Pleasure On Earth

Quotes:

“Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not" - St Augustine

For however devoted you are to (God), you may be sure that he is immeasurably more devoted to you. -Meister Eckhart

"Knowing where you are going takes the uncertainty out of getting there." - Ann Graham Lotz

“A man's reach should exceed his grasp” ― Robert Browning, Men and Women and Other Poems

Genesis 18:1-14 (12) - “Pleasure” is the Hebrew word for Eden.

Isaac – A “type” of Christ:

Isaac was conceived by a miraculous touch; as was Christ.

His name was given by God; as was Christ’s.

Isaac’s name means “he laughs”, and Christ brings laughter to all He frees.

Isaac was the father of the literal Jews, and Christ is the father of the spiritual Jews.

He willing went to the mount of sacrifice; as did Christ.

He carried the wood for the sacrifice himself; as did Christ.

On the 3rd day the angel stayed Abraham’s hand; Jonah was a sign (3 days), Christ was raised on the third day.

God provided “himself” a lamb in both cases.

So God prepared Himself a body (Hebrews 5:10) that he might accomplished His purpose.

And that purpose is further detailed in Ephesians…

Ephesians 1:3-14 “3- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4- According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5- Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6- To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7- In whom we

have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8- Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9- Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10- That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11- In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12- That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13- In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14- Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Specifically in verse 10…

Verse 10 “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

God wanted to bring heaven and earth together the way it was in the beginning…. In the garden.

And most assuredly Heaven on Earth is certainly not the same thing as Heaven in Heaven.

Most Jewish rabbis including the historian Josephus equate the Garden of Eden to the Most Holy Place…

That is, the place where God dwells.

Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

Therefore man was dwelling in the very presence of God while on Earth.

Heaven and Earth were united.

There was no veil, no barrier, no separation.

Then they sinned.

They were separated from the very presence of God… a barrier was put in place.

Genesis 3:24 “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

Then along came the Tabernacle/Temple… the veil.

The type in play here is that the Holy Place represented the Earth;

The veil represents sin.

And the Most Holy Place represents Heaven – the place where God dwells.

Therefore man could worship, praise and server the Lord in the Holy Place (Earth).

However, man could only enter into the very presence of God carrying/by the blood of the sacrifice.

This separation, barrier, veil meant that when folks died under the Law they could not go to Heaven.