberry leaf - arthritis

              1 T lavender - joint pain and sore muscles        1 T sage - joint pain

                                                1 T yarrow -  anti-inflammatory

2.  Strain herbs into a new mason jar.

3  Put a mason jar lid on the bottom of a small saucepan filled with enough water for the herbal oil to warm up.  

4.  When the oil is warm, add 1/2 cup of beeswax pellets for 4 cups of olive oil. 

5.  Watch it while you do other things in your kitchen and stir occasionally as the beeswax melts. When they're completely melted, take the pan off the stove and let sit for 2 minutes.  

6.  Take the oil off the stove for two minutes.  Then add 10 drops of frankincense essential oil.  It also helps with joint pain and makes it smell good!

7.  Pour in 2 or 4 oz jars and let cool.  

8.  Label.  This balm has a shelf life of one year.         

Summer is a Great Time to Dry Herbs & Make a Cold, Cough, & Flu Tea for the Fall!

                                    How I Got Into Making My Own Tea

      This is an update of something I posted a few years ago.  I have added about twelve more herbs to this tea, and so I wanted to let anyone else know what they can do with those beautiful medicinal herbs and spices that they are growing!   

    Over twenty years ago I lived next door to a horticulturist who had a flower shop in downtown Seattle.  Eventually she made both her front and backyards into different types of flower gardens.  When her fight with a brain tumor was almost at an end, she told me I could dig up any of the plants I wanted.  Besides some beautiful perennial plants,  I chose some lemon balm, peppermint, feverfew, sweet woodruff, and a daisy. 

      A few years after planting them, I wondered couldn't I dry this peppermint and make my own tea?!  So that began a summer hobby that I've had for many years.  Every year I'd pick a few more to research and start drying.  It was fun researching about the plants that I had gotten from her and from the nursery.  It's surprising that many of them had medicinal benefits.  It was also interesting to find out that many of the herbs I grow for spices like oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram are great for fighting the common cold and soothing a cough. 

        About ten years ago a dear friend named Rose, whose Chinese recipes I've shared on this blog, gave me some rose bushes when she moved to Illinois.  I was really surprised to find out that certain roses can be dried and some of them have both antibacterial and antiviral properties. I grow organically and so a few years ago I thought let me check and see if there's anything in the strawberry and raspberry leaves in my garden, and I was surprised to find they contain a wealth of botanical compounds great for maintaining health. 

   So because in the Northwest we have a pretty rugged winter, I began putting together all the herbs that treat  colds, coughs, and flu and I put them in jars and made labels for them.  Over the years I've given them to my family and friends as gifts.   Every summer I enjoy cutting and drying herbs so I can mix up a fresh batch of this tea. 

HERBS & FLOWERS FOR COLD, COUGH & FLU TEA

 

Click on the link below on how to dry herbs for more details but basically herbs are placed on racks, cardboard, or paper towels or plates for about two weeks.  They should be dry to the touch and easy to rub off into a jar or bowl.



(1) Calendula:  Reduces a fever, soothes a sore throat, stimulates the immune system, flavonoids prevent infection and inflammation. 

 

(2)  Daisy:  Colds, cough, bronchitis and reduces a fever.

(3)  Dandelion leaf:  Antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Make sure you pick these in the woods or a clearing where there are no pesticides. 
  

(4)  Feverfew:  Use for wheezing and coughs.  Also an energizing herb.   Pain reliever; helps with asthma, fever, and sinus congestion. I usually dry it in vases.

 

(5) Lavender:  Helps relieve headaches and nervous exhaustion common when ill.
 
(6) Lemon Balm:  The tannins and polyphenols in lemon balm extracts have antibacterial & antiviral effects.  Used in treatment of colds, flu, and cold sores. Contains eugenol a natural pain reliever. 
 

(7) Nettle:  Colds, bronchitis, stimulates the lymphatic system. (I pick these from a nearby forest.)

 

(8) Rose:  Antibacterial and antiviral, clears lungs, flushes toxins and soothes a sore throat.

 

 
(9) Yarrow:  Contains antiseptic qualities that fight bacteria.  Good for colds, flu, and fever.  Helps detoxify the body  Good for soothing a sore throat. 

Update July 15, 2023 - Over the past few years I have continued to research herbs that are good for colds, cough, and flu.  Yesterday I was putting together a batch of herbs that I dried and I had about 22 of them! Besides the 9 listed here, you can also dry on racks or cardboard the following herbs that I've learned in recent years also help tackle colds and coughs: 

1.  Peppermint  - antibacterial/viral

2.  Raspberry leaves  -  an immune system booster

3.  Sweet woodruff  -  antibacterial/viral/fungal

4.  Lavender - good for the common cold and coughs

5.  Sage  - antibacterial/viral/fungal

6.  Oregano - antibacterial/viral/fungal and an immune system booster!

7.  Hyssop - for the common cold, bronchitis, and a fever reducer

8.  Catnip Mint - antibacterial/viral and good for coughs

9.   Rosemary - Good for respiratory problems and an immune system booster!

10. Chamomile - good for the common cold

11.  Bronze Fennel - Good for congestion

12. Red clover blossoms - Good for a bad cough

13. Marjoram - Antimicrobial, good for common cold and coughs

14.  English ivy - Congestion and bronchitis

     Have fun doing some of your own research and make your own brew! The strong flavor of peppermint and lavender generally masks the stronger tones of oregano and sage. 

    Many of these herbs can also be steeped in extra virgin olive oil, grapeseed oil, or almond oil and made into an infused oil. Check some of the links below for things I've made and go online and check other websites!   Have fun!!

 

Other Blogs on Making Herbal or Flower Teas:
How to Dry Herbs to Make Your Own Herbal Teas
How to Brew a Cup of Medicinal Herb Tea
How to Make Your Own Lavender Oil & Tea
How To Dry Roses & Make Your Own Rose Tea, Rose Oil & Rose Water
Make Your Own Home Made Remedies - How to Make Calendula Tea, Calendula Oil & Salve
Make Your Own Home Made Remedies - Peppermint Tea & Oil
How To Make Your Own Strawberry Leaf Tea
Did You Know That Salad Burnet Can be Made into Tea?
Make Your Own Home Made Remedies - What Can You Do With the Feverfew in Your Garden?

About Making Your Own Spices:
 How to Dry Herbs to Spice Up Your Cooking

Other Things You Can Do with Herbs:
 How To Dry Roses & Make Your Own Rose Tea, Rose Oil & Rose Water
How to Make Calendula Tea, Calendula Oil & Salve
Make Your Own Home Made Remedies - Peppermint Tea & Oil
Grandma's Recipe for Dandelion Honey