Eschatology: Part 5- The Temple, Sacred Space, & The Abomination of Desolation

Thinking about God’s dominion and Sacred Space  God’s instruction to Adam & Eve as His vice-regents (and ruling priests) was likely to extend the culture of the garden to the ends of the earth. And if the garden was the first temple (a special dwelling place of God among men on the earth), with the first priests Adam & Eve (equality at the beginning and end), and it had a Sabbath (which was a pledge of eschatological rest), then both sacred space and sacred time were present concepts and, at least, potentially co-extensive.   However, the fall took place. Adam failed to extend the garden-temple across the earth. And there became vices between man and woman). In Eden God created many by his hands that were holy ones. Some of these beautiful beings fell or were cast from the stars (the holy place) to an Earth that was in a state of decay and depravity. God cursed the ground. And a spiritual war within the dominions of both earth and the heavens began by which all things would be reconciled. As the Spiritual beings fall and take nations away God invests in his portion Israel by which he will reclaim the nations.   God does this through covenants (as we discussed) with man and wants to live in the midst of his people relationally ruling them through a sphere where the dominions of heaven and earth meet… this is called a temple. God’s people reject him over and over claiming allegiance with other forms of wordly and spiritual entities rejecting the following of God with all that they are and have been given. Judgment comes as a sense of ultimate course correction and eventually a small remnant of the world remains allegiant and in their free will places their full belief in God. The road is narrow. However there is still a plan for this remnant (that spans God’s time and sacred space) to reclaim many more, to bring back the nations.   God’s relational plan comes differently that what many of the remnant hoped for though. God still uses Israel to bring the plan into fruition but it is different than what people were thinking in terms of their earthly sphere thinking. The hope comes in the form of a mediator between God and man – Christ Jesus. He will make a plan for the remnant by setting up mini-temples (sacred space and dominion) in those that believe (allegiant) in  Him throughout the entire earth as valiant light bearers (Matt. 28:19-20), with priest-kings offering up spiritual sacrifices as the nations are regathered working towards a new heaven on Earth… A new Eden (where man and woman will be transformed or recreated back into the sense of the original sacred beings in a new eden.) Then all space and time will be sacred as it once was. There is a transformation that we are asked to be part of regathering the nations for Him as we are sacred temples by which he lives and works through every part of us.   Upon his final return the Sacred spheres and dominions of the final state will be recreated for eternal dwelling in a new Eden.   ______________________________  What does this have to do with Eschatology? Everything!!!