Creation

[Job 33:6]

I agree with all of that except the last two words, "and earth." None of those verses teach that God's temple is heaven and earth. As Solomon prayed:

It says that heaven is His throne, and that earth is His footstool.

Heaven and earth is creation.

And then God says:
"what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?"

House, is the Hebrew term for temple.

We don't want to ignore that the earth is mentioned here as God's footstool, which is something that is paired with his throne. One does not simply rest on the throne without a footstool.

“"hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as [do] Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.” (1Ki 8:43 NKJV)

"In heaven your dwelling place," not "In heaven and earth your dwelling place."

Father's House — Many Mansions!

Jesus says in John 14, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye […]

seedbed.com

Gods dwelling place is anywhere that He dwells. Which is, anywhere and everywhere. He is not bound to one location.

Here is a clip from the article:
Jesus speaks out of the context of the whole Old Testament revelation. In the older Testament, the Lord’s “house” or “dwelling place” is an immensely rich idea. It essentially means the place or places where God’s presence is manifest. Often in the Psalms God’s “house” or “dwelling” is the temple in Jerusalem. Other times it refers to the whole creation, or even the whole universe. Some Psalms describe God himself as our “dwelling place” (Ps 90:1, 91:9).

But this is an important theological concept. "Your body is a temple" Right? It's a figurative concept, but it is simply to say that God dwells in you.

Ephesians 2:22 NIV
[22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.



Here, Zion is God's resting place, or His dwelling place:
Psalms 132:13-14 NIV
[13] For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, [14] “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

Zion again:
Joel 3:17 NIV
[17] “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.

Exodus 25:8, God tabernacles with Man. I'll grab some passages...currently editing.
Exodus 25:8-9 NIV
[8] “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. [9] Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.



Here is a place in Ezekiel where an earthly temple is where both His throne and footstool are:
Ezekiel 43:4, 6-7, 10, 25 NASB1995
[4] And the glory of the Lord came into the Temple/house by the way of the gate facing toward the east.
[6] Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me. [7] He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die,
[10] “As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan.
[25] For seven days you shall prepare daily a goat for a sin offering; also a young bull and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be prepared.

Ezekiel 37:26-27 NASB1995
[26] I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. [27] My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Where he will live among the Israelites forever.

Strong's Hebrew: 7931. שָׁכַן (shakan or shaken) -- To dwell, to abide, to reside, to inhabit

biblehub.com

It's the same Hebrew word there. To "dwell".

 

[Job 33:6]

It says that heaven is His throne, and that earth is His footstool.

Heaven and earth is creation.

And then God says:
"what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?"

House, is the Hebrew term for temple.

We don't want to ignore that the earth is mentioned here as God's footstool, which is something that is paired with his throne. One does not simply rest on the throne without a footstool.

Father's House — Many Mansions!

Jesus says in John 14, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye […]

seedbed.com

Gods dwelling place is anywhere that He dwells. Which is, anywhere and everywhere. He is not bound to one location.

God for example, also dwells within all of us.
Psalm 90:1 and Psalm 91:9.

But this is an important theological concept. "Your body is a temple" Right? It's a figurative concept, but it is simply to say that God dwells in you.

Here, Zion is God's resting place, or His dwelling place:
Psalms 132:13-14 NIV
[13] For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, [14] “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

Zion again:
Joel 3:17 NIV
[17] “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.

Exodus 25:8, God tabernacles with Man. I'll grab some passages...currently editing.
Exodus 25:8-9 NIV
[8] “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. [9] Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.



Here is a place in Ezekiel where an earthly temple is where both His throne and footstool are:
Ezekiel 43:4, 6-7, 10, 25 NASB1995
[4] And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east.
[6] Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me. [7] He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die,
[10] “As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan.
[25] For seven days you shall prepare daily a goat for a sin offering; also a young bull and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be prepared.

Ezekiel 37:26-27 NASB1995
[26] I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. [27] My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Where he will live among the Israelites forever.

Strong's Hebrew: 7931. שָׁכַן (shakan or shaken) -- To dwell, to abide, to reside, to inhabit

biblehub.com

It's the same Hebrew word there. To "dwell".

@David Lamb

So what does all this mean? I can grab more passages. But sometimes God dwells in heaven, or His dwelling place is in heaven. Sometimes it's in people. Sometimes it's in Zion. Sometimes it's everywhere.

But the seedbed article summarizes it well. Gods dwelling place is anywhere that His presence is. And sometimes, depending on the context of the book you're reading, it just says that this place is heaven. Other times God's dwelling place is somewhere else. And it's not necessarily a contradiction. Rather it's just a matter of context.

And if you would like more passages, feel free to let me know.

