The World Empire

Theological Reflections on the History of the Nations

Genesis 2 summarizes the geography of the antediluvian world: in the center of the world is the sacred mountain, and at the peak of that mountain there is the source of the river of life which flows downward into the garden of Eden. We are to think of the garden of Eden as a lush region that one encounters as one approaches the peak of the mountain. Later in scriptural history, the structure of the holy mountain is replicated in the narratives of the descent of God on Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19-24. The glory of God dwelt on top of the mountain, into which Moses entered and remained for forty days and nights (Exodus 24:15-18) to receive the blueprint for the tabernacle (Exodus 25-31) which itself becomes an architectural holy mountain in which God’s glory dwells. The tabernacle and temple is the House for the Divine King. Like any palace, it is a multichambered structure where proximity to the throne-room corresponds to the nearness of one’s office to the Great King. Folding these images into each other helps us frame the meaning of the structure of the antediluvian world. The heart of the world is the peak of the mountain of God, where God is enthroned as Great King. This correspondence is confirmed by Revelation 22:1, where we read that the “river of the water of life” flowed out from the “throne of God and of the Lamb.” The garden of Eden lies downstream from the Throne. Adam is created as a royal servant of the King, being trained at court until the time of his coronation arrives. He lives in the outer chambers of the palace.