HEAVEN & EARTH
"Heaven and Earth" was an
expression signifying ALL THINGS, pertaining to the political, economic
and religious life of the Jewish nation. In that culture, the tabernacle/temple, was designed
to be a microcosm of "heaven and earth," the point at which the
two united ... it was considered as the SUN, so to speak, around which the Jewish world
revolved.
In Deut 31:26-28 the "Old Covenant Law" and the "Temple System" were called "Heaven & Earth."
The Jews always referred to their Temple System as "Heaven and Earth," for it was the pattern of heavenly things (See Ps 78:69, Deut 32:1 & Deut 4:26). Peter prophesied that the Temple System would burn with fervent heat along with the elements or religious trappings that were part of that system. That prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD when the temple was destroyed by fire. You are the New Temple ... the New Heaven & Earth ... the NEW creation.
___________________________
The
Jewish historian Josephus (37 AD - 100 AD) called the temple 'Heaven, Earth,
and Sea' ... correlating with the outer court, inner court, and Holy of
Holies.
Josephus wrote in Jewish Antiquities (Bk 3, Ch 7, Par 7, Sect 181):
Josephus wrote in Jewish Antiquities (Bk 3, Ch 7, Par 7, Sect 181):
"When
Moses distinguished the tabernacle into three parts, and allowed two of
them to the priests as a place accessible to the common, he denoted the land and the sea, these being of general access to all; but he set
apart the third division for God, because heaven is inaccessible to
men."
According to Josephus, two parts of the tabernacle were approachable and open to all, but one was not. He explains that the earth and the sea are accessible to all; but the third portion, heaven, he reserved for God alone" (Ant. 3:181; cf. 3:123).
Outside the Temple’s microcosm of “Heaven and Earth,” the walls of the courts looked like the Sea.
In Numbers Rabbah 13:19 ... It states, "The court surrounds the temple just as the sea surrounds the world."
In Talmudic tradition, Rabbis described how the inner walls of the temple looked like waves of the sea (b. Sukk. 51b, b.B.Bat. 4a). From inside the inner court (Earth), you looked out at the sea surrounding the world. Everyone was allowed in the outer court (the sea) - including Gentiles - to bring sacrifices and wash in water. However, this was as far as the Gentiles could go.
In Rev 21:1, John saw in his vision there was 'no more sea' - meaning that the outer court was no more, which restricted the Gentiles from entering. This was a prophetic picture of the New Covenant ... where there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles (Gal 3:28). In the New Covenant, everyone is allowed in the Holy of Holies.
According to Josephus, two parts of the tabernacle were approachable and open to all, but one was not. He explains that the earth and the sea are accessible to all; but the third portion, heaven, he reserved for God alone" (Ant. 3:181; cf. 3:123).
Outside the Temple’s microcosm of “Heaven and Earth,” the walls of the courts looked like the Sea.
In Numbers Rabbah 13:19 ... It states, "The court surrounds the temple just as the sea surrounds the world."
In Talmudic tradition, Rabbis described how the inner walls of the temple looked like waves of the sea (b. Sukk. 51b, b.B.Bat. 4a). From inside the inner court (Earth), you looked out at the sea surrounding the world. Everyone was allowed in the outer court (the sea) - including Gentiles - to bring sacrifices and wash in water. However, this was as far as the Gentiles could go.
In Rev 21:1, John saw in his vision there was 'no more sea' - meaning that the outer court was no more, which restricted the Gentiles from entering. This was a prophetic picture of the New Covenant ... where there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles (Gal 3:28). In the New Covenant, everyone is allowed in the Holy of Holies.
******************************
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD HEAVEN & EARTH ...
Matt.
24:34-35 (KJV) ... Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass,
till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and Earth (the temple) shall
pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
2
Pet 3:10 ... "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in which the Heavens shall pass away, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat, the Earth also and the *works* that are therein
shall be burned up." (The covenant of works literally burned up in 70 AD).
2
Pet 3:12 ... "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of
God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat."
So
the literal planet earth does not burn up ... nor does the literal sea dry up. This is figurative apocalyptic language, describing the events
of 70AD.
******************************
Ecc. 1:4 ... "The earth abides forever."
Ps.
89:36-37 ... "It is established forever like the moon, even like the
faithful witness in the sky - the sun." (Both sun and moon are eternally
established as faithful witnesses in the sky).
Ps. 148:4-6 ... "He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away."
Ps. 78:69 ... "the earth which He has established forever."
******************************
NOTE ... The "elements" that
Peter said would melt with fervent heat were the "trappings" of the
religious old covenant system. These "elements" actually come from a
Greek word meaning "traditions of men, religious rules, bondage to a
religious system, and principles of a teaching" (see Gal. 4:3,9, Col.
2:8, 20, Heb. 5:12).
E-mail : chaletsmith@protonmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment