An important thing to keep in mind is the layout of the temples and temple-like structures in Scripture. Using terminology for Solomon’s Temple will serve as a template for the equivalent vocabulary Alexander uses. The inner most sanctum where the Ark of the Covenant, mercy seat and God’s presence dwelt was called the Holy of Holies. It had one east facing door that lead to another room called the Holy Place where the altar of incense, menorahs and shewbread were kept. This room had one east facing door which lead to the Porch which had the 2 pillars. Beyond this was the Inner Court which had the brazen altar used to burn sacrifices and the laver basin for priests to wash. Outside of this was the Outer Court. Beyond this was Jerusalem. Beyond Jerusalem was ‘the rest of the world.’

This layout will repeat several times in Scripture and it will go by different names, but the plan is always the same. Holy of Holies – Holy Place including Porch – Inner Court – Outer Court – City – Wilderness. There are a few caveats to this that I think Alexander and others miss \[why is the Porch attached to the Holy Place? What about the Inner Chambers which functioned like offices or lockers for the priests?\], but for the most part identifying this layout has fascinating implications for how we read our Bible.

The overarching point Alexander drives toward is that God intends to fill His creation with His presence and He wants man to help do this. This means His temple must expand.

Pg. 13 From Sacred Garden to Holy City: Experiencing the Presence of God

In Genesis Earth is intended to be God’s dwelling place. (After the Fall He only dwells here partially or in types and shadows). In Revelation a new heaven and a new Earth are created \[perhaps the original and future Earth were much larger to accommodate God’s dwelling place. New Jerusalem is an object so large it would wreak havoc on our current sized Earth. The average person can survive 3-4x Earth’s gravity.\].

15-19 Brief overview of God’s presence on Earth. Evidence the Father inhabited the Holy of Holies. ‘whomever swears by the Temple (G – naos; holy of holies) swears by Him who dwells in it.; (Matt 23:21) \[I’m not sure this is conclusive that the Father dwells there. However, elsewhere Jesus calls the Temple ‘my Father’s house.’\]

20 The Temple Garden of Eden

Eden was temple-like. Garden of Eden is attached to Eden. Entrance to Eden is from the Garden. Water flowed from Eden to the Garden. Similarities between the Holy of Holies listed by G.J. Wenham, ‘Sanctuary Symbolism In the Garden of Eden Story.’

* Eastward entrances guarded by cherubim
* Menorah symbolizes tree of life \[2 pillars on the porch, Boaz and Jachin, may represent the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.\]
* Hebrew verbs commanding Adam to work are only used with priestly work.
* Gold and onyx used.
* God walks in both.
* A river flows from Eden to the Garden. Ezekiel’s Temple \[which is not New Jerusalem\] also has a river flowing into the Dead Sea \[and also the Mediterranean Sea\]. Eden then may have been an elevated place. So too Ezekiel’s Temple.

Humanity meets God in the Holy Place. Adam and Eve acted as priests communing with God. In Eden, as humanity increased in size it could be that the Garden of Eden would also increase in size. A city would grow around Eden. \[There are trees all over the Eden. As Eden grows there would be more trees. Trees are often a type for people. Are Almond Trees the Tree of Life?\]

‘Keep the Garden’ is also ‘guard the Garden.’ When Adam invites the serpent he fails to guard it \[the serpent is unclean, or will be designated as so later\], is kicked out and replaced by the cherubim. \[Are Adam and Eve the original cherubim? This consideration has profound implications for the rest of the Bible that I hope to explore in depth in a future publication.\]

Adam – man

Adama – ground

When Adam sins the adama is cursed. Adam is formed out of adama.

27 Genesis chapters 1 – 2 are about creation. Genesis chapters 8 – 9 are about recreation.

28 Parallels between the two.

* Dry land appears in the middle of water. Chapters 1 and 8
* Birds, animals and creeping things brought forth.
* God establishes days and seasons.
* God blesses the animals to be fruitful and multiply
* Man brought forth and receives blessings of God.
* Man given dominion over animals.
* God provides food for man.
* Image of God in man, but Noah didn’t get a fresh start for man’s heart is evil.

33 The Ark of the Covenant is the footstool. So is Jerusalem (Lam 2:1) and Earth (Isaiah 66:1, Acts 7:49). We are invited to worship God at His footstool (Psa 99:5, 132:7). Heaven is where God’s throne is located (Psa 11:4). The footstool is God’s connecting point to Earth where we get a glimpse of Heaven.