And in Isaiah 66:1-2, the place where God rests, as it notes, is heaven and earth. That is, all of creation. That's why God says "all these things my hand has made". He didn't only create heaven. He created everything.

Isaiah 66:1-2 NIV
[1] This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? [2] Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?”

It's God saying, where is the Temple you would build for me? Heaven is already my throne, earth is already my footstool, I already made my own house.

Heaven and Earth, all of creation, are His house (temple) and resting place.

And human hands aren't sufficient to make it. Only God can. And did.

 

[Yarddog]

Hi Yarddog
But I don't think Christ will rest on the 7th day God the Father will rest but the 7th day is Christs millennial reign he will be finishing the creation as king of kings.

Love and Peace
Dave

Christ rest on the 7th. Jesus was crucified on the 6th day, Good Friday. He completed all the works that his Father had given him to do and the Gospel of John tells us that his last words were, "It is finished" and he died. His body lay in the tomb on the 7th day and he rose on the 8th day.

There are no works which man can be saved, except those which Jesus completed. God's children are alive in the 7th day, God's rest.

Praise God

 

[davetaff]

Christ rest on the 7th. Jesus was crucified on the 6th day, Good Friday. He completed all the works that his Father had given him to do and the Gospel of John tells us that his last words were, "It is finished" and he died. His body lay in the tomb on the 7th day and he rose on the 8th day.

There are no works which man can be saved, except those which Jesus completed. God's children are alive in the 7th day, God's rest.

Praise God

Hi yarddog
Thank you for your post but I think we are talking of two different days you are speaking of his first advent im speaking of his second advent his millennial reign

Love and Peace
Dave

 

[Job 33:6]

I agree with all of that except the last two words, "and earth." None of those verses teach that God's temple is heaven and earth. As Solomon prayed:

“"hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as [do] Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.” (1Ki 8:43 NKJV)

"In heaven your dwelling place," not "In heaven and earth your dwelling place."

Here is another good one, in addition to my last response:

Psalms 78:69 NIV
[69] He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.

I agree with all of that except the last two words, "and earth." None of those verses teach that God's temple is heaven and earth. As Solomon prayed:

“"hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as [do] Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.” (1Ki 8:43 NKJV)

"In heaven your dwelling place," not "In heaven and earth your dwelling place."

I've shared a few posts now, hopefully you are catching them. But here is another passage to consider that parallels Isaiah 66:1-2

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite'"

Isaiah 57:16 ESV
[16] For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.

So God dwells both in the heavens, the high and holy place, but also with the lowly spirit. Or with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.

And if you go to Isaiah 66:2, you'll see another reference to precisely that, "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Of course this comes immediately along with and after the first portion about heaven and Earth being God's throne and footstool, and God asking where the temple will be that a man might create for him, rhetorically. Because verse:all these things His hands has made, then, He will dwell both in heaven and with us.

It all goes in a big circle.

Ultimately, the message is saying that, God is with us. And God is everywhere. This is His creation. He is here. This is His temple. We are like His guests. His children. The earth is part of His house. His temple.

God dwells not just in heaven. But also on earth. And indeed, throughout creation, that is heaven and earth, his throne and footstool.

 

[David Lamb]

Here is another good one, in addition to my last response:

Psalms 78:69 NIV
[69] He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.

Yes, like the heights, like the earth.

I've shared a few posts now, hopefully you are catching them. But here is another passage to consider that parallels Isaiah 66:1-2

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite'"

Isaiah 57:16 ESV
[16] For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.

So God dwells both in the heavens, the high and holy place, but also with the lowly spirit. Or with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.

And if you go to Isaiah 66:2, you'll see another reference to precisely that, "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Of course this comes immediately along with and after the first portion about heaven and Earth being God's throne and footstool, and God asking where the temple will be that a man might create for him, rhetorically. Because verse:all these things His hands has made, then, He will dwell both in heaven and with us.

It all goes in a big circle.

Ultimately, the message is saying that, God is with us. And God is everywhere. This is His creation. He is here. This is His temple. We are like His guests. His children. The earth is part of His house. His temple.

God dwells not just in heaven. But also on earth. And indeed, throughout creation, that is heaven and earth, his throne and footstool.

I agree that God dwells with His people. I agree, also, with what you say about God asking where the temple will be that a man might create for him being rhetorical. I also agree that God is everywhere. As the psalmist asked:

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Ps 139:7 NKJV)

That's another rhetorical question, of course. What I don't see is any mention in the bible of the earth or creation being His temple.

 

[Job 33:6]

Yes, like the heights, like the earth.

I agree that God dwells with His people. I agree, also, with what you say about God asking where the temple will be that a man might create for him being rhetorical. I also agree that God is everywhere. As the psalmist asked:

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Ps 139:7 NKJV)

Yes. Psalm 139 is a great Psalm.

That's another rhetorical question, of course. What I don't see is any mention in the bible of the earth or creation being His temple.

Sure. Maybe we could rephrase it then, to simply speak of heaven and earth as God's dwelling place. It might be an easier way to think of the topic.

We see this over and over and over again. These passages of heaven and earth, as God's dwelling place. Or His sanctuary. The place where He rests. Etc.

As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places,
Ezekiel 43:4‭-‬7

1. Temple
2. Throne
3. Footstool
4. Dwelling place

Here is a useful passage that plainly states, the place where God dwells, His dwelling place, is a temple. In this case. And it is the place of His throne and footstool. It's just very plainly stated.

The place of His throne, the place of His footstool, it is His dwelling place. The place where God rests. His sanctuary.

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house [temple] you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
Isaiah 66:1

1. Temple
2. Throne
3. Footstool
4. Resting place
5. Heaven
6. Earth

Here it is again in Isaiah. Heaven and earth, paralleled with throne and footstool. The place where God rests. Gods temple. It's just there, plainly stated.

Or, here is a good verse:
Psalm 78:69 ESV
[69] He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever.

Oh wait, you just shared this one. Yes that's a good one. Yes it uses the words "like", but it's still worth pointing out the correlation here. Heaven, and earth, related to or paralleled with a "sanctuary" which in the old testament, sanctuaries are places of worship, it's where God dwells (see the passage below for an example related to the tabernacle).

Or maybe we could look at this one:
By wisdom a temple is built,
and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches. (Prov. 24:3-4 ESV)

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew. (Prov. 3:19-20 ESV)

1. Temple
2. Heaven
3. Earth

Again, a temple is built paralleled with earth and heaven. It's right there. A sanctuary or place where God dwells, related to heaven and earth.

The heavens and the earth are paralleled with God's resting place. This is the place of His throne and footstool. And sometimes this is worded differently, depending on what book you're reading.

The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the sons of mankind.
Psalms 11:4

This one doesn't mention the earth. But again still, the Lord's throne is in heaven. Or sometimes heaven is just directly called His throne. And that throne is in His holy temple. So we see this again and again and again.

Until I find a place for the Lord, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Let’s go into His dwelling place; Let’s worship at His footstool. Arise, Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. ¶For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it as His dwelling place. “This is My resting place forever; Here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
Psalms 132:5‭, ‬7‭-‬8‭, ‬13‭-‬14 NIV

1. Temple
2. Throne
3. Footstool
4. Dwelling place
5. Resting place

Here it is again in Psalm 132, the footstool and the throne mentioned, God's dwelling place, His resting place. And where is that location? It's about Solomons temple atop mount Zion.

We can also find passages in the New Testament such as this one:

Matthew 5:34-35 ESV
[34] But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, [35] or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

The same thing is repeated in the book of Acts.

Maybe we should just call it Gods "sanctuary" that might be a better word than temple. Or we could just safely call it Gods dwelling place. But one thing is for sure, I don't think anyone who really takes the Bible seriously can avoid this topic. It's quite clear, this relationship between God's resting place, The place where he rests, and God's temple or sanctuary.

To summarize it, God rests in his dwelling place.

And oftentimes in scripture, this includes places such as temples and sanctuaries. Or perhaps every time in scripture, this resting place, in some way or another, is related to a temple in some way or another.

In fact, we could try, but I suspect that we would not be able to find a single passage in the Bible, of the passages where God rests, where it is not in some fashion related to a temple. Excluding Genesis, the one chapter in question.

And it becomes incredibly abundant in clarity that Genesis also follows this framework when we focus in on the topic. This is just the surface. But when we actually look closely at the tabernacle and Solomons temple, and temples elsewhere in the Bible, it becomes abundantly clear that they are directly tied to Genesis in a variety of ways.

So...

When God rests in sanctuaries and temples of human construction, such as the tabernacle or Solomons temple, or in Ezekiel or elsewhere, the next question we can ask is, what is the relationship between these locations and the number 7?

Or what is the relationship between God's dwelling place and the number 7? That's a more immediate question. What does the number 7 have to do with God's dwelling place? Because every time a temple or sanctuary is made in the old testament, it is flooded with usage of the number 7.

That would be a good target question to focus in on one of the many justifications of this understanding that creation is God's dwelling.

 

[Job 33:6]

Yes. Psalm 139 is a great Psalm.

Sure. Maybe we could rephrase it then, to simply speak of heaven and earth as God's dwelling place. It might be an easier way to think of the topic.

We see this over and over and over again. These passages of heaven and earth, as God's dwelling place. Or His sanctuary. The place where He rests. Etc.

As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places,
Ezekiel 43:4‭-‬7

Here is a useful passage that plainly states, the place where God dwells, His dwelling place, is a temple. In this case. And it is the place of His throne and footstool. It's just very plainly stated.

The place of His throne, the place of His footstool, it is His dwelling place. The place where God rests. His sanctuary.

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house [temple] you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
Isaiah 66:1

Here it is again in Isaiah. Heaven and earth, paralleled with throne and footstool. The place where God rests. Gods temple. It's just there, plainly stated.

Or, here is a good verse:
Psalm 78:69 ESV
[69] He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever.

Oh wait, you just shared this one. Yes that's a good one. Yes it uses the words "like", but it's still worth pointing out the correlation here. Heaven, and earth, related to or paralleled with a "sanctuary" which in the old testament, sanctuaries are places of worship, it's where God dwells (see the passage below for an example related to the tabernacle).

Or maybe we could look at this one:
By wisdom a temple is built,
and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches. (Prov. 24:3-4 ESV)

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew. (Prov. 3:19-20 ESV)

Again, a temple is built paralleled with earth and heaven. It's right there. A sanctuary or place where God dwells, related to heaven and earth.

The heavens and the earth are paralleled with God's resting place. This is the place of His throne and footstool. And sometimes this is worded differently, depending on what book you're reading.

The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the sons of mankind.
Psalms 11:4

This one doesn't mention the earth. But again still, the Lord's throne is in heaven. Or sometimes heaven is just directly called His throne. And that throne is in His holy temple. So we see this again and again and again.

Until I find a place for the Lord, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Let’s go into His dwelling place; Let’s worship at His footstool. Arise, Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. ¶For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it as His dwelling place. “This is My resting place forever; Here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
Psalms 132:5‭, ‬7‭-‬8‭, ‬13‭-‬14 NIV

Here it is again in Psalm 132, the footstool and the throne mentioned, God's dwelling place, His resting place. And where is that location? It's about Solomons temple atop mount Zion.

Maybe we should just call it Gods "sanctuary" that might be a better word than temple. Or we could just safely call it Gods dwelling place. But one thing is for sure, I don't think anyone who really takes the Bible seriously can avoid this topic. It's quite clear, this relationship between creation, and God's temple or sanctuary. And it becomes incredibly abundant in clarity when we focus in on the topic. This is just the surface. We are only beginning to open this door. But when we actually look closely at the tabernacle and Solomons temple, and temples elsewhere in the Bible, it becomes abundantly clear.

So...

His dwelling place, or God's sanctuary, the place where God rests in the Bible, the place of His throne and footstool, particularly when God rests in temples (such as in the tabernacle/the ark of the covenant, Solomons temple, the temple of the book of Ezekiel), has a unique relationship with the number 7.

And not only that, but the book of Exodus very closely parallels Genesis, as do many aspects of 1 kings and Ezekiel, and Noah's ark (the ark is a sanctuary too, that's why it's called an "ark") etc.

The most noticeable ones would be the tabernacle of Exodus, and Genesis 1-2, and the dedication of Solomons temple.

Exodus 25:8 ESV
[8] And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.

When God rests in sanctuaries and temples of human construction, such as the tabernacle, what is the relationship between these places and the number 7?

That would be a good target question to focus in on one of the many justifications of this understanding that creation is God's dwelling.

So, following up on my last post, let's focus in on one temple of the old testament. Or, let's call it Gods dwelling place. Or God's sanctuary. Because technically the Tabernacle is not a temple, even though it is a place of worship. So we don't have to call it a temple, even though it's like a portable worship center. So let's focus in:

This is from Ben Stanhope, in his book "Mis-interpreted Genesis". I could copy the verses myself but I like how he organized it so I'll just copy and paste:

1. Moses builds the Tabernacle in Exod 40:17-33. Seven times in the building process, it is repeated that Moses carried out the construction of a given part, “just as Yhwh had commanded Moses.”[314]

In other words, the Tabernacle, like the world, was constructed in seven stages of divine commands.

2) The Tabernacle priests were ordained in a seven-day process (Lev 8:33-35).

3) Gen 2:2 says, “God finished the work….” Exod 40:33 reads, “When Moses had finished the work…”

4) Gen 2:3 says that after the completion of creation, “God blessed the seventh day….” After the completion of the Tabernacle in Exod 39:43 we read that, “Moses blessed them….”

5) After the blessing, Gen 2:3 speaks of God “sanctifying” creation. Exod 40:9 speaks of Moses “sanctifying” the Tabernacle “and all its furnishings.”[315]

6) God’s presence was in Eden as it was in the Tabernacle. We are told that he would “walk” about in the garden (Gen 3:8). Commentators note that this same Hebrew verb is strangely used of God “walking about” in the Tabernacle in Lev 26:12, and Deut 23:15.

7) We are told that Adam and Eve were to “work and keep” the garden. These same two Hebrew verbs are only used together elsewhere to describe the job obligations of the priests who [work and] kept the Tabernacle and later Temple (Num 7–8; 8:25–26; 1 Chron 23:32; Ezek 44:14).

8) The furnishings of the Tabernacle were created to resemble garden imagery. Many scholars believe the seven-branched lampstand was modeled after the Tree of Life. Later, Solomon’s Temple in 1 Kings 6 greatly enhanced the garden imagery with its architectural carvings,[316] and the sanctity of both places was guarded by the cherubim.

Cherubim guard the garden of Eden just as they do the ark of the covenant.

And this is just some of the content that relates God's creation, God's sanctuary to temples or the tabernacle or places on earth where God dwells.

"It is interesting that in addition to the elaborate garden carvings in Solomon’s Temple and the menorahs reminiscent of the Edenic trees, a colossal bronze bowl filled with 16,000 gallons of water sat outside called the yam (recall, this is the common Hebrew word for “sea”). Considering this abundance of creation imagery, Morales’ leading study states, “The Temple of Solomon likely conveyed to its visitors a typological Garden of Eden….”[320]"
Ben Stanhope, page 141.

And as Stanhope additionally notes, most, if not all, Bible scholars, readily acknowledge this relationship with creation paralleling temple imagery and vise versa. This is a normal topic in old testament studies. I'm not telling you anything that hasn't been covered by countless who study the old testament. I'm not just making this up, it's a common theme of old testament commentaries and biblical studies.
@David Lamb

This is very common and normal content that I'm sharing:

And this is an important theme for people to understand about Genesis and the tabernacle. We are focusing in just on the tabernacle here. But your can't really read Exodus and not see this relation between God's earthly sanctuary or dwelling place, and the holy space of creation. You can miss it. But once you see it, it's quite clear. The tabernacle and creation, share themes of serving as God's sanctuary. Or God's dwelling place. The place of His throne and footstool. And the tabernacle isn't alone in this relationship with God's dwelling. But it's a good starting point for introducing this topic.

 

[Job 33:6]

Acts 7:44-50 ESV
[44] “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. [45] Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, [46] who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. [47] But it was Solomon who built a house for him. [48] Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, [49] “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? [50] Did not my hand make all these things?’

1. The tent of witness and Solomons temple
2. Throne and heaven
3. Footstool and earth
4. Resting place
5. Dwelling place

Here it is again. The tent of witness of the tabernacle. A dwelling place for God. Solomons temple. Heaven His throne, earth His footstool. His resting place.

All of it is here together. God made His own resting place, His dwelling place. And it is laid out, heaven is His throne, Earth is His footstool. It's talking about creation.

It's essentially God's own temple. Greater than any temple built by man.

@David Lamb

I'll pull this text from AI for reference:

Acts 7:44-50 is part of Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin, where he recounts Israel's history and addresses the Jewish leaders' misunderstanding of God's presence and worship. Here's a breakdown:

The Tent of Witness (Tabernacle) (v. 44-45):
Stephen begins by referencing the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary built under Moses' direction during the wilderness journey. It was designed according to the pattern God showed Moses (Exodus 25:8-9) and symbolized God's presence among His people. This tent was later brought into the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership.

David's Desire for a Temple (v. 46):
Stephen transitions to King David, who wanted to build a permanent dwelling place for God (2 Samuel 7:1-2). While David found favor with God, he was not permitted to build the temple; this task was given to his son Solomon.

Solomon's Temple (v. 47):
Solomon built the First Temple, which became the central place of worship for Israel and the symbolic dwelling of God's presence (1 Kings 6).

God's Transcendence (v. 48-50):
Stephen challenges the Jewish leaders' focus on the temple by quoting Isaiah 66:1-2. He emphasizes that God is not confined to human-made structures:

“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” This imagery highlights God's sovereignty and the vastness of His presence.
“What kind of house will you build for me?” This rhetorical question underscores that no temple or structure can contain the Creator of the universe.
Stephen's Point:
Stephen critiques the Jewish leaders for their misplaced emphasis on the physical temple, suggesting they have idolized it. He asserts that God's presence is not limited to any building, but is transcendent and universal. This aligns with the broader message of the gospel—that worship and relationship with God are no longer tied to a specific location (as Jesus explained in John 4:21-24).

Stephen's argument ultimately points to the fulfillment of God's presence through Jesus Christ, who makes access to God available to all, transcending the need for a physical temple.

These concepts, God's resting place, creation, and temples, particularly in the old testament before the coming of Jesus, are intimately tied together.

And this is an important detail to understand when reading Genesis.

The tabernacle and Solomon's temple were expressions of God's willingness to dwell among His people, but they were never intended to limit or define His presence. Heaven and earth themselves testify to God's vastness and His rule, surpassing the physical structures made by human hands.

This imagery reinforces that God’s presence is universal and not confined to a specific building. The focus should be on worshiping God in spirit and truth (John 4:24) rather than idolizing the temple or any physical place. Heaven and earth, as throne and footstool, symbolize the vast scope of God's reign and presence.


End quote

And so it is, the temple serves as a sort of microcosm of God's cosmic dwelling place. Everything that exists. That is, Heaven and Earth.

 

[Job 33:6]

So, following up on my last post, let's focus in on one temple of the old testament. Or, let's call it Gods dwelling place. Or God's sanctuary. Because technically the Tabernacle is not a temple, even though it is a place of worship. So we don't have to call it a temple, even though it's like a portable worship center. So let's focus in:

This is from Ben Stanhope, in his book "Mis-interpreted Genesis". I could copy the verses myself but I like how he organized it so I'll just copy and paste:

1. Moses builds the Tabernacle in Exod 40:17-33. Seven times in the building process, it is repeated that Moses carried out the construction of a given part, “just as Yhwh had commanded Moses.”[314]

In other words, the Tabernacle, like the world, was constructed in seven stages of divine commands.

2) The Tabernacle priests were ordained in a seven-day process (Lev 8:33-35).

3) Gen 2:2 says, “God finished the work….” Exod 40:33 reads, “When Moses had finished the work…”

4) Gen 2:3 says that after the completion of creation, “God blessed the seventh day….” After the completion of the Tabernacle in Exod 39:43 we read that, “Moses blessed them….”

5) After the blessing, Gen 2:3 speaks of God “sanctifying” creation. Exod 40:9 speaks of Moses “sanctifying” the Tabernacle “and all its furnishings.”[315]

6) God’s presence was in Eden as it was in the Tabernacle. We are told that he would “walk” about in the garden (Gen 3:8). Commentators note that this same Hebrew verb is strangely used of God “walking about” in the Tabernacle in Lev 26:12, and Deut 23:15.

7) We are told that Adam and Eve were to “work and keep” the garden. These same two Hebrew verbs are only used together elsewhere to describe the job obligations of the priests who [work and] kept the Tabernacle and later Temple (Num 7–8; 8:25–26; 1 Chron 23:32; Ezek 44:14).

8) The furnishings of the Tabernacle were created to resemble garden imagery. Many scholars believe the seven-branched lampstand was modeled after the Tree of Life. Later, Solomon’s Temple in 1 Kings 6 greatly enhanced the garden imagery with its architectural carvings,[316] and the sanctity of both places was guarded by the cherubim.

Cherubim guard the garden of Eden just as they do the ark of the covenant.

And this is just some of the content that relates God's creation, God's sanctuary to temples or the tabernacle or places on earth where God dwells.

"It is interesting that in addition to the elaborate garden carvings in Solomon’s Temple and the menorahs reminiscent of the Edenic trees, a colossal bronze bowl filled with 16,000 gallons of water sat outside called the yam (recall, this is the common Hebrew word for “sea”). Considering this abundance of creation imagery, Morales’ leading study states, “The Temple of Solomon likely conveyed to its visitors a typological Garden of Eden….”[320]"
Ben Stanhope, page 141.

And as Stanhope additionally notes, most, if not all, Bible scholars, readily acknowledge this relationship with creation paralleling temple imagery and vise versa. This is a normal topic in old testament studies. I'm not telling you anything that hasn't been covered by countless who study the old testament. I'm not just making this up, it's a common theme of old testament commentaries and biblical studies.
@David Lamb

This is very common and normal content that I'm sharing:

And this is an important theme for people to understand about Genesis and the tabernacle. We are focusing in just on the tabernacle here. But your can't really read Exodus and not see this relation between God's earthly sanctuary or dwelling place, and the holy space of creation. You can miss it. But once you see it, it's quite clear. The tabernacle and creation, share themes of serving as God's sanctuary. Or God's dwelling place. The place of His throne and footstool. And the tabernacle isn't alone in this relationship with God's dwelling. But it's a good starting point for introducing this topic.

@David Lamb do you see how the tabernacle reflects creation as God's dwelling?

Yes. Psalm 139 is a great Psalm.

Sure. Maybe we could rephrase it then, to simply speak of heaven and earth as God's dwelling place. It might be an easier way to think of the topic.

We see this over and over and over again. These passages of heaven and earth, as God's dwelling place. Or His sanctuary. The place where He rests. Etc.

As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places,
Ezekiel 43:4‭-‬7

1. Temple
2. Throne
3. Footstool
4. Dwelling place

Here is a useful passage that plainly states, the place where God dwells, His dwelling place, is a temple. In this case. And it is the place of His throne and footstool. It's just very plainly stated.

The place of His throne, the place of His footstool, it is His dwelling place. The place where God rests. His sanctuary.

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house [temple] you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
Isaiah 66:1

1. Temple
2. Throne
3. Footstool
4. Resting place
5. Heaven
6. Earth

Here it is again in Isaiah. Heaven and earth, paralleled with throne and footstool. The place where God rests. Gods temple. It's just there, plainly stated.

Or, here is a good verse:
Psalm 78:69 ESV
[69] He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever.

Oh wait, you just shared this one. Yes that's a good one. Yes it uses the words "like", but it's still worth pointing out the correlation here. Heaven, and earth, related to or paralleled with a "sanctuary" which in the old testament, sanctuaries are places of worship, it's where God dwells (see the passage below for an example related to the tabernacle).

Or maybe we could look at this one:
By wisdom a temple is built,
and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches. (Prov. 24:3-4 ESV)

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew. (Prov. 3:19-20 ESV)

1. Temple
2. Heaven
3. Earth

Again, a temple is built paralleled with earth and heaven. It's right there. A sanctuary or place where God dwells, related to heaven and earth.

The heavens and the earth are paralleled with God's resting place. This is the place of His throne and footstool. And sometimes this is worded differently, depending on what book you're reading.

The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the sons of mankind.
Psalms 11:4

This one doesn't mention the earth. But again still, the Lord's throne is in heaven. Or sometimes heaven is just directly called His throne. And that throne is in His holy temple. So we see this again and again and again.

Until I find a place for the Lord, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Let’s go into His dwelling place; Let’s worship at His footstool. Arise, Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. ¶For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it as His dwelling place. “This is My resting place forever; Here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
Psalms 132:5‭, ‬7‭-‬8‭, ‬13‭-‬14 NIV

1. Temple
2. Throne
3. Footstool
4. Dwelling place
5. Resting place

Here it is again in Psalm 132, the footstool and the throne mentioned, God's dwelling place, His resting place. And where is that location? It's about Solomons temple atop mount Zion.

We can also find passages in the New Testament such as this one:

Matthew 5:34-35 ESV
[34] But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, [35] or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

The same thing is repeated in the book of Acts.

Maybe we should just call it Gods "sanctuary" that might be a better word than temple. Or we could just safely call it Gods dwelling place. But one thing is for sure, I don't think anyone who really takes the Bible seriously can avoid this topic. It's quite clear, this relationship between God's resting place, The place where he rests, and God's temple or sanctuary.

To summarize it, God rests in his dwelling place.

And oftentimes in scripture, this includes places such as temples and sanctuaries. Or perhaps every time in scripture, this resting place, in some way or another, is related to a temple in some way or another.

In fact, we could try, but I suspect that we would not be able to find a single passage in the Bible, of the passages where God rests, where it is not in some fashion related to a temple. Excluding Genesis, the one chapter in question.

And it becomes incredibly abundant in clarity that Genesis also follows this framework when we focus in on the topic. This is just the surface. But when we actually look closely at the tabernacle and Solomons temple, and temples elsewhere in the Bible, it becomes abundantly clear that they are directly tied to Genesis in a variety of ways.

So...

When God rests in sanctuaries and temples of human construction, such as the tabernacle or Solomons temple, or in Ezekiel or elsewhere, the next question we can ask is, what is the relationship between these locations and the number 7?

Or what is the relationship between God's dwelling place and the number 7? That's a more immediate question. What does the number 7 have to do with God's dwelling place? Because every time a temple or sanctuary is made in the old testament, it is flooded with usage of the number 7.

That would be a good target question to focus in on one of the many justifications of this understanding that creation is God's dwelling.

@David Lamb did you read the Bible verses above, such as proverbs where heaven and earth are paralleled with a temple?

 

[davetaff]

Hi
May be we could look at the end of creation the 6th day when sea mankind in the image of God which Christ gathers together to present to the Father a whole multitude of believers from the beginning of creation to the end.
Then the 7th day begins the Fathers sabbath rest and Christ's millennial reign who will he reign over what will be the object. At the end of the 7th day the Father will begin work again creating a new heaven and earth I wonder what that will look like we have much to look forward to.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Love and Peace
Dave

 

[David Lamb]

Hi
May be we could look at the end of creation the 6th day when sea mankind in the image of God which Christ gathers together to present to the Father a whole multitude of believers from the beginning of creation to the end.
Then the 7th day begins the Fathers sabbath rest and Christ's millennial reign who will he reign over what will be the object. At the end of the 7th day the Father will begin work again creating a new heaven and earth I wonder what that will look like we have much to look forward to.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Love and Peace
Dave

I agree that the actual creation by God as recorded in Genesis 1-2 can be a picture of things to come, (Christ coming as the Light of the world, etc.), the things in Genesis 1 & 2 did actually happen. God did create actual light, He did rest from creating on the actual 7th day, and so on. Your post makes it sound as though the picture of things to come is all that Genesis 1 & 2 tell us.

