Bible Studies
From Eden to the World
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). 2. When God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven then things will be just what they ought to be. 3. This is the divine objective. It always has been. We see evidence of it in Eden when man was in perfect harmony with his Creator and with the creation. When this objective is again achieved we will have returned to Edenic blessing in what Scripture describes as a new heaven and a new earth. 4. G. K. Beale suggests in his book The Temple and the Church’s Mission, that the Garden of Eden was the first temple and that man’s responsibility was to guard and protect it and expand it out into the rest of the world.a. We will not take time in this lesson to examine all the evidences of this.
b. But since we have been studying about the tabernacle and the temple I do want you to give consideration to the significance of the temple theme in this light.
c. I would like for you to see the big picture of the plan of redemption, fitting the temple imagery into the unfolding plan of God and connecting it with the divine directive of God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven.
d. I want you to see the place of our mission in seeking and saving the lost in this plan.
Discussion:
I. When God instructed Moses regarding the construction of the tabernacle he said, “See that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain” (Ex. 25:40; Heb. 8:5).A. If it were not made according to the pattern then it would not be a fitting copy or shadow of the heavenly things (Heb. 8:5).
B. Moses fashioned the tabernacle with what Heb. 9 calls an outer tabernacle and a “second tabernacle, which is called the Holy of Holies.”
C. The later more permanent temple structures (Solomon, Hezekiah, Herod) were built according to this same pattern.
D. Outside the outer tabernacle was the world, moving inside the tabernacle there was increasing closeness to God.
1. The inner tabernacle or the Holy of Holies seems to have been perceived as the footstool of God’s feet, the place where He actually connected with the human world.
2. In the later temple structures there was additional detail: a court only Israelite men could enter, a court for Israelite women, a court where no Gentile could enter. Eph. 2 speaks of “the barrier of the dividing wall” probably represented in the wall of the temple of the first century beyond which no Gentile could enter under penalty of death.
II. Beale suggests that the Garden of Eden was the first temple of God. It is a reasonable suggestion. There are many similarities.A. The Garden of Eden was separate from the rest of the world (Gen. 2:4-9).
B. Man was put here to cultivate and keep it (2:15).
C. It was in this garden that everything was perfect.
1. Man’s relations were unmarred.
a. Naked and unashamed (2:25)
b. The Lord walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve (3:8).
2. Every good thing seems to be here (2:9).
3. Water flowed out of the garden and into the rest of the world becoming four rivers watering the world.
D. Was man to follow the actions of his Creator expanding the Edenic Garden into the other parts of the world? Was this part of God’s instruction when he said, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it and rule over it?” Was man to use his image of God qualities to bring the glory of God to bear on all the world?Cf. Matt. 5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:9-10. Indeed Adam could be looked upon as a priest/king advancing the glory of God upon all the earth.
E. But into this situation the tempter came and sin resulted in man being driven out of the garden (Gen. 3:22-24).
1. Now he is separated from the presence of God. Not entirely, for God still interacts with man, but the relationship is different.
2. Certainly the temple with its outer and inner rooms, and its outer courts symbolize a separation between God and man resultant from sin.
3. Yet man is not abandoned by God. He is still there, but sin has now become a factor in their relationship.
F. The N.T. continues the imagery presenting Christ as the High Priest who offers Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, enters into the holy place once for all. But it is not an earthly tabernacle that He enters. It is a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:24).
1. Paul in Rom. 5 and 1 Cor. 15 parallels Adam and Christ.
2. The first Adam brought death; the second Adam brought life.
3. The first priest introduced death; the second priest introduced life.
4. All the O.T. temples were addressing the sin probably and the separation created by it. The sacrifices of the temple were reminders of the consequence of sin and God’s continuing work to redeem man.
5. At the moment of Christ’s death the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom (Matt. 27:51). Apparently indicating the way into the presence of God is opened. We might even say the way back to Eden is opened. Interestingly, on this veil were cherubim, like those at the east of the garden of Eden with flaming sword guarding the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:24).
III. What does all this have to do with me?A. First, it should give you a big picture view of who you are and what your place is in the plan of God.
1. You are not the product of random happenings.
2. You do have a place and a purpose.
3. It is a significant place and purpose.
4. You are valuable.
B. Second, God is concerned about your circumstances and struggles and has communicated what He is doing about that.
C. Third, He is inviting you into His temple, into relationship with Him.
1. The church is described in Scripture as the temple of God (Eph. 2:21).
2. Some misunderstand, thinking that the church is some organizational entity that you need to get into in order to be saved.
3. Rather the church is the people, the family, the house, and the temple of God. It is those who have closeness with God through what Christ has done for their sins.
4. The veil is torn down, the way into the Holy Place is open to you. The barriers are gone. The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come, enjoy the waters of life.”
D. Fourth, if you have already accepted that invitation, be reminded that the divine directive that the will of God be done on earth as it is in heaven, is still in effect.
1. As part of the temple of God we are to use the image of God qualities that we possess acting as kings in this world ruling to expand the borders of His kingdom. As priests we are teaching that the way into the Holy Place is opened.
2. As John sees the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God he observes that there is “no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” There is no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, “for the glory of God has illumined it” (Rev. 21:22-23).
E. Why should we study about the tabernacle and the temple? They are the very symbols of God’s activity in the affairs of man and tools of God for teaching about Him and His plan of redemption. If we can help people understand the temple then the whole plan and purpose of God, the scheme of redemption, and the mission of the church becomes clear.
Conclusion:
1. Are you separated from God? 2. The veil is torn down. Entrance into the very presence of God is available. 3. Psa. 65:4 says, “How blessed is the one whom God chooses and brings near to Him to dwell in His courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of His house, His holy temple.” 4. That is why we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