39-42 Construction and layout of Tabernacle mirrored God’s creation. Bezalel, the artisan, was filled with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, just like God was. The Tabernacle and Temple were model microcosms of the universe. Tent metaphors are common for make up of creation. Many passages listed as examples – Psa 19:4-5, 33:7, 104:2, 5, 119:90; Proverbs 3:19; Job 28:26, 38:4-7, just to list a few.

42 The Jerusalem Temple

Tabernacle moves to Shiloh in Ephraim. Ephraim fails, God abandons the Tabernacle allowing the Ark to be captured (1 Sam 2:12-17). God departed Israel. \[Alexander sees the capture of the Ark by gentiles as removal of God’s presence in Israel.\] God then picks David of Judah and Jerusalem as His dwelling place. The thrones of David and God are net to each other confirming through convergence God’s choice \[David is also a type of Jesus. It is interesting that his throne is next to God’s. We read of the same with Jesus, ‘We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.’ (Heb 8:1-2). All of these temples on Earth mirror the pattern of the true temple in heaven where Jesus sits. God the Father sits on the heavenly temple throne with God the Son acting as the King because, ‘all authority in heaven and earth is given to Me.’ (Matt 28:18). So, heaven has the Father on His throne with His acting king on a throne to His right side. This king is Jesus. Likewise, on Earth, God is on the earthly throne in the temple with His earthly king next to Him. This king is David.\]

During Solomon’s reign the proliferation of gold in Jerusalem shows the city was filled with God’s presence and connects Jerusalem to New Jerusalem.

50 Isaiah chapter 2 shows the House of the Lord, in the last days, will be on the highest mountain in the world. Isaiah 60 and 65:17-25 is mirrored in Revelation \[Do the great upheavals of the tribulation lift Mount Zion to new heights?\]

54 Jerusalem’s beginning was dark \[does this mean the morning as the Bible views a ‘day’?\] but it’s future is bright with the presence of God. The Sun is redundant \[is this the daytime part of the ‘day’?\]

57 Ezekiel’s Millennial Temple has no command to build it, contains no furniture, only a ground plan. There is no partition wall around the Inner Court. The argument is that these are all symbolic words \[This is another disagreement I have with this book’s approach. I view Ezekiel’s Temple as a literal physical structure.\]

60 As the population increases the size of the Garden of Eden would grow. Likewise, Jerusalem would expand around the Temple, but because of sinfulness the city and the Temple were destroyed.

The Church As the Temple

62 The Church accomplishes the goal of expansion. Also, it is unfinished and yet God inhabits it. \[Perhaps the HS inhabits the unfinished Temple. When Solomon’s Temple was under construction all was silent. But while the Church is under construction we are to address each other with songs, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19).\]

65 Paul compares himself to Bezalel who was in charge of constructing the Tabernacle. He also presents the Tabernacle craftsmen as apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers for the ‘Church Temple’ (1 Cor 3:10). See footnote #100. God equips those building the Church and the Temple.

74 Thrown From the Thrown: Re-establishing the Sovereignty of God

76 **To be made in the image of God is to be given royal status**. Those who are the image of God are charged with rulership. God commands Adam and Eve to rule over creation, but also to multiply; thus extending the rule to expand the Garden and the Image over all the Earth.

80 The Theocracy of Israel

82 Priest-kings intended to extend the temple-city around the world. **Abraham is a king**. He displays king-like qualities; defeats kings and makes peace treaty with a king showing he is his equal. He acts as a **priest** by building altars, making sacrifices (not just offering them, but performing them) and receiving direct communication from God \[wouldn’t this be the role of a prophet?\] God called Abraham a **prophet** in Gen 20:7.

**Noah is a king**. He exercises dominion over animals by preserving them. He is a **priest** by building altars and performing sacrifices. He is a **prophet** in that he was warned by God 120 years prior to the Flood. **David** is another one who displays these traits.

84 To deny God’s commands is to reject His kingship. Israelites were fruitful and multiplied. God then led them out of Egypt \[a type for the world or death\] into the Promised Land \[a type for Heaven or the Millennial Kingdom\]. It is thew new king of Egypt who feels threatened by the Israelites and didn’t know Joseph.

