Salvation History: From Creation to New Jerusalem
The Identity of Creator and Redeemer
There is a clear and consistent theme running from the beginning of the pages of Scripture to the end: the one who creates all things is the same one who saves and restores them.
Saint Athanasius provides a foundational explanation for this: "The self same word through whom all things were created is the one who redeemed them."
Scripture reveals to us a God who is all-loving and all-good. He ordained from the beginning that humanity should dwell with Him, summarized by the phrase: "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men."
The Purpose of Creation and the Significance of Seven
The creation narrative is not intended to be a scientific explanation of the cosmos; rather, it is a revelation of the mind of the Creator.
Within this narrative, the number carries immense significance. In Hebrew, the word for (sheba) represents both a number and an "Oath."
The central theme of all Scripture is the covenant of God with man, which is the union of the divine with the human.
This union was celebrated on Ascension Thursday, marking the point where our humanity was taken up into the heavens to dwell for eternity.
The timeline of creation illustrates this relationship: God creates man and woman on the th day (the Hexameron), and brings them together on the th day of Sabbath rest. Rest is defined as the union with the good.
The Creation Narrative as a Cosmic Temple
In the Garden of Paradise, Adam is filled with the life of God.
The Garden contains two primary trees: - The Tree of Life: The means of communion with God. - The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil: This tree surrounded the Tree of Life like a hedge. Adam and Eve were prevented from eating it for a time until they were invited in.
All of creation is viewed as a cosmic temple or the House of God, structured as follows: - The Outer Round: The garden of Paradise situated upon the mountain of God. - The Waterways: Waters of life flowing out. - The Ground: A jeweled ground. - The Inter Sanctuary/Holy of Holies: This is where God and man dwell, protected by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Adam is tasked with a threefold role in this temple: - King: To govern all creation and exercise dominion. - Priest: To offer sacrifice to God, which is primarily a sacrifice of obedience (a heart that listens and responds in love). - Prophet: He names the beasts, exercising authority and speech.
The Fall of Humanity and God's Merciful Response
The state of paradise declined when Eve, through the neglect of her husband, began conversing with the serpent.
Eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil brought forth death.
Adam's reaction was to hide. The Church Fathers describe this as Adam encasing himself in a tomb; he was alive in body but dead in soul.
Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise. This was not the act of a vengeful, angry God, but the act of a merciful Father. He knew that if they ate from the Tree of Life in their fallen state, they would perpetuate the death of sin in their flesh forever.
In Genesis Chapter , God promises a Redeemer. Though the promise is addressed to Satan, it reveals that God will undo the curse of death and suffering.
The Generations of Covenant: Enoch and the Pre-Flood Era
Despite the decline of humanity, God remained faithful to His covenant through specific generations.
In the th generation, Enoch "walked with God."
Tradition suggests that one of Adam's last sights before departing to Hades was seeing Enoch being allowed back into Paradise.
Enoch represents the covenant generation, indicating God's continuing fidelity.
The creation of man and woman as two separate expressions of humanity is intended to reflect God's creative plan: the union of God with man.
Narrative of the Flood: De-creation and Re-creation
Corruption increased when the "sons of God" entered into covenant with the "daughters of man," signifying the people of God entering into the worship of pagan idols.
God chose people to save through the wood of the ark and the waters of the flood.
The ark contained pairs of clean animals and pairs of unclean animals.
The flood represents "de-creation" (God undoing the works of creation) followed by "re-creation."
This is illustrated by the Spirit of God breathing over the face of the deep and the appearance of the dove and the raven.
Upon landing, Noah performs a priestly act by offering a Eucharistic sacrifice (a sacrifice of Thanksgiving). God accepts this because Noah's heart is in it, and a new covenant is formed.
Noah, like Adam, functions as priest, prophet, and king.
Abraham’s Call and the Sign of Circumcision
As generations passed, Adam’s descendants moved East into the realm of sin. Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldees to the Promised Land.
This was not arbitrary land: it was the land where Noah’s ark landed, the land where Adam dwelt after expulsion, and the first spot of land to emerge from the waters at creation.
Abraham detoured into Egypt, picking up "Egyptian sin," before being given the sign of the covenant: circumcision.
Abraham was required to trust God for a child with his wife Sarah. This child had to come through marriage, as marriage is the sign of the relationship between God and His people.
The Sacrifice of Isaac and the Melchizedek Connection
Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son Isaac on the very mountain where Noah offered his covenant-renewing sacrifices.
Isaac, a young man and a willing victim at the behest of his father, carried the wood up the mountain and was bound to the altar.
Abraham’s willingness to kill his "only begotten son" was rooted in faith; Hebrews tells us he believed God could bring Isaac back from the dead.
God spared Abraham and renewed the covenant, promising: - Through his descendants, all nations will be blessed. - His descendants will possess the gates of their enemy. - His name will be perpetuated throughout the earth.
Melchizedek, the King of Salem, is a mysterious figure identified as Shem (son of Noah). He acts as a human agent of the covenant, offering gifts of bread and wine to God. His priesthood is considered the priesthood of God Himself.
Shem/Melchizedek passes the blessing to Abraham, continuing the line that started with God to Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, and finally to Abraham.
The Sin of Judah and the Faithfulness of God
The family history of the patriarchs involves human weakness. Judah committed repeated sins but experienced mercy when he pardoned Tamar, recognizing his own sin in withholding his children from her.
Joseph was sold into Egypt due to the sin of his brothers, but he eventually saved the people by feeding them bread. He stated: "You all wanted this for me as evil, but God willed it for our good."
Despite Joseph's role, the ultimate blessing of the Kingdom was promised to Judah. Genesis closes with the promise that the scepter would never depart from Judah’s line and that a King from his line would reign forever.