 

[davetaff]

I agree that the actual creation by God as recorded in Genesis 1-2 can be a picture of things to come, (Christ coming as the Light of the world, etc.), the things in Genesis 1 & 2 did actually happen. God did create actual light, He did rest from creating on the actual 7th day, and so on. Your post makes it sound as though the picture of things to come is all that Genesis 1 & 2 tell us.

Hi David
Thank you for your reply yes God tells us the end from the beginning

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure

The end of creation is man in the image of God and that man is Jesus Christ at his second comming when he gathers together the multitude of believers to present to the Father man ( mankind) in the image of God is the body of Christ so we need to pay attention to Genesis because here God tells us the whole history of mankind God is in control of mankind destiny all things will work out accordingly.

Love and Peace
Dave

 

[David Lamb]

Hi David
Thank you for your reply yes God tells us the end from the beginning

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure

The end of creation is man in the image of God and that man is Jesus Christ at his second comming when he gathers together the multitude of believers to present to the Father man ( mankind) in the image of God is the body of Christ so we need to pay attention to Genesis because here God tells us the whole history of mankind God is in control of mankind destiny all things will work out accordingly.

Love and Peace
Dave

Thanks. I would just point to Genesis 2:1-3:

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Ge 2:1-3 NKJV)

No sense there of creation being unfinished. We are told in the New Testament that when somebody becomes a Christian, they are a new creation:


“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Co 5:17 NKJV)

The end of creation cannot be Jesus Christ, because as you have agreed with me, He is not a created Being, but eternal.

 

[davetaff]

Hi David
Thank you for your reply the end of creation is all the believers that are taken into the body of Christ a whole multitude its this multitude who are the body of Christ that will be presented to the Father they mankind in the image of God and they will be divided up into different groups as was Israel who are man in the image of God in the flesh the man of flesh must come first then the spiritual man who is created through baptism of the spirit.
Man in the image of God is not one man but a whole multitude of believers who have been baptised with the spirit of God.

Love and Peace
Dave

 

[David Lamb]

Hi David
Thank you for your reply the end of creation is all the believers that are taken into the body of Christ a whole multitude its this multitude who are the body of Christ that will be presented to the Father they mankind in the image of God and they will be divided up into different groups as was Israel who are man in the image of God in the flesh the man of flesh must come first then the spiritual man who is created through baptism of the spirit.
Man in the image of God is not one man but a whole multitude of believers who have been baptised with the spirit of God.

Love and Peace
Dave

Where do you find in Scripture that "the end of creation is all the believers that are taken into the body of Christ"? As I said in my previous post, when a sinner is saved, they are called "a new creation." Also, I would say that, according to the bible, all human beings are made in the image of God. Since the Fall, that image is marred. That is why the new birth is needed.

 

[davetaff]

Thanks. I would just point to Genesis 2:1-3:

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Ge 2:1-3 NKJV)

No sense there of creation being unfinished. We are told in the New Testament that when somebody becomes a Christian, they are a new creation:


“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Co 5:17 NKJV)

The end of creation cannot be Jesus Christ, because as you have agreed with me, He is not a created Being, but eternal.

Hi David
Thank you for your reply but I would like to point out that everything God created before the flood was destroyed in the flood and Adam died so God would need to create a new Adam and that Adam is Jesus Christ at his second comming with his body of believers a whole multitude of believers who he will present to the Father he is the last Adam man in the image of God.

Love and Peace
Dave

 

[David Lamb]

Hi David
Thank you for your reply but I would like to point out that everything God created before the flood was destroyed in the flood and Adam died so God would need to create a new Adam and that Adam is Jesus Christ at his second comming with his body of believers a whole multitude of believers who he will present to the Father he is the last Adam man in the image of God.

Love and Peace
Dave

You say that God would need to create a new Adam and that Adam is Jesus Christ, but yet you have also agreed when I have stated that Jesus Christ was not a created Being. If Jesus Christ was not created, and if, as the bible says, He is the new (it actually says "last") Adam, how can you say that God needed to create Him?

 

[Aaron112]

Haven't read whole thread. Replies indicate clearly errors in OP and need to repent. Don't think too long - there might not be time.

Thank you for your replies always interesting to read makes one think.

 

[davetaff]

Haven't read whole thread. Replies indicate clearly errors in OP and need to repent. Don't think too long - there might not be time.

Hi Aaron
Thank you for your reply but if I have said something wrong then please say what is wrong using Scripture please it may be helpful to other believers thank you

Love and Peace
Dave