Deeper Reflection on Heaven and Earth (part two)

In the garden of Eden, what was unique about the relationship between God's space and humanity's space?

• They were always separate.

• They were in constant conflict.

• They were once completely overlapping.

• They were distant and unreachable.

How did God provide a way for humans to be forgiven and for God's space and humanity's space to overlap again?

• Through meditation and prayer

• By creating temples with intricate decorations

• By implementing (starting) animal sacrifices

• By building a bridge to Heaven

What do these two verses tell us about God?

Psalms 65:1-4 NIV

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

Leviticus 4

34The priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar. 35Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offerings, and the priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar, on the offerings by fire to the Lord. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin which he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

• God desires to dwell with people in a beautiful garden.

• God wants to forgive people without any sacrifice.

• God wants to live with his people, so he made a place (tabernacle/temple) and a practice (animal sacrifice) for humans to be forgiven so that God’s space and humanity’s space could once again overlap.

• God prefers isolation from humanity.

Leviticus 4:34-35 discusses the role of animal sacrifices. What is the purpose of animal sacrifices in the context of God's space and humanity's space?

• To create a barrier between the two spaces

• To absorb sin and create a clean space for human access to God

• To serve as decoration in the temple

• To separate God from his people

In John 1:14, how is Jesus described in relation to God's space and humanity's space?

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• Jesus is seen as a distant figure who avoids human contact.

• Jesus is called the Lamb of God.

• Jesus is a temple.

• Jesus creates pockets of Heaven.

What is the significance of Jesus being called the Lamb of God in John 1:29

John 1:29

29The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

• It signifies that Jesus is an actual lamb.

• It highlights Jesus' role as a sacrifice to absorb sin.

• It refers to Jesus' love for animals.

• It has no particular significance.

According to Revelation 21, what does the author describe about the future of God's space and humanity's space?

• They will remain separate forever.

• They will overlap completely.

• God's space will disappear.

• Humanity's space will become desolate.

How is the tabernacle and the Lamb described in Revelation 21?

Revelation 21:22 (NIV)

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

• The tabernacle is a physical building, and the Lamb is a literal lamb.

• The tabernacle is described as the dwelling place of God, and the Lamb represents Jesus.

• The tabernacle is in Heaven, and the Lamb is on Earth.

• There is no mention of a tabernacle or a Lamb.

After reading and discussing this reflection, what are some key takeaways or significant themes that you have observed or discussed with your group?

• The reflection doesn't contain any significant themes or takeaways.

• The importance of God's desire to dwell with humanity and the role of Jesus in bridging the gap.

• The complexity of temple sacrifices and their role in human redemption.

• The need for more information on this topic.