Because the Bible is a story from beginning to end, it is easy to see the connections between Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21. The authors developed the storyline’s plot by repeating seed words that mature with the progression through the text. The structure of a text within its context, both macro and micro views, provides otherwise unseen insights. While each scroll adds to the narrative in its unique way, the Bible’s overall literary design is that of a giant chiasmus.

Chiasmus: a literary device presenting a series of points or themes and then their reverse order, creating a mirror of the sequence. A true chiasmus has conjoined center points linked to the two outers. The center is the turning point of the reversal, with the first item pointing to the first center and the second center pointing to the last item. Writings of utmost import were hence chiastically constructed.

A ———————-> B, B₁ ———————-> A₁

Genesis 1-2:3 creation week’s prose is framed with emphasis on Elohim’s creating in the first and last sentences, thus making a literary unit (see picture above).

If a writer wished to have a portion of the text emphasized for its prominent substance, the scribe made an insertion to the chiasmus. An example is John’s Gospel, an inserted Book Two of seven chapters that highlight Jesus as the Passover lamb led to slaughter.

Takeaway:
The significance of chiastic writing gives us a visual to see key themes/points and how those themes/points tie together and resolve in the Bible’s storyline.

The Gospel of John Outline:
A. Introduction, John 1

B. First Sign, John 2; discourse, John 2:13–4:45

C. Second Sign, John 4:46–54; no discourse

D. Third Sign, John 5:1–15; discourse, John 5:16–47

E. Fourth Sign, John 6:1–14, no discourse

E. Fifth Sign, John 6:15–21; discourse, John 6:22–8:59

D. Sixth Sign, John 9:1–12; discourse, John 9:13–10:42

C. Seventh Sign, John 11:1–44; discourse, John 11:45–12:50

F. Book Two, John 13–19

A. Introduction, John 20

B. Eighth Sign, John 21:1–14; discourse, John 21:15–25