Adam was God’s viceregent intended to extend His kingdom. He failed so, Jesus, as viceregent accomplished it in his place, but He waits to expand His kingdom. We will inherit what Jesus inherits; rule when He rules. This will be a kingdom.

98 Dealing With the Devil: Destroying the Source of Evil

Satan is the ruler \[king?\] of this world. A sheep with no shepherd become food for every beast (Eze 34:8). The serpent is more crafty and subtle than any beast of the field (Gen 3:1).

107 **By obeying the serpent Adam and Eve take on his image**. When Jesus casts out demons He is doing what Adam should have done; cast the serpent out of the Garden \[Could this be a way to view man is a garden or temple?\]

115 The conflict between religious rules and Jesus is a central theme to Matthew. Satan had gained a control of the Temple; this is why it would be destroyed \[Just like Eden, Earth in the Flood, Solomon’s Temple, the body of believers, etc.\]. Story progression of the OT and Paul’s letters; warfare, victory, kingship, temple building, celebration.

121 The Slaughter of the Lamb: Accomplishing the Redemption of Creation

122-123 In Rev 5:5-10 John hears a Lion, but when he looks he sees a Lamb.

125 All 4 gospels, especially John, connect Jesus’ death to Passover as a New Exodus.

126 Levites were ransomed as sacrifices, but they were ‘living sacrifices’ \[this connects them as a type of the Church Age believer.\]

128-129 The Passover rituals mirror those consecrating Aaronic priests; thus making all of Israel in the Exodus holy priests. For Passover there are 3 stages:

1.) the sacrificed animal atones for sins of the people.

2.) Blood smeared on the doorposts purifies those inside \[who passed through and are ‘covered.’\].

3.) Sacrificial meat sanctifies those who eat it.

Israelites required annual Atonement, Purification and Sanctification enshrined in \[feasts and festivals?\]. Those 3 elements are present in the death of Jesus.

130 Atonement

Atonement = peace with God. This is achieved by the death of the lamb/Lamb

Purification = sin removed. This is achieved by blood on the lintels/Cross

Sanctification = eat the meat of sacrifice. This is achieved by the Passover lamb, priests, Lord’s Supper/Communion, achieve holiness.

\[A note of mine. There is some disagreement in the Church about the nature of salvation. Are you saved or is it a process and you hope to ‘be saved’ at the end of the process. I would say we use the word ‘salvation’ in two different ways. The first is a complete process by itself. By being washed by the blood of Jesus you are saved from your sins. It’s a done deal. But when viewed as a process ‘salvation’ is just part of the ‘salvation’ process. I know that’s confusing, but it has 3 steps; salvation, sanctification, glorification. When you become saved step 1 is complete. Your salvation is safe. Your sins are forgiven. You are currently in the process of being sanctified and someday you will be glorified. These 3 steps match closely with what was just mentioned in the book. Viewing both sides should also help us to understand our own salvation and our brothers and sisters in Christ who view salvation through only 1 lens.\]

138 Feasting From the Tree of Life: Reinvigorating the Lives of People From Every Nation

There are 3 levels before God. Uncleanness – Cleanness – Holiness. Cleanness is neutral. Either holiness or uncleanness can be imparted to it, but holiness cannot be imparted to uncleanness.

152-153 Prohibitions against Tabernacle priests to be excluded if they had a physical defect, blemish or ailment seems cruel by our standards, but it reflects a future \[Millennial Kingdom or New Jerusalem?\] where we will be made perfect, both morally and physically.

158 God may use catastrophes and disease to judge people (Deut 28:15-45). Because humans defiled the Earth God must withdraw. His withdrawal results in chaos.

157-163 Reference to multiple prophecies regarding ecological restoration.

169 Coming of the HS in Acts chapter 2 is similar to God filling the Tabernacle (Ex 40:34-35) and the Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11, 2 Chron 7:1-2).

171 Strong Foundations and Solid Walls: Living Securely Among the People of God

175 New Jerusalem contrasted with Babylon \[Also, Eden contrasted with Babel, Babylon the whore vs New Jerusalem the virgin bride\]. Footnote #2 lists several differences between these 2 cities.

181 Babylon represents the global human anti-God culture.

Book Review From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology by T. Desmond Alexander