Moses, the Serpent-King, and the Exodus
The Israelites became enslaved in Egypt to a Pharaoh who wore the serpent on his brow.
This physical slavery pointed to a spiritual reality: those who have not passed through the waters of baptism are enslaved to the ancient serpent, Satan.
God raised Moses to lead the people so they could learn to be His children and worship Him, based on the principle "you become what you worship."
The Passover Ritual: - A lamb without blemish was slaughtered and eaten. - The blood was anointed on the doorposts of believers. - This ritual was a capital offense in Egypt, but it led the Israelites from slavery to freedom and death to light.
When the Israelites left, God furnished them with gold, precious threads, and gems.
The parting of the Red Sea (effected by God’s breath/Spirit) mirrors de-creation and re-creation. Pharaoh—the one with the serpent on his head—is crushed, prefiguring the defeat of the ancient serpent.
The Sinai Covenant and the Tabernacle as a Golden Garden
At Mount Sinai, the Israelites received the Law. However, they soon worshipped an Egyptian God because Egypt (and spiritual bondage) was not yet rooted out of their hearts.
Consequently, God gave them more laws, shifting their relationship from children to slaves to prevent them from being abandoned to the devil.
During the years of wandering, God provided: - Manna: Bread from heaven. - Spiritual water: From the rock that followed them.
God gave detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle (the tent of meeting), which was furnished like a "Golden Garden."
In the center of the encampment stood the Holy of Holies, containing the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat where God dwelt in His shadowy presence.
When the manna covered the ground in the morning, the people saw the sanctuary as a sign of the Garden of Eden and the Promised Land.
The Conquest and the Failure to Drive Out the Serpent
After entering the Promised Land through the waters of the Jordan, the manna ceased because they ate the fruit of the land.
The Israelites were tasked with driving the "children of the evil serpent" out of the land—doing what Adam failed to do when he did not drive the serpent out of the Garden.
They failed in this task and eventually demanded a king "like all the nations round about them."
God granted them Saul, who was disobedient and lacked a heart after God’s own heart, allowing him to fall into perdition.
King David and the Restoration of Priestly Kingship
God raised David, the son of Jesse, from the tribe of Judah. David is described as the "righteous king."
In Samuel Chapter , the people of Israel made a covenant with David using marriage language, signifying David as the Bridegroom of Israel.
In Samuel Chapter , David brought the Ark into Jerusalem and offered sacrifice. Although he was not a Levite, he was permitted to offer sacrifice because he stood in the priestly line of Melchizedek (traceable through Judah, Isaac, Abraham, Shem, Noah, Enoch, Seth, and Adam).
In Samuel Chapter , God established a covenant promising that David’s son would be God’s Son and the throne would be established forever.
David began the restoration of what Adam and the Israelites had lost: Divine Sonship.
Solomon: The Building of the Temple and the Great Schism
Solomon, David's son, was intended to be the man of Sabbath rest, but he failed by "playing the harlot" with pagan idols and demons.
His greatest achievement was the Temple, built upon a specific rock (the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite).
This rock was identified as the point where the waters parted at creation, where God placed Adam, where the Ark rested, and where Abraham offered Isaac.
Solomon's failings led to the Great Schism, the abandonment of the tribes of Israel, and their eventual scattering among nations.
The Kingdom of Judah was eventually lost to the Babylonians. Abraham’s children were returned to the place Abraham was called out from because they refused to follow in his footsteps.
Exile and the Preparation for the Messiah
Before the exile, God raised prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah to promise a New Covenant.
For years (or - years), the Israelites remained slaves to foreign powers. During the time God became man, three things were missing: 1. There was no king on the throne of David. 2. The Israelites were slaves instead of children. 3. The Presence of God was absent from the temple.
The world was prepared for the Messiah through natural reason, philosophy, and infrastructure (transportation of news).
The Ministry and Miracles of Jesus Christ
Jesus was born of a woman, under the law, to redeem those under the law. He sent John the Forerunner before Him.
He taught with authority, expanding the law to its original purpose: loving God and neighbor from an obedient heart.
His miracles demonstrated His identity as the Creator: - Healing the man born blind: He used the dust of the earth, recreating what was missing. - Raising Lazarus: He showed authority over death after days of corruption.
He entered Jerusalem on a mule, mirrored Solomon's royal entrance, and drove out corrupt priests.
The Passion, Resurrection, and the Restoration of the Garden
At the Passover, Jesus gave a memorial through bread and wine which become His body and blood.
He took the wood of the Cross and was expelled from the city, just as Adam was expelled from Paradise.
In a garden, on the wood of the cross, He offered perfect obedience and love to the Father, undoing Adam's disobedience.
After His death, His soul descended into Hell (the Harrowing of Hell) as a Liberator to defeat Satan and lead captivity captive.
He rose on the rd day, appeared for days, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, taking humanity into the life of the Trinity.
He sent His Spirit at Pentecost so the news of mercy and the defeat of death could go to the ends of the earth.
Mary Magdalene famously mistook the risen Christ for a gardener. He is the "True Gardener" who sowed us in nature and harvests us into grace.
The Eternal Glory of the New Jerusalem
John the Evangelist saw the New Jerusalem descending from heaven as a bride meeting her husband.
While the world passes away, the friends of God who died in grace will be refashioned and dwell in an earthly and heavenly paradise.
Saint Gregory Nazianzen summarizes the restoration: God banished us from paradise and then recalled us; He stripped the fig leaves and put on a costly garment.
The flaming sword that once made the entrance inaccessible is gone, and paradise—heaven itself—can now be entered by man.
The final doxology: "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit."