Welcome to the January 2009 edition of Strong Tower Publishing's
e-newsletter.
NEW E-NEWSLETTER FORMAT - SEND US YOUR NAME
Starting next month, Strong Tower Publishing will be going
to a new e-newsletter format, with images and live links. To
date, our newsletter list has been by email only, but in our new
format, we'd like to greet you each by name. Please send us an
email with your first and last name (or, if you prefer, first
name only) so we can greet you personally each month.
WAS THE GARDEN OF EDEN THE FIRST TEMPLE?
Was the Garden of Eden the first temple? It's an intriguing
concept. I ran across this idea listening to an MP3 on a talk by
Dr. Greg Beale, a theologian to whom I was introduced in the
footnotes of Charles Cooper's God's Elect and the Great
Tribulation. Although Cooper disagrees with Beale's
conclusions regarding the end-times, Cooper used many of Beale's
analyses in his own conclusions.
When I saw an MP3 by Beale on WordMP3.com, I checked it out. It
was in this presentation that I was first exposed to the idea
that the Garden of Eden was the first temple. I will summarize
the support for the argument the best I can. For a full
presentation, see Beale's MP3 “The Use of Old Testament Prophecy
in the New Testament - Literal Allegory or Analogical” on
WordMP3.com.
Dr. Beale argues from what he calls a “cumulative case.” He
reads from the NASB.
1. A temple is the unique place where Israel had to go to
experience God's presence.
For example, Moses had to go into the tabernacle to hear God
speak. So, too, the Garden of Eden was the place where Adam and
Eve could hear God speak. Outside of the garden was a land that
was uncultivated and inhospitable. To experience God's presence,
they had to be in the garden.
The Hebrew phrase for God “walking back and forth” in the Garden
(Gen. 3:8) is the same as used in Leviticus 6:12, Deuteronomy
23:14, and others, where the Israelites are told to keep the
temple holy, for the Lord “moves about” to protect them.
2. Adam was likely the first priest.
The phrase “cultivate and keep” [the Garden] (Gen. 2:15) can
also mean — and usually is translated — “serve and guard.” This
is how it is translated later in the Old Testament in reference
to the priests serving in the temple. It is also used of Israel
as a whole, when the nation is told to “serve [or obey] and
guard” God's Word.
Interestingly, the priests also performed the dual function of
cultivating, as well as “serving and guarding.” In the temple
complex, there were gardens. In the Near East, even today, in
order for the priests to serve in the temple, they must take
care of the gardens.
3. When Adam fails to “serve and guard” by falling to the
deception of the serpent, he loses his role and the cherubim
take over and “guard” the entrance of the Garden (Gen. 3:24).
This parallels the role of the priests in guarding the temple (Neh.
12:4, Neh. 11:9, 2 Chron. 11:3). In Beale's words, the priests
were “wardens, managing a sacred ward.” Their role was
memorialized in the later temple when God instructed the mercy
seat of the Ark of the Covenant to be decorated with two statues
of angels, standing on either side with wings outstretched.
Tree of Life may be the model for the lampstand outside of the
holy of holies. In Exodus 25, the lampstand was described as
looking like a small tree trunk, with seven protruding branches.
4. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the temples
reflecting a garden theme.
In the building plans for the first temple, for example, these
plans are rife with garden imagery. In 1 Kings 6:18-29, we read
that the cedars were to be carved like gourds and open flowers.
God also directs the temple to be decorated with cherubim,
flowers, trees, open flowers, and pomegranates. Even the
decorative elements of the priestly robes reflect garden
imagery, including the hem of the priest's robe, which was to be
decorated with pomegranates.
5. Like other temples, including the end-times temple, the
Garden was on a mountain, faced east, and water flows out.
It was on a mountain (Ezekiel 28), it faced east (Gen 3:24),
and water flowed out (Gen. 2:10).
6. Like other temples, the Garden of Eden had three sections:
1) Eden itself, the source of water (Gen. 2:10) 2) the garden,
which was adjacent to it, where Adam served; and 3) the outer,
inhospitable region, which was eventually to be inhabited.
Later temples all contain similar triad structures.
7. The Garden is referred to as a sanctuary.
Ezekiel 28:18: “Eden holy mountain of God . . .” and it
alludes to it as containing “sanctuaries.” Elsewhere, this is a
plural reference that refers to the temple (Lev. 21:23, Eze.
7:24, Jer. 51:51, and others). “The plural reference to the
temple probably arose because of the numerous sacred space
within the temple complex,” explains Beale.
Beale concludes by saying that Ezekiel 28:18 is probably the
most explicit place in canonical literature where the Garden of
Eden is called a sanctuary. In noncannonical literature,
however, in Jubilees 8:19, the Garden of Eden is explicitly
called “holy of holies.”
“If it looks like a temple, if it feels like a temple, if it
smells like a temple, it probably is a temple,” says Beale.
Why does it matter whether the Garden of Eden is the first
temple? Beale seems to be arguing that, throughout history, God
has created a successive series of temples, each building and
expanding on the symbolic and theological imagery, ultimately
leading to the final and perfect temple, the Body of Christ.
PRICE CHANGE ON “GOD'S ELECT AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION”
As of January 1, the price on “God's Elect and the Great
Tribulation” has been increased to $21.95.
FASTER SHIPPING ON “FIGHT, FLIGHT, OR FAITH”
When you order books through Strong Tower Publishing, books
are printed on demand by our printer and shipped directly from
the plant. Printing generally takes a few days, so in the short
term, if you want immediate shipping, you might consider
ordering directly from Armageddon Books (www.armageddonbooks.com),
which recently promoted this new Charles Cooper title and
currently has books in stock.
Another nice feature of Armageddon Books is that it alerts its
e-newsletter subscribers to new end-times prophecy releases and
includes a monthly end-times poll, which is always interesting.
THE MILLENNIALIST WEBSITE LAUNCHES
Dave and Mo Dardinger, faithful and founding members of the
Prewrath Only group, have launched their new Website, The
Millennialist (www.Millennialist.com). The site is populated
with articles, FAQs, Web links, and other resources.
The Website was named largely in reaction to the use of the term
"millennialist" as a pejorative on a national radio show. About
the same time, Mo ran across an intriguing blog called "Amillennialist
Contra Munda," which, she jokes, could be translated
"one-thousand-year-kingdom-skeptic against the world.” Since
Mo's traditional email closing is "for the Kingdom," this seemed
a fitting parallel: "Amillennialist [name] Against the World"
versus "Millennialist Mo for the Kingdom of God."
Thus, The Millennialist was born.
Some come see what the Dardingers have hatched. Says Mo, “Do
enjoy yourselves, and don't hesitate to let us know if you find
something that needs to be improved. Thanks!”
WHAT ARE READERS READING?
I have really enjoyed tracking the titles of the books that
have been ordered through the Amazon Associates links on the
Strong Tower Publishing website. We cannot see who orders what,
but we do get a list of all the books our site visitors order
through these links. (We also get a small commission on each
sale, so this is a great way to support us.)
Personally, I really appreciate having this list. I ordered a
book this month after having been made aware of it through these
links.
A list of all of the books ordered last month through Amazon
Associate links is below. Remember, if you want to look into one
of these books, please consider clicking through one of our
Amazon.com purchase links (such as from our main titles page at
www.strongtowerpublishing.com/titles.htm). This supports our
website at no cost to you!
December 2008 reader selections:
All Books Ordered:
Before God's Wrath: The Bible's Answer to the Timing of the
Rapture, Revised and Expanded Edition
Clouds of Witness
Every Young Woman's Battle Workbook: How to Pursue Purity in a
Sex-Saturated World (The Every Man Series)
Fireproof Your Marriage Couple's Kit
Revelation Unsealed
Secrets of the Vine Bible Study
Secrets of the Vine for Women
Secrets of the Vine: Breaking Through to Abundance
The Complete Book of Bible Prophecy
The Secret Rapture: Is It Scriptural?
The Sexually Confident Wife: Connecting with Your Husband Mind
Body Heart Spirit
Who Will Be Left Behind and When?
Some readers may ask why we include non-prophecy titles in
this list, including titles relating to marriage and
relationships. The answer is that, as believers, we are whole
people, and sometimes (or frequently), we struggle in areas
beyond prophecy. The exposure to other titles relating to
relationships and marriage serves as an encouragement and
resource. We are not alone in our struggles, and knowing what
books others have purchased in these areas such as these can
provide resources that we had not previously considered.
On the issues of marital relationships, I also highly recommend
Shanti Feldheim's For Women Only and For Men Only
books, whether in their audio or print versions.
RESPONSES TO READER QUESTIONS
Q: I am reading for the second time your book, "Before God's
Wrath." I have already read Marvin Rosenthal's book and Robert
Van Kampen's book. I was pretrib (but not with so much
conviction but preference), but prewrath just makes sense. The
666 thing has me a little puzzled, though, at least in the
timing of the mark. Christians indwelt with the Holy Spirit are
sealed for eternity with God, so they cannot take the mark...so
they all die of starvation or they are killed? That doesn't make
sense to me. I believe you are saying-though I don't remember
dogmatically-that the rapture will happen before the 666
marking. That would make sense. But I am still looking into
these things and will be for some time.
A: Good question. There are several things to consider
here.
First, the scriptures simply say that the Antichrist will cause
all to take the mark. It doesn't say when during the timeline
this occurs. There is an assumption that the requirement to take
the mark occurs immediately after the Antichrist claims absolute
power at the midpoint of the 70th Week, but it's also possible
that it occurs some time later, including after the rapture.
This possibility is rarely discussed, but if the Antichrist
assumes absolute power at the midpoint, it would take time to
implement a plan of this type. Of course, it's also possible
that such a plan could be developed in secret so that it could
be implemented immediately upon assumption of power. This would
be reading far beyond what the text itself states, however. It
gets into speculation, which is a place I don't like to play.
Also keep in mind that, even if the plan were to be put
in place immediately, it would still take time to roll it out
and then enforce it.
Second, if a plan to require the taking of the mark were put
into place and enforced before the rapture, there are two
possibilities.
1. Those who take the mark may be protected from enforcement. At
the time Moses was born, the Pharoah had been trying for some
time to enforce a mandate for infanticide to kill Hebrew
children, but through God's sovereignty, there are those
(including Charles Cooper) who believe that the plan was rarely,
if ever, enforced. Moses himself escaped the enforcement by
being placed into the basket and floated down the river. So we
know of at least one individual who escaped, although it's clear
from the fact that the Pharoah's midwives refused to obey the
order that other Hebrew children must have been saved, as well.
This could serve as a precedent if God decides to protect His
children from the Antichrist's plan.
2. Even if God allows some faithful believers to die as a
result of this edict, they would be in good company with other
martyrs throughout history. Although God has not historically
allowed His judgment to fall upon the faithful (in this case,
the trumpets and the bowls), the mark is not the judgment of
God, but the plan of wicked men. God has always allowed the
faithful to die martyrs' deaths at the hands of evil men. It is
part of the power of the Christian testimony.
At the same time, if there are believers alive to enter the
Millennium, as prewrath holds, then clearly, not all believers
die at the Antichrist's hands, whether directly or indirectly.
Prewrath also holds that God provides a place of escape for
Israel and, most likely, many attending believers who follow
them, during the latter part of the Day of the Lord. This would
also provide protection from the persecution of the Antichrist,
including the indirect impact of refusing the mark.
Charles Cooper has a terrific discussion of this issue in his
new book Fight, Flight, or Faith: How to Survive the Great
Tribulation, which was released last month. Although Cooper
doesn't look at the issue of the mark specifically, he does look
at the issue of persecution at the hands of the Antichrist
(which would include the impact of the mark by extension). It's
a terrific discussion that has broad application to a wide
variety of issues, including this one. I highly recommend it.
